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Matter-Eater Lad
Matter-Eater Lad. Art by Curt Swan and George Klein.
Publisher DC Comics First appearance Adventure Comics #303 (December 1963) Created by
Characteristics Alter ego Tenzil Kem Affiliations Legion of Super-Heroes Abilities Able to bite through and consume all forms of matter.

Matter-Eater Lad is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe. He was a member of the Thirtieth Century superteam the Legion of Super-Heroes. His real name was Tenzil Kem and he had the power to eat matter in all forms, as did all natives of his home planet, Bismoll (a pun on Pepto-Bismol, a remedy for indigestion). He first appeared in Adventure Comics #303, (December 1963). Along with his teammate, Bouncing Boy, he is often considered one of the characters that best personified the essence of the Silver Age -- both by its advocates and its detractors.

Contents 1 Fictional character history 1.1 Pre Zero Hour 1.2 Post Zero Hour 1.3 Other media 1.4 Trivia

[edit] Fictional character history

[edit] Pre Zero Hour

His mother was named Mitz Kem. His brother, Renkil, tried to take Tenzil's place in the Legion during one story (Superboy #184). His unrequited crush on Shrinking Violet is an ongoing plot thread for many years.

In one story, he and several Legionnaires battle other character possessing parallel powers, and defeat them. In this case, he is drafted into political service back on planet Bismoll. His fellow Bismollian, a young lady named Taryn Loy, code-named Calorie Queen, is one of the rejects that battle the Legion. Her power, while similar to Matter-Eater Lad's own, also gives her the ability to convert the excess energy into super-strength. On that basis alone, she qualifies for Legionnaire status. In fact, Tenzil asks the Legion to give her another chance.

He appears rarely in Legion stories, as the writers struggled with the problem of how to make his power useful in a fight. He often serves as a source of comedy, as he knows his power wasn't terribly useful. However, Matter-Eater Lad saves the universe in LSH #251 by eating the Miracle Machine, the ingestion of which drove him insane. Brainiac 5 cures M-E Lad's insanity in a later issue.

He is finally drafted to become a Senator on his home planet, Bismoll, and so has to leave the Legion.

[edit] Post Zero Hour

In this continuity, Tenzil never becomes a Legionnaire, nor does he adopt the codename Matter-Eater Lad, although he retains the sense of humour of the original. He serves as the Legion's chef and butler. It is hinted that he is older than the rebooted teenage Legionnaires.

Unlike the pre-reboot version, Tenzil also has the ability to spit acid.

Tenzil has yet to appear in Threeboot continuity.

[edit] Other media

In an episode of the Legion of Super Heroes animated series, Matter-Eater Lad appears (in his civilian identity as Tenzil Kem) as a participant in the Intergalactic Games, an Olympics-like event in which Lightning Lad also competes. When the Fatal Five attack the Games, Kem, along with Jo Nah of Rimbor, helps the Legion defeat them, at one point eating through the handle of the Persuader's Atomic Axe. He does not have a speaking part in the episode.

He reappeared again the episode The Substitues, where he tried for the Legion as Matter-Eater Lad and gained membership. He distinguished himself by calmly eating an ionosphere-eating monster without a worry - and noted it tasted like chicken.

[edit] Trivia

• In The Fairly Oddparents, Chester's superhero alter ego is "Matter Muncher Lad," obviously based on Matter Eater Lad.

• Indie rock band Guided by Voices wrote a song called "Matter Eater Lad."[1]

• In an unauthorized comic written and drawn by fan artist Fred Hembeck, Matter-Eater Lad is awarded a trophy for the all-time most ludicrous super-power. He responds by eating the trophy.