Absorbancy Boy
As a teenager, Kirt Niedrigh applies for membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes. Calling himself Absorbancy Boy, and possessing the ability to absorb the energy residue of any super-powered being, gaining their powers himself, he is rejected on the grounds that his powers were too limited. [1] In the rebooted continuity of New Earth, Niedrigh's rejection is further elaborated upon, explaining that while his powers had the potential to develop in time, Saturn Girl had analyzed his mind, finding a deep streak of antisocial and evil tendencies that Niedrigh was unwilling to keep in check. [2] [3] [4] [5] Enraged at his rejection, Niedrigh becomes a villain before being defeated by the Legion.
Incensed at his rejection, Niedrigh finds the costume of "Zoraz", a fake villain used as a final test for new Legionnaires. Niedrigh used the suit's residual Sun Boy energies to project red sun radiation, then absorbs Superboy's powers. Niedrigh is defeated by Legion applicant Tyroc, who uses his ultrasonic scream to overwhelm him. Immediately thereafter, Tyroc is inducted into the Legion. [6]
Earth-Man
Niedrigh resurfaces in the 2007–2008 storyline, "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes". [2] Now calling himself Earth-Man, he claims to have discovered a crystal tablet in the Arctic which proves that Superman was not an alien, but a human who was granted powers by Mother Earth to protect Earth from alien invaders. Using this knowledge, Earth-Man sows distrust and hatred of aliens among the people of Earth, resulting in its seceding from the United Planets and all aliens on Earth being violently captured and deported. [3] Earth-Man gathers a group of fellow Earth-born Legion rejects, (Tusker, Radiation Roy, Eyeful Ethel, Storm Boy, Golden Boy, and Spider Girl) and forms the Justice League of Earth, a group purporting to uphold Superman's ideals. [4] Earth-Man captures many Legion members, absorbing their powers for his own, and exploits the powers of Legionnaire Sun Boy to turn many of the suns in the galaxy red.
In desperation, the remaining members of the Legion bring Superman to the 31st century, and together they storm the JLE's satellite headquarters. Earth-Man personally takes on Superman, almost defeating him until Brainiac 5 freed Sun Boy. With Earth's sun once again yellow, Superman is able to fight Earth-Man on equal terms. The return of Superman's powers, coupled with Earth-Man's indiscriminate attacks, convince the people of New Metropolis that they had been lied to. Earth-Man holds his own against Superman until the freed Legion members arrive, and he is defeated by their combined numbers. Earth-Man and the JLE are imprisoned on the prison planet Takron-Galtos.
Earth-Man and the rest of the JLE appear as members of the new Legion of Super-Villains in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds . He states that the alliance is only temporary, since the villains all want the same thing: death to the Legion. [7] Following the defeat of the combined JLE-LSV, Earth-Man is again imprisoned, until the Earth government, eager to mollify his pro-human supporters, forces the Legion to offer him membership in return for allowing the Legion to remain on Earth. [4] While mulling over their offer, Earth-Man is offered a Green Lantern ring by Dyogene, a creature living within the planet Oa. [8] [9] [5] Earth-Man accepts the Legion's offer, but secretly uses his Lantern ring to deactivate the failsafe that Brainiac 5 placed in his Legion flight ring to keep his power in check. Despite this breach of faith, he still acts in the Legion's favor during an anti-alien riot. Afterwards, back in his quarters, he asks the Lantern ring how it works, and it produces a power battery and tells him the recharging oath. [10] He then reveals the ring to the Legion, and is taken by it to the planet Xerifos, which the ring has its inhabitants are in need of help. Upon arrival, Earth-Man is attacked by the planet's native creatures, which the ring will not let him attack, as they are sentient. He is saved by Sun Boy (under duress), and, after finding out from the ring that the planet's atmosphere needs to be altered, absorbs and joins with Element Lad's powers to do so. Earth-Man then discards the ring, declaring that he will not be led around by it, and returns to Earth with the Legion. Dyogene then appears and takes back the ring. [11] A short while afterward, Earth-Man discovers that Brainiac 5 had altered his flight ring to increase his sense of morality. Bringing Brainiac 5 the wrecked ring, Earth-Man declares that he will remain on the team and continue helping aliens despite his dislike for them. [12] When the Legion battles an ancient being known as the Bringer of Chaos, Earth-Man absorbs the powers of both his fellow Legionnaires and the villain himself. Earth-Man kills the villain, but dies in the confrontation. [13]
