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Matter-Eater Lad

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Matter-Eater Lad
Matter-Eater Lad as depicted in Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #2 (June 2010). Art by Pete Woods.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAdventure Comics #303 (December 1962)
Created byJerry Siegel
John Forte
In-story information
Alter egoTenzil Kem
SpeciesBismollian
Place of originBismoll
Team affiliationsLegion of Super-Heroes
Notable aliasesM-E Lad
AbilitiesPowers:
  • Superhuman matter ingestion and digestion
  • Metabolism-induced super-speed

Abilities:

  • Hand-to-hand combat (basic)

Equipment:

  • Legion Flight Ring

Matter-Eater Lad (Tenzil Kem) is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #303 (December 1962), and possesses the power to eat matter in all forms, as do all natives of his home planet, Bismoll.

Publication history

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Matter-Eater Lad first appeared in Adventure Comics #303 and was created by Jerry Siegel and John Forte.[1]

Fictional character biography

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Pre–Zero Hour

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Matter-Eater Lad is the fifteenth member inducted into the Legion of Super-Heroes, joining soon after Bouncing Boy. In his first appearance, Matter-Eater Lad explains his origins, saying that the natives of Bismoll evolved their abilities to survive after microbes rendered all normal food inedible.[2] He has an unrequited crush on Shrinking Violet, which features for the bulk of the Legion's run in Adventure Comics.

Later, Matter-Eater Lad is drafted to serve in Bismollian politics and becomes a senator and celebrity. He assists the Legion in battling Omega, a monster created by the Miracle Machine, and is driven insane after destroying the latter before Brainiac 5 cures him.[3][4]

During the "Five Year Gap" following the Magic Wars, Earth falls under the control of the Dominators and leaves the United Planets. Matter-Eater Lad frees Polar Boy from the Dominators and is cloned as part of the latter's "Batch SW6".[5]

Post–Zero Hour

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Following Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, which reboots the Legion's continuity, Tenzil Kem is reimagined as the Legion's primary chef.

Threeboot

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In the "Threeboot", Matter-Eater Lad is reintroduced as a government agent, investigating Cosmic Boy's disappearance and the legality of his final act as Legion leader. He also bites off Mekt Ranzz's pointer finger.

Post-Infinite Crisis

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The events of Infinite Crisis restore a close analogue of the pre-Crisis Legion to continuity. In Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5, the SW6 incarnation of Matter-Eater Lad is among the Legionnaires summoned to fight the Time Trapper.

In Superman #694, Matter-Eater Lad is revealed to have been masquerading as Mon-El's friend Mitch. He reveals his identity by stepping in to save a woman trapped in a burning car, allowing Mon-El to continue fighting larger threats.

In Last Stand of New Krypton, Matter-Eater Lad is part of a secret team who R. J. Brande sends to the 21st century to save the future.

Powers and abilities

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Matter-Eater Lad possesses the innate ability to eat almost any substance. Additionally, he can move at superhuman speeds by harnessing consumed energy and determine the chemical composition of objects using his enhanced taste buds.[6]

In other media

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References

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  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Adventure Comics #303
  3. ^ Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #250–251 (April–May 1979)
  4. ^ Legion of Substitute Heroes Special (1985)
  5. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #38, late December 1992
  6. ^ Paxton, Rachel (July 28, 2015). "7 Weirdest Comic Book Superpowers". ScreenRant. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Matter-Eater Lad Voice - Legion of Super Heroes (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 29, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  8. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  9. ^ "Adventures in the DC Universe #10 - The Blobs (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes #1 - Atomic Batteries To Power, Flight Rings To Speed (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
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