Ultra Boy

This article is about the DC Comics superhero. For the DC Comics supervillain, see Ultraman (DC Comics). For the 1940s era All-American Comics superheroes, see Ultra-Man.

Ultra Boy
Ultra Boy as depicted in Who's Who in the DC Universe #24 (February 1987). Art by Ron Frenz (penciller) and Bruce Patterson (inker).
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Superboy #98 (July 1962)
Created by	Jerry Siegel Curt Swan
In-story information
Alter ego	Jo Nah
Species	Metahuman
Place of origin	Rimbor
Team affiliations	Legion of Super-Heroes Workforce
Notable aliases	Emerald Dragon
Abilities	Superhuman strength, superhuman speed, flight, durability, flash vision, 'penetra-vision' (one power at a time)

Ultra Boy (Jo Nah) is a superhero appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He gained his powers after being eaten by a whale-like beast in space and being exposed to large amounts of radiation while inside. His real name is derived from the Biblical figure Jonah, who also survived being swallowed by a "large fish" (often interpreted as a whale).

Publication history

Ultra Boy first appeared in Superboy #98, and was created by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan.

Fictional character biography

Pre-"Crisis"

Superboy #98

Ultra Boy first appeared in Superboy #98 (1962), in which he was sent back in time to Superboy's home town of Smallville to prove himself worthy of joining the Legion by learning Superboy's secret identity. In his first adventure he only demonstrated his vision powers, known as "penetra-vision". It was implied he had malicious intentions in learning Superboy's secret identity. Later, in Adventure Comics #316, he explained that he could channel his ultra-energy to provide him other powers, though only one at a time. Later he was romantically linked for many years with fellow Legionnaire Phantom Girl. He was considered one of the Legion's 'big 3' (along with Superboy and Mon-El) and served two terms as leader.

The names of his parents are Crav and Mytra Nah. His girlfriend on Rimbor before he joined the Legion was An Ryd; she is later murdered by Pulsar Stargrave, who frames Ultra Boy for the crime.

Ultra Boy is a skilled actor; this, combined with his rough background on Rimbor and social standing, helps him infiltrate criminal groups when he appears to "go bad". This skill also makes him a valuable member of the Legion Espionage Squad; he is the only member without overt "spy" powers.

Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4)

Between volumes 3 and 4 of the Legion of Super-Heroes, a five-year gap in the chronology occurred, during which the team disbanded. During this period Ultra Boy proposed to Phantom Girl, but she was apparently killed in an accident. Now known simply as Jo Nah, he had become a smuggler and an outlaw on his homeworld of Rimbor. He rejoined the Legion after assassins destroyed an entire apartment building trying to kill him.

A later storyline in the Volume 4 Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) Annual #1 showed his acting skills. It was shown that for years Ultra Boy had played "dumber" than he was, to not give away any advantage to his foes. When the time sorceress Glorith began manipulating Legion history, she figured only the smarter legionnaires might notice her manipulations, and thus acted to neutralize ones like Brainiac 5. She never suspected Ultra Boy would figure out her plan, which involved provoking a battle between the Legion and Mordru at the zenith of his power, which would destroy or weaken both, allowing her to pick up the pieces. Realizing what this would mean, Ultra Boy first (in a fake diplomatic blunder) prevented the Legion from attacking Mordru, then, in disguise, visited Mordru and instead provoked him into attacking Glorith. This proved successful, leaving both Mordru and Glorith severely weakened. Years later Glorith finally figured out who was responsible and in revenge sent Phantom Girl into the past, leaving Ultra Boy believing her dead. Later still the Legion found themselves on the wrong side of the law and Ultra Boy adopted a new identity as Emerald Dragon.

"Five Years Later"

Many years later, during the "Five Year Gap" following the Magic Wars, Earth falls under the control of the Dominators and withdraws from the United Planets. A few years later, the members of the Dominators' classified "Batch SW6" - temporal clones of the Legionnaires - escape captivity. After Earth is destroyed in a disaster reminiscent of Krypton's destruction over a millennium earlier, a few dozen surviving cities and their inhabitants reconstitute their world as New Earth. The SW6 Legionnaires—including their version of Ultra Boy—remained.

Post-"Zero Hour"

Following Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, which rebooted the Legion's continuity, Ultra Boy is reimagined as the former leader of the Emerald Dragons gang and a member of Workforce. Eventually, he leaves Workforce and joins the Legion, marrying Apparition and having a son named Cub.

