Invisible Kid II

Invisible Kid II

Jacques Foccart grew up on Africa's Ivory Coast with his two sisters. When the younger, Danielle, contracted some sort of electrical dysfunction in her brain that was believed incurable, the Legion's Brainiac 5 took an interest in her case. At Legion headquarters, his treatment unleashed the malevolent A.I. called Computo. It used Danielle as a host and nearly destroyed the Legion.

Using the Legion telepathic earplugs, Brainiac 5 guided Jacques to a vial of invisibility serum. This was the invention of the late Legionnaire called Invisible Kid (Lyle Norg), and it enabled Jacques to sneak up on Computo and tranquilize his sister. For his bravery, Jacques was invited to join the Legion as the second Invisible Kid. (Legion vol. 2 Annual #1)

Invisible Kid chose a simple uniform that was originally colored white-and-black, (Legion vol. 2 #290) but he settled into a yellow version of the same. Jacques joined the team at the dawn of the Legion's great battle with Darkseid. He was the first Legionnaire to lay eyes on the evil god. (#291)

Invisible Kid overcame his fears, consistently proving his potential. And not long after beginning his career, Jacques discovered that he possessed additional super-powers. When a team faced the Khund called Karlak, the Legionnaire Wildfire was blasted into another dimension. Invisible Kid set out to search for him, and the rush of adrenaline activated a teleportational ability that led him into another dimension. (Legion vol. 2 #298)

To Wildfire, this dimension was a paradise, but Jacques recognized it as an illusion. Just before returning home, the two Legionnaires met someone there who appeared to be Lyle Norg! They left him and emerged from the "dream dimension" on the planet Orando. (#299)

Brainiac 5 was dedicated to curing Danielle Foccart. He succeeded, but at the expense of the Legion's headquarters. In the process the Computo entity was "tamed" as well. (Legion vol. 2 #309–311) Jacques took Danielle home to Abidjan, to live with their sister Francine. (#312, 314)

In the Legion's final battle with the Prophet, they detonated a negaton bomb. It vanquished their foe but also opened a portal to the dream dimension, and the mysterious "Lyle Norg" came into Earth's dimension. (#310)

This Lyle did little more than mope around Legion headquarters. Eventually Jacques insisted that they return to the dream dimension and solve the mystery of Lyle's return. (Tales of the Legion #316) When they crossed over, Wildfire was unexpectedly dragged along with them, as if there was a synchronicity between Jacques' teleportation, Wildfire's anti-energy, and the dream dimension. They quickly learned that "Lyle" was actually the sinister master of that dimension — the "Dream Demon." It disabled the Legionnaires by feeding on their greatest desires and fears, creating illusions to paralyze its prey. Jacques overcame the Demon with the sheer power of his will and they escaped. When they returned to normal space they emerged, appropriately, on Shanghalla, where they lit an eternal flame at the memorial to the original Invisible Kid. (#317)

Jacques' newfound powers were no blessing to him. While battling the Khund assassin called Wharlik, his fight-or-flight response triggered Invisible Kid's teleportational power; he and Wharlik were transported into the vacuum of space, where Wharlik died but Jacques' was saved by his Legion transuit. (Legion vol. 3 #10)

Teleportation was a powerful addition to the Legion, but Jacques was distressed by his inability to control it. Brainiac 5 analyzed him and concluded that this particular ability was triggered more by adrenaline than by will power. (#17) Jacques ultimately decided that he could not in good conscience keep a power that he could not control, so he sought the help of the Legion's physician, Dr. Gym'll. Gym'll saw a away to remove all of Jacques' powers, if he preferred. Invisible Kid seriously considered returning to normal but after the fateful appearance by a terrorist, Jacques realized that he valued his role as a Legionnaire. Still, he gave up the teleportation power. (#19)

After the first great "crisis," Invisible Kid joined Brainiac 5, Blok and Sun Boy on a trip back to the 20th century to find Superboy. This was when they realized that the past had been irrevocably altered; the Superboy they knew now lived in a so-called "Pocket Universe." (Superman vol. 2 #8, Action Comics #591)

Like his predecessor, Jacques excelled as a member of the Legion's Espionage Squad. He was recruited by Phantom Girl on a galactic search for Chameleon Boy. He prepared special covert tactics for the mission that helped him locate the missing Colossal Boy. (Legion vol. 3 Annual #4)

Jacques took a vacation to return home and visit Danielle, but it was interrupted when the Emerald Empress attacked the nearby Pan-African University. She burned him badly with the power of her Eye. (Legion vol. 3 #57) Contemporary medicine healed him quickly but it made him question once again his life as a Legionnaire. (#59)

Notes

This character's name is an homage to the real world Jacques Foccart, a French man who served as chief adviser to French presidents on African affairs.

In an interview with the Legion of Substitute Podcasters (episode #70), Levitz said that he was embarrassed that there wasn’t more diversity in the team. He chose to make Jacques more “worldly” by the addition of the legacy of French colonialism.

Tom & Mary Bierbaum on Jacques: "Had all the tools, but was slightly lacking in self-confidence, so everything he accomplished took a toll." —Interlac (2000)

Glorith Reality

Whatever doubts Jacques had about being a hero were inevitably quieted by necessity. On Earth, the government was infiltrated by the Dominators and the Legion was effectively dismantled. Invisible Kid decided he would fight them by going underground, to ally with other former Legionnaires. (2995: The Legion Sourcebook)

His group referred to themselves as "the SUBS" (Superhuman Underground Battle Squad) and during this time he fell in love with Drura Sehpt, the former Infectious Lass. (Legion vol. 4 #16, 18, 27–35) After the Dominators were finally driven from Earth, Jacques was appointed the President of Earth — a post he did not want. (#35)

While he was President the Earth was destroyed as the result of millennia of environmental abuse. Its survivors recolonized in cities that orbited the ruins; Jacques seized a new opportunity. He resigned and effectively traded places with Reep Daggle (Chameleon Boy), who was leading the reformed Legion. Reep came to Earth to advise the teen Legionnaires (which included Danielle!) and Vice President Troy Stewart (Tyroc) became President. (#41)

Jacques and Drura relocated to Legion headquarters on Talus. (#43) Jacques' espionage skills helped uncover new treacheries by Universo on Weber's World, the seat of the United Planets. (#50–59)

This timeline came to an end with the "Zero Hour." Jacques and Drura were together when they and other Legionnaires faded from existence. (Valor #22)