Fire Lad
	Name: Staq Mavlen Home Planet: Shwar Super-Power: Breathing fire Substitute Member Since: 2963

Origin | Super-Power | Personal Data | Membership Record

Legion of Substitute Heroes | Membership

"Fire Lad (Staq Mavlen), of the planet Shwar, was endowed with flame breath when he inhaled weird vapors from a crashing meteor." - Adventure Comics No. 365 (Feb. 1968) "Origins and Powers of the Legion of Super-Heroes" First Appearance: Adventure Comics No. 306 (written by Edmond Hamilton, drawn by John Forte)

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The radiation from Fire Lad's breath can set any combustible object on fire (Adventure Comics No. 306, 315). By concentrating his power, he can actually burn thin metal walls (306). He can also use his fiery breath to create signal flares (351). His power is able to burn out the impurities in chemicals (322).

Fire Lad has developed perfect control of his flame-breath through practice and is able to carve statues out of ice blocks (Adventure Comics No. 351).

Note: Fire Lad once seemingly projected his fiery breath from his hands (Adventure Comics No. 319), and this was labelled as a "boo-boo" (322 "The Legion Outpost"), but what should be pointed out is that the Sub was wearing a spacesuit at the time, so his fire breath had to have been redirected through specially insulated ducts so that the flames could be projected out his gloves.

Limitations and Weaknesses: Fire Lad cannot ignite wet or nonflammable objects (Adventure Comics No. 315).

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Physical Description: Staq has somewhat sharper facial features. He is the tallest of the Subs. Although his hair appears "fiery", it is merely fashioned that way as part of his costume's flame-design. His hair is probably red, somewhere between the shades of Sun Boy's or Lightning Lad's.

Personality: Staq is observant, tenacious, and resourceful (Adventure Comics No. 315).

Skills: Staq possesses knowledge of archaeology (Adventure Comics No. 306, 311) and geology (315).

Interests: Staq is artistic and using his fiery breath, which he controls with expert precision, he directs this talent into ice sculpture (Adventure Comics No. 351).

Previous Occupations: None known

Nicknames: None

Relationships: Staq is close to all his teammates in the Subs, and to former Sub members Dream Girl and Star Boy.

Known Relatives: None known

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Application: Fire Lad applied for membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes on the same day as Polar Boy, Night Girl, Chlorophyll Kid, and Stone Boy, and was rejected because his power was considered too dangerous and might cause accidental holocausts.

Induction (Subs): Commiserating with fellow rejectees Stone Boy and Chlorophyll Kid, Fire Lad and the others were met by Polar Boy and Night Girl, who informed them that they should all form their own super-hero club, the Legion of Substitute Heroes (Adventure Comics No. 306).

Induction (LSH): In 2964, the Subs were finally recognized by the Legion of Super-Heroes for their help and made an official branch of the Legion Reserve, to be called upon for help when needed (322, 326 "The Legion Constitution - Part Two").

Positions Held: None

Aliases Used: None

Career Highlights:

Adventure Comics No. 306 (Mar. 1963) "The Legion of Substitute Heroes"

Fire Lad helped defeat an alien invasion of plant men by burning up all the seeds he and his teammates could find. Later, tracing the seeds to a distant planet, he helped to put an end to the threat.

Adventure Comics No. 315 (Dec. 1963) "The Legionnaires' Super-Contest"

Fire Lad worked with his teammates to stop alien looters. Later, sponsored by Bouncing Boy, Fire Lad's test to join the Legion was to give permanent fire to the tribesmen of an asteroid where it never stops raining. Everything on the asteroid was too wet to burn, but after noticing colored, greasy stains on the surface of a river, Fire Lad concluded that oil might be underground nearby. After long hours of tedious drilling, he finally struck oil. Setting the gusher on fire with his breath, he gave the inhabitants a permanent source of fire. Fire Lad won 108 points, coming in fourth, and last.

Adventure Comics No. 322 (July 1964) "The Super-Tests of the Super-Pets"

The Subs, called the Legion's "greatest allies", helped the Super-Heroes build scientific weapons they hoped would crack the Time Trapper's "Iron Curtain of Time". Fire Lad's power burned out the impurities in the chemical used to make power-crystals.

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

The Subs were called into action when the Legion needed them to go back in time to Supergirl's era to get the imprint of an enchanted shoe... Comet's. Fire Lad used his breath to create a signal flare to draw Supergirl down from the sky.

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Legion of Substitute Heroes | Membership