Ferro Lad
Ferro Lad | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Adventure Comics #346 (July 1966) |
Created by | Jim Shooter |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Andrew Nolan |
Species | Metahuman |
Place of origin | Earth (31st century) |
Team affiliations | Legion of Super-Heroes |
Notable aliases | Ferro |
Abilities |
|
Ferro Lad (Andrew Nolan) is a superhero appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. In post-Zero Hour continuity, he is simply known as Ferro.[1]
Publication history
Ferro Lad first appeared in Adventure Comics #346 and was created by Jim Shooter.[2] When Jim Shooter first created the character, he intended Ferro Lad to be black, but editor Mort Weisinger vetoed the idea,[3] saying "we'll lose our distribution in the South".[4]
In a 2003 interview, Shooter said that he killed Ferro Lad out of annoyance towards being unable to make him black.[5] However, in a 2011 blog post, he had a different explanation: that Ferro Lad's powers made him one of the only Legionnaires able to survive going into the Sun-Eater.[6]
Shooter made double-sure that Ferro Lad would stay dead by setting the next issue ten years in the future, in which a statue of him is on display in the Legion's hall of the honored dead.[6]
The Life and Death of Ferro Lad (
Fictional character biography
Silver Age
Andrew Nolan is a
Ferro Lad was only a Legionnaire for a short time when he was killed destroying the Sun-Eater with a bomb in Adventure Comics #353. His self-sacrifice to save the galaxy made him legendary, despite his short tenure as a Legionnaire, with many later Silver Age stories featuring references to his death, both the event itself and a statue erected in his memory was often visible in the Legion's headquarters. He next appears in Adventure Comics #357 (June 1967), but as a ghost, seemingly saving a number of his former teammates from a Controller, representative of a race of superior beings.
Many years later—during the
Post-Zero Hour
In post-
Born in the 20th century, Andrew Nolan and his twin, Douglas, were the sons of a famous actress, Nancy Nolan, who abandoned them because of their grotesque facial deformities.[1][9]
Left in the care of an unscrupulous scientist called "Doc 30", he escaped while Douglas remained behind. When the Earth was dying due to the extinguishing of the sun in the so-called
When the Legion were able to return to their home time, Ferro went with them and served with them for some time until several of the team were lost in a rift, and the remainder ordered to disband. After this he went with Karate Kid to a monastery on the planet Steeple, a planet only accessible for short periods every ten years before a black hole prevented access once more. While there, he finally learned to deal with his deformity, but he was savagely beaten by an escaped convict and, while the monks were able to save his life, he was trapped in iron form with the helmet he wore fused to his face. Moreover, he and Karate Kid, who had refused to leave his friend behind, were now trapped on the planet for ten years.[citation needed]
Brainiac 5 was able to use the Threshold technology he had learned of during his time lost to open a path to Steeple, but before anyone could use it, he, along with all of the Legion (bar Sensor and Shikari) and several whole planets were entranced by Universo.[citation needed] Sensor and Shikari were forced to use the unstable link to Steeple to escape, and the four of them were able to free Saturn Girl who, with aid from Apparition and Ultra Boy's child, Cub, was able to defeat Universo, while Ferro and Karate Kid rejoined the team.[citation needed]
The Lightning Saga
The events of the
Powers and abilities
Andrew Nolan has the ability to transform his body into a nearly indestructible isotope of iron. Unlike Stone Boy, Nolan maintains his full mobility, normal intellect, and capacity for speech. His iron-like form can resist considerable damage, including direct hits by laser blasts. He could use this power offensively by ramming into an opponent or obstacle. Ferro Lad's physical strength had been increased when in metal form, allowing him to bend and shape steel like clay.[11]
Equipment
As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Ferro Lad is provided with his own Legion Flight Ring, which allows him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments. He also has a built-in radio mask for communication in airless space.
Other versions
In Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #300, Douglas Nolan glimpses an alternate universe where he became the second Ferro Lad after Andrew's death.
In Amalgam Comics, Ferro Lad combines with Marvel's Colossus to create Ferro Man of the X-Patrol.
In other media
Television
- A statue of Ferro Lad appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far from Home".
- Ferro Lad appears in Legion of Super Heroes (2006), voiced by Dave Wittenberg. In his most notable appearance in the two-part season one finale "Sundown", an adaptation of the Sun-Eater story arc, he sacrifices himself to destroy the Sun-Eater, with his body subsequently ending up in an asteroid. Additionally, according to series producer James Tucker, his long-lost twin brother would have appeared had the show been renewed for a third season.[12]
Film
- A statue of Ferro Lad appears in Justice League vs. the Fatal Five.
- Ferro Lad makes a cameo appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes (2023).
Miscellaneous
- Ferro Lad appears in Adventures in the DC Universe #10.[13]
- Ferro Lad appears in the one-shot comic Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes.[14]
See also
References
- ^ OCLC 213309017
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #30!". Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ISBN 978-1893905221.
- ^ Cadigan, p. 54.
- ^ ISBN 978-1605490557.
- ISBN 978-1605490557.
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #38, late December 1992.
- The Adventures of Superman#540 (1996)
- ^ IGN: Superman/Green Lantern interview Archived 2012-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol 1 #8 (October 1985)
- ^ "The World's Finest - Batman: The Brave and the Bold".
- ^ "Adventures in the DC Universe #10 - The Blobs (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ "Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes #1 - Atomic Batteries To Power, Flight Rings To Speed (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved August 18, 2023.