History: Tenzil Kem emigrated to Earth from his native Bismoll when he heard the Legion of Super-Heroes were having tryouts. he took the superhero identity Matter-Eater Lad and demonstrated his natural ability to consume anything, earning him a spot in the Legion. Matter-Eater Lad was forced to retire from heroics when he was drafted into Bismollian politics, and eventually became a senator.

(Adventure Comics I #304) - Matter-Eater Lad and the Legion were set to have their annual vote to elect a new leader, and Saturn Girl was the first to arrive at the Clubhouse. A crystal capsule sent from the Trylop Council of Mernl dropped from the sky warning that their computers predicted a Legionnaire would die using their powers during an upcoming invasion of Earth by Zaryan the Conqueror, and Saturn Girl resolved to sacrifice herself to protect her fellow Legionnaires. She used her thought control to nudge the Legion into electing her leader, then used a rainbow bar from their treasury to make medallions with her face printed on them, and demanded every Legionnaire wear one. She demanded the Legionnaires demonstrate effective use of their powers, and was able to temporarily duplicate each member of the Legion’s powers using the medallions they wore, and proceeded to forbid them for using their powers or going on missions during a probation period because she declared they were not using their powers properly. When Zaryan began his invasion of Earth she responded, and warned the other Legionnaires not to follow her because they were on probation. The Legion thought she’d gone mad with power, but Mon-El had observed her actions from the Phantom Zone, and knew her motivations. Sunspots interfered with him communicating with the Legion, but when they lifted he filled in Lightning Lad on the situation, and he flew into space, determined to keep Saturn Girl from sacrificing herself. He blew up Zaryan’s ship with his powers, but was fatally shot with a freeze-ray. The Legion honored him by placing him in a glass coffin with lightning generated over it by a perpetual motion device, and his funeral was attended by Superboy, Supergirl and Lori Lemaris. The Legion placed a statue of Lightning Lad in their Clubhouse as a tribute to the first Legionnaire killed in action.

(Action Comics I #381) - The Legion closed shop for the night, with Brainiac 5 staying behind for night duty. Karate Kid walked home, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad went to catch a 3-D movie and Chemical King offered to give Phantom Girl, Ultra Boy and Matter-Eater Lad a ride home so he could show off his new air-car. Matter-Eater Lad had him drop him off a while away from home because he didn’t want his fellow Legionnaires, who lived in expensive upper level units to see that he lived in the lower level slum with his parents. Matter-Eater Lad got into an argument with his parents because his father Rall spent his entire pension and most of Matter-Eater Lad’s Legion check on his gambling habit, and decided to leave home. He walked back to the Legion Clubhouse where he found Shrinking Violet, who’d replaced Brainiac 5 on night duty when he’d been called away on a mission. She was obviously distraught, and she explained that she’d fallen for Duplicate Boy, and started dating him, but they rarely got to see each other because they lived five million parsecs apart and were often on missions for the Legion or the Heroes of Lallor respectively. They had a date that night, but Duplicate Boy never showed up and Violet felt lonely. Matter-Eater Lad decided to spend his Legion check and ask her out on a date. Princess Projecta offered to relieve Violet of night duty, and help her get snazzed up for her date. Over dinner Matter-Eater Lad told her about the problems in his home life, but she said she couldn’t offer advice and had to figure out how to cope with things himself. After dancing  at the Top of the Towers they returned to the Clubhouse, and shared a kiss. Duplicate Lad, who’d missed his date with Vi because he was on a mission, was observing her with his telescopic vision and appeared on Earth, threatening to crush Matter-Eater Lad. Matter-Eater Lad told him that if Violet loved him nothing he did would change that, and beating him up solved absolutely nothing. Duplicate Boy realized he was right and calmed down, and Violet told Duplicate Boy she still loved him, she was just lonely. The next day Matter-Eater Lad agreed to move back home after his father promised to stop gambling.

Comments: Created by Jerry Siegel & John Forte.

Matter-Eater Lad received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #15 and Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #4. Tenzil Kem received a profile in Who’s Who in the DC Universe #9. He received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #13 and Who's Who in the DC Universe #9 under the Legion of Super-Heroes entry.

Matter-Eater Lad's appearance in Adventure Comics I #304 was reprinted in Adventure Comics I #403, 499.

Matter-Eater Lad had a cameo in Adventure Comics I #309.

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