2005 reboot

The Legion was rebooted again in 2005. Ultra Boy in this version seems much the same as his previous versions but does not have a romantic link with Phantom Girl; he is in a relationship with Shadow Lass. Trained by Karate Kid in a more responsible and tactical use of his superpowers, it's known by at least Triplicate Girl that on Rimbor, "he is charged for a crime he never committed", but refuses to say more on the question. He is later cleared of this crime (revealed to be vehicular homicide) when Legion business manager M'rissy discovered evidence that led to his innocence. Kinder and mellower than his gruff exterior may express, he's the first one to sense Imra's displeasure and insecurities for being constantly neglected by her boyfriend, Lightning Lad. This however leads to a brief affair with the Titanian girl.

Post-"Infinite Crisis"

The events of the 2005–2006 "Infinite Crisis" storyline restored a close analogue of the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Legion to continuity, as seen in "The Lightning Saga" story arc in Justice League of America and Justice Society of America, and in the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" story arc in Action Comics.

In the "Watchmen" sequel "Doomsday Clock", Ultra Boy is among the Legion of Super-Heroes members who appear in the present after Doctor Manhattan undoes the experiment that erased the Legion and the Justice Society of America.

The New Golden Age

In the pages of "The New Golden Age", Ultra Boy is among the Legion of Super-Heroes members that arrive in the present and confront the Justice Society of America over their decision to add Legionnaire (a younger version of Mordru wanting to avoid the path of evil) to their ranks.

Powers and abilities

Ultra Boy's source of power comes from exposure of the radiation inside the Ultra-Energy Beast, and is not dependent on yellow-sun radiation. In the Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) Annual #1, his power is described as his body having absorbed the "ultra-radiation", which then adapted to an invulnerable state (a default position). When he shifts the energy to his muscles, it increases his strength, or optical powers if he concentrates the energy on his eyes.

Ultra Boy has the powers of superhuman strength, flight, penetra-vision (similar to Superboy's x-ray vision, except penetra-vision allows him to see through lead), flash vision (similar to heat vision), invulnerability, and ultra-speed, although he has never been shown having super hearing. All of these abilities seem to be at Kryptonian power levels. Whereas Superman's heat vision is usually depicted as red beams, Ultra Boy's flash vision is usually blue.

Ultra Boy's principal weakness is that he can only use one power at a time, i.e., if he is invulnerable, he is not super-strong or able to see through objects. This makes him open to sudden attacks if he is unable to shift from one power to another in time. He cannot use his ultra speed to break the "time barrier" since the stress would destroy his body. He is also vulnerable to "X-radiation", which affects him as much as Kryptonite harms Kryptonians.

Ultra Boy is an exceptional actor and has used his skills on many Legion adventures. It has been useful combined with his rough exterior to have his fellow Legionnaires think him less smart than he is. This is the reason that although his powers don't lend themselves to espionage such as Shrinking Violet, Chameleon Boy and Invisible Kid he is a valuable member of the Legion Espionage Squad.

Along with the skills mentioned above, he has twice been elected as leader of the Legion, and has served several terms as deputy leader.

Equipment

As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Ultra Boy is provided a Legion Flight Ring, which allows him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments. Although he has the equivalent innate abilities, the ring allows him to forgo them and leave another of his powers available for use.

In other media

Television

• Ultra Boy makes a cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "New Kids In Town".
• Ultra Boy appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far From Home" as one of several Legionnaires mind-controlled by the Fatal Five.
• Jo Nah / Ultra Boy appears in Legion of Super Heroes, voiced by James Arnold Taylor. Introduced as a civilian in the episode "Champions", he competes in the Intergalactic Games before helping fellow contestant Matter-Eater Lad and the Legion fend off an attack by the Fatal Five. As of the two-part episode "Sundown", Jo Nah has become Ultra Boy and was recruited into the Legion to help them defeat the Sun-Eater.

Video games

Ultra Boy appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.

Miscellaneous

• Ultra Boy serves as inspiration for Champions's "Ultra Slots".
• Ultra Boy appears in Adventures in the DC Universe #10.
• Ultra Boy appears in the one-shot comic Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes.

External links

• A Hero History Of Ultra Boy