Power Boy was a student at the Legion Academy.
History
Jedidiah "Jed" Rikane of Earth was born with complete control of his body's molecular density, a power that had the side effect of permanentrly turning his skin a purple shade. This power allows him to greatly increase his strength and endurance but does not endow him with any special extra-defensive capability, which is probably his greatest disadvantage. He was referred to the Legion by his family. They hoped the Legionnaires could hel Jed control his tremendous strength, as accidental damage costs threatened to bankrupt them.[2]
As a student at the Legion Academy, Jed has shown a greater control of his strength along with a willingness to work with his teammates. While known as one of the friendliest Academy students, he is also regarded as not one of the brightest and often has to be discouraged from throwing himself headfirst into battle against teacher robots of other trainers. "Strong, but dim," the other students describe him. This factor, coupled with his lack of defensive capabilities proportionate to his strength, would keep him from full Legion membership.[2]
Jed Rikane always hoped he would become a Legionnaire. He entered the Legion Academy and remained there for many years, the student who stayed the longest. After several training missions, and then finally being rejected to join the Legion, he was graduated to the Science Police with his ex-girlfriend Lamprey, Crystal Kid and Nightwind, having been recruited as security personnel for the prison planet of Takron-Galtos.[3] The forthcoming separation between him and his boyfriend Gravity Kid didn't sit well with the latter. Gravity Kid then left the Legion Academy to join Jed on Takron-Galtos, where the Science Police had a trailing spouse spot for him.[4] Gravity Kid later also became a member of the Science Police, working alongside his partner.[5]
In a story that apparently takes place a few years in the future, Jed Rikane was defending the pluridium mines on the planet Xolnar from an attack by the Khunds along with other fighters, but an explosive attack killed him while using his body to protect the White Witch.[6] A memorial statue bearing the name "Power Boy" stood in the gallery of monuments dedicated to dead Legionnaires at the Legion Headquarters, indicating that he would achieve his dream of becoming a full member of the Legion.[7]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Abilities
- Juggling
- Pedagogy
Notes
- Jed Rikane should not be confused with Starman's villain Jediah Rikane.
Trivia
- Jed has at some point dated fellow teammate Lamprey but has since moved onto dating Gravity Kid, with whom he would later live together.
- Although Jed Rikane/Power Boy was introduced in 1978, a 1967 story set in a possible future shows the feet of a memorial statue with the name "Power Boy" inscribed on the pedestal in the hall of monuments dedicated to the dead Legionnaires.
Related
- 20 Appearances of Jedidiah Rikane (Pre-Zero Hour)
- 11 Images featuring Jedidiah Rikane (Pre-Zero Hour)
- Quotations by or about Jedidiah Rikane (Pre-Zero Hour)
- Character Gallery: Jedidiah Rikane (Pre-Zero Hour)
Footnotes