This entry is concerned only with the version of Invisible Kid post Zero Hour. Please read the entry at Major Spoilers for a full background on all versions.

Lyle Norg became a spy for Earthgov at a young age. Thanks to a precocious intellect, Lyle developed a serum that allowed him to become invisible. He won his place in the Legion on the strength of this discovery. He soon became the second brain of the Legion, behind Brainiac 5, as the inventor of many useful devices – including the Legion’s flight rings. Lyle was instrumental in rescuing the team from Tangleweb, and helped covertly gather information against President Chu. He was elected leader for a time after Shrinking Violet disappeared. He also led the Legion’s “espionage” division.

Lyle developed a serum that gives him the power to bend light rays around his body and clothing, rendering him invisible to the human and alien eye.

The previous creators of the Legion books had said on numerous occassions that one of the Legion members was going to be revealed as gay. Then exiting penciller Jeff Moy spilled the beans one day and announced that it was going to be Lyle who turned out gay – but since the Legion books were getting new creators that revelation has since been shelved for the time being. Current writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have said they have no problem with continuing this eventual character trait – but unfortunately have no such plans in the immediate future due to a year-long story commitment called “Legion Lost” – where Lyle, and numerous other Legionnaires, won’t be seen for some time.

Issues of interest are Legionnaires #59 and #64.

According to a story written by Robert Loren Fleming (Secret Origins #47), Condo Arlik’s birth caused seizures and a nearly fatal diabetic coma in hospital staff. Doctors believed the newborn carried a highly infectious virus that accelerated glucose metabolization, and wearing protective gear, was given an IV tube of glucose. Not long afterwards, the infrastructure of the hospital collapsed, leading to a new theory that the infant had somehow caused the building’s disintegration. The baby was sedated and sent to Earth. His parents seemed either disinterested or fearful and allowed their son to be studied in isolation by scientists.

Fourteen years later, Condo is surprised by his first outside visitor, Lyle Norg (Invisible Kid of the Legion of Super Heroes). After a brief introduction, Lyle injects Condo and informs him that he’ll no longer need his IV insulin drip as well as that Condo is leaving the medical facility and will be staying at “his place,” an apartment completely separate from Legion HQ.

Two months later, Condo has overcome his lack of socialization that was a consequence of isolation. He and Lyle have become close friends. There is a scene in this story of the two “roughhousing.” Condo became one of the first applicants to the Legion Academy after Lyle’s recommendation (Timber Wolf was his roommate). He gained total control over his powers to accelerate chemical reactions and graduated with honors from the Academy.

According to the “Who’s Who in the LoSH” (1986), when the Legion needed more aid, Condo and Timber Wolf were sent to infiltrate the LSV’s own training academy. After the successful mission, Condo (now Chemical King) was inducted into the Legion.

Sometime later (in pre-Crisis continuity) Lyle was killed and Condo was greatly affected by his closest, perhaps only, friend’s death. The “Secret Origins” story indicates Condo’s behavior became extremely unreliable with regard to Legion missions after Lyle’s death, while the “Who’s Who” entry simply states “After participating in several other Legion cases during the next few years, Chemical King was ready to quit, thinking himself useless, when his first big case came along.”

In either case, the outcome is the same. Deregon, governor of the Australian Region, has been a double agent for the Dark Circle, and he attempts to incite World War VII, using a cosmic energy sphere as the catalyst. Condo takes his power to its limit to stop the reaction of the sphere’s key component, and sacrificed his life in the process.

In post-Zero Hour continuity, Condo made minor appearances as a reporter. With this version, Condo apparently had no powers and was older than his former teammates. It was hinted at and widely speculated that Condo and Invisible Kid were romantically involved. Issues of interest are Legionnaires #59 and #64. This relationship was confirmed in the hardcover DC Comics Encyclopedia.

Chemical King did not reappear in the Mark Waid/ Barry Kitson version of the Legion. However, the status quo of the DC Universe may be in a state of flux. In Justice Society of America #5, Superman shows Stargirl, Red Tornado, and Cyclone statues of the Legion in his Fortress, and for the first time in post-Crisis continuity reminisces about adventures with the Legion. All of the statues depict members from pre-Zero Hour continuity. However, Chemical King does not have a statue. The Legion of Three Worlds mini series which may restore Chemical King to a new continuity is due to wrap up soon. One can hope that any new Condo will again be romantically involved with Lyle.

Chemical King’s first appearance is in Adventure #354, a story that features the adult Legion. In this story, he and several other members have statues that memorialize dead members. Condo’s first appearance as a character is in Adventure #371.

© by ® DC Comics. Used without permission.

Art by Chris Batista

Please note that this entry is focused on scenes and events in specific issues written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning involving this one particular rebooted version of Brainiac 5. The following comments whether speculative or based upon story content do not invalidate or supercede other versions of the character, especially the original which debuted in Action #276. It remains to be seem what the outcomes of Legion of Three Worlds will have for this version of Brainiac 5.

