Bouncing Boy
Bouncing Boy is a male comic superhero who features in DC Comics.
Contents[hide] |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Chuck Taine
Several years ago, he worked for a famed scientist where he did errands for his employer. One day, he was set to deliver a super-plastic fluid to the Science Council but became distracted on the way and attended a robot gladiator match. Whilst there, he accidentally drank the super-plastic fluid instead of his soda thus imparting on him the ability to expand into a rubber ball. (Adventure Comics v1 #301)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Overview
Personality and attributes
He later came to take the superhero name of Bouncing Boy. (Action Comics v1 #276)
He was shown as being a fan of robot gladiator tournaments. (Adventure Comics v1 #301)
Powers and abilities
Originally, Chuck Taine had no special powers until one day he was exposed to an instant super-plastic fluid that gave him the power to expand his body. This power was deemed permanent and went into effect whenever he willed it. (Adventure Comics v1 #301)
In this state, he could bounce himself like a large rubber ball. It was said that he did not feel any pain whenever he struck something solid with his body being soft like a sponge. (Adventure Comics v1 #301)
He wore clothes made of stretchable fiber that expanded alongside his powers thus preventing them from tearing in the process. (Adventure Comics v1 #301)
Notes
- Bouncing Boy was created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney where he made his first appearance in Action Comics v1 #276 (May, 1961).
- In R.E.B.E.L.S. v2 #3 (2009), a character named Bounder appeared as a member of R.E.B.E.L.S. where he had similar abilities to Bouncing Boy with him operating in the 21st century.
In other media
Television
- In the DC Animated Universe, Bouncing Boy made a number of appearances in the shared continuity setting:
- In Superman: The Animated Series, Bouncing Boy made a cameo appearance in the animated television series in the episode "New Kids in Town".
- In Justice League Unlimited, Bouncing Boy appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "Far From Home" where he was voiced by actor Googy Gress. When the Fatal Five took mental control over several members of the Legion, Bouncing Boy and Brainiac 5 were the only members of the team not enslaved. Via time travel, Brainiac used his genius to send a time sphere back to the early 21st century and enlisted the aid of Supergirl, Green Lantern and Green Arrow to help combat the Fatal Five. While Bouncy and Lantern were subsequently captured in battle, the other three escaped and managed to defeat the Five and liberate their teammates. In gratitude, Bouncy made all three Leaguers honorary members of the Legion.
- In Legion of Super-Heroes, Bouncing Boy appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Michael Cornacchia. Bouncing Boy, along with Saturn Girl and Brainiac 5, arrive in the 21st Century on the outskirts of the town of Smallville, Kansas, to find Superman. They ask him to come back with them to the 31st Century and help them deal with the Fatal Five. Clark Kent does not agree at first, but they manage to convince him by promising to help him work with his powers. He follows them to the Legion Headquarters in New Metropolis, where Bouncing Boy watches Lightning Lad mess with Clark. Still, Superman later agrees to help the Legion. Together with Superman, they defeated the Fatal Five, and Superman officially joins the Legion. While trapped on the planet Rawl, Brainiac 5 and Bouncy quarrel over his piloting and engineering, but in the end, Bouncing Boy proves his ability to improvise to his teammate. Bouncing Boy watched horror movies on the Legion Cruiser when they hit a Category 13 storm. They find Quavermass 12 a space station. The meet the host and the Professor Planarus and are served dinner by Boris his butler. He warned Bouncy to get out while he still can. When they go to their rooms, Bouncy is separated from the other and he lives his worst nightmares from the movies he ha watched. When he finally gives into his fear he is absorb into a nearby painting. The station is revealed to be powered by fear and he takes down the Legion one by one until Brainiac 5 is able to interface with the core destroying it and freeing Bouncing Boy and his team mates. Bouncing Boy and the team battle Zyx a child like sorcerer from the planet Zerox. It took Phantom Girl's negotiating skills to finally defeat the magical menace. Bouncing Boy is seen working with potential Legion applicants, helping them prepare for the upcoming Legion auditions. In the same episode, his quick thinking helps him in the battle against the Lightspeed Vanguard. This led into the following episode, "Substitutes", in which Bouncing Boy gave encouragement to the future Legion of Substitute Heroes, where it was revealed that he himself tried out for the Legion four times before being accepted. In the end, he ends up coining the fledgeling group's name. Bouncing Boy tries to help the many young heroes at Legion auditions. He helps these applicants because he himself at first was rejected from the team due to his unusual power. His words are what caused a group of rejects to form the Legion of Substitute Heroes. Bouncing Boy's quick thinking and observation allows him to form a plan that is crucial to the Legion's trying to save the inhabitants of the planet Winath. At the end of the episode, after Lightning Lad challenged Cosmic Boy for leadership of the Legion and prompted an election, an upset occurred - with the Legion instead electing Bouncing Boy to the position. After being elected Bouncing Boy receives a kiss from Triplicate Girl, in the end they are seen holding hands. During his tenure, Bouncy dealt with the threat of the Sun-Eater and a renegade Controller as well as the death of a member, Ferro Lad. Over the years, Bouncing Boy and Triplicate Girl formed a close relationship to each other. After two years had passed and Bouncy's term as leader had ended. He was among the Legionnaires who were overwhelmed by the Legion of Super-Villains and the Fatal Five who were released by the time-travelling Imperiex. Bouncy was able to survive and assist his team in freeing rescued team mates from Takron-Galtos. He comforted Triplicate Girl after she lost her third body, Bouncing Boy vowed to be her third and offer his support. He continued to serve with the team, helping them on missions against Lightning Lord, Terra-Man, Mordru, and Brainiac 1.0. Bouncing Boy along with all the members of the Legion of Superheroes gather together to battle Brainiac 5 whose programming had been corrupted by his ancestor the original Brainiac. He travelled the galaxy digitizing everything in it's path. They were all defeated but Superman and Superman X teamed up to save Brainy.
Films
- In Legion of Super-Heroes, Bouncing Boy appeared in the setting of the 2023 animated film where he was voiced by actor Ely Henry. This version was shown as being a student of the Legion Academy.
Appearances
- Action Comics v1: (1961)
- Adventure Comics v1:
External Links
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