Ambush Bug

Ambush Bug
Ambush Bug on the cover of Action Comics #565, along with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman (known as the "Big Three" of DC Comics)
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	DC Comics Presents #52 (December 1982)
Created by	Keith Giffen
In-story information
Alter ego	Irwin Schwab
Team affiliations	Doom Patrol Uh-oh Squad Justice League Amber Butane Corps
Notable aliases	Amber Butane of the Amber Butane Corps
Abilities	Can teleport to anywhere in the Multiverse (exact limits are not defined) Green suit provides limited protection from some attacks

Ambush Bug is a fictional character who has appeared in several comic books published by DC Comics. His real name is supposedly Irwin Schwab, but he has mental problems that prevent him from truly understanding reality around him, so even his true identity might be no more than a delusion on his part. His origin is disputed, although the most commonly accepted origin is that Brum-El (a historical allusion to Beau Brummel, as well as a reference to Superman's father Jor-El) of the planet Schwab sent his clothes from his supposedly doomed planet, hoping that his wardrobe would survive, only to have it intercepted by a giant radioactive space spider. In the resulting crash, only two articles of clothing survived: the Ambush Bug suit, which was subsequently found by Irwin Schwab; and "Argh!Yle!", an argyle sock with a Doctor Doom-like complex, complete with metal mask.

Created by artist Keith Giffen as an intentionally silly character, Ambush Bug first appeared in DC Comics Presents #52 (Dec. 1982) and would make appearances in several other Superman-related comic books in the early 1980s. At first, Ambush Bug was a villain, named after a type of insect, and dressed in a green, skintight suit (with two orange antennae) that covered his whole body. Inside his hollow antennae, he carried miniature robot bugs that possessed the ability to teleport him around. He was little more than an annoyance (though he did murder a district attorney in an early appearance in DC Comics Presents.) After attacking Superman and other heroes, Ambush Bug decided instead to be a superhero as well. He also fancied himself Superman's friend, which only annoyed the hero even more. The costume apparently then became permanently affixed to his body, and he gained the power to teleport by himself. (Again, it is unknown if this is true or just another delusion of his, as he is seen removing the costume at the end of his second mini-series.) While trying to fix one of the miniature bugs, it exploded, causing a chain reaction and a blast that destroyed all of the bugs and tinted Ambush Bug's costume temporarily black in a nod to Spider-Man's costume change during Marvel Comics' "Secret Wars" crossover; he then became capable of teleporting even without the bugs (briefly considering changing his moniker to Black Beetle instead).