LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
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:''This is about the DC Comics superhero team. For the animated television series based on this, see Legion of Super Heroes (TV series).''
The 'Legion of Super-Heroes' is a DC Comics superhero team created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino. The original Legion first appeared in ''Adventure Comics'' #247 (April 1958) and was the first super-team of the Silver Age of Comic Books.
Although time travel stories in comic books are frequent, the series is different from most in that it actually takes place in the 31st century (stories published prior to 2000 were set in the 30th century). Legion of Super-Heroes stories contain more elements of fantasy and science fiction than most American comic books.
The Legion is also known for its sizable roster, which includes several dozen minor and major characters. A common visual associated with the group is a tidal wave of colorful heroes utilizing the group's "flight rings."
The team was originally closely associated with Superboy and was first portrayed merely as a group of time travelers who frequently visited, or were visited by, the young Superman. It was several years before the Legion’s origin and back story was fleshed out and the group's connection to Superboy was loosened. They have since remained a somewhat popular DC franchise.
Superboy was the featured series in ''Adventure Comics'' in the late 1950s. In ''Adventure Comics'' #247 (April 1958), he was met by three teenagers from the 30th century: Lightning Boy, Saturn Girl, and Cosmic Boy, who were members of a "super-hero club" called the Legion of Super-Heroes. Their club had been formed with Superboy as an inspiration, and they had time travelled to recruit Superboy as a member. After a series of tests, Superboy was awarded membership and returned to his own time.
Although intended as a one-off story focusing on Superboy, the Legion proved so popular that they returned for an encore in ''Adventure Comics'' #267 (December 1959). Lightning Boy had been renamed Lightning Lad, and their costumes were very close to those they wore throughout the Silver Age of Comic Books. In their third appearance, with Supergirl in ''Action Comics'' #276, it was claimed that the Legionnaires in that story were children of the ones Superboy had previously met, and that the Legion existed in the 21st century rather than the 30th. These details were ignored in future stories.
The Legion's popularity grew, and they appeared in further adventures in ''Adventure Comics'' and ''Action Comics'' over the next few years. The ranks of the Legion, only hinted at in those first two stories, were fleshed out with new heroes such as Chameleon Boy, Invisible Kid, Colossal Boy, Star Boy, Brainiac 5, Triplicate Girl, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Bouncing Boy, and Phantom Girl. They even recruited Supergirl as a member (''Action Comics'' #267 and #276).
Despite appearing in about a dozen stories during this period, the story of the Legion's founding was not revealed until a decade had passed. In ''Superboy'' #147 (June 1968), for the first time readers learned that the first three members to appear, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl and Cosmic Boy, had founded the Legion when they used their powers to save billionaire R. J. Brande from an assassination attempt. Impressed with their skills and courage, Brande would bankroll the Legion for years to come.
The creators of the early Legion stories included Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, Otto Binder, Al Plastino, George Papp, Curt Swan, Jim Mooney, and George Klein.
In ''Adventure Comics'' #300 (September 1962), the Legion finally received their own regular feature, cover-billed "Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes". While they would share space with Superboy solo stories for a couple of years, they eventually displaced Superboy entirely as their popularity grew. Superboy, however, continued to appear on every cover, even if only briefly (or barely) mentioned in the story.
It was this run which established the Legion's general workings and environment. A club of teenagers, they operated out of a clubhouse in the shape of a yellow rocket ship inverted as if it had been driven into the ground. The position of Legion leader rotated among the membership, sometimes through election and sometimes by more arcane methods. From time to time the editors of the Legion stories would allow readers to vote on the leader.
Each Legionnaire had to possess at least one natural super-power (i.e., powers from devices were disallowed), in particular one power which no other member possessed. Despite this, several members had overlapping powers, particularly Superboy, Supergirl, Mon-El, and Ultra Boy. Some issues included comical moments where candidates with bizarre, useless or dangerous abilities would try out for membership and be rejected. A few of these flawed candidates went on to form the Legion of Substitute Heroes.
The Legion was based on Earth and protected an organization of humans and aliens called the United Planets. The regular police force in the UP was the Science Police.
