Who's Who: Benn Pares

Benn Pares
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Benn Pares

Super-Power(s): Levitation, turn into mist or light, teleportation, immunity to telepathy, possibly others
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Villain

Legion Log
Benn Pares walked brazenly into Legion headquarters one day and announced that he, "the greatest burglar in the galaxy," was going to steal their Miracle Machine. At that time, he possessed the ability to float over super-sensitive floor panels and also to turn himself into a mist and a beam of light.

The ability to float was due to anti-gravity boots that he was wearing, but it was not clear if he had the natural ability to change his form, or if he was utilizing some type of device to make that temporary change. When confronting the Legion, Benn Pares showed off a type of teleportation, escaping from the grip of Wildfire and re-appearing on the other side of the room. Pares was able to further show off his abilities by stealing a wall clock right under the Legionnaires' eyes without any of them, including Superboy, spotting him doing so.

The Legionnaires voted to destroy the Miracle Machine rather than risk it falling into Pares' hands. However, they were unable to do so. Frustrated, they decided to track him down to his lair, which turned out to be a space capsule anchored into the jaw of a space-faring Galactosaur.

Pares had minor telepathic powers of some sort, as he was able to stop Saturn Girl from reading his mind. He was also able to build (or have built) a lodge inside the mouth of the Galactosaur, although it was not clear whether he had the super-powers to build this home or paid others to wrangle the monster and place the home there for him. It was also not clear whether he could breathe in the vacuum of space, or if he somehow teleported himself into the monster's mouth. He was not shown using any type of space suit or breathing apparatus.

Benn Pares was captured when Superboy wished for him to reappear before him. In their efforts to try to destroy the Miracle Machine the Legionnaires had accidentally activated it, and Superboy's wish was made true.

Note: Although the Who's Who entry says that Benn escaped and was recaptured, he only appeared in one story.

Benn Pares did not appear during either the Reboot or the Threeboot.

After Infinite Crisis, Benn Pares' original history has presumably been more or less restored.

Only Benn Pares story:

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #213
 (reprinted in The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 12)

Benn Pares showed off various abilities and/or technology during his one appearance