Reep Daggle

Not to be confused with Chameleon (Marvel Comics).

Reep Daggle, also known as Chameleon Boy and Chameleon, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries.^[1]

Chameleon Boy
Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy, as depicted in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #4 (June 1985). Art by Keith Giffen and Karl Kesel.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Action Comics #267 (August 1960)
Created by	Jerry Siegel Jim Mooney
In-story information
Alter ego	Reep Daggle
Species	Durlan
Place of origin	Durla
Team affiliations	Legion of Super-Heroes
Notable aliases	Chameleon, Cham
Abilities	Shapeshifting Elasticity Enhanced senses

Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy has appeared in various media outside comics, primarily those featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes. He is voiced by Alexander Polinsky in Legion of Super Heroes (2006) and Dee Bradley Baker in Young Justice.

Publication history

Chameleon Boy first appeared in Action Comics #267 (August 1960)^[2] and was created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney.

Fictional character biography

Reep Daggle is from the planet Durla whose inhabitants, the Durlans, developed shapeshifting abilities to adapt to an environment destroyed by nuclear war.^[3] In pre-Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! continuity, he is the son of Zhay Daggle and Ren Daggle / R. J. Brande, a businessman and the Legion's financier who was trapped in human form after contracting Yorggian fever.^[4][5][6] Reep does not learn that Brande is his father for many years, as he and his twin sibling Liggt are raised by their aunt Ji. Due to the Durlans' negative reputation, Reep applies for membership in the Legion to set a positive example to counter prejudice.^[7] Due to his powers and deductive skills, he becomes the leader of the Legion's Espionage Squad.

Chameleon Boy is imprisoned on Takron-Galtos for his espionage activities against the Khunds, but released after his heroics in The Great Darkness Saga.

Zero Hour reboot

Post-Zero Hour, Reep is known simply as 'Chameleon' and is unrelated to R. J. Brande. He is the son of Durla's spiritual leader and heir to the title, though he refuses to accept the role, believing that he serves his people better as part of the Legion.^[8]

2005 "Threeboot"

In the 2005 reboot of the Legion, Reep is still referred to as Chameleon, but is now an androgynous humanoid who lacks antennae.

Post-Infinite Crisis

In Infinite Crisis, Chameleon Boy is included in the Legion, but is considered "missing"; Superman #696 reveals that he has been posing as a member of the Science Police.^[9] As revealed in Adventure Comics vol. 2 #8, Chameleon Boy is part of a secret team who R. J. Brande sent to the 21st century to save the future.

In Doomsday Clock, Doctor Manhattan erases Chameleon Boy and the Legion from existence before eventually restoring them.^[10]

Powers and abilities

As a Durlan, Chameleon Boy possesses innate shapeshifting abilities and the ability to transform into forms both larger and smaller than he is, creating or disregarding mass. He can additionally elongate his body and rearrange his internal anatomy without entirely transforming.

As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Chameleon Boy is provided a Legion Flight Ring, which allows him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments.

In other media

Television

Chameleon Boy (left) as he appears in Superman: The Animated Series

• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy appears in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "New Kids in Town", voiced by Jason Priestley.^[11]
• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy makes a non-speaking appearance in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far From Home".
• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy appears in Legion of Super Heroes (2006), voiced by Alexander Polinsky.^[11]
• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy appears in Young Justice, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.^[11][12] This version sports a reptilian appearance.

Film

• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy makes a non-speaking appearance in Justice League vs. the Fatal Five.^[11]
• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy makes a non-speaking appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes (2023).^[11]
• The Legion of Super Heroes (2006) incarnation of Chameleon Boy makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too!.^[13]

Miscellaneous

• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy appears in Smallville Season 11.
• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy appears in Adventures in the DC Universe #10.^[14]
• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy appears in Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century.^[15]
• Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy appears in the one-shot comic Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes.^[16]

Cultural impact

Chameleon Boy's design served as inspiration for the eponymous character of Resident Alien.^[17]