Many of these early stories were "gimmick" tales, revolving around someone trying to trick the Legion, or a member of the Legion being controlled or injured in some way so that he turned against his comrades. Stark tie-ins with the Superman stories appeared from time to time, with Jimmy Olsen and Pete Ross becoming "honorary members" and Lana Lang becoming a reserve member. Characterization was often skimpy. In fairness, these sorts of stories were common in DC Silver Age comics, and many of these stories are beloved by long-time Legion fans.
Creators of the early ''Adventure Comics'' stories included Jerry Siegel, Edmond Hamilton and John Forte.
A watershed moment for the Legion came with ''Adventure Comics'' #346 (July 1966), which was written by then 14-year-old Jim Shooter. A Legion fan, Shooter submitted a quartet of stories to DC. In an era before comic book artists and writers received regular credits on their work, Shooter—ignorant of the creation process behind the stories he enjoyed—submitted full page layouts on typing paper, complete with captions and dialogue bubbles. DC, at the time ignorant of Shooter's age, was impressed enough with his efforts to arrange for veteran artists Curt Swan and George Klein to fix up the layouts for publication. Those first four stories introduced several longtime Legion elements, including Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Ferro Lad, Nemesis Kid, the Khunds, and Universo and his son Rond Vidar.
Soon thereafter, Shooter became the regular writer of the Legion stories, with Curt Swan (and later Win Mortimer) as artist. Shooter brought more characterization and action to the Legion, an approach which was working well for competitor Marvel Comics, and moved away from gimmickry. As it turned out, Shooter was an early participant in a gradual revolution of storytelling at DC over the next decade.
Shooter wrote the story about Ferro Lad's death—the first "real" death of a Legionnaire (although Lightning Lad had been believed dead for a while before)—and introduced many other enduring concepts, including the Fatal Five, Shadow Lass, the Dark Circle, Mordru, and the "Adult Legion", a conjecture regarding what the Legion would be like when they grew up.
However, the Legion's golden age did eventually end, and their last appearance in ''Adventure Comics'' was #380 (May 1969), when they were displaced by Supergirl.
The early 1970s saw the Legion relegated to the status of back-up feature. First they appeared in ''Action Comics'' from #377–392 (June 1969–September 1970) featuring more stories by Shooter and Mortimer, usually vignettes with only one or two of the Legion appearing. These were nonetheless decent character-driven stories, rather unusual for their team in that regard.
Following that stint they began appearing occasionally as a backup in ''Superboy'' starting with #172 (March 1971) with creators including E. Nelson Bridwell, Cary Bates, and George Tuska. But soon signs of revival appeared, as young artist Dave Cockrum (who would go on to fame as the artist and co-creator of Marvel's "all-new, all-different" X-Men) began drawing the series with ''Superboy'' #188 (July 1972). Cockrum was a prolific designer of eye-catching superhero costumes, and began revising the outfits of many Legionnaires, many of which endured for much of the next 15 years.
The most notable story during this time was ''Superboy'' #195 (June 1973), in which a hero whose body was made of energy, who called originally himself "ERG-1," applied for membership in the Legion, and seemingly gave his life on a mission. The hero would go on to become Wildfire, one of the more popular Legionnaires.
The Legion returned to cover-billing on a book when ''Superboy'' became ''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' with #197 (August 1973). (Although the cover read "Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes", inside in the indicia the title was still officially just "Superboy".) Crafted by Bates and Cockrum, the feature proved popular and saw such events as the wedding of Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel (formerly Triplicate Girl) (#200), and the death of Invisible Kid (#203). Cockrum was replaced on art with #203 (July/August 1974) by Mike Grell, who would also become a fan favorite. Several of the Legionnaires' costumes were changed and updated during this period, with some of the heroes' outfits, including those worn by Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, and Cosmic Boy, becoming especially skimpy. Shooter returned during this period and wrote his swan song on the title with a tale involving the Time Trapper and a new villain, Pulsar Stargrave.
With #231 (September 1977), the book's title officially changed to ''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' and became a "giant-size" title, at this point written by longtime fan Paul Levitz and drawn by James Sherman (inked by a variety of artists, notably Jack Abel and Bob McLeod). In #241–245 (July–December 1978) Levitz and Sherman (and then Joe Staton) produced what was to that time the most ambitious Legion storyline: Earthwar, a galactic war between the United Planets and the Khunds, with several other villains lurking in the background.
