Origin | Super-Power | Personal Data | Membership Record
Karate Kid has stated that if Superboy took up karate, the Boy of Steel might be able to punch through a foot-thick slab of manganium inertron, something he could not normally do (Adventure Comics No. 367). Applying his techniques and knowledge of stress points (346), Karate Kid has: cracked through the hull of the Khund flagship (347), stopped a runaway sport-speedster with one blow (351), knocked out a Jovian mastodon with one chop (358), cracked through the powerful, six-inch durlamite gates of the Metroplois Jail (360), damaged tanks with a two-handed chop (360, 367), kicked away an air car from the path of a falling boulder (361), split a rock in two and took out an opponent with each flying piece (361), fought a half-dozen assailants at one time (358, 361, 367), and stamped the ground with both feet, shaking a whole street and knocking a dozen soldiers off their feet (367). Once when he was trapped inside a giant hollow diamond, Karate Kid located its natural flaw and used his iron will to coax his body to make one final chop that shattered the gem (Adventure Comics No. 365). Karate Kid has also made it a point to become an expert with every weapon used in hand-to-hand combat - from fencing foils to Jovian trident spears, and even the deadly Krishnu gauntlets from Gaman Tol. The Legion normally excludes heroes who use weapons, but with him they are only a sideline (Adventure Comics No. 367). Limitations and Weaknesses: It takes Karate Kid intense concentration to split a 14-inch slab (7 sheets) of titanium manganite, and any distraction will result in failure (Adventure Comics No. 359). Major exertions and releases of his chi will tire him out, requiring him to rest or sleep to build up his body energy again (365, 366). Speculative Explanation of Power: Chi (or qi) is the spiritual energy that is a part of every living thing. Martial art practitioners focus their chi through special breathing techniques, which enables them to harden parts of their body to help them block blows without harm or to smash through heavy objects. The special method of chi focusing that Karate Kid was taught enables him to increase his strength, speed, endurance, and toughness to a much higher degree. This, combined with his training in every form of combat in the galaxy, transcends the term "skill" to give him a bona fide super-power. Physical Description: Val's facial features appear to be a mix of Asian and European. He has semi-curly brown hair, brushed back, but his eyes are Oriental in appearance. He has a slight bump on the bridge of his nose.
Leadership was not a role that suited Val. Deciding matters for the group was not something that came easy to his independent nature (Action Comics No. 382/2). He also did not like having to put his friends in danger (384/2) or through grueling tests, so he was glad when his term-year finally came to an end (392/2). Val has his own small apartment in Metropolis (Adventure Comics No. 359, 378). Having come from a poor background, he can be materialistic and enjoys spending money on luxury items (377).
Interests: Val collects exotic weaponry from all over the galaxy (Adventure Comics No. 368) and which he plans to bequeath to the Legion arsenal in the event of his death (378). His hobbies include painting and flower arranging (361). Unlike Timber Wolf, who likes the imported jobs, Val thinks Earth-cars are the greatest, including old-fashioned road vehicles, like the Astrovette 8000 (377). He also enjoys a good game of chess (378). Nicknames: "Kid" (Adventure Comics No. 361, 362, 365, 366, 368 and others), "K Kid" (368), "K.K." (Action Comics No. 384/2) Relationships: Val's closest friend in the Legion is Superboy, who often volunteers to act as his invulnerable "practice dummy" (Adventure Comics No. 368).
Known Relatives: None. Val is an orphan who doesn't know anything about his true parents. His Sensei has been like a father to him all his life and he visits him in Tokyo whenever he can get away from his Legion duties (Adventure Comics No. 367).
