Who's Who: Crystal Kid

Crystal Kid
by Siskoid

Real Name: Bobb Kohan

Super-Power(s): Transmute matter into crystal
Planet of Origin: Earth

Legion Seniority: Crystal Kid was the seventh recruit to join the Legion in the mostly-unchronicled era known as the Five-Year Gap.

Legion Log
Crystal Kid was created by a Legion fan and appeared in Amazing World of DC Comics #14. Though he was originally called Rondo Kane, he was renamed Bobb Kohan after his creator, Robert Cohen of Calgary, Alberta.

Bobb Kohan was a young boy on a family picnic when his power to create crystal or transmute other objects into crystal surfaced. He tried out for the Legion as Crystal Kid, but was rejected. Upon the suggestion of Wildfire, he enrolled in the Legion Academy along with fellow rejects, Lamprey and Nightwind.

During the so-called Five-Year Gap, Crystal Kid finally became a member of the Legion, the last official graduate of the Academy to do so (other former students would join, but after the Academy was shut down). Upset when the Academy was shut down, he drifted around for a while, until Polar Boy found him on Mars and offered him membership. He was willing to join, but not overly enthusiastic. When Black Dawn resulted in the disappearance of Wildfire, his closest Legion friend, he quit and returned to wandering. He decided that fomenting dissatisfaction with Earthgov was a necessary service, and began publishing anti-Earthgov leaflets and newspapers. But the Dominators who were now secretly running Earth captured him and performed experiments on him. He was rescued years later by Danielle Foccart. He stuck with the Legionnaires on Earth until the end of the planet was liberated, and helped with its evacuation, but was not re-drafted into the team. He instead joined former Legion of Substitute-Heroes members as part of the United Planets' security force.

After neither the Reboot nor the Threeboot does Crystal Kid appear to exist.

After Infinite Crisis, Crystal Kid's original history has more or less been re-established. He graduates from the Academy after years of study, but is not offered Legion membership.

Important Crystal Kid Stories:

Amazing World of DC Comics #14 (1976)

Original Crystal Kid sketch by John Workman,

based on a concept by Legion fan Robert Cohen

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #272

First actual appearance of Crystal Kid, trying out for the Legion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #283

As a Legion cadet, Crystal Kid is trained by Wildfire

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #304

Crystal Kid sports a new look

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #28

Crystal Kid revealed to have been a member of the Legion

 
Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #33

Crystal Kid is rescued from his Dominator prison

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #41

Crystal Kid is snubbed by the Legion

 
Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #59

Crystal Kid working with the Subs for the United Planets

 
Adventure Comics (v1) #524

After Infinite Crisis, Crystal Kid is back where he started, at Legion Academy

 
Adventure Comics (v1) #528

Crystal Kid graduates from the Academy