AmongDC Comics' silliest characters, one member of the Legion of Super-Heroes stands out as a godlike character with the power to defeat any enemy and solve every problem the exact same way.DC has introduced a wide variety of characters with ludicrous origin stories, costumes, and superpowers. Some of them have become quite popular, like Hawkgirl, Plastic Man, and Mr. Mxyzptlk. Others, like Kite Man, Bouncing Boy, and Condiment King, still struggle to escape the Z list.
In recent years, animated and live-action DC adaptations have shined the spotlight on lesser-known heroes and villains. For instance,Polka-Dot Man earned the respect of general audiencesthanks to his supporting role in James Gunn’sThe Suicide Squad, and Dr. Psycho received a boost in popularity from his appearances in the 2D-animatedHarley QuinnTV show. Similarly, some ofDC’s least famous and most ridiculed characterspossess plenty of untapped potential.
There Are Very Few Ways To Avoid Portraying Tenzil Kem’s Abilities As A Joke
Tenzil Kem a.k.a. Matter-Eater Lad is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes whose main ability is to eat any substance quickly and with no negative side effects. Tenzil derives this power from his Bismollian physiology, as Bismoll’s native population evolved the ability to consume and digest any form of matter. Since his debut in 1962’sAdventure Comics#303, Matter-Eater Lad has remained an obscure character, mainly known for his peculiar powers.
Matter-Eater Lad’s unique abilities make it nearly impossible for DC to present him as a serious hero. While his ability has occasionally been useful in very specific situations, it lends itself more to comedic appearances. DC has rarely positioned Tenzil Kem as a central figure in major arcs as a result. Instead, Matter-Eater Lad has become more recognizable as a piece of trivia about DC’s strangest characters rather than a functional superhero.
Although his powers are inherently ludicrous, Matter-Eater Lad’s ability to eat anything may be one of DC’s most useful and versatile superpowers.In theory, Matter-Eater Lad can eat literally anything, from the most harmful substance to the hardest metal in the universe, and he can do it at superhuman speeds. Matter-Eater Lad’s teeth can chew through any material, his stomach can digest it, and he won’t be affected by it.
Matter-Eater Lad could eat a horde of zombies, deplete Brainiac’s tech, undo a flood caused by Ocean Master, or have Doomsday for lunch, if the circumstances permit it.
If Matter-Eater Lad were around to help Superman, he could get rid ofany and all Kryptonitethat gets anywhere near the Man of Steel. Whenever Batman needs to enter the depths of a fortified base, Matter-Eater Lad could dig an entrance directly to the Dark Knight’s destination. Matter-Eater Lad could eat a horde of zombies, deplete Brainiac’s tech, undo a flood caused by Ocean Master, or have Doomsday for lunch, if the circumstances permit it.
What’s more,Matter-Eater Lad has confirmed that he can consume any type of energy just as easily, as"all energy is nothing more than converted matter.“Therefore, any attack fromany member of any Lantern Corpscould be negated by Matter-Eater Lad catching it with his mouth. He wouldn’t suffer major injuries from it, given that, on top of his principal superpower, Tenzil Kem’s body is built to withstand all the forces involved in the eating process.
Matter-Eater Lad could eat any dangerous weapon or many different types of energy and energy-based attacks. However, Tenzil Kem’s meals don’t have to resemble objects or beams. On repeated occasions, Matter-Eater Lad has eaten the ground on which he’s standing and dug across walls.In theory, and with enough time and skill, Matter-Eater Lad could eat entire locations, portals, and even physical manifestations of concepts like the Speed Force, as in the Flash’s lightning bolts and energy.
Whatever needs to be erased from existence can be thrown into Matter-Eater Lad’s stomach for fast and easy removal
The Legion of Super-Heroes isn’t a team that encounters world-ending threats very often, and their members aren’t the kind of heroes who would use brutal methods to defeat their enemies. However, if the right situation arises, Matter-Eater Lad could easily end a battle quickly by eating his enemies. The most difficult part of the process would be holding down the villains, but once they’re restrained, Matter-Eater Lad could eat villains like Darkseid and Parallax and leave nothing behind.
Matter-Eater Lad’s stomach can be considered an extremely powerful weapon on its own, as it can process huge amounts of material in a matter of seconds. Whatever needs to be erased from existence can be thrown into Matter-Eater Lad’s stomach for fast and easy removal. Tenzil Kem also displays a certain degree of super-speed, which allows him to eat large objects within minutes.
The reason why Matter-Eater Lad’s abilities appear to be overpowered is that DC hasn’t confirmed whether they have an actual limit.Tenzil Kem’s Bismollian physiology allows him to chew, swallow, and digest any material and energy in the DC Universe, including organic material. Matter-Eater Lad’s teeth may have a hard time piercing throughnearly-indestructible materials such as Prometheum and Nth Metal, but nothing negates the idea that Tenzil can digest them if he finds a way to make them bite-sized.
There have to be specific limitations to Matter-Eater Lad’s powers, but none of them have been confirmed officially yet. That said, Matter-Eater Lad isn’t particularly strong, fast, or durable, meaning that most enemies could kill him using common methods before he can show off his powers. He would be able to eat any muzzle placed on his face, physical or not, but he wouldn’t be able to break free from regular shackles placed on his arms and legs, for example.
Alone, Tenzil Kem’s ability to consume any form of matter offers limited offensive or defensive possibilities. However,when combined with the strengths of other heroes like the Legionnaires, Matter-Eater Lad’s powers become a powerful tool for infiltration, containment, sabotage, or unconventional problem-solving. Matter-Eater Lad can bypass indestructible materials, neutralize dangerous objects, and remove barriers no other teammate can handle.
DC has yet to fully explore Matter-Eater Lad’s strategic potential. With the right creative direction, Matter-Eater Lad could thrive in superhero missions, withthe Legion of Super-Heroesor in other teams such as the Teen Titans or even the Doom Patrol. Although he’ll continue to be an inherently ridiculous hero,DCcan still elevate him beyond his reputation as a joke character.
