The New Genesphere, affectionately known as Sphere, is an extraterrestrial artifact from the world of New Genesis. She is capable of adopting several forms, including that of a flying motorcycle, which earned her the name Super-Cycle.[1]
She apparently possesses some form of intelligent awareness and has attached herself to Superboy.[3]
Physical appearance[]
Sphere appears to be a metallic ball approximately 5 feet in diameter with a circular feature containing a pattern of lines and dots that glow indicating possible communication or reaction. She is capable of autonomous movement by rolling.[4]
Modes[]
Sphere can transform into assorted forms, including the following:
Sphere-mode: The New Genesphere takes the default form of a sphere. She is capable of attacking others by charging into them at great speed.[4] She appears to be more resistant to damage in this form, and according to Superboy uses this form to heal.[5]
Super-Cycle mode: The New Genesphere transforms into a flight-capable motorized tricycle. The basic form has room for a driver (though she is able to act independently), plus one passenger at the front.[1] She can also deploy a pod at the back with seats for up to six additional passengers.[6] She is capable of shooting lasers[1] and emitting anti-Apokoliptan signals.[7] By 2018, the Super-Cycle had taken a new form, now with a single wheel at the back and two at the front. While in flight the wheels turn to be parallel to the body. The Cycle's capabilities in this mode are unchanged, and as before, she can deploy pods to increase her passenger capacity.[8]
Pill bug mode:[7] The New Genesphere turns into a form reminiscent of a woodlouse. She is capable of jamming control signals and taking control of mechanized objects. She appears to be more vulnerable to damage in this form.[1]
The Light's extraterrestrial partner tested their transportation system by sending the Sphere through. She was taken in, tortured, and experimented on by Psimon's troops.[4]
The Sphere saw Superboy and Miss Martian off before their first day of School. She also showed a bit of playful jealousy when Superboy was working on his bike.[3]
Mount Justice September 22, 18:43EDT
Sphere interrupted an intimate kissing session between Superboy and Miss Martian. M'gann initially thought Sphere was jealous, but it turned out that Sphere was warning them about Kid Flash's arrival into the Cave. The lovers were eternally grateful.
When Red Torpedo and Red Inferno attacked the Cave, Sphere was smashed into a concrete wall, where she remained for the duration of the battle. Sphere was knocked offline when Artemis triggered an electromagnetic pulse, and recovered briefly before Red Tornado's face-heel turn.[9]
Mount Justice September 23, 06:34EDT
The Sphere attempted to join the Team on their trip to Northern India but Superboy forbade it.[9]
After his psychology session with Black Canary, Superboy decided to go riding with Wolf on his motorcycle. Sphere blocked their path, and transformed into a large wheeled bike.
The trio was ambushed by the Forever People, who at first thought Superboy had stolen the New Genesphere. Sphere spoke to their Motherbox, who then told the Forever People that Superboy had rescued her from captivity. The trio assisted the Forever People to reclaim their stolen technology.
In a battle with Desaad, Sphere was wounded, but she managed to save the day. The Forever People's combined form, Infinity-Man, was taken over by a Fatherbox, but by clamping on its head, Sphere allowed Superboy control of the behemoth.