Issue #239 (May 1978) featured a well-received story titled "Murder Most Foul", in which Ultra Boy is framed for murder. Written by Paul Levitz and illustrated by Jim Starlin, the mystery was resolved in S/LSH #250–251 (April–May 1979), but Starlin was so unhappy with the editing and the decision to break up his lengthy tale into two parts that he removed his name from the project, and the artist was credited as "Steve Apollo".
During this period, one of the Legionnaires spun off into his own 20th century-based title, named ''Karate Kid'', which lasted 15 issues.
Levitz left the book to be replaced by Gerry Conway, a controversial choice among comics fandom. Still illustrated by Staton, the book led up to the next major change in the title's appearance.
With issue #259 (January 1980), Superboy departed from the Legion due to a plot of a villain, and the book was renamed simply ''Legion of Super-Heroes''. These issues are referred to by fandom and collectors as "v2", or volume two. (There was a four-issue ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' series in 1972 and 1973 which is officially volume 1, or "v1", but it consisted solely of reprints. Volume numbers are conventional in the magazine industry in order to distinguish identically titled successor magazines with different enumerations.)
Jimmy Janes took over the art chores with #273 (March 1981), in a lengthy tale by Conway and then Roy Thomas involving Ultra Boy disappearing during a mission and his long odyssey to rejoin the team. This story told the long-awaited tale of the Legionnaire Reflecto (only glimpsed during the Adult Legion story in ''Adventure Comics''), featured villainy by the Time Trapper and Grimbor the Chainsman, and saw Superboy rejoin the team in #282 (December 1981).
Following the Time Trapper story, Paul Levitz returned to write the book with #284. Pat Broderick illustrated the book for a short while before Keith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt took over the art chores. Their clean style and flair for drawing high-tech gadgetry made them immediately popular, and this was enhanced by the five-part Great Darkness Saga which ran from #290–294 (August–December 1982), featuring a full assault on the United Planets and a surprise supervillain behind it all.
The Legion celebrated issue #300 (June 1983) by revisiting the Adult Legion story through a series of parallel world short stories illustrated by a number of popular Legion artists of days past.
Giffen's style changed abruptly a few issues later to a darker and sketchier style inspired by Argentinian artist José Munoz. This occurred simultaneously with DC's shift to launch a pair of "Baxter format" comic books (the other was the popular ''New Teen Titans'') on higher-quality Baxter paper. The extant Legion series was renamed ''Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes'' for a year before it began reprinting stories from the new ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' volume 3 (often referred to as "v3" by Legion fandom).
While Levitz wrote most of the stories during this time, there were several memorable fill-ins by Mindy Newell.
The series launched in August 1984 with a five-part story featuring the Legion of Super-Villains. Giffen left in the middle of the story and was replaced by Steve Lightle. Lightle's elaborate style fit the book well, but he only remained on the book for a year. Despite this, he designed costumes for several new Legionnaires who were introduced, notably the longtime member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, Polar Boy.
Greg LaRocque began a lengthy run in #16 (November 1985), including a crossover with John Byrne's recently-rebooted Superman titles in #37 and #38. The crossover was DC's first of many attempts to explain the origins and fate of Superboy, and his history with the Legion, in light of the revision to the DC Universe caused by ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''. Perhaps appropriately, the crossover also first demonstrated the continuity paradoxes that inevitably resulted from such attempts; a statue for Supergirl in the Legion's memorial for deceased members, shown in #38, had vanished by #51, as per DC editorial's then-recent edict that Superman was to be the only survivor of Krypton; because of this, Supergirl never existed at all in the post-Crisis timeline.
Levitz' run ended with the return of Giffen and a four-part story, concluding in #63 (August 1989), focusing on the decline of science and the rise of magic wreaking havoc with the United Planets. Although the forces of good prevailed, both the UP and the Legion were left in shambles, the pieces to be picked up in the next series.
Although Levitz substantially changed the Legion and its characters and greatly altered the tone of the series from what had gone before, his run was extremely popular and was a high-water mark in the Legion's history.
