The wacky and wild characters of the Looney Tunes have some surprising connections to the DC Universe, with some notable figures from that franchise coming into outright conflict with the DC heroes. But one of the most famous members of that cast of characters got the chance to prove himself to an entire era of superheroes by saving one the life of a DC icon.
How did Bugs Bunny get the chance to save Supergirl's life by teaming up with the Legion of Super-Heroes -- after holding his own against the entire team?
When "The Imposter Superboy" by Sam Humphries, Tom Grummett, Scott Hanna, Steve Buccellato, and Josh Reed opens, Brainiac-5 is revealed to be enraged within his laboratory in the distant future of the 31st Century. A recent adventure has left Supergirl on death's door with a fatal case of Rigel Fever, and there's nothing he can do to combat it. Their only hope is a mysterious element known as Illudium Phosdex -- and following a vision from Dream Girl, the Legion decides to recruit Superboy to find the element in the 21st Century. However, they end up arriving in Smallville and instead of finding Bugs Bunny, busy at work tending to a carrot farm. Computo -- driven by jealousy over Brainiac-5's feelings for Supergirl -- decides to try and doom her by teleporting Bugs Bunny to the future instead of his intended target.
Bugs' general confusion at the situation gives way to an unintended fight between him and the Legion, who try to force him to help restore Supergirl. But the Looney antics of Bugs prove to be too much for the Legion to keep up with. The fight is interrupted by the arrival of Validus, who announces his intention to finish off Supergirl. But Bugs reveals a handful of powerful carrots he'd been saving that contain the Illudium Phosdex -- which when eaten, temporarily give Bugs Bunny the powers and abilities of Superman. Bugs is able to stop Validus from reaching Supergirl and even uses his final super-power granting carrot to help revive Supergirl. Bugs is returned to his life in the 21st century, and the Legion builds a statue of Bugs next to Superman, to commemorate his efforts in saving Supergirl.
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Notably, this isn't the first time that Bugs Bunny has utilized the abilities of Superman. "Super-Rabbit," directed by Chuck Jones, was released in 1943 as an extended parody of the Golden Age incarnation of Superman -- with Bugs consuming "super carrots" to gain powers. The cartoon was incredibly popular upon release -- even leading to the US Marines Corp (who received a favorable shout-out in the short from Bugs) inducting Bugs Bunny. Other entries in the animated franchise -- such as episodes of The Looney Tunes Show -- would also briefly turn Bugs Bunny into a Superman figure. But this story gives the classic cartoon character to meet a more absurd corner of the DC Universe, lets him pull his slapstick against a crowd of heroes, and still be an effective hero in his own right.
Bugs acquaints himself well to his brief stint as a superhero, with his wacky personality even in-universe helping prevent Computo from ever forcing him into an angst-ridden monologue as it does to the other members of the Legion. He proves how effective a Looney Tune can be, even when put up against superheroes. It's also a surprisingly heroic story-beat for Bugs, who quickly adapts to the situation and gives up the chance to maintain his powers for saving the life of someone he's never known and will likely never fully meet. It's the true moment that impresses the other members of the Legion of Super-Heroes and leaves them with nothing else to call Bugs but a hero.