Ultra Boy (Jo Nah) is a superhero appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries.[1] He gained his powers after being eaten by a whale-like beast in space and being exposed to large amounts of radiation while inside. His real name is derived from the Biblical figure Jonah, who also survived being swallowed by a "large fish" (often interpreted as a whale).
| Ultra Boy | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ultra Boy as depicted in Who's Who in the DC Universe #24 (February 1987). Art by Ron Frenz (penciller) and Bruce Patterson (inker). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Superboy #98 (July 1962) |
| Created by | Jerry Siegel Curt Swan |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Jo Nah |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Place of origin | Rimbor |
| Team affiliations | Legion of Super-Heroes Workforce |
| Notable aliases | Emerald Dragon |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, superhuman speed, flight, durability, flash vision, 'penetra-vision' (one power at a time) |
Ultra Boy has made limited appearances in media outside comics, with James Arnold Taylor voicing him in Legion of Super Heroes (2006).
Publication history
editUltra Boy first appeared in Superboy #98, and was created by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan.[2]
Fictional character biography
edit
In Ultra Boy's first appearance in Superboy #98 (1962), he travels to the 21st century to uncover Superboy's secret identity and prove himself worthy of joining the Legion.[3] After joining the Legion, he serves two terms as their leader.[4][5]
After the Legion disbands in the "Five Years Later" arc, Ultar Boy returns to Rimbor and becomes a criminal before rejoining the group. Furthermore, a temporal clone of Ultra Boy from "Batch SW6" is introduced.[6]
Following Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, which reboots the Legion's continuity, Ultra Boy is reimagined as the former leader of the Emerald Dragons gang and a member of Workforce. He later leaves Workforce, joins the Legion, and marries Apparition, with whom he has a son named Cub. In the "Threeboot", he has a brief affair with Saturn Girl.[7]
In Doomsday Clock, Doctor Manhattan erases Ultra Boy and the Legion from existence before Superman convinces him to restore them.[8][9]
Powers and abilities
editUltra Boy possesses abilities similar to Superman, including flight, x-ray vision, heat vision, and superhuman strength, durability, and speed. However, he can only use one power at a time.
As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Ultra Boy is provided a Legion Flight Ring, which allows him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments. Although he has the equivalent innate abilities, the ring allows him to forgo them and leave another of his powers available for use.
In other media
editTelevision
edit- Ultra Boy makes a cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "New Kids In Town".
- Ultra Boy makes a cameo appearance in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far From Home" as one of several Legionnaires mind-controlled by the Fatal Five.
- Jo Nah / Ultra Boy appears in Legion of Super Heroes, voiced by James Arnold Taylor. Introduced as a civilian in the episode "Champions", he competes in the Intergalactic Games before helping fellow contestant Tenzil Kem and the Legion fend off an attack by the Fatal Five. As of the two-part episode "Sundown", Ultra Boy joins the Legion to help them defeat the Sun-Eater.
Video games
editUltra Boy appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[10]
Miscellaneous
edit- Ultra Boy serves as inspiration for Champions's "Ultra Slots".[citation needed]
- Ultra Boy appears in Adventures in the DC Universe #10.[11]
- Ultra Boy appears in the one-shot comic Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes.[12]
References
edit- ^ Cadigan, Glen, ed. (2004). The Best of the Legion Outpost. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 9781893905368. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ Cadigan, Glen (2003). The Legion Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 9781893905221. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 450–451. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
- ^ Ultra Boy's first term as leader began in Adventure Comics #371 (August 1968)
- ^ Ultra Boy's second term as leader began in Superboy #184 (August 1972)
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #38 (December 1992)
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 5) #46 (November 2008)
- ^ Doomsday Clock #12 (December 2019). DC Comics.
- ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 4) #10 (September 2024)
- ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Adventures in the DC Universe #10 - The Blobs (Issue)". Comic Vine. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ "Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes #1 - Atomic Batteries To Power, Flight Rings To Speed (Issue)". Comic Vine. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.