Antennae Lad

ANTENNAE LAD

Real Name: Khfeurb Chee Bez

Class: Extraterrestrial (Grxyor)

Occupation: Substitute Legionnaire

Group Affiliation: Legion of Substitute Heroes

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Antennae Boy

Base of Operations: Metropolis, 30th Century.

First Appearance: Adventure Comics I #305 (February, 1963)

Powers: Antennae Lad's ears functioned like radar dishes, enabling him to tune into any broadcast from any era, but he had little control over his power.

History: (Adventure Comics I #305) - Antennae Boy traveled to Metropolis from his home planet of Grxyor to audition for a spot on the Legion of Super-Heroes. He demonstrated his ability to use his ears as an antennae to pick up Earth’s radio broadcasts from the past, present or future, but the sound of screeching radio programs playing over each other was unbearable for the Legion, and they asked Antennae Boy to turn his powers off. He admitted he was still learning to control his powers, and didn’t know how to turn them off, so his application for membership was rejected.

(DC Comics Presents #59) - Ambush Bug broke out of jail and decided to annoy Superman, teleporting on his back and wrapping his cape around his head as he was traveling through time. Superman had an errand to run in the 40th Century, but couldn't bring the Bug, so he stopped by the 30th century and dropped him by the Legion of Substitute Heroes, who were subbing for the MIA Legion. Polar Boy put him in a holding cell, and assured Superman everything would be okay. Superman ran his errand only to find Ambush Bug had escaped the heroes' custody. Chlorophyll Kid admitted that their holding cell was broken, so they had Bug in an aquarium tank. Ambush Bug stole Superman's cape and put it on an alien before tossing him off a building, telling him he was the new Superman. The Subs intervened, and he attacked Antennae Lad, trying to pull off his ears, but soon got bored. The Science Police alerted Superman to the chaos Bug was causing, and he was currently running through the Superman Museum. Ambush Bug had no idea what time period he was in, but decided to stay where he could be comfortably insane. Superman dreaded Ambush Bug discovering his secret identity, and flew to the museum with the Substitute Heroes. He tried frying all the bugs he used to teleport, but Ambush Bug had more stored in his antennae. Superman reasoned that Ambush Bug could be tricked by putting up signs telling him not to enter a room, and not to push a button, and as soon as the signs were up Ambush Bug activated a Phantom Zone projector, trapping him. Superman gave the Subs a pep talk, telling them they'd make their own legends one day.

Comments: Created by Jerry Siegel & John Forte.

Antennae Boy received a profile in Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1. Antennae Lad received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #13 under the Legion of Substitute Heroes entry.