Chemical King

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Chemical King
Publisher DC Comics First appearance Action Comics #354 Created by
Characteristics Alter ego Condo Arlik Affiliations Legion of Super-Heroes Abilities alter the speed of chemical reactions

Chemical King is a fictional character in the DC Universe of the thirtieth century, a member of the Legion of Super Heroes. He is Condo Arlik of the planet Phlon. His power is to control chemical reactions. His powers are a result of his being a mutant. He first appeared in the Adult Legion story in Adventure Comics #354 as a memorial statue. (The adult Legion stories were believed to be true glimpses of the Legion's future, but it was finally revealed years later that they belonged to a different possible timeline). It was said in that story that he had died sacrificing his life to prevent World War VII.

He graduated from the Legion Academy along with Timber Wolf in Adventure Comics #372 (September 1968). In his time as a Legionnaire, he rarely appeared in stories. The consensus among Legion fandom is that the writers found his power difficult to write. He died in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #228 when he sacrificed his life to stop Deregon, a Dark Circle agent and the governor of Australia, from starting World War VII, thus fulfilling the prophecy of his first posthumous appearance.

In post-Zero Hour continuity, he appeared briefly only once or twice as a reporter who was older than the teenage Legionnaires. He was hinted to be in a relationship with Lyle Norg, Invisible Kid. The relationship was confirmed in his entry in the DC Comics Encyclopedia. That version of the character had dark skin, instead of the Caucasian skin of the pre-Zero Hour version.

He has not yet appeared in the third recently commenced Legion continuity.