Giffen took over plotting as well as penciling with the ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' volume 4 title which started in November 1989, with scripts by Tom and Mary Bierbaum and assists by Al Gordon.[1] Five years after the Magic Wars, the United Planets is a darker place and the Legion a distant memory. However, a group of former Legionnaires worked to re-form the Legion in this harsh new universe, in which Earth was ruled by the alien Dominators.
Shortly after this storyline began, the decision was made to retroactively remove Superboy almost completely from Legion involvement, leaving a question of where the Legion's inspiration for founding came from without Superboy. The writers' solution was a massive retcon, in which Mon-El serves in that role, having acted as a 20th century hero named Valor. Also added were the characters Laurel Gand—a parallel for Supergirl—and Kent Shakespeare (a.k.a. Impulse) in order to further fill the void. Issue #5 featured an alternate universe story in which this restructuring was affected.
Giffen skipped plotting on several issues for reasons that weren't made clear. This resulted in the Bierbaums writing several fill-in stories instead, causing the cohesiveness of the book to suffer as a result. This period also included several storylines that some fans found controversal even though they came from readers' speculations in the letters page. One was that Lightning Lad's body had been housing the consciousness of Proty, Chameleon Boy's Protean "pet," ever since his resurrection years before, and another was that former Science Police liaison Shvaughn Erin was actually a transsexual, while her longtime beau Element Lad was of ambiguous sexuality and would not have required her to be female (see Element Lad and Homosexuality).[2]
One major storyline during this period was the discovery of "Batch SW6", a group of clones of the early Legion, circa their ''Adventure Comics'' days. Keith Giffen's original intention was that the clones would eventually be revealed as the real Legion, and the ones whose adventures had been chronicled for so long were the clones.[3] Instead, there were now two Legions, and a parallel title, ''Legionnaires'', was launched, with art by Chris Sprouse, starring the "SW6" Legion. The series was lighter in tone than the main Legion book.
Giffen left the book after a storyline which involved the destruction of Earth (''Legion of Super-Heroes'' #38, December 1992), and the Bierbaums continued, overseeing the return of several classic characters. When the Bierbaums left, writer Tom McCraw took over and made a number of immediate changes, including forcing several Legion members underground, requiring them to take on new identities and bringing longtime absent Legionnaire Wildfire back. An unsuccessful attempt was made to give the adult Legionnaires new costumes.
In 1994, DC's editorial department decided that the team's continuity should be entirely rebooted. As part of the ''Zero Hour'' company-wide crossover, ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' came to an end with issue #61, dated September 1994, to be started over from the very beginning.
Following Zero Hour, a new Legion continuity was created, beginning with a retelling of the origin story starting in ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #0 and then continued in spin-off sister series ''Legionnaires'' #0 (both released in October 1994). Lightning Lad was renamed Live Wire, and after the group's founding, a large number of heroes were added to the roster very quickly. Several members were given new codenames, and some new heroes were added, including XS (the granddaughter of the Flash), Kinetix and Gates.
In homage to the recently discarded continuity, several older Legionnaires were reintroduced in different capacities. Chuck Taine (who had been the hero Bouncing Boy in the old continuity) became the Legion's maintenance engineer, and Tenzil Kem (who had been Matter-Eater Lad) became the Legion's chef. Rond Vidar—who had been the son of villain Universo, an honorary Legionnaire and a Green Lantern in the previous continuity—made a few token appearances as a colleague of Brainiac 5.
While in some ways following the pattern of the original continuity, the new continuity diverged from the old one in several ways: some characters died as they had previously, others did not, and some Legion members spent time in the 20th century where they recruited Ferro. The Legion also started out having to earn the respect of the United Planets, which they did through two well-earned victories: successfully defending Earth from the White Triangle Daxamites, a group of racists; and exposing United Planets President Chu as the mastermind behind the Braal-Titan War, the Sun Eater hoax, the formation of the Fatal Five and the brainwashing of future Legionnaire Jan Arrah. Overall, it was a successful and well-received return to the days of a teenaged Legion defending a shining future from the forces of evil.
