Kirt Niedrigh first tried out 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 was rejected on the grounds that his powers were too limited. Incensed at his rejection, Niedrigh found the costume of "Zoras", a fake villain used as a final test for new Legionnaires. Attacking the Legion and defeating them, Niedrigh revealed himself, believing that he had earned his place on the team. The Legion did not see things this way and he was defeated by the Legion's new member Tyroc. |
When Niedrigh next appeared he was calling himself Earth-Man, he claimed to have discovered a crystal tablet in the Arctic which proved that Superman was not an alien, but a human who was granted powers by Mother Earth to protect the Earth from alien invaders. Using this knowledge, Earth-Man was able to sow 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. Earth-Man gathered a group of fellow earth-born Legion rejects, and formed the Justice League of Earth, upholding Superman's "ideals". |