When it comes to superpowers, most fans would probably agree that Superman and Green Lantern won the lottery. Superman’s vast array of abilities make him one of the DC Universe’s most powerful beings. Likewise, Green Lantern’s power ring is considered the most powerful weapon in the universe, as it allows Green Lantern Corps members to do everything from fly to create near-indestructible energy constructs.
As unbelievable as it may sound, however, an incredibly obscure hero with a seemingly weak and useless ability can actually take down both Superman and Green Lantern at any time – with practically no effort. While few people have ever heard of him, Legion of Superheroes reject Color Kid may be one of the DC Universe’s most underrated superheroes.
An alien from the planet Lupra, Ulu Vakk was caught in a beam of extradimensional light that gave him the ability to… change the color of any object permanently. Enthralled by his amazing superpower, Ulu decided to apply to the Legion of Superheroes, a group of 31st century teenage heroes – who promptly rejected him and his silly power. Undaunted, the newly christened “Color Kid” decided to join the Legion of Substitute Heroes, a group of similarly rejected teenagers, and still do some good.
And he did! When a cloud of green Kryptonite surrounded the Earth, making it impossible for Superboy or Supergirl to function on their adopted world, Color Kid changed the color of the Kryptonite cloud to blue. In the process, he somehow changed the very atomic structure of the Kryptonite into actual blue Kryptonite (which is only deadly to Bizarro versions of Superman), saving the day. Although this was a monumental feat, most superheroes continued to dismiss Color Kid’s abilities…
Which is a big mistake. By showing he could change the very nature of Kryptonite, Color Kid is quite possibly the most dangerous adversary any Kryptonian could face. By simply acquiring a piece of any type of Kryptonite – even an inert, harmless chunk – Color Kid could transform the Kryptonite into any variety he wishes, from unpredictable Red Kryptonite to power-stealing Gold Kryptonite. It wouldn’t matter how rare or difficult to obtain Kryptonite is – as long as he has a single piece, Color Kid could wield all of its powers.
It's even possible that Color Kid could invent entirely new types of Kryptonite simply by changing the rock’s color. Since his power clearly changes the atomic structure of elements along with their color, it would be fascinating to see what new forms of the substance he could manifest, and their effects on Kryptonians. Even Batman, who has a gauntlet with multiple types of Kryptonite, can’t manipulate this substance with the same versatility that Color Kid can.
Color Kid’s powers also make him incredibly dangerous against another powerful force – the Green Lantern Corps. Since Green Lantern rings cannot affect the color yellow, Color Kid could basically neutralize their abilities by changing everything around them to yellow – or even hitting them with wide beams of yellow light.
Even “ordinary” villains underestimate Color Kid’s powers at their peril. Since Color Kid can alter the color of any object permanently, he can blind his opponents by turning their corneas or retinas black (which he’s actually been known to do). This puts his enemies at a severe disadvantage and gives him an immediate edge in any fight.
Color Kid has also shown he can create perfect camouflage effects by shifting his colors to blend with his surroundings. This effectively gives him the power of invisibility as he can turn any person or object into a virtual chameleon. As his powers affect the way light interacts with objects, he also has control over darkness, which came in handy when he needed to project fields of darkness to empower his teammate Night Girl who gains superstrength in the dark.
Unfortunately, most heroes – and indeed most writers – continue to treat Color Kid as a joke. Color Kid himself doesn’t seem to understand the full magnitude of his powers, choosing instead to often use them in more whimsical ways. In one sense, this is frustrating as he could potentially be a very powerful hero – but on the other hand, it’s probably for the best that he only use his power in small, beneficial ways. Superman and the Green Lantern Corps wouldn’t last very long if he cut loose.
Image credit: Gene Gonzales & Simon Gough.