Power Lad was a teenaged ally of Superman.
History
Dik-Rey as "Tom Baker"
He was secretly Dik-Rey, a citizen of the Bottle City of Kandor who was chosen as part of an exchange program with Supergirl. While in Metropolis, Dik-Rey adopted the identity of Tom Baker. As Baker he was interviewed by Jimmy Olsen for the Daily Planet. Baker was supposedly a young scientist who had invented a "power coil" which would give powers similar to those of Superman. After demonstrating the device, Baker appeared to gain said powers. He soon became famous as Power Lad and acted as Superman's partner. When it was time to return to Kandor, Dik-Rey feigned the loss of his powers and returned to the Bottle City.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Kryptonian Physiology: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Dik-Rey possesses the same potential powers as an average Kryptonian. These include:
- Solar Energy Absorption: Under optimal conditions, this is the main source of Dik-Rey's super powers as they are contingent upon exposure to solar radiation from a yellow sun star system. His biological make up includes a number of organs which lack analogues in humans and whose functions are unknown. It is believed that between one or more of these and his bio-cellular matrix, "yellow" solar energy is stored for later use. This allows for the use of these powers to fade when yellow solar radiation is not available instead of immediate failure.
- Heat Vision: Dik-Rey can, as a conscious act, fire beams of intense heat at a target by looking at it. He can vary the heat and area affected.
- Super-Hearing: Dik-Rey's hearing is sensitive enough to hear any sound at any volume or pitch. With skill and concentration, he can block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source or frequency.
- Enhanced Vision: Dik-Rey's vision processes the entire electromagnetic spectrum as well as allowing vast control over selective perception and focus.
This umbrella ability includes the following:- Electromagnetic Spectrum Vision: Dik-Rey can see well into most of the electromagnetic spectrum. He can see and identify radio and television signals as well as all other broadcast or transmitted frequencies. Using this ability, he can avoid detection by radar or satellite monitoring methods. This also allows him to see the aura generated by living thing.
- Telescopic Vision: This is the ability to see something at a great distance, without violating the laws of physics. Though limited, the exact extent of the ability is undetermined. In function, it is similar to the zoom lens on a camera.
- X-Ray Vision: This is the ability to see through any volume of matter except lead. Dik-Reys can see things behind a solid, opaque object as if it were not there. He can focus this ability to "peel back" layers of an object, allowing hidden image or inner workings to be observed. The exact type of energy perceived—such as x-rays, cosmic rays, or some other energy invisible to normal humans—is unclear. This ability perceives an ambient energy source though, it does not involve the eye projecting a concentrated, possibly toxic, beam to be reflected back from objects.
- Microscopic Vision: This is the ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the atomic level.
- Infrared Vision: Dik-Rey can see with better acuity in darkness, and to a degree in total darkness.
- Flight: Dik-Rey is able to manipulate graviton particles to defy the forces of gravity and achieve flight. This ranges from hovering to moving in any posture, in any direction.
- Invulnerability: Due to the interaction of his dense molecular structure and supercharged bio-electric aura, Dik-Rey is nigh-invulnerable to extreme energy forces. In addition, his extends this protection against toxins and diseases.
- Superhuman Stamina: Dik-Rey is able to maintain continuous strenuous physical action for an indefinite period of time. This based on his body converting yellow solar radiation directly to energy but is limited by physiological and psychological needs to eat, drink, and sleep.
- Superhuman Strength: Dik-Rey's strength is augmented by yellow solar radiation interacting with the greater than human density, resilience and biological efficiency of his musculature. His strength is more an act of conscious will on energy fields than actual physical strength. It is this act of conscious will that enables him to perform physical feats that are beyond the mere application force, such as moving a mountain top without said rock crumbling under its own mass.
- Superhuman Speed: Dik-Rey is able to move at incredible speed by sheer force of will. This extends to his perceptions and allows for feats such as catching bullets in mid-flight as well as covering vast distances in little or no time.
This also confers: - Super-Breath: Dik-Rey is able to create hurricane force winds by exhaling air from his lungs. He can chill the air as it leaves his lungs to freeze targets. He can also reverse the process to pull large volumes of air or vapor into his lungs.
- Longevity: Dik-Rey can live longer than regular humans, remaining at his prime as long as he was under the exposure of the "yellow" sun.
- While in Metropolis acting as Power Boy, Dik-Rey did not use any of his vision powers (including heat vision), in an attempt to disguise the fact that he was Kryptonian.
Abilities
Weaknesses
- Kryptonian Physiology: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Dik-Rey possesses the same potential weaknesses as an average Kryptonian. These include:
Notes
- This version of Power Lad, including all history and corresponding appearances, was erased from existence following the collapse of the original Multiverse in the 1985–86 Crisis on Infinite Earths event and later restored following the rebirth of the infinite Multiverse during the Dark Crisis of 2022–2023. Even though other versions of the character may have appeared, this information does not apply to those versions.
Related
- 1 Appearances of Dik-Rey (Earth-One)
- 2 Images featuring Dik-Rey (Earth-One)
- Quotations by or about Dik-Rey (Earth-One)
- Character Gallery: Dik-Rey (Earth-One)
Footnotes
  Superman Family member |