Insect Queen/Lonna Leing
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Contents
Biography
Amazer
Little is known of Lonna Leing's early life on Xanthu. At some point, she joined her homeworld's native supergroup, the Amazers, and fought with them for a lengthy time, helping to drive off an Algamenon invasion amongst others. In addition, in the Legion was founded, she came fourth in the Planetary Championship.
She first encountered the Legion when they came to Xanthu in a dispute over Star Boy's services when he was being recalled home after a stint with the Legion, against his will - although she was shocked when he said he wasn't staying. She participated in the Photon Cage Match for his services, webbing up Chameleon, but ultimately lost when Kid Quantum refused to fix the match.
Invasions
She wasn't one of the Amazers Xanthu sent to participate in the fight with Mordru, but stayed in contact with Star Boy, and was in link with him when a wave of insectoid invaders attacked Xanthu, only for the link to be cut off before she yelled for "Legion assistance." Concerned at the blackout, but without proof, Star Boy travelled to Xanthu with only Monstress in tow and found Insect Queen and the other Amazers fighting a planetary invasion by Natra Dellons - which was conveniently stopped at the last minute by the Khunds, who noted that the United Planets had "only" sent two Legionnaires.
Later, she was trapped for some time in the Shade's "Dark Colossus", but was saved by a combination of Star Boy, Umbra and the Shade's 20th Century allies Jack Knight and Mikaal Tomas.
Robotica
While visiting Earth with the other Amazers, she was amongst those "Blighted" into the service of the Blight. Following her return to Xanthu, the planet was then invaded by Robotica, and she was amongst those who fought in the near-futile rearguard action, despite severe exhaustion, but was amongst those evacuated to safety.
She would later help in the dispersal of the Terrorform energy on the planet, in the twin effort to both restore Xanthu to viability in the wake of Robotica's pillage, and to restore the Terrorforms to their normal selves. There were also hints that she had entered a relationship with her teammate Atmos, as she was seen arm-in-arm with him for the second time (the first as they left Earth following the Blight attack).
Powers and abilities
Insect Queen can assume a wide variety of insectoid forms at will, either completely or - more commonly - partially, often retaining a normal humanoid upper body.
Typically, these insectoid forms are human-sized or larger (during the war with Robotica, she assumed a giant caterpillar-like form to create an escape tunnel for a group of fighters - although the combined effort of maintaining the form and tunnelling left her dangerously weakened.)
Other examples of her power use include wings for flight, and strands of knotted silk extruded from her wrists.
Notes
- The character is a direct homage to the Pre-Crisis Lana Lang's Insect Queen ID, including appearance, power and name (which is a phonetic representation of "Lana Lang").
Costumes
Original costume, with bare legs, "web" cape and "bug" symbol
Short lived costume with deep "V"-neck worn when facing the Dark Colossus unsuccessfully
Later costume with covered legs, black cape and Legion-style stripe, worn during and after the Robotican invasion of Xanthu.
