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From SCIFIPEDIA
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Matter-Eater Lad is a fictional comic book superhero owned by DC Comics. He is best known as an associate of the 31st century superhero team, the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Tenzil Kem has the ability to consume all forms of matter without harm. This ability is common to all natives to his home world. The evolved bacteria and acids in his digestive system are capable of breaking down ten times their own mass every day. He seems to be able to bite into any material. He is the only Legionnaire who jumps into combat “teeth first”. Like many Legionnaires, his powers only seem miraculaous by Earth standards, and his ability is natural to all natives of the planet Bismoll. In the original run, he is portrayed as a quiet kid, sometimes exhibiting a sly, biting (no pun intended) wit. Later versions of the character have him wearing his now trademark glasses and a more outgoing personality.
His one weakness is an alloy known as Magnozite, which consists of metals still poisonous to Bismollians. The only way to imprison a Bismollian is in a cell made up of this material. Eating his way out of any containment is a useful talent in Legion work.
Tenzil Kem shown eating the cover. Note the trademark glasses.
Tenzil Kem and his rather unique abilities have been part of every incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes, though the last two have not created him as an actual superhero member. In the first “reboot” that came after the limited crossover series Zero Hour (1994), he was a member of the Legion support staff. In the current version, he is a United Planets government prosecutor. In all incarnations, he is a native of the planet Bismoll, and maintains the ability to consume anything.
Character Origin
The soil of the planet Bismoll was infected with deadly microbes, slowly making all organic matter poisonous to the inhabitants. This process happened slowly over the course of thousands of years, the Bismollians evolved, eventually gaining the ability to eat anything without harming themselves. Tenzil obtained a scholarship to attend school on Earth, and snuck out to attend Legion try-outs. He was rejected the first time he applied, but was accepted on his second attempt. He eventually left the team for political service.
2008, SCI FI. All rights reserved.
