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Kid Quantum | |
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![]() The Jazmin Cullen incarnation of Kid Quantum as depicted in The Legion #15 (February 2003). Art by Kevin Walker (penciller), Andy Lanning and Simon Coleby (inkers), and Jason Wright (colorist). | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | (James) Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #33 (September 1992) (Jazmin) Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #82 (July 1996) |
Created by | Tom Bierbaum Mary Bierbaum David A. Williams |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Protean James Cullen Jazmin Cullen |
Species | Xanthuan |
Place of origin | Xanthu (31st century) |
Team affiliations | (All) Legion of Super-Heroes (James, Jazmin) Amazers |
Abilities | (Protean) Shape-shifting Telepathy (deactivated as "James Cullen") Ability to create stasis fields (James) Ability to create stasis fields (externally augmented) (Jazmin) Ability to create stasis fields |
Kid Quantum is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as members of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
James Cullen, the first Kid Quantum, was retconned into the Legion's past, ostensibly as a result of a history-changing disaster. He is described as having been the first Legionnaire to die in action. Following Cullen's death, a rule was implemented that forbid Legionnaires who derived their powers from technology. [1] It is later revealed that Cullen is a humanoid body used by the Proteans, a shapeshifting alien species, to protect them from the villain Glorith. Instead of being killed, Cullen had simply gone into hiding. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The post- Zero Hour incarnation of James Cullen shares a similar history to his original counterpart. Unlike his previous counterpart, Cullen is definitively established to have died. [6]
The second Kid Quantum is James' sister Jazmin Cullen, who underwent surgery to augment her power and no longer have to use the belt. Despite initial hostility from the Legion's members, she is eventually elected leader of the team and later enters a relationship with Cosmic Boy.
In the miniseries Countdown: Arena , an alternate universe variant of James Cullen / Kid Quantum appears as a counterpart of Monarch. In the final issue of the series, Monarch kills Kid Quantum and his alternate universe counterparts to gain their powers. [7]
Both incarnations of Kid Quantum possess the ability to create time-stasis fields in a limited area, within which they can slow down or accelerate time. The fields are usually no larger than a person, and the effect is measured in minutes rather than something long term. [8] [9]
Kid Quantum's reliance on his stasis belt was the basis of unparalleled arrogance. As they pursued a murderous monster named Arachnid, Kid Quantum's belt shorted out. His neck was snapped, affecting the entire team and instantly teaching them how serious their duties were.
Kid Quantum (James Cullen) in Legion of Super-Heroes (1989-2000), no. 33 (1992), created by Tom Bierbaum et al., appears to be a young black man but is actually a Protean, a shape shifter... Kid Quantum is less a singular identity than an amalgam of the Protean race who has shape-shifted into a human form.
The Legionnaires discover that the ship holds their former teammate, Kid Quantum, who we know to also be the Soul of Antares, or the collective identity of the Protean race...he explains that it was his fault that the Proteans were put in danger years before, and that's why he agreed to become the Soul of Antares, and hold the sentience of his entire race.
There have been several versions of Kid Quantum throughout Legion history. Yet, all three versions have very similar powersets. Though Kid Quantum has been shown to possess telepathy and even shape-shifting, the power to create stasis fields is most associated with each interpretation of the character. This means that Kid Quantum can stop time or render objects motionless in a limited area.