Quanto
Context
Quanto is an obscure Legion of Super-Heroes enemy. He appeared in 1968 as part of the Taurus Gang storyline, which we found a notable one.
Said storyline was an early Jim Shooter one. He had begun writing stories for DC two years prior, at age 14.
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Taurus Gang.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Blond
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Powers and Abilities
Quanto has the power to turn himself into light. This allows him to fly in immaterial form at light speed.
He can also turn someone else he touches into light and fly them with himself.
History
Quanto is a being from the dimension of Cintos. As such, he could turn himself into light.
He was a very confused youth, and his elders sent him to Earth’s dimension to find some purpose in his life by “aiding” humans. Quanto’s people considered these “lesser beings”.
It is unclear from his statements whether Quanto’s superiors sent him to aid the Taurus Gang specifically, or whether he was just sent to help whomever he met.
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Taurus
In any case, the corrupt Science Police Chief Zoltorus convinced him to join his mob, the Taurus Gang. Quanto became part of the gang’s super-powered elite, alongside:
His power made him mostly untouchable in a fight. And his ability to move at the speed of light made him perfect for getaways. He could fly to an imperiled gang member, transform them to light, and fly the two of them away before anyone could even think of catching them.
Running with the bulls
Quanto’s feelings of innate superiority apparently meant that he cared little for the harm the Taurus Gang inflicted. He was above it all.
Mystelor, who felt very out of place in the Taurus Gang, felt an attraction for Quanto. She often turned to him for help fending off the unwanted attentions of Shagrek. But Quanto professed to be uninterested in “lowering” himself to her level.
During the Legion of Super-Heroes’ infiltration of the Taurus Gang in 2979, Quanto noticed a change in Mystelor. But he didn’t realize that she had been replaced with a disguised Dream Girl.
Quanto found this new Mystelor to be troubling and intriguing – “nobler, better… as beautiful inside as you are outside.” Suddenly, she did not seem beneath him at all.
Dream a little dream
Dream Girl’s real identity was revealed during the Taurus Gang’s capture. Quanto then decided that he had misunderstood his mission. He now believed that the aid he was meant to give was helping Mystelor – and perhaps the others – to change, to become better people.
Dream Girl allowed him to escape with her blessing, so that Quanto was able to rejoin his fellow super-agents.
Though Black Mace has surfaced from time to time as a mercenary, most of the others have not surfaced since. This at least raises the possibility that Quanto succeeded. At least one report, unconfirmed, indicates that Quanto and Mystelor are now peacefully traveling the United Planets together.
Description
Quanto, despite his other-dimensional origin, appears to be a young human male, Caucasian, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He wears an orange shirt and yellow pants.
In fact he’s strikingly similar in appearance to the similarly powered (but far more dangerous) super-villain Lazon.
Personality
Though Quanto is obedient to his superiors in his home dimension, no one in this dimension is his equal. He has quite a chip on his shoulder.
As shown in the quotes, he generally speaks imperiously. He’ll refer to others as “peasants” and state quite openly that he thinks himself better than everyone around him. He refuses to consider a relationship with Mystelor as he could not possibly sink to her level.
Despite this, he’s not greedy like some of his fellows – money is meaningless to him. Nor is he violent, though he doesn’t seem to care about the damage caused by the other Taurus Gang members. He’s above it all.
Dream Girl has a profound impact on him, however. She helped him to see the goodness and nobility that humans could attain. It was never shown just how deep this change went. Whether he was romantically interested in Mystelor, for example, or just patronizingly wanting to “help” her in a sort of noblesse oblige.
Quotes
“You have punishment waiting for your failure – do not add to it !”
“Poor, ignorant youth you are outmatched ! You can’t touch me !”
“Disgusting ! We must wait for a ship to pick us up, while the Scorpius peasants teleport !”
“My race is far above yours, Mystelor, I cannot lower myself to your level !”
“I was sent from my own beloved universe to aid you. I do not try to comprehend the motives of my superiors ! I obey !”
“Your money means nothing to me !”
“You were Mystelor as she should have been ! And now I see my mission here – to change her, help her become as she should be ! And perhaps the others, too !”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Quanto
| Dex: 06 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Obey Superiors |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 07 | Min: 03 | Occupation: Gang Member |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 005 |
| Init: 015 | HP: 035 |
Powers:
Dispersal: 14, Flight: 29, Self-Link (Flash): 04
Bonuses and Limitations:
- All Powers have a Range of Touch. Meaning that he can turn other people into beams of light and fly them along with him, as long as they are in contact.
- Dispersal and Flight are Derived from Self-Link (Flash) (-1 FC each).
- Dispersal and Flight are only usable while Self-Linked (-1 FC each).
Connections:
Underworld (Low), Taurus Gang (Low).
Design notes
Dispersal probably doesn’t protect against light-based attacks (Flash, Laser Beam).
And in his Self-Linked form he’s probably vulnerable to “attacks” like Darkness.
That’s all speculation on my part, though, so I’ve not put it in the writeup proper.
Helper(s): Who’s Who in the Legion #6 (October 1988), Chaim Mattis Keller’s Legion Help-File.
Source of Character: DCU (Adventure Comics and Legion of Super-Heroes).