Karate Kid
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Real Identity: Val Armorr
Affiliation(s): The Legion of Superheroes
Appearances: Karate Kid, Dark Victory Part One, and Dark Victory Part Two
Skills: Master of Martial Arts, Armed Combat, Above Average Physical Attributes, and Determination
Voiced By: Keith Ferguson
Japan's most notorious crime boss, Kirau Nezumim the Black Dragon, fathered a child with an American secret agent named Valentina Armorr. When she failed to hide the child, Val, Nezumi killed her. Japan's hero, Sensei Toshiaki, White Crane, killed Black Dragon and adopted Armorr. While raising him as his own son, Toshiaki also taught him every known martial art on Earth. When Armorr went to serve a local shogun, he failed to impress his supervisor. Armorr left Earth and traveled the galaxy to learn new fighting techniques.
Through nothing more than hard work and determination, Armorr excelled and found his way on the legendary Asteroid K-19, home to illegal fighting tournaments. Unable to show proof of a super power, Armorr snuck into the fight and challenged the latest champion. After a winning, Armorr was shocked to see that the champion was Superman. Superman offered him membership to the Legion of Superheroes as Karate Kid. He believed that he finally achieved a greater destiny. He was undaunted when the Legion demoted him to a support role on the Battle Cruiser out of concern for his lack of powers.
When he and Chameleon Boy tried to capture Grimbor alone, Cosmic Boy ordered Karate Kid to resign from the Legion. Chameleon Boy tried to console Karate Kid and realized that Grimbor set a trap. Unprepared for a powerless Legionnaire, Grimbor was defeated by Karate Kid. He was formally accepted into the Legion, thereafter.