Kent Shakespeare
Encyclopedia
Richard Kent Shakespeare, occasionally codenamed Impulse, is a fictional character
in the DC Universe
. He became a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes
in the 30th century, during the "Five Years Later" era. In current continuity, he is the Superman of the 31st century.
member Brainiac 5
determined that the virus had actually substituted itself for Kent's natural organs, fundamentally improving him. Kent acquired strength, speed, durability, and recuperative abilities far beyond that of a normal human. During the five year period following the Magic Wars, he was inducted into the Legion under the codename Impulse
. After the Dominion
covertly gained control of Earth's government and the Legion disbanded, Kent fled the planet. He eventually became a paramedic on the medical planet Quarantine. While there he also tended to Garridan Ranzz (one of the twin sons of Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl
), whom Darkseid
once kidnapped and transformed into the monstrous Validus
.
Years later, when Reep Daggle (Chameleon Boy) and Rokk Krin
(Cosmic Boy) reformed the Legion, Kent joined them. He remained with the team until he was de-aged into childhood by the time mistress Glorith
. Soon thereafter, this timeline was erased, and Legion continuity was completely rebooted.
version of the team Kent is shown to be a member of the Legion Academy. The Legion was once again rebooted shortly after Kent's appearance and he never got to become an actual Legionnaire in this version.
version of the Legion. However, the events of the Infinite Crisis
miniseries have restored a close analogue of the Pre-Crisis
Legion to continuity, as seen in "The Lightning Saga
" story arc in Justice League of America and Justice Society of America
, and in the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" story arc in Action Comics
. Kent was seen briefly when multiple versions of the Legion battled Superboy-Prime
, the Time Trapper
and the Legion of Super-Villains
.
Subsequently, Shakespeare is revealed to be a member of the Superman
Dynasty in the 31st century, where he operates wearing a grey costume similar to that of Conner Kent
, the Kryptonian
/Human hybrid clone who fights crime in the 21st century as Superboy
. Among Shakespeare's associates are Brane Taylor and Laurel "Elna" Kent
-- the Batman and Superwoman of that era -- and Tom Wayne, the Robin from the Robin 3000 series.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. He became a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
in the 30th century, during the "Five Years Later" era. In current continuity, he is the Superman of the 31st century.
Original continuity
Richard Kent Shakespeare is a native of the planet Earth, reared in the New Rochelle section of Metropolis. While attending medical school at the University of Metropolis, he was stricken with a virus that left him comatose. Legion of Super-HeroesLegion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
member Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a fictional character who exists in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. He is a long standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brainiac 5 is from the planet Colu...
determined that the virus had actually substituted itself for Kent's natural organs, fundamentally improving him. Kent acquired strength, speed, durability, and recuperative abilities far beyond that of a normal human. During the five year period following the Magic Wars, he was inducted into the Legion under the codename Impulse
Impulse (DC Comics)
Impulse is an identity shared by three comic book superheroes published by DC Comics.-Publication history:Kent Shakespeare was the first DC Comics superhero known as Impulse, he debuted in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #12 . Bart Allen is the second DC Comics superhero known as Impulse, he debuted...
. After the Dominion
Dominators
The Dominators, collectively known as the Dominion, are a fictional alien race from the outer cosmos of the DC Universe. They are highly technologically advanced, and live in a rigid hierarchical society, in which one's caste is determined by the size of a red circle on one's forehead...
covertly gained control of Earth's government and the Legion disbanded, Kent fled the planet. He eventually became a paramedic on the medical planet Quarantine. While there he also tended to Garridan Ranzz (one of the twin sons of Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl
Saturn Girl
Saturn Girl is a fictional character appearing in DC comic books. A talented telepath from the 30th century, Imra first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 as a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
), whom Darkseid
Darkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
once kidnapped and transformed into the monstrous Validus
Validus
Validus is a fictional DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes and a member of the Fatal Five.-Fictional character biography:...
.
Years later, when Reep Daggle (Chameleon Boy) and Rokk Krin
Cosmic Boy
Cosmic Boy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 . He is a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, and was the original leader in all incarnations of the Legion...
(Cosmic Boy) reformed the Legion, Kent joined them. He remained with the team until he was de-aged into childhood by the time mistress Glorith
Glorith
Glorith of Baaldur is a fictional villainess appearing in stories published by DC Comics. Her primary foe is the 30th century team known as the Legion of Super-Heroes, and she was a major presence in Legion of Super-Heroes...
. Soon thereafter, this timeline was erased, and Legion continuity was completely rebooted.
Post-Zero Hour
In the Post-Zero HourLegion of Super-Heroes (1994 team)
The 1994 version of the Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 31st century of the DC Universe. The team is the second major incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes after the 1958 version and followed by the 2004 version. It first appears in Legion of Super-Heroes The 1994...
version of the team Kent is shown to be a member of the Legion Academy. The Legion was once again rebooted shortly after Kent's appearance and he never got to become an actual Legionnaire in this version.
Post-Infinite Crisis
No one named Kent Shakespeare appears in the "Threeboot"Legion of Super-Heroes (2004 team)
The 2004 version of the Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 31st century of the . The team is the third major incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes after the 1958 and 1994 versions...
version of the Legion. However, the events of the Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
miniseries have restored a close analogue of the Pre-Crisis
Legion of Super-Heroes (1958 team)
The 1958 version of the Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 31st century of the . The team is the first incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes, followed by the 1994 and 2004 rebooted versions...
Legion to continuity, as seen in "The Lightning Saga
The Lightning Saga
"The Lightning Saga" is a comic book crossover story arc that took place in DC Comics' two flagship team books: Justice League of America and Justice Society of America. It was written by Brad Meltzer and Geoff Johns, and illustrated by Ed Benes, Dale Eaglesham, and Shane Davis...
" story arc in Justice League of America and Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
, and in the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" story arc in Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
. Kent was seen briefly when multiple versions of the Legion battled Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime, also known as Superman-Prime, or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain, and one of several alternate Supermen. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 , and was created by Elliot S...
, the Time Trapper
Time Trapper
The Time Trapper is a fictional character, a supervillain in stories published by DC Comics. The Time Trapper's main enemies are the Legion of Super-Heroes...
and the Legion of Super-Villains
Legion of Super-Villains
The Legion of Super-Villains is a team of fictional supervillains that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. They are adversaries of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future...
.
Subsequently, Shakespeare is revealed to be a member of the Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
Dynasty in the 31st century, where he operates wearing a grey costume similar to that of Conner Kent
Superboy (Kon-El)
Superboy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. A modern update of the original Superboy, who is a younger version of Superman, the character first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 , and was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett.Originally...
, the Kryptonian
Kryptonian
Kryptonians are a fictional extraterrestrial race of the DC Comics universe who hail from the planet Krypton. The term originated from the stories of DC Comics superhero, Superman...
/Human hybrid clone who fights crime in the 21st century as Superboy
Superboy
Superboy is the name of several fictional characters that have been published by DC Comics, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. These characters have also been the main characters of four ongoing Superboy comic book series published by DC....
. Among Shakespeare's associates are Brane Taylor and Laurel "Elna" Kent
Laurel Kent
Laurel Kent is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics universe. She first appeared in Superboy #217 .-Original time line:In the pre-Crisis continuity, Laurel was a candidate for membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes...
-- the Batman and Superwoman of that era -- and Tom Wayne, the Robin from the Robin 3000 series.