Main articles: Legion Lost
However, sales began to fall. New writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning—often referred to as "DnA", a tag they commonly used for interviews—came on board with penciller Olivier Coipel to produce a dark story leading to the near-collapse of the United Planets and of the Legion itself. In the wake of the disaster, a group of Legionnaires disappeared through a spatial rift and the two existing Legion series came to an end.
The limited series ''Legion Lost'' (2000-2001) chronicled the difficult journey of these Legionnaires to return to their home, while the ensuing limited series ''Legion Worlds'' (2001) showed what was happening back in the United Planets during their absence.
A new series, ''The Legion'', was launched in which the Legion was reunited and given a new base and purpose. Written for its first 33 issues by DnA, the series was cancelled with issue 38.
The Legion/Teen Titans Crossover (co-written by Geoff Johns and Mark Waid) ended the reboot continuity, and the temporal changes tie in to ''Infinite Crisis'', (written by Geoff Johns). Legionnaire Shikari Lonestar managed to evade the temporal change and emerge into the current continuity. She was not seen again until ''Infinite Crisis'' #6, where she was reunited with her Legionnaires on Earth-247. However, it is unknown if the post-''Zero Hour'' Legion always resided on Earth-247.
Following a crossover with the Teen Titans in ''Teen Titans'' #16 and the ''Teen Titans/Legion Special'' a new series was launched; written by Mark Waid, who previously rebooted the title following the events of ''Zero Hour'', and penciled by Barry Kitson. This new series recreated the team from the ground up and is using the Boy/Lad/Girl/Lass/Kid names that the end of the "preboot" era and the (prior) reboot had moved away from. Waid has said that this is the first view of the DC Universe after the events of ''Infinite Crisis'', as shown in a line referring to Infinite Crisis in the ''Teen Titans/Legion Special''. The current continuity is sometimes referred to as the "Threeboot" continuity by the fan community as it is the third incarnation of the Legion that has been published since 1958.
Issues following #16 featured a modified ''One Year Later'' logo, shown as ''1,001 Years Later'', referring to the current Legion's adventures taking place 1,000 years after the ''One Year Later'' storyline. Beginning with issue #16, ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 5) was retitled ''Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes''.
Initial issues of the current title have reintroduced the characters and provided new and divergent origins for them. Most of the characters resemble their previous counterparts in costume and powers. The most notable exceptions include Chameleon Boy, now called simply Chameleon and depicted as an androgynous creature, Star Boy, who in this version of the Legion is black, Colossal Boy, who is now a giant who shrinks to human size, and Phantom Girl, who exists in two universes at once and even seems to have conversations with people in her own dimension while talking to Legionnaires at the same time.
The future universe of this Legion is an emotionally and mentally repressive society which involves human sexuality and contact being kept at arms' length as well as Orwellian surveillance of minors. The Legion's main goal is social reform as well as protecting people and inspiring them with the legends of superheroes of old, even though the team isn't appreciated by various government authorities.
The Legion is worshiped by thousands of "Legionnaires"; young people on various different worlds who worship the group in a cult-like manner. Some of the Legionnaires keep a constant vigil outside Legion headquarters.
When confronted by the Legion, Supergirl insists she is the real Supergirl, Kara Zor-El. She then informs the Legion that they are in fact not real, and exist only because she is dreaming them. Cosmic Boy theorizes that Kara has gone through so many traumatic experiences during her brief career as Supergirl that ending up in the 31st century has caused her to assume that everything she's experienced since Krypton's destruction has all been an extended dream. Supergirl is then mentally probed by Saturn Girl, who learns that Kara's last memory before arriving in the 31st century was of the war between Rann and Thanagar during the events of ''Infinite Crisis''.
Meanwhile a group known as the Wanderers wreaks havoc in the galaxy, first letting loose on Earth a group of giants, then striking the team on Kandor itself where they had gone with Supergirl. As a side-effect of a psi-attack, Saturn Girl becomes able to sense and communicate with Mon-El, who is trapped in the Phantom Zone and is able to exist as an invisible and intangible wraith on Kandor. While some Legionnaires are trying to free Mon-El, this new version of the Wanderers attacks Legion HQ, trapping everyone inside. Several Legionnaires as well as Mon-El are recruited by the Wanderers to help combat an imminent Dominator threat.
