Bouncing Boy
	Name: Chuck Taine Home Planet: Earth Super-Power: Super-bouncing Member Since: 2963

Origin | Super-Power | Personal Data | Membership Record

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Several years prior to 2963, while working as an errand boy for a famed scientist, Chuck was sent to the Science Council to deliver a super-plastic fluid. Enroute, Chuck yielded to temptation and went to a robot gladiator tournament. Excited by the event, Chuck accidentally mistook his soda-pop bottle for the lab-bottle and ended up drinking the super-plastic fluid by mistake. His body immediately expanded within the stretchable fiber of his clothing and he took on the appearance of a balloon. After accidentally disrupting the tournament, Chuck went for a check-up at the hospital and the medics concluded that he could mentally will his power to work and that his bouncing ability would be permanent (Adventure Comics No. 301).

First Appearance: Action Comics No. 276 (written by Jerry Siegel, drawn by Jim Mooney)

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Bouncing Boy can expand his body, balloon-like, at will. In this soft, spongy form, he can rebound his body off of surfaces with expert ease and with little physical discomfort. While in "mid-bounce," he is protected from electrical charges and shocks since he is not properly grounded (Adventure Comics No. 301).

Bouncing Boy is an expert at ricocheting and can rebound off of multiple objects at precise angles and trajectories. When he smacks into objects and people, his built-up momentum can deliver quite a wallop.

Limitations and Weaknesses: Although his rubberized body does not feel pain from normal bounce impact, he is not invulnerable to harm, and sufficient force can cause him pain (Adventure Comics No. 361, 362). He is also vulnerable to heat, cold, and other extreme environmental conditions.

Bouncing Boy's ricocheting prowess can be compromised by an exuberant and over zealous nature, which may cause him to bump into the wrong things (Adventure Comics No. 321).

Speculative Explanation of Power: The effect of the super-plastic fluid Chuck drank seems to be concentrated in his body's fat cells. When expanded, these cells have a spongy, super-elastic quality that can deform from impact and release all of their stored kinetic energy without losing it to molecular re-organization. When Bouncing Boy accidentally bounced into a matter-shrinking projector it reduced the size of his fat cells and made him thin, thus essentially robbing him of his power (Adventure Comics No. 321). Later, Dr. Zan Orbal recreated the original super-plastic formula, which also resulted in Chuck gaining back his overweight appearance (351).

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Physical Description: Chuck is chubby, with a full, round face and a wide nose. His straight black hair was once parted in the middle but is now parted on the right.

Personality: Chuck is a kind and helpful person (Adventure Comics No. 317). He is said to have an imperishable wit (376). He often displays a sense of humor to cover feelings of inadequacy (301, 375) and a desire to prove himself (309). Chuck admits that he found his place in life as comic relief (380). Chuck can also be self-deprecating (Action Comics No. 387/2), particularly about his size (Adventure Comics No. 371). At times, he can become over-excited and easily distracted (301, 309, 315, 321). After his carelessness led to the loss of his ability, Chuck has tried to become more serious when using his power (351). He is curious to the point of being snoopy (371). Chuck is a courageous (341, 351, 361) and law-abiding individual (371).

Skills: Chuck has good deductive reasoning (Adventure Comics No. 371) and knowledge in geology, and is able to scout out deposits of iron ore, copper, and other minerals (380).

Interests: Bouncing (Adventure Comics No. 313), watching robot gladiator tournaments (301), and reading (362). He also likes to play ping-pong (Action Comics No. 380/2).

Previous Occupations: Errand boy (Adventure Comics No. 301)

Nicknames: "B.B." (Adventure Comics No. 361)

Relationships: From the very first, Chuck has had a deep sense of loyalty to Saturn Girl. He will always rush to her assistance (Adventure Comics No. 301), once swearing to save her "or die trying" (341). Chuck is friendly with Matter-Eater Lad, who understands what it is like to be overweight (345). After losing his power, the trim Chuck once dated an overweight girl named Iresa (321).

Chuck has always considered Luornu to be pretty, giving the team some class. After he provided her with a much-needed pep talk during a time of self-doubt, as well as comforting her when they were stranded on a small island during a storm, she began to look on him as more than a friend (380) and the two eventually began dating (Action Comics No. 380/2). The two share an interest in literature (Adventure Comics No. 362).

