View source for Ultra Boy

{{short description|DC Comics superhero}}
{{about|the DC Comics superhero|the DC Comics supervillain|Ultraman (DC Comics)|the 1940s era All-American Comics superheroes|Ultra-Man}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=Ultra Boy (DC Who's Who).jpg
|caption=Ultra Boy as depicted in ''[[Who's Who in the DC Universe]]'' #24 (February 1987). Art by Ron Frenz (penciller) and Bruce Patterson (inker).
|character_name= Ultra Boy
|real_name= Jo Nah
|publisher= [[DC Comics]]
|debut= ''Superboy'' #98 (July 1962)
|creators= [[Jerry Siegel]]<br />[[Curt Swan]]
|alliances= [[Legion of Super-Heroes]]<br />[[Workforce (comics)|Workforce]]
|homeworld= [[Rimbor]]
|species= [[Metahuman]]
|aliases= Emerald Dragon
|powers= Superhuman strength, superhuman speed, flight, durability, flash vision, 'penetra-vision' (one power at a time)
}}
'''Ultra Boy''' ('''Jo Nah''') is a [[superhero]] appearing in [[DC Comics]], primarily as a member of the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]] in the 30th and 31st centuries.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Cadigan |editor1-first=Glen |title=The Best of the Legion Outpost |date=2004 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905368 |page=8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5iFklF_oCMgC&q=%22ultra%20boy%22 |access-date=29 March 2020 |archive-date=31 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731020939/https://books.google.com/books?id=5iFklF_oCMgC&q=%22ultra%20boy%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> He gained his powers after being eaten by a whale-like beast in space and being exposed to large amounts of radiation while inside. His real name is derived from the [[bible|Biblical]] figure [[Jonah]], who also survived being swallowed by a "large fish" (often interpreted as a whale).

Ultra Boy has made limited appearances in media outside comics, with [[James Arnold Taylor]] voicing him in ''[[Legion of Super Heroes (TV series)|Legion of Super Heroes]]'' (2006).

==Publication history==
Ultra Boy first appeared in ''Superboy'' #98, and was created by [[Jerry Siegel]] and [[Curt Swan]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cadigan |first1=Glen |title=The Legion Companion |date=2003 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905221 |page=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lEWHfXUwUAwC&q=ultra%20boy |access-date=29 March 2020 |archive-date=31 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731021038/https://books.google.com/books?id=lEWHfXUwUAwC&q=ultra%20boy |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
[[File:Superboy98.jpg|left|thumb|''Superboy'' #98]]
In Ultra Boy's first appearance in ''Superboy'' #98 (1962), he travels to the 21st century to uncover [[Superboy (Kal-El)|Superboy]]'s secret identity and prove himself worthy of joining the Legion.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |pages=450–451}}</ref> After joining the Legion, he serves two terms as their leader.<ref>Ultra Boy's first term as leader began in ''Adventure Comics'' #371 (August 1968)</ref><ref>Ultra Boy's second term as leader began in ''Superboy'' #184 (August 1972)</ref>

After the Legion disbands in the "[[Legion of Super-Heroes#"Five Years Later"|Five Years Later]]" arc, Ultar Boy returns to Rimbor and becomes a criminal before rejoining the group. Furthermore, a temporal clone of Ultra Boy from "Batch SW6" is introduced.<ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #38 (December 1992)</ref>

Following ''[[Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!]]'', which reboots the Legion's continuity, Ultra Boy is reimagined as the former leader of the Emerald Dragons gang and a member of [[Workforce (comics)|Workforce]]. He later leaves Workforce, joins the Legion, and marries [[Phantom Girl|Apparition]], with whom he has a son named Cub. In the "[[Threeboot]]", he has a brief affair with [[Saturn Girl]].<ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 5) #46 (November 2008)</ref>

In ''[[Doomsday Clock (comics)|Doomsday Clock]]'', [[Doctor Manhattan]] erases Ultra Boy and the Legion from existence before [[Superman]] convinces him to restore them.<ref>''Doomsday Clock'' #12 (December 2019). DC Comics.</ref><ref>''[[Justice Society of America]]'' (vol. 4) #10 (September 2024)</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
Ultra Boy possesses abilities similar to Superman, including flight, x-ray vision, heat vision, and superhuman strength, durability, and speed. However, he can only use one power at a time.

As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Ultra Boy is provided a Legion Flight Ring, which allows him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments. Although he has the equivalent innate abilities, the ring allows him to forgo them and leave another of his powers available for use.

==In other media==
===Television===
* Ultra Boy makes a cameo appearance in the ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]'' episode "New Kids In Town".
* Ultra Boy makes a cameo appearance in the ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'' episode "Far From Home" as one of several Legionnaires mind-controlled by the [[Fatal Five]].
* Jo Nah / Ultra Boy appears in ''[[Legion of Super Heroes (TV series)|Legion of Super Heroes]]'', voiced by [[James Arnold Taylor]]. Introduced as a civilian in the episode "Champions", he competes in the Intergalactic Games before helping fellow contestant [[Matter-Eater Lad|Tenzil Kem]] and the Legion fend off an attack by the Fatal Five. As of the two-part episode "Sundown", Ultra Boy joins the Legion to help them defeat the [[List of alien races in DC Comics#Sun-Eaters|Sun-Eater]].

===Video games===
Ultra Boy appears as a character summon in ''[[Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - ''Scribblenauts Unmasked'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731021041/https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

===Miscellaneous===
* Ultra Boy serves as inspiration for ''[[Champions (role-playing game)|Champions]]''{{'}}s "Ultra Slots".{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
* Ultra Boy appears in ''[[Adventures in the DC Universe]]'' #10.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |title=''Adventures in the DC Universe'' #10 - The Blobs (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/adventures-in-the-dc-universe-10-the-blobs/4000-153328/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620091547/https://comicvine.gamespot.com/adventures-in-the-dc-universe-10-the-blobs/4000-153328/ |archive-date=June 20, 2023 |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}</ref>
* Ultra Boy appears in the one-shot comic ''[[Batman '66]] Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #1 - Atomic Batteries To Power, Flight Rings To Speed (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/batman-66-meets-the-legion-of-super-heroes-1-atomi/4000-609276/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818222413/https://comicvine.gamespot.com/batman-66-meets-the-legion-of-super-heroes-1-atomi/4000-609276/ |archive-date=August 18, 2023 |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080229065849/http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/2520.htm/ A Hero History Of Ultra Boy]

{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}
{{Superman characters}}
[[Category:Characters created by Curt Swan]]
[[Category:Characters created by Jerry Siegel]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1962]]
[[Category:DC Comics aliens]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:DC Comics extraterrestrial superheroes]]
[[Category:DC Comics metahumans]]
[[Category:DC Comics superheroes]]
[[Category:Fictional princes]]
[[Category:Legion of Super-Heroes members]]