Who's Who: Bouncing Boy

Bouncing Boy
by Russell & Siskoid 

Real Name: Chuck Taine

Super-Power(s): Ability to inflate and bounce with amazing agility
Planet of Origin: Earth

Legion Seniority: Bouncing Boy attempted to join at the same time as Supergirl and Brainiac 5, but was rejected. He was later admitted, after Shrinking Violet and Sun Boy, but before Mon-El. That makes him Legionnaire #16.

Legion Log 
Bouncing Boy gained his bouncing ability when he accidentally drank a plastic fluid that he had meant to deliver to the Science Council instead of a soda pop. Finding that he could now inflate and bounce just by willing himself to, he attempted to join the Legion. He was an applicant at the same time as Supergirl and Brainiac 5, so was rejected at that time. Later he captured a criminal who was using electricity to rob and stun people (including Saturn Girl). Because he was not grounded when he was bouncing around, he was impervious to the electrical charge. The Legion then revised their opinion of him.

Bouncing Boy's Legion career was as up-and-down as his bouncing ability; he twice lost his powers and twice regained them. While he was an active Legionnaire he was friendly with everyone, but his closest friends were Lightning Lad and fellow Earthers Colossal Boy and Sun Boy. Bouncing Boy never took himself too seriously, calling himself the self-appointed "morale officer." However, he was as brave as any of the other Legionnaires. There is no better example of his heroism than when he battles against Computo; he offers to sacrifice himself in the hope that he could save Saturn Girl's life. He was not only competent at his job but fiercely loyal to the Legion and to its ideals.

During his second de-powered spell he asked Duo Damsel to marry him and she accepted. Both had always thought of themselves as "minor" Legionnaires, and were happy to leave the Legion in order to pursue married bliss. Even after the Legion changed their rule against married members, they chose not to officially rejoin. Still, Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel often helped out, even though they remained Reservists. When teaching positions became available at the Legion Academy, both joined the permanent teaching staff. Eventually they were asked by Cosmic Boy to help him form a new Legion of Substitute-Heroes, an offer which they gladly accepted.

During and after the five-year gap following the Magic Wars, the Legion Academy had closed and Chuck and the now singular Luornu became trainers for the United Planets Militia Academy.

A teen "SW6" version of Bouncing Boy mysteriously appeared during Zero Hour which older Chuck would later merge with as the time line was reset.

After the Reboot, Chuck Taine never gained super-powers, but was a valuable ally of the Legion. His parents had been killed by Daxamite terrorists during an attack on Earth and with their life insurance money, he was able to put himself through school and become an architect. He designed the Legion's Headquarters (and later, the orbital Legion Outpost) and stuck around to repair it (and frequently, Brainiac 5's laboratory) when necessary. He became close friends with fellow Legion staffer Tenzil Kem, had a crush on Triad, and went on a friendly date with Shrinking Violet once.

When the Legion was disbanded following the Blight invasion of Earth, Chuck stayed with a small team of covert Legionnaires led by Cosmic Boy and thanks to Legion benefactor R.J. Brande, helped with the construction of a new secret headquarters, known as Legion World and became its chief engineer. He was given honorary membership, and built a ship called the Bouncing Boy that could ram other objects without taking structural damage.

Bouncing Boy does not appear to exist in the Threeboot continuity.

After Infinite Crisis, Bouncing Boy's original history has more or less been re-established. He is currently helping to train the next class of students at the Legion Academy.

Bouncing Boy was one of lead characters on the animated Legion of Super-Heroes series (2006-2008). He was voiced by Michael Cornachia. The character also made cameos in the Superman Animated Series and in Justice League Unlimited. In the latter, he was voiced by Googy Gress.

Important Bouncing Boy Stories: 

Action Comics #276

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 1)

Bouncing Boy makes his debut as a Legion applicant

Action Comics #287

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 1)

Bouncing Boy is referenced as a full-fledged Legionnaire

Adventure Comics #301

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 1)

Bouncing Boy's unusual origin story is first told

Adventure Comics #321

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 3)

Bouncing Boy loses his power for the first time


Adventure Comics #341

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)

Bouncing Boy faces Computo with temporary powers

Adventure Comics #351

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 6)

Bouncing Boy regains his powers 

Adventure Comics #371

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 8)

Bouncing Boy is shown teaching at the Legion Academy for the first time

Adventure Comics #375

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 8)

Bouncing Boy is named "King" of the Legion

Adventure Comics #380

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9)

Bouncing Boy admits he sees himself as the Morale Officer of the Legion

Action Comics #380

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9)

Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel are dating

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #199

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10)

Bouncing Boy defeats Orion the Hunter

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #200

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10)

Bouncing Boy loses his powers, marries Duo Damsel, and resigns from the Legion

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #216

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 12)

Bouncing Boy can still stop a gang of muggers

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #230

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 13)

Bouncing Boy regains his powers

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #257

Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel try to have a life away from the Legion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #266-267

Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel accidentally release the evil genie Kantuu, 

stay on temporary active duty 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #284

Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel retire again 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #304

Bouncing Boy & Duo Damsel begin teaching at the Legion Academy full-time

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v2) #11

Bouncing Boy meets Comet Queen

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v2) #3 (1987)

Bouncing Boy is part of the new Legion of Substitute-Heroes

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #51

Bouncing Boy grows a mustache

Secret Origins #49

Bouncing Boy's origin is re-told

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #15

Chuck and Luornu lose good trainees in a conflict with the Khunds

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #42

Chuck is reunited with his second wife

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #61

Chuck discusses the future with a paradoxal SW6 Bouncing Boy during Zero Hour

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #76

Reboot Chuck Taine is hired by R.J. Brande to help rebuild
Legion HQ; he would become a regular member of the cast

Legionnaires #35

Chuck shows off the mad geometry skills he might have used as Bouncing Boy

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #100

Chuck helps built the Legion Outpost in Earth's orbit

Legionnaires #59

History repeats itself when Triad's three selves compete for Chuck's attention

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #109

Violet agrees to go on a date with Chuck

The Legion #2

The Bouncing Boy, a ship designed and built by Chuck Taine

The Legion #3

Chuck also designed and helped build the newest Legion HQ, Legion World

The Legion #31

Chuck cleans up after Darkseid destroys a part of Legion World

Adventure Comics #523-529

After Infinite Crisis, Bouncing Boy oversees a Legion Academy strip in Adventure Comics

Legion of Super-Heroes (v7) #12

Bouncing Boy helps rescue his wife from the Dominators

Legion of Super-Heroes animated series (2006)

Bouncing Boy voiced by Michael Cornachia