Polar Boy

Polar Boy is a male extraterrestrial superhero who features in DC Comics.

Biography

Origin

Brek Bannin was a male inhabitant of the hot world of Tharr where he lived by the 30th century. Like all natives of Tharr, Brek possessed cold-based powers, and created the superhero identity of Polar Boy. (Adventure Comics v1 #306)

Arriving on Earth, Brek had hoped to finally realise his dream where he looked to become a superhero by joining the Legion of Super-Heroes. Arriving at their headquarters, he took part in the try-outs to join the team where he demonstrated his abilities. However, he was rejected as they believed his cold powers could he a hindrance for his teammates instead of being an asset. He met up with several other rejected Legionnaire hopefuls, after giving them a pep talk, they decided that even though they were not Legion material, they could still use their powers to help people. They formed the Legion of Substitute Heroes, vowing to help people and, if need be, the Legion of Super-Heroes in their time of need. They built their own clubhouse in the side of a mountain as well as a spaceship and Science Police monitoring system. They got a warning about giant evolved sea creatures that had escaped from the Ocean Research Laboratory, and were quick to respond, but the Legion were already on the scene wrangling the beasts. The next Science Police alert came when scientists who had built a domed city in the Arctic went rogue. They secretly built an atomic power plant under the dome, propelling the city into space, and delivered an ultimatum that they’d use the advanced weaponry they had built to attack Earth unless they were given tribute. The Substitute Heroes flew into space, but Sun Boy of the Legion streaked through space near the domed city, and fearing they were about to be hit by a meteorite the scientists piloted their city back to Earth where they were apprehended by Colossal Boy and Cosmic Boy. Robot-ships attacked Earth and Polar Boy offered the Legion back-up, but Brainiac 5 refused him, saying the mission was too dangerous for untrained civilians. The Substitute Heroes’ anxieties finally got to them, and they decided they were no help as a team after all and prepared to disband. Chlorophyll Kid spotted seeds that had rained down from space, and used his plant growth powers on one. The seed grew into a plant man that attacked him, and the Substitute Heroes defeated it, and Fire-Lad incinerated the rest of the seeds. They learned from their monitor system that the seeds had come from a distant planet that had also sent the robot-ships. The robot-ships were meant to divert the Legion while the planet rocketed more seeds to Earth to conquer the planet. The Substitutes traveled to the planet, found the warehouse storing millions of seeds, and Chlorophyll Kid used his powers to prematurely grow them to plant men. The planet was now burdened with a population explosion, and had to cease its’ plans of invasion. The Substitutes decided to stay together after all, and were pleased to keep their victory a secret amongst themselves, and attended a parade for the Legion celebrating their defeat of the robot-ships. (Adventure Comics v1 #306)

Ambush Bug broke out of jail and decided to annoy Superman, teleporting on his back and wrapping his cape around his head as he was traveling through time. Superman had an errand to run in the 40th Century, but could not bring the Bug, so he stopped by the 30th century and dropped him by the Legion of Substitute Heroes, who were subbing for the MIA Legion. Polar Boy put him in a holding cell, and assured Superman everything would be okay. Superman ran his errand only to find Ambush Bug had escaped the heroes' custody. Chlorophyll Kid admitted that their holding cell was broken, so they had Bug in an aquarium tank. The Science Police alerted Superman to the chaos Bug was causing, and he was currently running through the Superman Museum. Superman dreaded Ambush Bug discovering his secret identity, and flew to the museum with the Substitute Heroes. He tried frying all the bugs he used to teleport, but Ambush Bug had more stored in his antennae. Superman reasoned that Ambush Bug could be tricked by putting up signs telling him not to enter a room, and not to push a button, and as soon as the signs were up Ambush Bug activated a Phantom Zone projector, trapping him. Superman gave the Subs a pep talk, telling them they'd make their own legends one day. (DC Comics Presents v1 #59)

The Legion of Super-Villains invaded Orando and captured Queen Projecta and Karate Kid. On Earth Cosmic Boy agreed to keep watch on the planet while Element Lad assembled the rest of the Legion to fly a ship to Orando. Cosmic Lad felt some sense of relief when night Girl sent him a video message offering the support of the Legion of Substitute Heroes. The Legion of Super-Villains warped Orando to a space between dimensions, inadvertently taking several Legionnaires with them. The Legion of Super-Villains planned on finding other worlds where there was no Legion to foil them and conquering them. Dream Girl, acting as deputy leader with Element Lad on Orando, called Cosmic Boy to check in on Earth. Cosmic Boy now had the back-up of reservists Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel, the Legion of Substitute Heroes and the Legion Academy. (Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #4)

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.

Overview

Personality and attributes

Looking to be a hero, he decided on the name Polar Boy on account of his abilities. (Adventure Comics v1 #306)

Powers and abilities

An inhabitant of Tharr, Polar Boy had the power of creating intense cold with few people from his world having this ability. (Adventure Comics v1 #306)

Notes

• Polar Boy was created by Edmond Hamilton and John Forte where he made his first appearance in Adventure Comics v1 #306 (March, 1963).

In other media

Television

• In Legion of Super Heroes, Polar Boy appeared in the setting of the animated television series in a non-voiced role.

Appearances

• Adventure Comics v1:
• Legion of Super-Heroes v1:
• Action Comics v1:

External Links

• Wikipedia Entry

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