The Forever People began healing Sphere with their Motherbox, and intended to take her home to complete the process. Superboy objected, declaring that they had bonded. This proved to the Forever People that he respected and understood her sentience, which pleased them. They allowed him to keep her.[1]
Superboy and Black Canary used the Super-Cycle to get close to the second ice fortress. She brought Canary in range to take a shot at it with her sonic cry.[6]
After a mind-controlledBlack Canary attacked the Team in the Cave, the Sphere transformed into the Super-Cycle and transported them out before the arrival of three more enthralled Leaguers. Then, she tracked Superboy's signal and when she found the Bio-Ship, she proceeded inside.[12]
The Sphere transported the Team to the Watchtower and helped them in the fight against the mind-controlled Justice League. She pinned John Stewart down and then cannonballed Martian Manhunter. She then tried to pin Superman to the ground, but was slammed into the ceiling. Sphere later joined Rocket, Wolf, and Miss Martian in surrounding the mind-controlled Wonder Woman.[12]
After Blue Beetle was scanned for Zeta transport at the Erdel Initiative, the Super-Cycle switched to Sphere mode and she, Nightwing, Wonder Girl and Beetle Zeta-ed to Gotham City.[2]
The Super-Cycle carried Nightwing and Wonder Girl, with Blue Beetle flying alongside, to Metropolis, landing near where Zatanna was making efforts to breach the force field surrounding the city.[2]
As Martian Manhunter and Flash attempted to make contact with the alien ship hovering over Metropolis, the Super-Cycle carried Nightwing, Wonder Girl, Blue Beetle and Zatanna beside them, concealed within a glamour bubble created by Zatanna.[2]
Metropolis December 1, post-17:54EST
Alpha Squad successfully entered the Collector of Worlds's ship through a hatch that was opened to expel Martian Manhunter, Flash and Atom.[15]
Metropolis December 1, 18:20EST
Alpha Squad began to explore the ship, and came across a vast room filled with spheres–actually shrunken cities.[16]
Metropolis December 1, 18:31EST
Alpha Squad continued to explore, until Zatanna's glamour spell was drained. The Collector of World's revealed himself and attacked them.[16]
Alpha Squad was helpless against the Collector's attack.[17]
The Collector's Ship December 1, 18:33EST
Blue Beetle and Sphere mounted a counterattack, allowing the Team to regroup and attack the Collector.[17]
The Collector's Ship December 1, 19:01EST
Sphere transformed to Super-Cycle mode to attack the Collector. After reinforcements, former prisoners of Kylstar, were teleported in, Nightwing quickly apprised them of the situation, and Lagoon Boy took the Coludroid out.[17]
Metropolis December 1, 19:03EST
Dozens of more coludroids entered, surrounding Sphere and the others. But rather than attack, they halted, because the Collector noticed something was wrong with the force field around the city. Should it be taken down while the shrinking beam was still active, the planet could be destroyed. Atom and Nightwing convinced the Collector to shut down both, and he agreed, as he had no interest in destroying the planet.[17]
Metropolis December 1, 22:03EST
Back on the ground, Sphere was present as the League and Team members gathered and discussed the events of the day.[17]
After Gamma Squad (Robin, Blue Beetle and Lagoon Boy) saved the hostages from the Kroloteans, Sphere arrived with Alpha and Beta squads riding on her.[18]
When the group tracked Intergang to Arlington, the Super-Cycle destroyed the device controlling the Appellaxian. Superboy instructed Sphere to transform into pillbug mode to wrest control of the Golem, but Sphere was knocked away by one of Blue Beetle's staples.[7]
After the destruction of Mount Justice, Mal found the Super-Cycle floating off-shore. She was carrying Nightwing, Superboy and Wolf, all unconscious, and struggling to stay afloat. Mal took Nightwing and woke up Superboy, who carried Wolf, allowing her to switch to Sphere mode, sink and heal.[19]
The Super-Cycle was used by Bumblebee and Guardian to fight through the Warworld towards its power core. She defended the heroes from security drones while they worked on shutting the core down.[21]
The Warworld May 26, post-12:40UTC
After Blue Beetle attacked the Team, Arsenal opened an air lock to avoid capture. Sphere was sucked into space.[21]
Sphere entered a Warworld docking bay via airlock. Her arrival startled Nightwing and Miss Martian who were talking inside. They were relieved to be reunited with her, and M'gann asked Sphere if she could track Superboy. She responded enthusiastically, transforming into the Super-Cycle.