Known Relatives: His parents live in Metropolis (Adventure Comics No. 356, 359)

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Application: Bouncing Boy applied for membership in 2963 at the same time as Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Brainiac 5, and Supergirl. He was in direct competition with the two boys, and after he demonstrated his power by bouncing up and down, he was rejected on the grounds that it was impractical for crime-fighting (Action Comics No. 276).

Bouncing Boy was determined to prove himself, so a few days later he used his power to deflect what he believed to be a bomb. Unfortunately it turned out to be an advertising missile message and he only succeeded in further embarrassing himself - not only in front of a crowd of people but also in front of Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl, who happened to be passing by at the time.

Induction: Some time later, Bouncing Boy used his power of super-bouncing to save Saturn Girl from an electrical crook who had stolen an invaluable healing urn from the Museum of Medical Wonders. Because Bouncing Boy was protected from the paralyzing charge in his non-grounded state of bouncing, Cosmic Boy admitted that he was wrong to have called the power impractical. Bouncing Boy was sworn into the Legion of Super-Heroes in a televised ceremony just outside the clubhouse (Adventure Comics No. 301).

Reserve Status: In 2964, after accidentally getting in the way of a matter-shrinking ray, Bouncing Boy lost his power. Instead of being expelled for not fulfilling one of the three requirements for membership, the others voted to make Chuck a permanent member of the "Legion Reserve" - newly formed, apparently, for this purpose (Adventure Comics No. 321).

In 2966, Chuck's power was restored to him by Dr. Zan Orbal, enabling him to return to full-time status (Adventure Comics No. 351).

Positions Held: Substitute teacher for self-defense class at the Legion Academy; prosecutor in the trial of Colossal Boy (Adventure Comics No. 371); the self-appointed "Chief of Morale", providing comic relief when the Legionnaires take themselves too seriously (380)

Aliases Used: None

Career Highlights:

Superman Annual No. 4 (Winter 1962) "The Origin and Powers of the Legion of Super-Heroes"

He bounced away from angry crooks while carrying important papers. This was Bouncing Boy's first appearance as a Legionnaire. Previous to this one panel, he had appeared only as an applicant.

Action Comics No. 287 (Apr. 1962) "Supergirl's Greatest Challenge"

Bouncing Boy, along with some of his teammates, entertained the viewing audience at an Earth Police testimonial staged in the Legion's honor. This was his first appearance as a Legionnaire in an actual story.

Adventure Comics No. 309 (June 1963) "The Legion of Super-Monsters"

After drawing lots, Bouncing Boy won the right to go after the Monster Master, and successfully defeated the Earthquake Beast all by himself, proving his worth to his doubting teammates, as well as to himself.

Adventure Comics No. 321 (June 1964) "The Code of the Legion"

He accidentally bounced into a matter-shrinking projector, causing the loss of his power. After a vote by his teammates, he was retained as a permanent member of the Legion Reserve.

Adventure Comics No. 328 (Jan. 1965) "The Lad Who Wrecked the Legion"

On a visit to the Legion clubhouse, Chuck's bouncing ability was restored for a few moments by a ray operated by Superboy.

Adventure Comics No. 341 (Feb. 1966) "Colossal Boy's One-Man War"

To save Saturn Girl's life, Chuck challenged Computo and the machine restored his bouncing power for a ten minute duration. Although Chuck did not succeed, his courage and chivalry deeply moved his teammates.

Adventure Comics No. 351 (Dec. 1966) "The Forgotten Legion"

As a Legion Reservist, Chuck was called in to watch the clubhouse while all the active members were away. After responding to an emergency call to the Metropolis Reservoir, he ended up being captured by Sugyn of the Devil's Dozen. Later, he regained his bouncing power after taking another super-plastic serum, this one reinvented by Dr. Zan Orbal.

Adventure Comics No. 371 (Aug. 1968) "The Colossal Failure"

	After suspecting Colossal Boy's motives for being retrained at the Legion Academy, Bouncing Boy investigated the situation and discovered that Gim was taking illegal notes and stealing top secret manuals on Legion training procedures. He acted as prosecutor at Colossal Boy's trial, providing damning evidence against him in court which led to his expulsion.

For information concerning Bouncing Boy after 2969, click here.

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