The Dominators' attack on Earth was started after Booster Gold jumped through time and stole an advanced weapon which he needed to stop Mister Mind in the final battle of ''52''. They mistook Booster's speech while taking the weapon ("''for saving 52 worlds''") as a warning that Earth had teamed up with 52 unnamed worlds to declare war on the Dominion and had broken the non-aggression treaty signed after the Invasion a thousand years before. To further complicate matters, the combined forces of the Legionnaires and the Wanderers that were attacking the Dominion in a preemptive strike was perceived as proof of Earth's new alliance with 52 unnamed worlds.
The Waid/Kitson run ended with issue #30 after Barry Kitson's move to Marvel Comics with Tony Bedard becoming the new writer for a six-issue run from #31 to #36[4], culminating with Supergirl's return to the 21st century. Beginning with issue 37, former writer Jim Shooter (who wrote Legion stories in the late 1960s and early 1970s) begins an open-ended run.[5]
The Lightning Saga crossover in ''Justice League of America'' (vol. 2) #8-10 and ''Justice Society of America'' (vol. 3) #5-6 features a group of Legionnaires similar in appearance to the pre-''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' versions of Star Boy (now called Starman), Dream Girl, Wildfire, Karate Kid, Timber Wolf, Sensor Girl, Dawnstar, and Brainiac 5.[6] Several revelations, (Wildfire's containment suit being built out of the Red Tornado's robotic shell,[7] Dream Girl's abilities being derived from the Dreaming,[8] Night Girl's membership in the Legion, Karate Kid's death and resurrection,[9] and the Legion fighting against separatism and xenophobia as well as crime), aren't consistent with the pre-''Crisis'' Legion of Super-Heroes' history. However, Superman has statues of this version of the Legion in the Fortress of Solitude, though he has not seen them since the end of the ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', and later recalls Lightning Lad's death and resurrection.[10] The crossover ends with the return of Wally West, his wife and twin children to Earth. The Legionnaires, with the exception of Starman, Una and Karate Kid, return to their future.
This incarnation of the Legion is set to appear in the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" story-arc in ''Action Comics'' which starts in October 2007.[11]
In the Amalgam Comics universe, the Legion is combined with Marvel Comics' Guardians of the Galaxy to create the Legion of Galactic Guardians 2099.
Various Legionnaires and associated villains have been issued in toy format:
★ Action figures, beginning with the Super Powers Collection (1986), and continuing through DC Direct (1999-present).
★ McDonald's Happy Meal figures (set of 8, based on characters from the animated series, 2007).
★ HeroClix, with the characters representing a cross-section of continuity from the Silver Age to today.
★ Trading cards representing various continuities and published by various companies (1966-1996).
★ Vs. System cards as part of the collectible card game.
Main articles: Superman: The Animated Series
''.]]
Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy, and Saturn Girl made an appearance on ''.'' In the 1998 episode "New Kids in Town", they traveled through time to stop Brainiac from destroying the Man of Steel at an early age. Jason Priestley voiced Chameleon Boy, Melissa Joan Hart was Saturn Girl, and Chad Lowe voiced Cosmic Boy. Similar to pre-Crisis comics, Superman was the inspiration to the team. This episode also features cameos of other prominent Legionnaires.
Main articles: Justice League Unlimited
The Legion (featuring more of its membership), along with the Fatal Five, later appeared in a 2006 episode of ''Justice League Unlimited'' entitled "Far From Home" with Googy Gress as Bouncing Boy and Matt Czuchry as Brainiac 5. Supergirl was taken to the future to help fight the Fatal Five and free the Legion, and decided to stay and join the Legion after that was finished.
The other Legionnaires who appeared in this episode included Andromeda, Blok, Colossal Boy, Dream Girl, Kid Quantum, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Shadow Lass, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy, and Wildfire. All had minor or cameo appearances.
The Legion also had a featured appearance in ''Justice League Adventures'' #28.[12]
Main articles: Legion of Super Heroes (TV series)
The Legion of Super Heroes animated series premiered on Kids' WB! (the Saturday Morning kids' block on the The CW network) in September, 2006.
