Garth Ranzz
Garth Ranzz | |
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Workforce Legion Rescue Squad | |
Notable aliases | Lightning Boy, Live Wire |
Abilities | Powers:
Abilities:
Equipment:
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Garth Ranzz, also known as Live Wire and Lightning Lad, is a
Garth Ranzz made his live-action debut in an episode of Smallville, portrayed by Calum Worthy.
Publication history
The character first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 (April 1958), and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.[2]
Fictional character biography
Silver Age
Lightning Lad is a
Early in the Legion's history, he sacrificed himself battling Zaryan the Conqueror,[4] but was later resurrected by the sacrifice of Proty, Chameleon Boy's shapeshifting pet. A later retcon revealed that Proty's mind had actually taken over Lightning Lad's form, but this has since been eliminated from Legion canon.
An incident against a monster dubbed the "Super Moby Dick of space" resulted in the loss of Lightning Lad's right arm, which was replaced with a bionic appendage. He eventually had his arm regrown, but in the interim a criminal scientist used the situation to hypnotize Lightning Lad into acting as the super-criminal Starfinger, who used the bionic arm as a weapon. After The Great Darkness Saga, his son was abducted by Darkseid and subsequently transformed into the monster Validus.
During the
Zero Hour - Reboot
In the aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman's origin was revamped and Superboy was erased from Superman's past. However, the Legion's history greatly revolved around Superboy, and that version of the character was retconned into being part of a "pocket universe", a solution which caused several continuity errors. After the Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! miniseries, Legion history was completely rebooted. Garth's new history started when the twins went with Mekt on a trip in their parents' new space cruiser and became stranded on the barren planet Korbal after the cruiser's power cells drained. Ayla suggested that they use the "Lightning Beasts" (the only living things on the planet) in an attempt to recharge their cruiser. The only result of this, however, was that all three were found in comas the following day as a result of massive electrocution.[volume & issue needed]
Months later, Garth and Ayla awoke simultaneously to find that Mekt had awoken around a week earlier, displayed electrical powers like the Beasts, threatened the staff, and vanished. After hearing this, they kept the fact that they had developed similar powers from their parents before Garth, thinking that the lightning had corrupted Mekt somehow and would soon corrupt them and refusing to believe that Mekt had developed into a sociopath just because he had been a "solo" on a world of twins, ran away from home to find Mekt (telling his parents he was going to visit his Aunt Ryth), despite Ayla's attempts to dissuade him.[volume & issue needed]
Legion
Hearing that Mekt might be on Earth, he got on a shuttle bound for Earth via Titan, and met Rokk Krinn there. The two hit it off immediately, but although he developed a crush on her at first sight, Imra Ardeen gave him a frosty reception. Nonetheless, when she shouted that four "maintenance men" were actually assassins after R. J. Brande, the three worked together to stop them. This gave Brande an idea. Shortly after, a bar-room brawl caused Garth to be arrested, but just as his cellmates were about to beat him up, Triad-Orange came and posted his bail - Brande wanted a word. There, he found the other two Luornus had fetched Imra and Rokk. Brande, a follower of the 21st century "Heroic Age", proceeded to talk the three of them into founding "a Legion of Super-Heroes", with Garth taking the codename Live Wire.[volume & issue needed]
Despite early tension between him and Saturn Girl, Garth's initial period with the Legion passed with little trouble, until his sister showed up. At this point, they were only permitted to have one Legionnaire per world and Garth, classed as a runaway, was not who Winath wanted to represent them. Ayla, codenamed Spark, was apologetic, but neither of them had much choice in the matter and after he nearly leveled Legion Plaza in his fight with Ultra Boy (after UB had threatened Ayla), he quit rather than embarrass Rokk or Imra any more by letting them plead to let him stay.[volume & issue needed]
Solo
After this, Garth joined Leland McCauley's
Shortly after, several
At the end, the three founders stood on Legion HQ as Saturn Girl called the Daxamites there, just in time for Element Lad and Brainiac 5 to send them to a planet where they would be powerless, ending the threat.[volume & issue needed]
Mekt
In the aftermath, however, he was once more forced off the team—and stung by Ayla's charge that he talked a good game on finding Mekt, but never actually did anything about it - he went on his travels again to try once more to find his wayward brother. After spending 27060
Garth awoke just as they were entering Korbal's orbit, where Mekt started killing more beasts to increase his own power, so he would be the only one with lightning powers, a plan that did not involve Garth or Ayla. As Garth realized this, several Science Police cruisers flew overhead announcing that he was under arrest for the murder of a policeman. Mekt immediately began to down the cruisers, while Garth pleaded with Mekt to stop. Finally, when Ayla showed up, a ranting Mekt attacked her. Garth was finally forced to face the truth about Mekt, but Mekt, now more powerful than both of the twins together, retaliated by vaporizing Garth's right arm. Ayla grabbed Mekt's laser pistol and shot him in the leg, delaying him while she saw that Garth's wound had cauterized itself. Finally, as Mekt prepared to finish them off, Garth prompted Ayla to hold his remaining hand and let their powers run together freely. The resulting blast was enough to not only knock Mekt off his feet, but completely discharge him (not to mention turn his hair white). Mekt was finally arrested by the S.P., and (after a short stay in hospital) Garth was cleared of all charges.[volume & issue needed]
