Just in case the cartoon creators have any thoughts of having Chuck lose his powers and retire from the Legion any time soon -- as happened in the comics more than once -- here's a gentle reminder of why he's so near and dear to our hearts.
1. "The Impossible Target," Superboy # 199
In this story, BB singlehandedly defeats a villain bent on killing the Legionnaires one at a time. And Chuck does this with his power ... and a sneeze.
2. "1+1+1=3," Superboy # 216
This story features the non-powered Chuck, but still shows his courage and ingenuity. Cornered at a ballfield by a gang of street toughs, he uses his knowledge of bouncing and trajectory to defeat them with a simple throwing ball. Bullseye had nothin' on BB.
3. "The Secret Origin of Bouncing Boy," Adventure Comics # 301
Chuck big-heartedly relates his origin story to a group of Legion applicants. Though he acquired his power by accident (and ruined a sporting event in the process) and was initially rejected by the Legion, Chuck wouldn't take no for an answer. He showed just how useful he could be by defeating an electrified villain no one else could touch. By telling the applicants this story, Chuck encourages them -- "if I can do it, you can" -- something his hard-hearted teammates wouldn't have dreamed of in those days.
4. "The Weirdo Legionnaire," Adventure Comics # 341
The non-powered Chuck again -- but that doesn't prevent him from trying to take on Computo! The computerized villain restores Chuck's power in order to have sport with him, and Chuck boldly attempts to save Saturn Girl's life while putting his own at risk. Only Superboy's well-placed super-breath prevents Chuck from becoming a bouncing shiskabob.
Bottom line: Bouncing Boy has been an important aspect of the Legion with or without his powers. And, like a good hero, he always bounces back.
Add your own examples of BB's best.
Posted by Matthew E on :
I have two great Bouncing Boy moments in mind. One of them I'm going to keep under my hat until I do Chuck's entry in my 'The Legionnaires' series on Legion Abstract.
The other is in the Braal issue (I think) of Legion Worlds, where it's revealed that there is still a little bit of a Legion out there, and Chuck's a key part of it, even with no powers. Key quote: "Welcome aboard the Bouncing Boy."
His first appearance in the reboot Legion was good too.
Posted by matlock on :
One of my favorite Chuck stories was when he got his powers restored while the rest of the team was at Chemical King's memorial service. He and good ol' SP officer Dvron got trapped by the security device in the HQ but it wound up restoring his power, and he kept it a secret since he was happily married and retired. That's one of the first Legion comics I remember reading, many years before I really got the bug.
Posted by MLLASH on :
Let us not forget SUPERBOY's LEGION, the 2-issue Elseworlds by Mark farmer and ALan Davis (which, IMO, is more full of Legion-ey goodness in 2 issues than the current "official" book has been in 22).
Chuck saves the day not once but twice there!
Posted by He Who Wanders on :
Another one from me:
"The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger" Superboy # 200
Even though this was Chuck's swan song as a Legionnaire, it shows the power of positive thinking. When Chuck is told that he's lost his power forever and that his Legion career is over, does he mope, go on a rampage, or turn evil? Nope. He proposes to Duo Damsel. That's turning a lemon into, well, something much better than lemonade.
(Personal aside: Superboy # 199 and 200 were two of the earliest Legion comics I ever read. As Chuck is featured prominently in both, he was set up to be a major character in my mind, though not one of my favorites at the time. (Okay, I was prejudiced: I didn't want to identify with the fat kid or the guy who bounced.) But when Chuck left, the Legion lost something it never truly regained: a sense of humanity. Most of the other Legionnaires had it too easy: they were powerful, sexy, and popular. Chuck had to work at being accepted -- just like regular kids.)