The show's premise is that the Legion travels back in time to recruit Superman in their fight against crime in the 31st century, but they go a little too far back and recruit Superman before he has had a chance to fully develop his powers. Superman, the inspiration for the Legion, now has to learn from them how to be a hero.
Season 1 focused on a "core" team consisting of Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Superman, and Timber Wolf, while other Legionnaires such as Cosmic Boy, Colossal Boy, Ferro Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, and Triplicate Girl appeared in various episodes. Classic Legion villains such as the Fatal Five, Starfinger, and the Sun-Eater have appeared. Other Legionnaires, including Blok, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Sun Boy, and Tyroc, made cameo appearances.
Season 2 will take place two years after the end of Season 1, with Legionnaires such as Chameleon Boy joining in the interim. Superman returns, older and wiser, as does a Superman clone from the 41st century, to help battle Imperiex.[13]
This list is in approximate chronological order.
★ ''Adventure Comics'' #247, 267, 282, 290, 293
★ ''Action Comics'' #267, 276, 283, 287, 289–290
★ ''Superboy'' volume 1, #86, 89, 93, 98, 117
★ ''Adventure Comics'' #300–380
★ ''Superboy'' volume 1, #147 (origin, appeared during the ''Adventure'' run)
★ ''Action Comics'' #378–387, 389–392
★ ''Superboy'' volume 1, #172, 176, 185, 191, 195, 197-230
★ ''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #231–258
★ ''Karate Kid'' #1–15
★ ''All-New Collectors' Edition #C-55'' (''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' tabloid)
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 2), #259–313, Annual #1–3
★ ''Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #1–3
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' volume 3, #1–63, Annual #1–4
★ ''Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #314–325
★ ''The Legion of Substitute Heroes Special'' #1
★ ''Legionnaires 3'' #1–4
★ ''Cosmic Boy'' #1–4
★ ''Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #1–7
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4), #1–61, Annual #1–5
★ ''Legionnaires'' #1–18
★ ''Timber Wolf'' #1–5
After the Zero Hour reboot:
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4), #0, 62–125, Annual #6–7
★ ''Legionnaires'' #0, 19–81, Annual #2–3 1
★ ''Legends of the Legion'' #1–4
★ ''Legion Science Police'' #1–4
★ ''Titans/Legion of Super-Heroes: Universe Ablaze'' # 1–4
★ ''Inferno'' #1–4
★ ''Legion of Super-Heroes Secret Files'' #1
★ ''Legion Lost'' #1–12
★ ''Legion Worlds'' #1–6
★ ''The Legion'' #1–38
★ ''Teen Titans/Legion Special''
1 - ''Legionnaires'' Annual #1 is an "Elseworlds" story, which is part of neither the pre-reboot nor post-reboot Legion continuity.
After the "reimagining":
★ ''Teen Titans/Legion Special''
★ ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 5), #1–15
★ ''Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #16—
★ ''The Brave and the Bold'' (vol. 2) #4-6
Animated series:
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century'' #1–
The various Legion titles have been collected in the following graphic novels. The "Archives" editions are hardcover collections and the rest are softcover trade paperbacks:
★ List of Legion of Super-Heroes members
★ Legion of Net. Heroes
★ Interlac Language
1. Grand Comics Database: details on LSH (vol. 4) #1
2. Gay League - Element Lad & Shvaugn Erin
3. The Legion Omnicom: the Hat Trick
4. NYCC '07: Kitson Goes Marvel Exclusive Chris Arrant
5. Official: Jim Shooter Returns to DC's Legion of Super-Heroes Matt Brady
6. ''Justice League of America'' (vol. 2) #8-10 and ''Justice Society of America'' (vol. 3) #5-6, April-June 2007
7. ''Justice League of America'' (vol. 2) #9
8. ''Justice Society of America'' (vol. 3) #5
9. ''Justice League of America'' (vol. 2) #10
10. ''Justice Society of America'' (vol. 3) #6
11. DC Comics October Solicitation for ''Action Comics'' #858
12. Comic Book Resources: THE REAL HALL OF JUSTICE: JASON HALL TALKS 'JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES'
13. Comic Book Resources: CCI: WARNER ANIMATION PART ONE -- LEGION OF SUPER HEROES
★ The Legion of Super-Heroes Online Companion
★ Legion World.net message board
★ The Legion Clubhouse news site
★ The Legion Omnicom blog
★ Adventure Comics Cover Gallery featuring Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes
★ Legion Help File
★ The LSH Clubhouse
★ DC Cosmic Teams: LSH
★ Interview with Mark Waid about the current series
★ Supermanica: Legion of Super-Heroes Supermanica entry on the Pre-Crisis Legion of Super-Heroes
★ Legion Wiki
The 'Legion of Super-Heroes' is a DC Comics superhero team created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino. The original Legion first appeared in ''Adventure Comics'' #247 (April 1958) and was the first super-team of the Silver Age of Comic Books.
