Who's Who: Duplicate Boy

Duplicate Boy
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Ord Quelu or Quelu Ord

Super-Power(s): Has the ability to copy any other super-power; however, this was never shown to be investigated, so his limits were never verified.
Planet of Origin: Lallor

Relationship to Legion: Ally; sometime boyfriend of Shrinking Violet; member of the Heroes of Lallor

Legion Log
Duplicate Boy is a member of The Heroes of Lallor, a group of super-heroes based on that planet. He was one of five infants who were adversely affected when a nuclear weapon accidentally exploded. He, Beast Boy, Gas Girl, Evolvo Lad, and Life Lass were life-long friends who banded together to form The Heroes of Lallor. Duplicate Boy from birth had the ability to "duplicate exactly" the super-power of anyone else.

However, when the children reached their teen years Prime Minister Vorr felt threatened by their existence. He ordered them all off of Lallor forever. Desperate and lonely, they were willing to believe the lies of Dr. Marden King, who was desperate for revenge against the Legion. He tricked them into thinking that the Legionnaires were their enemies. Eventually, due in no small part to the sudden romance between Duplicate Boy and Shrinking Violet, the plot was foiled and the two groups became friends. Eventually Prime Minister Vorr was over-thrown and the teen-agers returned to Lallor.

Although Duplicate Boy did not re-appear for several more years, it was understood that he and Violet were still dating. In the Adult Legion story, for example, they are shown as husband and wife with two children. However, a long-distance relationship was not always easy, as Duplicate Boy was working on Lallor, and Violet was based on Earth.

For a short time, Duplicate Boy tried wearing a brown and bronze uniform, but quickly returned to his classic green, white,and black suit.

Several years later, Shrinking Violet seemed to shift her affection from Duplicate Boy to Colossal Boy. When Duplicate Boy found out, he flew to Earth to give Colossal Boy a terrible beating. When he managed to calm down he took one final look at Violet, then flew away in a huff.

It turned out that this woman was not Shrinking Violet at all, but a Durlan actress hired to impersonate her. When the real Shrinking Violet returned, she unceremoniously dumped Duplicate Boy, angry at him for not asking any questions or helping to find out where she was. This gave him a type of "performance" anxiety that temporarily robbed him of his powers. He was eventually cured by his friends, and resumed his career as a Hero of Lallor.

Duplicate Boy continued his career with his friends on Lallor up to and through the Magic Wars.

Unlike Ultra Boy, who mastered his many individual powers to become one of the strongest men in the universe, Duplicate Boy showed no real interest in experimenting with his abilities or expanding them. He seemed content to copy Superboy's strength and speed while content to protect his home-world. There did seem to be some limits to his abilities, however; when he tried to copy Validus' size/lightning/mental blasts or any magical powers he failed badly.

After the so-called Five-Year Gap, Duplicate Boy continued to serve with the Heroes of Lallor, taking part in the battle against Mordru's undead army, for example, and, under mind control, in the effort to bring the rogue (framed) Legionnaires to justice.

Duplicate Boy did not appear after the Reboot, the Threeboot or, as yet, the Infinite Crisis, though presumably, his original history has been more or less restored.

Important Duplicate Boy Stories:

Adventure Comics (v1) #324
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 3
and Showcase Presents the Legion Vol. 2)

The feelings between Violet and Duplicate Boy 
help the Legion to stop the Heroes of Lallor's rampage


Adventure Comics (v1) #354

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 6
and Showcase Presents the Legion Vol. 3)

In one Adult Legion universe, 
Duplicate Boy marries Shrinking Violet and they have two children

Action Comics (v1) #381

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

and Showcase Presents the Legion Vol. 4)

Long-distance romance is difficult for Duplicate Boy & Shrinking Violet

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #219

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

and Showcase Presents the Legion Vol. 5)

Duplicate Boy, while on a date with Shrinking Violet, 

tries to stop the Fatal Five single-handedly

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #234

Duplicate Boy is on Earth to help the Legion battle the Composite Legionnaire

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #294

 (reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga collections)

The Heroes of Lallor help the Universe fight against the hordes of Darkness

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #296

(reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Collection)

The Heroes of Lallor are stuck on Weber's World to help re-build it

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #298

(reprinted in The Curse TPB)

 
Duplicate Boy confronts Colossal Boy and Shrinking Violet

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #313

(reprinted in The Curse TPB)

Shrinking Violet breaks up with Duplicate Boy

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #317

Duplicate Boy suffers from "performance" anxiety 


Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #62

The Heroes of Lallor fight against the Magic War

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #48

Duplicate Boy and the Heroes of Lallor fight Mordru's undead army

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #57-58

Duplicate Boy and the Heroes of Lallor, under some kind of influence, fight the rogue Legion