Karate Kid

© DC Comics / Used without permission

Origin: Trained
Real Name: Val Armorr
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #346 [DC Comics July 1966]

                            Character created by Jim Shooter

ABILITIES

Prowess 9 {Fantastic}
Coordination 6 {Great}
Strength 5 {Good}
Intellect 5 {Good}
Awareness 6 {Great}
Willpower 6 {Great}

Stamina 11
Determination: 4

SPECIALTIES

Athletics Expert
Martial Arts
Stealth Expert
Weapons (Melee)
Wrestling

POWERS

None

EQUIPMENT

Legion Flight Ring

QUALITIES

. Relationship: Princess Projectra.
. Focused: Val is very mentally disciplined.
. Fearless courage.

Points: 44

ORIGIN STORY

Val, named for his mother, Valentina, who died shortly after he was born, was the only son of Kirau Nezumi, a Japanese super-villain also known as the Black Dragon. Japan's super-hero, The Sensei, killed Black Dragon, then promised to raise the villain's son as his own, teaching him not only the martial arts but also an appreciation for more peaceful pastimes such as sculpting and painting. Val grew up in Japan, later moving to Metropolis to join the Legion. He viewed it as a challenge, how to make himself, a non-powered human, into a Legionnaire. By that time, he had established a proficiency in all forms of hand-to-hand combat and hand weaponry, with a special talent for karate. Focusing on this self-created super-karate, he tried out for the Legion on the eve of the Khund invasion and was accepted along with Princess Projectra, Ferro and Nemesis Kid.

Successful in his Legion career, he eventually served as Leader, for one term. He even trained many of his fellow Legionnaires in various types of hand-to-hand combat.

Karate Kid has studied every single martial arts known to man in the 31st century and by applying simple physics, he has been known to best even M'Onel. Val once took on the entire Fatal Five single-handedly, clearly defeating the Persuader, Emerald Empress, and Mano (though Mano was largely a matter of luck as the Kid admitted to himself). At one point or another he launched solo flying kicks at villains whose power level far exceeded Superboy, including Validus, Mordru, Omega and even Darkseid. Though they had little effect, they showed the degree of his fearless courage. Character revised according to rules presented in ICONS Great Power book. Thanks again, +Max Traver for making me rethink (for the better!) the build!