Ferro Lad

{{Infobox comics character

|image= File:Ferro Lad (Andrew Nolan).png

|imagesize=175

|character_name=Ferro Lad

|real_name=Andrew Nolan

|publisher=DC Comics

|debut=Adventure Comics #346 (July 1966)

|creators= Jim Shooter

|alliances=Legion of Super-Heroes

|species = Metahuman

|homeworld = Earth (31st century)

|aliases=Ferro

|powers=*Iron mimicry

Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability
Flight via ring

|caption=Ferro Lad as depicted in Secret Origins #47 (December 1989). Art by Eric Shanower and Dave Cockrum.}}

Ferro Lad (Andrew Nolan) is a superhero appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. In post-Zero Hour continuity, he is simply known as Ferro.{{Citation | last = Beatty | first = Scott | author-link = Scott Beatty | contribution = Ferro | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | page = 121 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = New York | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1 | oclc = 213309017}}

Ferro Lad has made minor appearances in other media, primarily those featuring the Legion. He is voiced by Dave Wittenberg in the animated series Legion of Super Heroes (2006).

Publication history

Ferro Lad first appeared in Adventure Comics #346 and was created by Jim Shooter.{{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=107}} When Jim Shooter first created the character, he intended Ferro Lad to be black, but editor Mort Weisinger vetoed the idea,{{Cite web |url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2005/12/22/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-30/ |title=Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #30! |access-date=2009-01-06 |archive-date=2012-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204213020/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2005/12/22/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-30/ |url-status=dead }} saying "we'll lose our distribution in the South".{{cite book |last1=Cadigan |first1=Glen |title=The Legion Companion |date=2003 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1893905221 |page=53}}

In a 2003 interview, Shooter said that he killed Ferro Lad out of annoyance towards being unable to make him black.Cadigan, p. 54. However, in a 2011 blog post, he had a different explanation: that Ferro Lad's powers enabled him to survive entering the Sun-Eater's core.{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=173}}

The Life and Death of Ferro Lad ({{ISBN|978-1-4012-2193-5}}), a hardcover trade paperback collecting Ferro Lad's Silver Age appearances, was released in 2009.

Fictional character biography

=Silver Age=

Andrew Nolan is a metahuman with the power to transform into organic iron.{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=110}} He has a twin brother named Douglas who has the same power. Both twins have deformed faces as a side effect of their powers and wear iron masks to hide them. Ferro Lad later sacrifices himself to destroy the Sun-Eater in The Death of Ferro Lad storyline, and makes minor appearances as a ghost and statue afterward. Additionally, a temporal clone of Ferro Lad from "Batch SW6" appears in the "Five Year Gap".Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #38, late December 1992.

=Post-''Zero Hour''=

Following Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, which reboots the Legion's continuity, Ferro Lad is renamed Ferro and originates from the 20th century. He meets and joins the Legion of Super-Heroes after they are displaced in time.The Adventures of Superman #540 (1996)[http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/828/828574p1.html IGN: Superman/Green Lantern interview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209150438/http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/828/828574p1.html |date=2012-02-09}}

Powers and abilities

Ferro Lad can transform into organic metal, which gives him enhanced strength and durability.Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol 1 #8 (October 1985) As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, he is provided with a Legion Flight Ring, which allows him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments. He also has a built-in radio mask for communication in airless space.

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of Douglas Nolan who succeeded Andrew as Ferro Lad appears in Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #300.
Ferro Lad, a fusion of Ferro Lad and Marvel Comics character Colossus, appears in the Amalgam Comics universe.

In other media

=Television=

A statue of Ferro Lad appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far from Home".
Ferro Lad appears in Legion of Super Heroes (2006), voiced by Dave Wittenberg. In his most notable appearance in the two-part season one finale "Sundown", an adaptation of the Sun-Eater story arc, he sacrifices himself to destroy the Sun-Eater, with his body subsequently ending up in an asteroid. Additionally, according to series producer James Tucker, his long-lost twin brother would have appeared had the show been renewed for a third season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/bravebold/backstage/interviews/wftucker.php|title = The World's Finest - Batman: The Brave and the Bold}}

= Film =

A statue of Ferro Lad appears in Justice League vs. the Fatal Five.
Ferro Lad makes a cameo appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes (2023).

= Video games =

Ferro Lad appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=August 10, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}

= Miscellaneous =

Ferro Lad 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}}
Ferro Lad appears in 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}}