Outside the room where the captive Team members were being held, Sphere, Nightwing and Miss Martian confronted a squad of Reach soldiers and took them down. At that point, the door opened, revealing the freed Team members and their rescuers, Arsenal and the four teens the Reach had abducted. They all retreated to the Bio-Ship.[22]
Batgirl, Impulse, Zatanna and Rocket, with a captive Blue Beetle in tow, rode the Super-Cycle from El Paso. Through Beetle, the Ambassador demanded to know where they were going.[23]
They arrived at a Bialyan cliffside. Batgirl had the Super-Cycle blast open the hidden doors to the complex inside. The team fought through the guards to reach the temple concealed inside. Zatanna prepared the ritual to cleanse Blue Beetle's scarab. When Green Beetle attempted to intervene, the Super-Cycle helped hold him off, along with Batgirl, Impulse and a group of reinforcements from the Team. Zatanna was able to cleanse both Blue and Green Beetle, freeing them from Reach control. Their mission complete, the Super-Cycle carried those unable to fly home, as the others flew alongside. On the way, Zatanna, Batgirl and Robin explained the lead-up to the mission to Blue, before reporting their success to Nightwing.[23]
Superboy and Black Lightning took the Cycle to the Markovian National Cemetery to drop off Nightwing and Tigress's gear. The Cycle then stood by until Tigress called her in to extract her and a refugee she rescued from the cemetery. They went to find Lightning, who had washed up at a riverbank.[25]
When Tigress and Lightning went into the sewers to find Superboy, they left the "Halo-girl" in the Cycle's care. Halo and the Cycle followed against orders and saved Tigress and Lightning from Plasmus. They went into the lab, and the Cycle extracted the squad after Bedlam retreated. After setting everyone down outside, the squad was attacked by Count Vertigo and his henchmen. Henchy took the Cycle down with Apokoliptan weaponry.[26]
Sphere sat outside Conner's garage as Forager was introduced to everyone. When Brion, Halo and Forager wanted to go to Infinity Island in search of Brion's sister, Halo easily convinced Sphere to take them.[29]
Once they arrived at the island, the Cycle transformed back to Sphere-mode. The group entered the palace and found Sensei. Once battle commenced, Sphere went back to Super-Cycle mode, but was quickly taken down by Ubu using Apokoliptan weapons. She was placed in a cell with the rest of the group, but soon freed by Conner and the other older heroes. Sphere helped fight their way out, but ultimately Ra's al Ghul let them go, and they all flew home on the Bio-Ship.[29]
During a training exercise, Nightwing's team came under attack by Lobo. Superboy called for the Super-Cycle to perform Maneuver 16, essentially calling for her to blast Lobo. The alien bounty hunter called upon his space bike, which fought the Super-Cycle until Lobo believed he had completed his mission and left.[30]
Sphere was present when Nightwing's team met at the Carr house to discuss Violet's new abilities and the arrival of Vic Stone. When Vic mentioned the Fatherbox fused with him, Sphere reacted with hostility, and transformed to the Super-Cycle. The Fatherbox took over Vic and the two fired lasers at each other, with Conner in the middle, until Violet cleansed Vic and calmed Sphere.[31]
After Violet ran away, Artemis figured Sphere could track her, so she and Tara asked her for help. She immediately switched to Super-Cycle mode. The Cycle took them to Gabrielle Daou's home in Dhabar, where they reunited with Violet. Violet boom tubed them to the Premiere Building, and Sphere spent the night in the Hub.[33]
Following Violet's abduction by Gretchen Goode on January 22, Sphere was unable to track her, leading Aquaman to conclude Violet was off-world.[34]
Sphere was among those to see Conner and Megan off for their wedding trip to Mars. She also said goodbye to Bio-Ship. Conner asked Cullen Row to take care of Sphere and Wolf while he was away.[35]
After Shade teleported Tigress's squad to the beach, with Lady Shiva following, the Super-Cycle quickly found them and fired a warning shot at Shiva. The group boarded the Cycle, Before they could leave, Shiva goaded Orphan into a fight, but Orphan spared Shiva's life and left on the Cycle with the others.[38]
After Cheshire fled from the group and stole a helicopter, they pursued on the Super-Cycle. They caught up with her just short of Infinity Island, but Cheshire ran at them and forced the Cycle into the water.[38]
The Cycle got Tigress to the island in time to stop Cheshire launching a suicidal attack on Sensei. The Cycle stood by carrying Orphan as Tigress, Cheshire and Onyx spoke with Sensei and Ra's al Ghul, with Cheshire and Onyx ultimately opting to stay on the island.[38]
Gorilla Squad boom tubed to the LexCorp Robotics factory, but were immediately faced with a number of Lex-Bots. Terra sent the others inside while she and the Super-Cycle dealt with the robots. She was forced to admit they had bitten off more than they could chew, but fortunately she had called for reinforcements and Mongoose Squad joined them via boom tube. More Lex-Bots also arrived, however.[41]
The Super-Cycle was a semi-character in the Forever People comics and the original Young Justice series, having been uncovered by Robin (Tim Drake), Superboy and Impulse (Bart Allen). Superboy boastfully named the cycle after himself (not realizing that it was the vehicle's official name on New Genesis). However, the Cycle did not develop any sort of kinship with him like in the animated series. Instead, it took on a dog-like behavior and loyalty towards Tim Drake, allowing only him to drive it. Later, when Robin temporarily left the team, the Cycle welcomed Slobo (a clone of Lobo) as his new master. Following the end of the Young Justice series, the Super-Cycle vanished into comic limbo. While the cycle would occasionally curl up into a defensive ball, it never transformed into a metallic sphere.