Baby Boom was a member of the Helix, enemies of Infinity Inc.
History
The young woman known only by the names Babe or Baby Boom is one of the six genetically mutated children that formed the villain group Helix. Like the others, her fetus was the subject of genetic experimentation at the hands of Dr. Amos Love, a discredited medical man who wanted to see if super-humans could be created while still in their mothers' wombs. The name of the Caucasian woman who gave birth to Baby Boom is as yet unrevealed, as are her fate and current whereabouts.
In the case of Baby Boom, Love's genetic tinkering resulted in the young girl gaining the paranormal ability to cause explosions with the power of her mind, a form of telekinesis. Unfortunately, the meddling also caused her to physically stop aging at the point when she became five years old; thus, even though she is chronologically a young woman, she still looks like a five-year-old child. Aside from her powers, her physical prowess is that of a child, and her emotional development has also been stunted, though she remains a highly intelligent girl.
Baby Boom has never known true parental love. As each child within Helix was born, Dr. Love told the expectant mothers that their offspring had been stillborn, sending them home broken-hearted. Love then raised the children himself, telling them that their true parents had not wanted them. Not having any evidence to the contrary, the children all believed him during the time they stayed with Love. As a result, to this day Baby Boom and the other Helix children do not know who their true parents were, and this remains a source of great resentment and bitterness for them all which has, in part, led to their anti-social behavior. Love also never bothered to teach the children right from wrong, and so they were apparently unaware that their criminal actions were anything abnormal.
As a member of Helix, Baby Boom came into conflict with the members of the hero team Infinity Inc. and was ultimately captured by them, as were the rest of Helix. In between their first skirmish with the Infinitors and their last, the team's original leader, Mr Bones, was captured first, and Baby Boom took over the leadership of the team, shortening her name to Babe in the process. She also began to dress differently; whereas in her initial appearances she adopted a Shirley Temple-like look (presumably insisted upon by Dr. Love), as Babe she began to dress like a punk rocker in an effort to be taken more seriously. It is thought that her desire to be treated "like a grown-up", and her anger at the role her stunted growth plays in preventing her from being taken seriously, makes her more dangerous than the other Helix members, most of whom can pass for normal until they use their metahuman powers.
At their trial, the Helix members were tried as juveniles and were ultimately found guilty, but with extenuating circumstances due to their upbringing. Mr. Bones was offered a post with the federal agency, the Department of Extra-Normal Operations, and ultimately became its director; the other Helix members have remained more or less in hiding after serving their sentences. Babe and the other female Helix members later worked with the sorceress Circe in a plot against Wonder Woman, but they may have been magically compelled to do so. Babe's present whereabouts and activities are not known.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Explosion: Baby Boom can explode things with her mind.
Weaknesses
- She needs to have a clear shot for her power to work; otherwise, she will destroy any obstacle between her and her chosen target.
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-Two era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and no longer apply.
Trivia
- Her name is a pun with Baby boom, a period marked by a significant increase of birth rate.
Related
- 12 Appearances of Baby Boom (New Earth)
- 2 Images featuring Baby Boom (New Earth)
- Quotations by or about Baby Boom (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Baby Boom (New Earth)
Footnotes