The Legion of Superheroes is reportedly getting an animated movie. While that won’t necessarily catapult them to international stardom, it will generate some renewed interest in the classic team.
Debuting in 1958’s Adventure Comics #258, they were the teenage superheroes of the 31st Century. Led by Superboy, they had one of the most eclectic lineups of any team in DC history. Besides Superboy, there was Supergirl, and Brainiac 5. They also had a tradition of some really weird characters. As in embarrassingly, who-thought-of-this bad characters, which brings us to this week’s Oddball, Bouncing Boy.
The name alone should raise eyebrows. His power? He can inflate his body like a ball and bounce. That’s right, he has the power of bouncing. That’s it. On the plus side, he is pretty much invulnerable, so his teammates have fun throwing him at targets. Honestly, isn’t that what we’d do in the same position?
Where did DC’s very own Violet Beauregarde get his powers? Apparently, the former Chuck Taine was in the mood for a soda, so he grabbed the first bottle he could find. That turned out to be an experimental formula for a super plastic. Instead of, you know, poisoning him, Chuck discovered he could turn himself into a ball.
A character like Bouncing Boy is a sign of the times. When he was created in the early 1960s, the Comics Code Authority was in full swing. The heavy-handed restrictions had DC aiming their stories and characters at the youngest of potential readers, and that gave birth to some of the quirkiest comics and superheroes imaginable. Putting it in historic perspective, Bouncing Boy fits in perfectly to the Silver Age silliness.
ACTION COMICS #276
The first time readers met Bouncing Boy was at the same time that Supergirl accepted her membership card to the Legion of Superheroes (which may or may not have gotten her a t-shirt and a free coffee at participating retailers). The issue also featured the first appearances of Bouncing Boy’s future wife, Triplicate Girl, as well as Phantom Girl, Sun Boy, Brainiac 5, and Shrinking Violet.
The highest grade sold in the past month has been the 5.5, which sold for $650 on July 27.
ADVENTURE COMICS #301
While you are stockpiling those Bouncing Boy keys (because we all know he’s going to be the next giant star in the DCEU, right?), you might as well head over to Adventure Comics #301. In a backup story, we are treated to the origin of Bouncing Boy and how Chuck Taine impressed his Legion of Superheroes teammates. The Legion was holding open auditions to join the team, and Bouncing Boy took the opportunity. Then they heard his horrible origin story and decided he was too lame for them. Afterwards, Bouncing Boy turned into a rubber ball and proved himself against some guy with an electric shocker. Maybe the pickings were low that day, but it was enough to convince the Legion to have second thoughts on Bouncing Boy.
The sales have been few and far between for obvious reasons. There’s only been one graded sale in 2022, and that was when a 4.5 brought $65 in January.
BOUNCING FORWARD
Since the next on-screen version of the Legion of Superheroes will be in the DCAU, then it could be a good time for Bouncing Boy. The world of animation may be the best bet to bring him to life in what should be a tongue-in-cheek affair. I doubt we’re going to see him take a large role in the animated movie, but he could at least have some key scenes.
Want more Oddball action?
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ODDBALL OF THE WEEK: SPOTLIGHT ON THE SPOT
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ODDBALL OF THE WEEK: HE RIDES UPON A RAINBOW (RAIDER)
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FEELING FROGGY: THE ODDBALL OF THE WEEK, FROG-MAN
