DC Database
Register
Advertisement

Quote1 It took you a lifetime to gain your power-- and me only seconds to acquire and better it. Quote2
Nemesis Kid src

Nemesis Kid was a charter member of the Legion of Super-Villains, best known as the arch-enemy and murderer of Karate Kid.

An alchemist from the planet Myar in the 30th Century, Hart Druiter formulated and consumed a serum that gave himself the ability to adapt any power needed to defeat an opponent. Selling his services to the warlike Khundish Empire, Druiter was assigned to infiltrate the United Planets' Legion of Super-Heroes under the identity of Nemesis Kid. Faced with the looming prospect of the Khund invasion, Superboy took the initiative as temporary emergency chairman to inaugurate a batch of new Legionnaires, including the treacherous Nemesis Kid, but also Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, and Ferro Lad, who each would realize a historic destiny in their time with the Legion. The seasoned Legionnaires soon became aware that U.P. defenses were being sabotaged by one of the new inductees, with all signs initially pointing to Karate Kid, but Nemesis Kid ultimately confessed to being the traitor, after believing himself to have already been found out.[2]

Evading capture for his espionage actions from before, Nemesis Kid was recruited by Tarik the Mute into the super-criminal academy that provided the initial inspiration for the Legion of Super-Villains. When the Legion Espionage Squad were thwarted from infiltrating Tarik's operation, Nemesis Kid used his power-adaptation ability on Superboy, manifesting the strength sufficient to beat the Teen of Steel in single combat. However, Duo Damsel bested Nemesis Kid by exploiting his power's limitation: an inability to adapt to fighting more than one opponent simultaneously.[3]

Nemesis Kid joined a later assembly of the Legion of Super-Villains, convened by Sun Emperor. The Super-Villains' plot was to discredit their Legionnaire counterparts by sabotaging a trophy that Sun Boy was due to present to an esteemed U.P. diplomat, with the anticipated outcome of turning Legion HQ and the gathered crowds into collateral damage. Despite disabling Superboy, Mon-El, and Ultra Boy to guarantee the plan's success, the Super-Villains were outsmarted by Chameleon Boy, and Nemesis Kid was frightened into submission by a barrage of Princess Projectra's illusions.[4]

Brainiac 5 designed a prison cell capable of holding Nemesis Kid, but even this obstacle was circumvented by Nemesis Kid's adaptation ability, which sent Druiter back into the 20th Century while maintaining an illusion of him in his cell in the future, so that the Legionnaires would never notice his absence. Setting up a corporate front named Futuretech, Inc., in New York City, Nemesis Kid ran an illegal business of manufacturing and selling hi-tech weapons to street criminals. When the Legion noticed Nemesis Kid's escape from their native time-period, a group consisting of Karate Kid, Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad pursued Druiter 1000 years into the past with their Time Bubble. Nemesis Kid outmaneuvered Karate Kid in their first physical encounter, but he lost the rematch and was sent back to the 30th Century in the Legion's Time Bubble.[5]

Nemesis Kid expanded the scope of his ambition considerably from then on, masterminding a much larger and more formidable incarnation of the Legion of Super-Villains than ever had existed before. The Super-Villains now held themselves to a blood-oath obligating each member to take the life of their Legionnaire counterpart or die in the trying. Directing the team's actions from behind the scenes, Nemesis Kid set up base on the medieval world of Orando, occupying the planetary capital and taking the royal couple, Princess Projectra and Karate Kid, hostage. Nemesis Kid then had groups of the Super-Villains steal the Earth's protective polymer shield and several fusion powerspheres, combining them with Zymyr's teleportation ability to turn Orando into a fully mobile, self-sufficient planet capable of traversing the Interdimensional Limbo. Nemesis Kid's ultimate goal was to navigate Orando through the void until the LSV discovered another universe without super-heroes to conquer.[6]

Nemesis Kid's scheme crumbled soon after initiating Orando's jump from deep space into limbo, due to his inability to factor in unanticipated interference by Ultra Boy, Chameleon Boy, Phantom Girl, Shrinking Violet, Element Lad, and ex-Legionnaire Ayla Ranzz, whose actions freed Karate Kid and Projectra and forced the LSV into a climactic confrontation. Revealing himself as the true leader of the LSV, Nemesis Kid fought a grueling battle with Karate Kid, mortally wounding him several times over. However, Karate Kid sacrificed his life to destruct the fusion powersphere amplifying Zymyr's space warp, sabotaging Nemesis Kid's plans for good. Increasingly outnumbered as his allies fell around him, Nemesis Kid defied the remaining Legionnaires until Projectra's hate-filled eyes met his, paralyzing Nemesis Kid with fear. Moments later, Projectra took vengeance into her own hands by snapping Nemesis Kid's neck. Even though she violated the Legion Code in doing so, Projectra defended her actions as within her prerogatives as the sovereign of Orando and challenged any of her teammates to tell her otherwise; given the circumstances, none did. After holding Karate Kid's funeral, Projectra made a point of leaving Nemesis Kid's corpse out in the street to be desecrated by stray animals, though a lone guard spared a few semi-pitying thoughts about the meaninglessness of the cause Nemesis Kid died for.[7]

Powers

  • Power Adaptation: Nemesis Kid can develop just the right superhuman ability to counteract and defeat a single opponent at a time OR to mimic an ability of his opponent more efficiently. As such if he were to face Princess Projectra he would be able to see through her illusions; if fighting Karate Kid he is able to project energy blasts, since these can't be blocked by martial arts, or get superior martial skills; Or if he were to face Supergirl he would outclass her strength.[8][7]

Abilities

Weaknesses

  • Power Limitation: Nemesis Kid can only develop one ability per opponent, so if he were to fight multiple opponents his ability might teleport him away or not work at all. Fear also will deactivate his abilities, what proved to be fatal in his last fight against Projectra.


  • Although advanced science and magic exist in the 30th century, it is unknown which of these skills Hart used to create the potion that gives him his ability.
  • Each ability that Hart develops is very basic in nature. He cannot adapt the ability to generate kryptonite for a Kryptonian but he can gain enough resistance to not be harmed by them.

Related

Footnotes


Legion of Super-Villains 02
Legion of Super-Heroes Villain(s)
DC Rebirth Logo

This character or group of characters is or was primarily an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes from the 31st Century, and may have existed in any of the various Legion continuities, including but not limited to the Original Legion, Reboot Legion, and the Prime Legion. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Legion of Super-Heroes villains" category.

Advertisement