Writers Abnett and Lanning, often referred to as “DnA”, put the Legion through some serious events with their opening “Legion of the Damned” and “Widening Rift” stories that sent a group of Legionnaires into an unknown territory of the Legion Lost 12 part series. Brainiac 5 was one of the lost members. The missing members return to Earth after their yearlong ordeal (Legion #1, Oct. 2002) and are formally reunited with the team on Legion World headquarters in issue 3. It’s a joyous event for everyone, including Brainiac 5 and Invisible Kid, both grinning, who are interacting. Brainy remarks, “This is certainly a convivial reunion, Invisible Kid. You’re well, I take it?” Lyle replies, “Same old Brainy. We missed you.” Their renewed friendship continues to develop with subsequent appearances.

Sharn Nux, a Coluan special theorist, is sent as a technical advisor to the Legion in the advent of a threat from a new threat referred to as Robotica. Invisible Kid greets her in Brainiac 5’s absence, and is coolly greeted. Her jabs at Brainiac do not make a good impression with Lyle who likewise tries his best to disparage her with comments. The situation all around deteriorates and Earth becomes assimilated by Robotica. A bound Brainiac 5 learns that his captor’s true self is really his own creation Computo, and is the driving force behind Robotica in his driving quest to achieve hypertaxis (accelerated evolution) for artificial intelligence.

Sharn Nux and Invisible Kid are part of the team to rescue Brainy, who has devised a plan to deal with Computo. He persuades Lyle with his idea to let Computo evolve as their only recourse. Nux is dead set against the idea, and surprises the Legion members when she rushes toward Computo hoping to stop it with a craftily disguised weapons implant. It’s Lyle who attempts to stop her though she manages to wound Brainy and is engulfed in an explosion when she attacks Computo. Brainy is last seen in #14 recuperating in sick bay.

The next story arc of relevance is “Foundations” (part 2, #26). A new threat has arisen, and its nature becomes apparent with a trio of villains escape a fight with Legionnaires by teleporting with a Boom Tube. Brainy and Lyle conduct an experiment at the Time Institute hoping to learn why there were time anomalies associated with the attack when they in turn are assaulted (issue #27) by similarly appearing villains. The pair fights to the best of their abilities, but Brainy is caught off guard and thrown despite his force shield, causing Lyle to shout in concern. Lyle becomes invisible hoping to gain an advantage against his Thanagarian assailant. He then reappears right before a Boom Tube materializes. Lyle brashly jumps into it to track them, reassuring a concerned Brainy that he trusts his friend will find him again.

Back on Legion World, Brainy is dismayed to learn that space is shrinking rather than expanding. While he and others contemplate the ramifications a very weak communication signal from Invisible Kid is picked up. He and the other beings were teleported to a disused Stargate where he is watching unseen and using the Stargate’s communication system to alert his teammates. Unfortunately, Lyle is discovered and attacked. However, he’s given sufficient info for a rescue team, including Brainy, transported by Shikari and her navigational powers to come to his aid. The villains resort to escape by yet another Boom Tube when pressed by the Legion. With the imminent threat gone, Brainy rushes to Lyle’s side, throwing his arms around his neck and kissing a surprised Lyle on the cheek. Brainy just as quickly becomes embarrassed and awkwardly regains his composure. While they appear in the rest of the story arc, which ends with #30, their interaction is minimal at most.

One scene in issue #31 is significant. It’s a comedic farce stand-alone story in contrast to the Darkseid story. Chuck Taine (Bouncing Boy) and Gear have had enough feeling like they’re the janitorial crew that has to clean up all of the messes on Legion World. They sneak into Brainy’s lab to program a nanite tech experiment of Brainy’s. Chuck finds Brainy’s secret stash of holo-vids while rummaging, and decides to use it as “insurance” if needed. Two of the three pics are clearly of Andromeda, while it’s unclear who is in the third one. Hijinks and hilarity ensue when the nanite tech gets out of their control. They resolve the matter by the skin of their teeth. Later, Brainy returns to his lab and discovers the nanobots are missing. He then looks around to find Chuck’s blackmail note which reads: “Dear Brainy, YOU don’t say anything about the missing nanites, and WE don’t say anything about your private holo-collection featuring Dreamer, Spark, Andromeda, In—“ Brainy shouts an agonizing “nooo!” in the story’s last panel.

Art by Keith Giffen

Brainy and Lyle continue to appear though separately or in group shots throughout the rest of the series until its conclusion with #38. There are no other scenes in which dialog or action can be construed to show a romantic interest on Brainy’s part for Lyle. The following rebooted version created by Mark Waid did not build on this for personal dynamics for the pair. It should be noted that a romantic relationship between Lyle and Condo Arlik (who was Chemical King in the pre-Crisis Legion) was hinted at, most conspicuously with a note. Arlik was documented as gay in the DCU Encyclopedia.

Art by Feister and Harris

Brainiac 5’s primary skill is his twelfth-level intellect that he uses in his capacity as scientist and inventor to create technology for the Legion. His scientific genius is most associated with the Legion’s flight rings though Invisible Kid is also credited with this development in some Legion versions, and also his personal force shield belt. Other notable inventions include the super computer Computo and various space and time travel technologies.

© by ® DC Comics. Used without permission.