Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Who's Who: Invisible Kid (i)

Invisible Kid
by Russell & Siskoid
Real Name:  Lyle Norg
Super-Power(s): Ability to become invisible
Planet of Origin: Earth
Legion Seniority: It has been shown that Invisible Kid joined the Legion after Chameleon Boy and Colossal Boy, which makes him Member #8. Invisible Kid was Leader during Year Six.
 
Legion Log 
Invisible Kid made his debut appearance as a guest-star in a Supergirl story in Action Comics #267. It was later shown that although he, Colossal Boy, and Chameleon Boy were introduced to Supergirl as "new" members, Invisible Kid had joined after the other two. It was also shown that Invisible Kid was one of the members present when Superboy was inducted.

It was later established that Invisible Kid had been a boy genius at Metropolis University studying biochemistry when he created a serum that would render its user invisible. When he heard of the Legion, he decided to try to serve The Greater Good through his abilities and inventions. Upon his admittance he became the second member from Earth (after Colossal Boy). 

Invisible Kid served the Legion with merit for eight years. He was elected Legion Leader in Year Six,  a testament from this team-mates that they valued his intelligence and leadership. He was Leader during one of the Legion's most tumultuous years, as they had to face being outlawed by Universo and then had to face the threats of a Khund invasion, the Sun-Eater, the Fatal Five, the Dark Circle, and Mordru. Exhausted at the end of his term, he vowed to spend more time in his lab, which to him was the same as relaxing. His activity in Legion missions went down dramatically during this time. Less than two years later, he was crushed to death by Validus, who was acting under the command of Tharok. 

Invisible Kid was friendly with everyone when he was off-duty. When he was working, however, he was a no-nonsense professional who expected everyone to do their best at all times. This is probably due to lingering self-doubts as to his worth in the company of ultra-powerful members such as  Mon-El, Ultra Boy, and Colossal Boy. He often kept to himself, spending more time in the lab or with his parents than with his fellow members. After Chemical King came to Earth to be treated for the side effects of his power, Invisible Kid struck up a close friendship with him based on their mutual interests and their time spent together. He was also close to Brainiac 5, Phantom Girl, Chameleon Boy, and Shrinking Violet, the former due to their shared academic interests, the latter because he worked closely with them as a member of the Legion Espionage Squad. 

A sample of the serum that gave Lyle his invisibility powers was kept in the Legion lab. It was this serum that was used two years after his death by the man who would become the second Invisible Kid. 

Invisible Kid was one of the members of the SW6 Legionnaires, and appeared in Legionnaires when it was spun-off into its own series. He acted as the team's leader and was surprised to discover his adult self had died.

After the Reboot, Invisible Kid's parents being absent, he was raised by the Foccard family as a prodigy, with Jacques his foster brother, lost when he tried to imbibe Lyle's invisibility serum (he would later return as a helpful ghostly presence). As a member of the Legion, he invented the flight ring, acted as translator for Chameleon, led the Espionage Squad, and had a long-standing rivalry with Brainiac 5. He led the Legion for one term, during which the team defeated Mordru.

According to The Definitive Guide to The Characters of the DC Universe (2004), Lyle was in a gay relationship with Condo Arlik (Chemical King). This, however, was never stated explicitly in the comic book itself.

After the Threeboot, xenochemistry prodigy Invisible Kid injected himself with his invisibility serum rather than let his unscrupulous Science Police father give it to Earthgov. Having already worked on the flight rings with Brainiac 5, he is inducted into the Legion. Invisible Kid loses an arm when his flight ring explodes, and replaces it with an alien limb. When he returns to active service, he falls in love with a Tritonian mutant called Gazelle, for a time duping her into thinking he was older and more buff thanks to a virtual reality avatar. Gazelle didn't seem to mind either way.

After Infinite Crisis, Invisible Kid's original history has more or less been re-established, which means he has been dead for some time.

Important Invisible Kid Stories: 

Action Comics  #267
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 1)

debut appearance, already a Legionnaire

Adventure Comics  #323
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 3
cameo appearance in this flashback clearly shows Invisible Kid
was already a member when Superboy joined
 
Adventure Comics  #348
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)
 Invisible Kid is elected Legion Leader

Adventure Comics  #351
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 6)

Invisible Kid brooks no insubordination from Ultra Boy

Adventure Comics  #358
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 6)
Invisible Kid refuses to give up against The Hunter

Superboy  #176
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10)
Invisible Kid's origin and friendship with Chemical King

Superboy/Legion #203
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11)
Invisible Kid is killed by Validus

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #206
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11)
Invisible Kid's "ghost" is just as brave and resourceful as the real thing

Legion of Super-Heroes(v3) #59
Invisible Kid's friendship with Chemical King is shown

Secret Origins #47
Invisible Kid's friendship with Chemical King is shown

Legion of Super-Heroes(v4) #25
Invisible Kid returns to the universe as a member of the SW6 Legion

Legionnaires #13
SW6 Invisible Kid fights a rogue telepath who calls himself Kid Psycho

Legionnaires #23
After the Reboot, Invisible Kid invents the flight ring

Legionnaires #66
Lyle is reunited with his foster brother, Jacques Focquart

Legion of Super-Heroes(v5) #0
After the Threeboot, co-inventor of the flight ring Invisible Kid joins
the youth movement known as the Legion

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #27
Invisible Kid gets his arm torn off; it will be replaced with an alien arm for a time

Legion of Super-Heroes(v5) #50
Love interest Gazelle finds out Invisible Kid's real appearance,
but decides to pursue the relationship anyway

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