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Lightning Lad, or Live Wire, (Garth Ranzz of the planet Winath) is a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He has the superhuman ability to generate electricity usually in the form, of lightning bolts. He is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 (April 1958).
Lightning Lad
Fictional biography
Lightning Lad is a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, along with Saturn Girl (whom he later married) and Cosmic Boy. He is the twin brother of fellow Legionnaire Lightning Lass, the younger brother of the supervillain Lightning Lord, and the father of the monstrous Validus.
Early in the Legion's history, he sacrificed himself battling Zarquam the Conquerer, but was later resurrected by the sacrifice of Proty, Chameleon Boy's shapeshifting pet. However, a later retcon revealed that Proty's mind had actually taken over Lightning Lad's form.
Powers
Lightning Lad had the ability to generate electricity, and direct bolts of it accurately (the exact mechanism in his power which prevents the bolts taking the path of least resistance to Earth is not understood), which he commonly refers to as "lightning."
It is unclear whether Proty retained any of his original abilities in Lightning Lad's form.
Live Wire
Fictional biography
In post-Zero Hour rebooted continuity, he is a teenager again, with the code name Live Wire, and he is no longer the husband of Saturn Girl (although they are still romantically involved) or the father of Validus.
In current continuity, he was apparently killed during the Legion Lost storyline, in battle with "The Progenitor" (actually an insane Element Lad) but actually was "stored" in Element Lad's crystalline body. He now has Element Lad's transmutation powers, in addition to his electrical ones.
Powers
Originally, Live Wire possessed the ability to generate and channel large amounts of electricity, and direct bolts of it accurately.
Since being revived in a crystalline version of Element Lad's body, in addition to his original electrical abilities, he possesses the ability to transmute objects from one form to another, including changing the elements they are composed of. He does not have sufficient control of this ability to alter the objects' shape. He also no longer requires sleep.
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