Karate Kid (character)

This article is about the DC Comics character. For the protagonist of The Karate Kid franchise, see Daniel LaRusso.
Karate Kid
Karate Kid as depicted in Countdown to Final Crisis #45 (June 2007). Art by Ed Benes.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAdventure Comics #346 (July 1966)
Created byJim Shooter (writer and artist)
In-story information
Alter egoVal Armorr
SpeciesHuman
Place of originEarth (31st century)
Team affiliationsLegion of Super-Heroes
Justice League
AbilitiesMaster of every martial art up to the 31st century across the galaxy
Peak human physical condition
Able to sense weak spots in objects
Resistance to mind control

Karate Kid (Val Armorr) is a superhero appearing in the DC Comics universe, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. He is a master of every form of martial arts to have been developed by the 31st century.[1] The extent of his skill is so great that he can severely damage various types of hard material with a single blow and was briefly able to hold his own against Superboy through what he called "Super Karate".

Karate Kid has made limited appearances in other media, primarily in association with the Legion. He is voiced by Keith Ferguson in Legion of Super Heroes (2006) and Dante Basco in JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time.

Publication history

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Karate Kid first appeared in Adventure Comics #346 (July 1966) and was created by Jim Shooter.[2] The character appeared in Shooter's first published story, along with other new members of the Legion of Super-Heroes: Princess Projectra, Ferro Lad and Nemesis Kid.[3]

Fictional character biography

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Val Armorr is the son of Japanese crime lord Kirau Nezumi, also known as Black Dragon. When he was born, his mother, American secret agent Valentina Armorr, tried to hide him from his father, but she failed and was killed for her effort. Japan's greatest hero Sensei Toshiaki (the White Crane) kills Black Dragon for his crimes, adopts Val, and trains him in martial arts. Following an unsuccessful attempt to impress Toshiaki, Val leaves him and searches the galaxy for new forms of battle to master.

Legion of Super-Heroes

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Main article: Legion of Super-Heroes

When Val returns to Earth, he applies to join the Legion of Super-Heroes, who are searching for recruits to battle the Khunds. Despite lacking powers, he joins the Legion after defeating Superboy in one-on-one combat. He later becomes the Legion's leader for one term[a] and falls in love with Princess Projectra.

Karate Kid is later killed in battle with Nemesis Kid and succeeded by Myg.[4][5] Furthermore, a temporal clone of Karate Kid from "Batch SW6" is introduced in the "Five Years Later" arc.[6]

1994 reboot

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Post-Zero Hour Karate Kid as depicted in Legion of Superheroes #103 (April 1998).
Art by Alan Davis.

Karate Kid is resurrected following Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, which reboots the Legion's continuity. He joins Leland McCauley's Workforce before leaving them and joining the Legion. After the Legion's universe is destroyed, Karate Kid is among the Legionnaires who travel the multiverse to find survivors from other universes.

The Threeboot incarnation of Karate Kid as depicted in Legion of Superheroes (vol. 5) #5 (June 2005).
Art by Barry Kitson.

In the "Threeboot", Karate Kid is a combat trainer for other Legion members.[7]

One Year Later and Countdown

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In One Year Later and Countdown to Final Crisis, the pre-Zero Hour Karate Kid resurfaces and is brainwashed into believing that he is the villain Trident.[8][9] After being freed from mind control, Karate Kid stays in the 21st century with Una before being killed by the Morticoccus virus.[10] Karate Kid is later resurrected and rejoins the Legion.[11]

Solo series

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Karate Kid
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleBi-monthly
FormatOngoing
Publication dateMarch/April 1976 – July/August 1978
No. of issues15
Main character(s)Karate Kid
Creative team
Written byBarry Jameson
Bob Rozakis
Paul Levitz
Jack C. Harris
Penciller(s)Ric Estrada
Juan Ortiz
Editor(s)Joe Orlando
Al Milgrom
Dennis O'Neil

The pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Karate Kid was featured in a 15-issue ongoing series, cover dated March/April 1976 through July/August 1978. It was written primarily by Barry Jameson and Bob Rozakis, with pencils by Ric Estrada and Juan Ortiz.[12]

In the series, Karate Kid attempts to prove to King Voxv of Orando that he is worthy of marrying Princess Projectra. While in the past, he befriends schoolteacher Iris Jacobs and encounters teen heroes Superboy and Robin. He battles numerous villains, including Nemesis Kid, Major Disaster, and the Lord of Time. Eventually, he returns to the 30th century to assist the Legion during "Earthwar".[13]

Powers and abilities

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Karate Kid is a master in every documented form of martial arts. He can sense the weakest spot in an object and damage durable materials such as metal and stone with a single blow.

Furthermore, Karate Kid's discipline gives him resistance to mind control and prevents him from feeling pain.

As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Karate Kid is provided a Legion Flight Ring, which allows him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments. He has an extensive collection of weapons, but seldom uses them in combat.

In other media

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Karate Kid as he appears in the Legion of Super Heroes animated series.

Notes

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  1. ^ Val's term as leader began in Adventure Comics #382 (November 1969) and ended with the first term of Mon-El in Adventure Comics #392 (September 1970).

References

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  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Wells, John (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 110. ISBN 978-1605490557.
  3. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
  4. ^ Paul Levitz; Keith Giffen (w), Keith Giffen; Steve Lightle (p), Larry Mahlstedt (i). "Lest Villainy Triumph" Legion of Super-Heroes, vol. 2, no. 4 (Nov 1984). DC Comics.
  5. ^ Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen (w), Steve Lightle (p), Larry Mahlstedt (i). "An Eye for an Eye; a Villain for a Hero!" Legion of Super-Heroes, vol. 2, no. 5 (Dec 1984). DC Comics.
  6. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4, #40 (February 1993)
  7. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 5, #37 (February 2008)
  8. ^ Justice League of America vol. 2, #10 (August 2007)
  9. ^ Countdown #49 (May 23, 2007)
  10. ^ Countdown to Final Crisis #7 (March 12, 2008)
  11. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes #22 (July 17, 2013)
  12. ^ Karate Kid #2 (May/June 1976) at the Grand Comics Database
  13. ^ Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #244 (October 1978)
  14. ^ Hodges, Christopher (July 30, 2019). "20 Crazy Details Behind the Making of The Karate Kid". TheThings. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Karate Kid Voices (Legion of Super Heroes)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 16, 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 credits or other reliable sources of information.
  16. ^ Volpe, Giancarlo. "21 COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT JLA ADVENTURES: TRAPPED IN TIME". Tumblr.
  17. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
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