Countdown #42 "If I Could Spend Time In A Bubble" or "Are You Karate Kidding Me?" BY FREE STEVE CHUNG
Last week in Countdown #43, we saw Karate Kid bidding farewell to Batman and to the 21st Century. But how was he and other members of the Legion of Super-Heroes able to hop, skip and jump from one century to another? The answers lies in some of their advanced 30th century technology and we've got a quick history lesson for you on the Karate Kid, the Legion's Time Bubble and sticky continuity from one crisis to another.
As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Val Armorr, the Karate Kid, is no stranger to time travel, and the ability to visit past eras via Time Bubble played an important role in the Legion's history. In fact, it's been around since the earliest appearance of the future super group.
One day in Smallville, young Clark Kent is startled when three kids arrive in town, and are aware of his dual identity as Superboy. The newcomers are privy to his secret, because they are from the future, and also have secret identities of their own. Thanks to historical records, the life story of Superboy is well known in the 30th Century. After assuring the teen of steel, his identity is still secret, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Boy invite Superboy to visit their time, and become an honorary member of the Legion.
This historic moment occurred in Adventure Comics #247 (April, 1958) by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.
It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and great things to come.
Four new Legionnaires would join the Legion of Super-Heroes in Adventure Comics #346 (July, 1966). New members Karate Kid, Nemesis Kid, Ferro Lad, and Princess Projectra would soon learn "One Of Us Is A Traitor!" Longtime fans of the LSH know which one turned out to be the traitor, but a quick look at the recent statues of members of the Legion featured in the recent Justice League of America, Justice Society of America and Legion of Super-Heroes crossover, will give new fans a clue. (Or you can just skip a few paragraphs down to see the identity of the Legion's Benedict Arnold.)
But back to Val Armorr. Some of you might be wondering just how a powerless teen could have won a place among some of the galaxy's most powerful heroes. He did it the old fashioned way, through hard work and mastery of specific skills. In fact, despite not having super-powers, Karate Kid earned his place in the Legion by using his martial arts skill to keep a startled Superboy off balance for a brief time. Not an easy task to accomplish for a non-powered peer, especially one lacking the Kryptonite edge.
Karate Kid fought with the Legion of Super-Heroes for many years, but had a hard time feeling at home in the 30th century. That's why he left it briefly for a time. This happened as a result of a challenge that the Kid just couldn't refuse. He was challenged by the Nemesis Kid (See? I told you the answer was a few paragraphs down!) to a fight, but it wasn't taking place in the 30th century, this fight was happening in the 20th century, in 1976 to be exact. Anyway, the Karate Kid was making short work of Nemesis Kid and was on the verge of victory when a Time Bubble appeared.
Brainiac 5, Mon-El, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl followed the Karate Kid to the 20th Century, shortly after he answered Nemesis Kid's challenge on their communications system. When current team leader Mon-El orders him to return with them to the 30th Century, Karate Kid decides to remain behind on a world in a time a thousand years before he was born. Of course the pretty schoolteacher Iris Jacobs might have played a role in the Karate Kid's decision to remain in the past. The popularity of martial arts at the time also played a role in why the Kid became the star of his own comic book series.
For those curious about the real back story as to why this particular member of the Legion of Super-Heroes soon found himself in "our time" in an ongoing should note that it was colorist, Carl Gafford who suggested that Karate Kid be spun off into his own as a title. He thought it would appeal to both Legion and martial arts fans. But it was Publisher Carmine Infantino who pointed out there might be increased interest if the series were set in the 20th Century.
Writer and longtime Legion fan Paul Levitz, layout artist Ric Estrada (who also drew Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter), and finisher Joe Staton, were the creative team on Karate Kid #1 (Mar-Apr, 1976). The series only lasted a year and change. It ended with issue # 15. The Karate Kid returned to familiar ground in the Legion of Super-Heroes. Shortly after his return, he seemed to forget about his 20th century paramour and turn his attention to Princess Projectra.
It isn't until 1983 that we hear about Iris Jacobs again. Val Armorr returns to our present in a Time Bubble in , search of the schoolteacher. He learns she's now in Gotham City. The Karate Kid reunites with her briefly, before meeting the Darknight Detective for the first time, and battling an old 20th Century foe of his called "Pulsar." When he last saw the nuclear powered Pulsar, Benjamin Day was going to prison -- and going straight. While in prison, mob bosses killed his family, and Pulsar became a contract killer. During the fight, the group who hired Pulsar trigger the mechanism beneath his heart, and the villain perishes in the subsequent explosion.
With Val back in the 20th Century, Iris thinks that things between them will be like it used to be -- she has visions of rekindling their romance. However, it's not to be! Karate Kid came back to invite Iris to his wedding to fellow Legion of Super-Heroes member, Princess Projectra. Needless to say, Iris doesn't accept the invitation. As the Masked Manhunter tries to console the dejected woman, Karate Kid takes his leave of the 20th Century, and returns to his own time.
The reunion between Val Armorr and Iris Jacobs took place in The Brave and the Bold #198 (May, 1983) by Mike W. Barr, Rick Hoberg, Todd Klein, Adrienne Roy, Len Wein, and Chuck Patton.
Some time after the wedding, the ever-noble Karate Kid sacrificed his life to save his fellow Legionnaires.
In Post-Crisis Continuity, there never was a Superboy, and Clark Kent became the Man of Steel.
In the 30th Century, Garth Ranzz, Rokk Krinn, and Imra Ardeen shared a common interest in the Boy of Steel's Twentieth Century legend. Because of information lost during the Great Disaster, very little is known about Superboy.
The Legion of Super-Heroes was founded in his memory, in memory of a being who "now" never really existed.
When Cosmic Boy, Lightning Boy, and Saturn Girl traveled back to the Smallville of the 20th Century, they unknowingly visited a pocket universe created by the Time Trapper (who had a very specific tie to the Legion, but I don't want to spoil too much here. Besides, in this continuity, everything revealed about the Time Trapper is probably a moot point.) Existing in a vast citadel at the end of time, the Trapper scanned past, present, future until he learned of the Legion's existence, and what caused them to form in the first place.
By reaching back a million years in the past, the Time Trapper succeeded in snaring a piece of the cosmos, and an immeasurable moment in time. With all the stars and planets of an entire universe, the Trapper sifted through the various worlds, until only the planet Krypton and the planet Earth were left.
The two worlds were molded into what 30th Century legends maintained as being the Boy of Steel's time period.
Krypton had a culture based on super-science far beyond those of mortal men. Earth knew war, death, disease, and suffering. The Trapper made some subtle changes in that Superboy was the only super-hero on Earth.
During the Crisis In Time known as Zero Hour, the Time Trapper enabled the Legion to continue on into an uncertain tomorrow, just before succumbing to destruction himself.
Now, in Post-Infinite Crisis Continuity, there are recorded sightings of a Superboy in Smallville, and the Man of Steel recalls his time with the Legion. He had visited them in the 31st Century and was made an honorary member. In the Legion Clubhouse, he was given a flight ring, and was inspired by his friends who could fly.
After the first Crisis On Infinite Earths, he never saw them again.
Whatever happened to the Legion of Super-Heroes when they grew up remains both unknown and subject to change.
One thing's for sure, Karate Kid is still alive and kicking.
Posts: 21260 | From: PA | Registered: Aug 2002
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