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Insect Queen (DC Comics)

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Insect Queen is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Fictional character biography

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Lana Lang

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Insect Queen
Lana Lang as Insect Queen. From Superboy #124 (October 1965), art by George Papp.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSuperboy #124 (October 1965)
Created byOtto Binder (writer), George Papp (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoLana Lang
SpeciesHuman
Supporting character ofSuperman, Superboy, Legion of Super-Heroes
AbilitiesFirst: Bio-genetic ring grants ability to gain powers/bodies of insects/arachnids
Second: Mystical scarab grants ability to gain powers of insects/arachnids
Further information: Lana Lang

The first Insect Queen was Lana Lang, Superman's love interest from his youth in Smallville,[1] who rescued an insectoid alien and received a bio-genetic ring to emulate the powers of insects or arachnids once per day in return. She briefly becomes a superhero[2][3] and becomes a reserve member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, but does not maintain the identity for long.[4] Following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Lang never became Insect Queen.

Alien version

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Insect Queen
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSuperman #671 (February 2008)
Created byKurt Busiek, Peter Vale, Jesus Merino
In-story information
Place of originAll-Hive
AbilitiesFlight, telepathy, can metamorphose to match a genetic template, narcotic secretion

In the new continuity created by the events of Infinite Crisis, an insectoid alien Insect Queen is introduced in Superman #671-673 (2008). An inhabitant of the All-Hive, a civilization of giant insects where only one queen can rule, Insect Queen and her followers left to colonize another planet. Upon reaching Earth, she arranged a deal with Lex Luthor for his help in colonizing the planet and converting LexCorp moonbase workers into drones. In return, she tasked some of her followers, the Flea Circus, with helping him gather Kryptonite.[5] Following her work on the moonbase, she returns to Earth to help Luthor fulfill her end of their deal, only to learn Lana Lang took his place asCEO of LexCorp. Insect Queen kidnaps her and takes her to the moonbase, where she metamorphoses into a form combining Lang's appearance with her insectoid features. After capturing Superman during his attempt to rescue Lang, she uses her midges on him to enhance her psychic powers and uses his genetic template to create "super soldier-ants". However, Lang frees herself, rescues Superman, and traps the Insect Queen in her suspended animation amber. Unbeknownst to Lang, the Insect Queen injected her with a portion of her DNA.

A year later, during the events of Supergirl (vol. 5) #40 and #45-50, the Insect Queen possesses Lang's body and metamorphoses into a black insectoid form.[6][7][8] Assuming control of the hospital where Lang had been taken to and taking several hospital workers, members of the Science Police, and the Guardian hostage, the Insect Queen subsequently captures Supergirl in the hopes of using Kryptonian DNA to create an army of hybrid insects. Nonetheless, Supergirl breaks free and uses Kryptonian technology to help Lang expel the Insect Queen, restoring the former.[9]

Powers and abilities

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All incarnations of the Insect Queen can control insects and arachnids. Additionally, Lana Lang possessed the ability to transform her lower body into an insectoid form while the alien incarnation possesses wings, four arms, antennae, chitinous plates, and the ability to possess living organisms through her DNA.

Alternative versions

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  • An Earth-Two variant of Lana Lang / Insect Queen appears in The Superman Family #213 (1981). This version received a scarab found in an Egyptian tomb by her archeologist father, who was unaware that it had magical properties. Possessed by its power, Lang became Insect Queen and temporarily worked with the Ultra-Humanite until she is saved by Superman and his wife Lois Lane.[10]
  • An unidentified anti-matter universe variant of the Insect Queen appears in JLA Secret Files as a former member of the Justice Underground and heroic counterpart of Queen Bee.[11]
  • An alternate universe variant of Insect Queen from Earth-247, Lonna Leing of the planet Xanthu in the 30th century, appears in Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #82. She is a member of a Xanthuan hero team called the Uncanny Amazers who possesses similar powers as Lana Lang / Insect Queen, though Leing's are innate.[12]

In other media

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An unidentified Insect Queen makes a cameo appearance in the Kite Man: Hell Yeah! episode "Portal Potty, Hell Yeah!", voiced by Rhea Seehorn.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 128–129. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
  2. ^ Superboy #124 (October 1965). DC Comics.
  3. ^ Cowsill, Alan (2019). DC Comics: Year By Year New Edition, A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 61. ISBN 9781465496089.
  4. ^ Adventure Comics #355 (April 1967). DC Comics.
  5. ^ Superman #651 (June 2006). DC Comics.
  6. ^ Supergirl (vol. 5) #40. DC Comics.
  7. ^ Supergirl (vol. 5) #45. DC Comics.
  8. ^ Supergirl (vol. 5) #49. DC Comics.
  9. ^ Supergirl (vol. 5) #50. DC Comics.
  10. ^ The Superman Family #213 (1981). DC Comics.
  11. ^ JLA Secret Files 2004. DC Comics.
  12. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #82. DC Comics.
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