Polar Boy
	Name: Brek Bannin Home Planet: Tharr Super-Power: Super-cold creation Substitute Member Since: 2963

Origin | Super-Power | Personal Data | Membership Record

Legion of Substitute Heroes | Membership

"Polar Boy (Brek Bannin) came from the planet Tharr, where the people developed the power of projecting intense cold to combat the heat storms caused when Tharr nears its sun in its irregular orbit."

- Adventure Comics No. 365 (Feb. 1968) "Origins and Powers of the Legion of Super-Heroes"

Comments: Only a few people on Tharr have developed the power to create intense cold - those that live in the hottest desert of the hot planet (Adventure Comics No. 306).

First Appearance: Adventure Comics No. 306 (written by Edmond Hamilton, drawn by John Forte)

Note: The character of Polar Boy was suggested by reader Buddy Le Vigne (Adventure Comics No. 304 "The Legion Outpost").

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Polar Boy possesses the ability to project mental emanations that neutralize heat-vibration, creating cold. His intense cold can make rock and steel easier to crack (Adventure Comics No. 306, 355). He can radiate a protective cold around himself and other people to protect them from heat as great as the Earth's molten core (306). Polar Boy can freeze liquids into crystals (322). He can erect ice pillars and encase people in icebergs (354). It is a challenge for him, however, to freeze falling water into perfect cubes (351).

Like other people of Tharr with this power, Polar Boy can create intense cold within himself. Any fiery, thermo-electric force trying to enter his body will be rejected, his cryogenic power destroying them like antibodies in the bloodstream destroy alien matter (Superboy No. 148).

Limitations and Weaknesses: Heat cancels out much of his cold powers, as most of his mental vibrations go into simply canceling out the heat in order for him to survive (Adventure Comics No. 355).

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Physical Description: Brek has a round, boyish face. Brek is the youngest Legionnaire, which is why he has the shortest stature (Adventure Comics No. 324 "The Legion Outpost"). Although we have not seen Brek without his headpiece, he most likely has brown hair like his parents (Superboy No. 148).

Personality: Brek is a humble, hard-working, determined, and tenacious person (Adventure Comics No. 306). He is also realistic in setting goals and his inspiring speeches are a great morale booster to his comrades. An excellent planner and motivator, thoughtful and supportive, Brek is a fantastic leader of people. Perceptive, Brek could tell that Night Girl harbored a crush for Cosmic Boy (311).

Although his idol is Cosmic Boy, Brek is not as idealistic as Rokk Krinn; he is realistic and practical enough to accept the destroying of criminal life in order to preserve innocent life. This is evident from the time the Subs destroyed the plant men invaders (Adventure Comics No. 306). As well, he also invited Star Boy to join the Subs after Thom was expelled for killing in self-defense, and was obviously somewhat disenchanted with the Legion during and following the trial (342).

Skills: Brek is a natural leader and motivational speaker. He also possesses excellent detective skills (Adventure Comics No. 374).

Interests: None known

Previous Occupations: Being one of the people on his world who can cancel out heat, Brek shared the responsibility of joining his power to that of his fellow citizens in order to survive when their planet's orbit carried them close to its sun (Adventure Comics No. 306).

Nicknames: None

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

Known Relatives: Brek's mother and father, Mintar Bannin, live on Tharr. They once helped Superboy by posing as his parents in order to destroy two alien thermo-electric forces trying to possess them (Superboy No. 148).

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Application: Brek Bannin came all the way from his distant planet Tharr to get into the Legion of Super-Heroes. After standing in line in front of the Legion Clubhouse all night, Polar Boy demonstrated his power of super-cold to the Legionnaires but it was determined that his power might freeze and disable the team at a critical moment. Considered a worthy applicant, Brek was awarded an anti-gravity flying-belt as a consolation prize.

Though sad and dejected, Brek was also determined and so, with some other rejected applicants, formed his own Substitute Legion (Adventure Comics No. 306).

Induction (Subs): Polar Boy is a founding member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes.

Induction (LSH): In 2964, the Subs were finally recognized by the Legion of Super-Heroes for their help and given their due by being made an official branch of their Legion Reserve, to be called upon for help when needed (322, 326 "The Legion Constitution - Part Two"). The Subs also remain very much their own autonomous team, with their own rules and standards.

Positions Held: Founder and permanent leader of the Legion of Substitute Heroes (Adventure Comics No. 306)

Aliases Used: None

Career Highlights:

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

Polar Boy was the one who had the idea to round up the other rejected applicants and form the Subs, convincing them all not to give up.

Adventure Comics No. 311 (Aug. 1963) "The War Between the Substitute Heroes and the Legionnaires"

Polar Boy guessed that his super-cold was the Zyzan impostors' weakness and used his power to incapacitate them, then freed the real Legionnaires from the space-warp they were imprisoned in.

Adventure Comics No. 313 (Oct. 1963) "The Condemned Legionnaires"

When the girl Legionnaires had fallen ill, Polar Boy suggested to Night Girl that she care for them, not knowing that she too would succumb to the mysterious "crimson virus".

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

Sponsored by Sun Boy, Polar Boy's test to join the Legion was to thaw out two frozen scientists. Using his ingenuity, Polar Boy flew them through a volcano and down into the Earth's core, where they could thaw out but be protected from over-heating by his own power. He scored 121 points, tying with Night Girl for second place.

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". Polar Boy's power froze the chemicals into crystals which would be used to power the machines.

Adventure Comics No. 342 (Mar. 1966) "The Legionnaire Who Killed"

Polar Boy welcomed Dream Girl, then Star Boy - who was expelled from the Legion for killing a criminal in self-defense - into the Legion of Substitute Heroes.

Adventure Comics No. 374 (Nov. 1968) "Mission: Diabolical"

Using his detective skills, Polar Boy led the Subs to Scorpius headquarters in time to save all the Legionnaires - who were being used as pawns to defeat the rival gang, Taurus - from being killed by extradimensional guns.

For information concerning Polar Boy after 2968, click here.

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