Bouncing Boy
{{short description|DC Comics superhero}}
{{Infobox comics character
|image=Image:Bouncingboy.png
|caption=
|real_name=Charles Foster Taine
|publisher=DC Comics
|character_name=Bouncing Boy
|debut=Action Comics #276 (May 1961)
|creators=Jerry Siegel
Jim Mooney
|homeworld=Earth (31st century)
|species=Metahuman
|alliances=Legion of Super-Heroes
|aliases=
|powers=*Inflation
- Ball mimicry
- Flight via ring
}}
Bouncing Boy (Charles Foster "Chuck" Taine) is a superhero appearing in American comic books by DC Comics, usually as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Born on Earth, Bouncing Boy has the power to inflate like a giant ball and bounce around. This combination of invulnerability and velocity makes him a surprisingly useful combatant. Born without any powers, he received his abilities from a super-plastic formula he believed was soda. Bouncing Boy is known for sharing a long-term romantic relationship with fellow Legionnaire Triplicate Girl, whom he eventually marries. In the reboot Legion continuity, he is the Legion's mechanic.
Bouncing Boy has appeared in various media outside comics, primarily in association with the Legion. He is voiced by Michael Cornacchia in Legion of Super Heroes (2006) and Googy Gress in Justice League Unlimited.
Publication history
Bouncing Boy first appeared in Action Comics #276 (May 1961),{{cite book|last1=Beatty|first1=Scott|last2=Wallace|first2=Dan|title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe|date=2008|publisher=DK Pub.|location=New York|isbn=978-0-7566-4119-1|page=59|edition=Updated and expanded.}} and was created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney. His addition to the Legion of Super-Heroes reflected Siegel's interest in comedy and provided a vehicle for humor.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lEWHfXUwUAwC&dq=bouncing+boy+creation&pg=PA23 |title=The Legion Companion |last1=Cadigan |first1=Glen |last2=Shooter |first2=Jim |year=2003 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |page=23 |location=Raleigh, N.C. |isbn=978-1893905221}}
Fictional character biography
=Silver Age=
Bouncing Boy is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes who gained his abilities after accidentally drinking a super plastic formula which he believes to be soda. He later becomes a teacher at the Legion Academy and marries Luornu Durgo. However, the two leave the Legion due to a rule that prohibits members from being married and remaining in active duty at the same time.{{cite book |last1=Fleisher |first1=Michael L. |title=The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman |date=2007 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-4012-1389-3 |page=28}}{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=53}}{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |title=DC Comics Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle |date=2010 |publisher=DK Pub. |isbn=978-0-7566-6742-9 |location=New York |page=159}}Adventure Comics #301 (October 1962)Adventure Comics #341 (February 1966)
= Post-Zero Hour =
In post-Zero Hour continuity, Chuck lacks powers and is the Legion's resident architect and engineer, having gone to school using his parents' money after they were killed by Daxamites. He designs the Legion Outpost space station and builds a specialty vehicle called the "Bouncing Boy" which acts as a bouncing juggernaut, smashing everything in its way.
=Retroboot / New Earth=
Infinite Crisis restores a close analogue of the original Legion to continuity. Bouncing Boy is depicted as an instructor at the Legion Academy and a reserve member of the Legion.
In Doomsday Clock, Bouncing Boy is among the Legion of Super-Heroes members who are erased from existence after Doctor Manhattan alters the timeline. However, he is resurrected when Superman convinces Manhattan to restore the timeline.Doomsday Clock #12 (December 2019)
Powers and abilities
Bouncing Boy is a metahuman with the ability to inflate into an elastic, spherical form, enabling him to bounce at high speeds. This also provides him with a limited degree of invulnerability and resistant to electric shocks. Unlike an inanimate rubber ball, which loses kinetic energy due to friction and gravity, Bouncing Boy maintains velocity as he bounces.Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1 (April 1988)
The reboot incarnation of Chuck Taine has no powers, but is a skilled engineer and architect. He built and pilots his own spaceship known as the Bouncing Boy.Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #76 (January 1996)
As a Legion of Super-Heroes member, Bouncing Boy possesses his own Legion Flight Ring. It enables him to fly and survive in space, and acts as a long-range communicator and navigator.
In other media
=Television=
- Bouncing Boy makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "New Kids in Town".{{cn|date=July 2024}}
- Bouncing Boy appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far From Home", voiced by Googy Gress.{{cite web |title=Bouncing Boy Voices (Legion of Super Heroes) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Legion-of-Super-Heroes/Bouncing-Boy/ |access-date=April 15, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- Bouncing Boy appears in Legion of Super Heroes (2006), voiced by Michael Cornacchia. This version temporarily replaced Cosmic Boy as leader of the Legion during the first season, and inspired a group of discouraged Legion applicants to form the Legion of Substitute Heroes.
- Bouncing Boy appears in the Harley Quinn episode "Icons Only", voiced by Eric Bauza.{{cn|date=July 2024}} This version is a contemporary Las Vegas performer.
=Film=
Bouncing Boy appears in Legion of Super-Heroes (2023), voiced by Ely Henry.{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=October 13, 2022 |title=DC's Legion of Super-Heroes Sets Voice Cast With Meg Donnelly and Harry Shum Jr. to Star (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/dcs-legion-of-super-heroes-animated-movie-1235240040/ |access-date=April 15, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} This version is a student of the Legion Academy.
= Video games =
Bouncing Boy appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=April 15, 2024 |website=IGN}}
= Miscellaneous =
- Bouncing Boy appears in Adventures in the DC Universe #10.{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |title=Adventures in the DC Universe #10 - The Blobs (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/adventures-in-the-dc-universe-10-the-blobs/4000-153328/ |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}
- Bouncing Boy appears in Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century.{{Cite web |title=Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #1 - Yesterday's Hero (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/legion-of-super-heroes-in-the-31st-century-1-yeste/4000-111136/ |access-date=April 15, 2024 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}
- Bouncing Boy appears in Smallville Season 11.{{Cite web |title=Smallville: Season Eleven #15 - Argo, Part 3 (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/smallville-season-eleven-15-argo-part-3/4000-417047/ |access-date=April 15, 2024 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}
- Bouncing Boy appears in the one-shot comic Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes.{{Cite web |title=Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes #1 - Atomic Batteries To Power, Flight Rings To Speed (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/batman-66-meets-the-legion-of-super-heroes-1-atomi/4000-609276/ |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}
{{Superman characters}}
Category:Characters created by Jerry Siegel
Category:Characters created by Jim Mooney
Category:Comics characters introduced in 1961
Category:DC Comics superheroes
Category:DC Comics shapeshifters
Category:DC Comics male superheroes