Induction: Even though he bit off more than he could chew, Superboy was sufficiently impressed by the tussle and Karate Kid was voted into the team along with Princess Projectra, Nemesis Kid and Ferro Lad (Adventure Comics No. 346). Positions Held: Self-defense teacher at Legion Academy (Adventure Comics No. 371), leader for the 7th term (2968-69) Career Highlights: Adventure Comics No. 346/347 (July/Aug. 1966) "One of Us Is A Traitor" / "The Traitor's Triumph"
Adventure Comics No. 365/366 (Feb./Mar. 1968) "Escape of the Fatal Five" / "The Fight For the Championship of Universe"
Adventure Comics No. 367 (Apr. 1968) "No Escape From the Circle of Death"
Adventure Comics No. 378 (Mar. 1969) "Twelve Hours to Live"
For information concerning Karate Kid after 2969, click here. |
Val never knew his
real parents but was raised as a foundling by the
people of Tokyo. As an orphan-child, he was taken
in by an oriental master of martial arts, who
raised him like a son. He trained Val from
infancy in the new martial art he devised -
super-karate - and taught the child many other
techniques of fighting and defence. Val proved to
be the only pupil who could master the new art,
turning into a veritable super-being able to
smash solid steel with his bare hand.
Karate
Kid is skilled in every known form of combat in the
galaxy - from Earth martial arts such as boxing, savate,
and kendo (Adventure Comics No.
363, 365) to exotic disciplines from many other planets.
His specialty is super-karate, a technique developed by
his Master, which enables him to do virtually super-human
things.
Personality: Val is a confident person
(Adventure Comics
No. 346) who inspires others to do their best (363). He
thrives on action and sometimes rushes into battle
without thinking (366, 378). Val is a secretive person
and has told his fellow teammates very little regarding
his past and personal life. He has mentioned his
"folks" to them (359), but in reality he was
speaking of the people of Tokyo, who took him in as an
orphan foundling (367). An honorable and chivalrous
person, he does not like to accuse people without proof
(347), and at one time he grew enraged when a cowardly
punk clubbed Princess Projectra from behind (359).
Skills: Besides being proficient in
martial arts, and a weapons expert (Adventure
Comics No. 368, Action
Comics No. 390/2), Val is also an
accomplished painter (Adventure
Comics No. 361).
Princess Projectra's calm
courage in the face of an angry mob reminded Val of
someone he once knew and stirred in him deeper feelings
for his royal teammate. Acting on this impulse, he once
stole a kiss from Projectra as she stood beneath the
Orandonese equivalent of mistletoe. Val frequently
struggles with the "class difference" he
perceives between them (362). The two have since begun
dating (374), and the couple first expressed their love
for each other while watching a double-sunrise atop the
glorious meteor-pyramid of the planet Frod (Action
Comics No. 390/2). Although Val is
not much of a social whirl, he recognizes that Projectra
does like to hobnob with the elite classes. Not being the
jealous type, he is perfectly willing to his friends
escort her to these parties (Action
Comics No. 383/2).
As a newly sworn-in member,
Karate Kid was needed to help defend Earth from
the encroaching Khund invasion. Assigned to
Cosmic Boy's team, he helped Phantom Girl guard
the Alaskan Electro-Tower. The veteran
Legionnaires were decoyed away and returned just
in time to see the tower in ruins. Although
Karate Kid claimed to have been slugged from
behind and therefore helpless to stop the
destruction, incriminating evidence made him
Phantom Girl's prime suspect. Her suspicions
quickly spread to the rest of the team, and after
the remaining Earth defense towers were
destroyed, Karate Kid was tracked to the
clubhouse arsenal. Surrounded by destroyed
weaponry, the Legionnaires called for the
"Kid" to surrender. Nemesis Kid
appeared from behind the machinery, thinking they
meant him, and admitted he was guilty of
conspiring with the Khund warlord. Karate Kid had
suspected Nemesis Kid all along but was waiting
for proof. During the Khund invasion, Karate Kid
single-handedly captured the invaders' flagship. 
Karate Kid went with a team
on a covert mission to Talok VIII in order to
find out why that planet had suddenly become
warlike and hostile. Climbing mountains, battling
giant death-birds and traveling through deserts,
they arrived at the main fortress only to be
teleported into various deathtraps. Karate Kid
had to give his all to break out of a hollow
diamond, but when the mastermind behind the traps
was revealed to be Tharok, an all out battle with
the Fatal Five ensued, culminating with the
destruction of the Legion clubhouse. Karate Kid
had to go "mano-a-mano" with Mano - and
won.
While Karate Kid was
visiting his Master in Tokyo, Japan was invaded
by the Dark Circle armies. Karate Kid tackled the
invaders as best he could on his own, since the
rest of the Legionnaires were busy fighting
battles in Metropolis. 