While he was recovering from the ordeal, and getting used to his artificial arm, he was contacted by Cosmic Boy, who knew that President Chu was up to something, but he didn't know what and thus had to play along with her wishes (which included keeping Live Wire off the team). Rokk thus had Live Wire put together a secret "Rescue Squad". After recruiting Ultra Boy, Element Lad, Andromeda, Valor and XS, they saved the Legion from the Fatal Five. Both teams then divided into three, and all the heroes combined to have Chu impeached and arrested, and to prevent her (with the Fatal Five's help) from reviving the Braal-Titan War. R.J. Brande was then reluctantly drafted as the new U.P. president, and his first act was to abolish the U.P.-installed membership restrictions on the team, allowing Garth to rejoin.[volume & issue needed]
Garth was killed during the "Legion Lost" storyline, sacrificing himself in battle with the Progenitor (actually an insane Element Lad). A few crystals were left from the destruction of the Progenitor, which Kid Quantum took with her upon the Lost Legion's return to the "first" galaxy; she left the crystals on Shanghalla (the heroes' graveyard). It turned out Garth's essence survived in the crystals and Jan's body regrew but with Garth's mind. He was apparently able to use both the Element Lad and Lightning Lad powers in the new crystalline body. His relationship with other Legionnaires, including Saturn Girl, was strained due to his outward resemblance to the Progenitor.[volume & issue needed]
In the
Threeboot
In the 2005 Waid/Kitson revamp, Garth Ranzz (again as Lightning Lad) remains a charter member of the galactic youth movement the Legion has become (it is revealed that he coined the first Legion motto—"Eat it, Grandpa!") He and Saturn Girl share an intimate connection, and Garth notes that one has to be "way honest" to date a telepath. He is protective of his twin, Light Lass, and bears a slight grudge against
Post-"Infinite Crisis"
The events of the 2005–2006 "
Garth later escorts Superman back to the present, where the two take time to reminisce on certain teenage misadventures in the
In the 2009 revival of Adventure Comics Garth is sent by an imprisoned Mekt to uncover the truth about whether Mekt was in fact a single birth, or whether his suspicions are correct that he does have a twin and that his parents have covered this up.[9] It remains to be seen whether he is telling the truth, is lying, or has deluded himself into believing this. If it is true, this revelation would be a significant alteration to the characters' backstory.
In the "Watchmen" sequel "Doomsday Clock", Lightning Lad is among the Legionnaires that appear in the present after Doctor Manhattan undid the experiment that erased the Legion and the Justice Society of America.[10]
Powers and abilities
Lightning Lad has the ability to generate electricity within his own body without harming himself. This electricity he is able to discharge in the form of potent "lightning bolts". He can also create flashing lettering which can be seen from great distances. He has occasionally displayed limited control of the weather. In more recent versions of the character, Garth is also able to direct his electric powers internally so as to move at superhuman speed, with his top speed being approximately one-third the speed of light. Lightning Lad is immune to the harmful effects of electric currents, not only those currents that he himself generates.
As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Garth is additionally provided a Legion Flight Ring, which allows him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments.
In other media
Television
- Garth Ranzz as Lightning Lad makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "New Kids In Town".
- Garth Ranzz as Lightning Lad makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far From Home".
- Garth Ranzz as Lightning Lad appears in Legion of Super-Heroes (2006), voiced by Andy Milder.[11] This version is brash, hot-headed, and sports glowing blue eyes and a lightning-shaped scar over his right eye, both of which he obtained during the incident that gave him his powers. Additionally, he displays a competitive rivalry with Superman that later becomes a closer relationship as the series progresses. In his most notable appearance in the episode "Chained Lightning", Lightning Lad loses his right arm while fighting his brother Mekt before gaining a prosthetic arm called the Cybernetic 4000 capable of firing explosive electric blasts from Brainiac 5 and Shrinking Violet. Following this, he and Mekt work together to restore their sister Ayla after discovering that she had become a disembodied energy being.
- Garth Ranzz as Lightning Lad appears in the Smallville episode "Legion", portrayed by Calum Worthy. This version is an overzealous fan of Clark Kent, who initially expresses disappointment in his attitude before rallying him, Cosmic Boy, and Saturn Girl to defeat Brainiac.
Film
- Garth Ranzz as Lightning Lad appears in defeat Brainiac before helping the former return to the present.
- Garth Ranzz as Lightning Lad makes a non-speaking appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes (2023).
- The Legion of Super Heroes (2006) incarnation of Lightning Lad makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too!.[12]
Video games
Garth Ranzz as Lightning Lad makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Brainiac's ending in Injustice 2.
Miscellaneous
- Garth Ranzz as Lightning Lad appears in Adventures in the DC Universe #10.[13]
- Garth Ranzz as Lightning Lad appears in the one-shot comic Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes.[14]
References
- ISBN 978-1-4012-1389-3.
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
- ISBN 978-1605490458.
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (Vol. 4) #38 (Late December 1992) DC Comics.
- ^ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3
- ^ Action Comics #859. DC Comics.
- ^ Action Comics #864. DC Comics.
- Henry, Clayton (a). "Long Live the Legion, Part Two: Lightning Lad" Adventure Comics, no. 2, p. 29 (November 2009). DC Comics.
- ^ Doomsday Clock #12 (December 2019). DC Comics.
- ^ a b "Lightning Lad Voices (Legion of Super Heroes)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved March 10, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ "soranatus - Looks like in 2021 Digital eMation was working on a Scooby-Doo Meets Krypto DTV..." Tumblr. September 6, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ "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.