Insect Queen is the name of several fictional characters appearing in

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s published by

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Fictional character biography

Lana Lang

The first Insect Queen was Lana Lang,

Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...

's love interest from his youth in

Smallville ''Smallville'' is an American superhero fiction, superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produce ...

, who rescued an insectoid alien and received a bio-genetic ring to emulate the powers of insects or

arachnid Arachnids are arthropods in the Class (biology), class Arachnida () of the subphylum Chelicerata. Arachnida includes, among others, spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, pseudoscorpions, opiliones, harvestmen, Solifugae, camel spiders, Amblypygi, wh ...

s once per day in return. She briefly becomes a superhero and becomes a reserve member of the

Legion of Super-Heroes The Legion of Super-Heroes is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, the Legion is a group of superpowered beings living in the 30th and 31st centuries of t ...

, but does not maintain the identity for long. Following the events of ''

Crisis on Infinite Earths ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' is a 1985 to 1986 American comic book fictional crossover, crossover series published by DC Comics. Written by Marv Wolfman and penciller, pencilled by George Pérez, it was first released as a 12-issue limited ser ...

'', Lang never became Insect Queen.

Alien version

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 Kryptonite is a fictional material that appears primarily in Superman stories published by DC Comics. In its best-known form, it is a green, crystalline material originating from Superman's home world of Krypton (comics), Krypton that emits a u ...

. 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 as CEO 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. 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 Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. Th ...

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.

Powers and abilities

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

* An

Earth-Two Earth-Two (also Earth 2) is a setting for stories (a "fictional universe") appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. First appearing in ''The Flash'' #123 (1961), Earth-Two was created to explain differences between the original ...

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

and his wife Lois Lane. * 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. * An alternate universe variant of Insect Queen from Earth-247, Lonna Leing of the planet Xanthu in the 30th century, appears in ''

'' (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.''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #82. DC Comics.

In other media

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

References

External links

Supermanica: Insect Queen
{{Legion of Super-Heroes Characters created by George Papp Characters created by Kurt Busiek Characters created by Otto Binder Comics characters introduced in 1965 Comics characters introduced in 2008 DC Comics aliens DC Comics metahumans DC Comics shapeshifters DC Comics extraterrestrial superheroes DC Comics female superheroes