Although time travel stories in comic books are frequent, the series is different from most in that it actually takes place in the 31st century (stories published prior to 2000 were set in the 30th century). Legion of Super-Heroes stories contain more elements of fantasy and science fiction than most American comic books.
The Legion is also known for its sizable roster, which includes several dozen minor and major characters. A common visual associated with the group is a tidal wave of colorful heroes utilizing the group's "flight rings."
The team was originally closely associated with Superboy and was first portrayed merely as a group of time travelers who frequently visited, or were visited by, the young Superman. It was several years before the Legion’s origin and back story was fleshed out and the group's connection to Superboy was loosened. They have since remained a somewhat popular DC franchise.
Original continuity (1958–1994)
A supporting cast for Superboy
Superboy was the featured series in ''Adventure Comics'' in the late 1950s. In ''Adventure Comics'' #247 (April 1958), he was met by three teenagers from the 30th century: Lightning Boy, Saturn Girl, and Cosmic Boy, who were members of a "super-hero club" called the Legion of Super-Heroes. Their club had been formed with Superboy as an inspiration, and they had time travelled to recruit Superboy as a member. After a series of tests, Superboy was awarded membership and returned to his own time.
Although intended as a one-off story focusing on Superboy, the Legion proved so popular that they returned for an encore in ''Adventure Comics'' #267 (December 1959). Lightning Boy had been renamed Lightning Lad, and their costumes were very close to those they wore throughout the Silver Age of Comic Books. In their third appearance, with Supergirl in ''Action Comics'' #276, it was claimed that the Legionnaires in that story were children of the ones Superboy had previously met, and that the Legion existed in the 21st century rather than the 30th. These details were ignored in future stories.
The Legion's popularity grew, and they appeared in further adventures in ''Adventure Comics'' and ''Action Comics'' over the next few years. The ranks of the Legion, only hinted at in those first two stories, were fleshed out with new heroes such as Chameleon Boy, Invisible Kid, Colossal Boy, Star Boy, Brainiac 5, Triplicate Girl, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Bouncing Boy, and Phantom Girl. They even recruited Supergirl as a member (''Action Comics'' #267 and #276).
Despite appearing in about a dozen stories during this period, the story of the Legion's founding was not revealed until a decade had passed. In ''Superboy'' #147 (June 1968), for the first time readers learned that the first three members to appear, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl and Cosmic Boy, had founded the Legion when they used their powers to save billionaire R. J. Brande from an assassination attempt. Impressed with their skills and courage, Brande would bankroll the Legion for years to come.
The creators of the early Legion stories included Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, Otto Binder, Al Plastino, George Papp, Curt Swan, Jim Mooney, and George Klein.
Starring in ''Adventure Comics''
In ''Adventure Comics'' #300 (September 1962), the Legion finally received their own regular feature, cover-billed "Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes". While they would share space with Superboy solo stories for a couple of years, they eventually displaced Superboy entirely as their popularity grew. Superboy, however, continued to appear on every cover, even if only briefly (or barely) mentioned in the story.
It was this run which established the Legion's general workings and environment. A club of teenagers, they operated out of a clubhouse in the shape of a yellow rocket ship inverted as if it had been driven into the ground. The position of Legion leader rotated among the membership, sometimes through election and sometimes by more arcane methods. From time to time the editors of the Legion stories would allow readers to vote on the leader.
Each Legionnaire had to possess at least one natural super-power (i.e., powers from devices were disallowed), in particular one power which no other member possessed. Despite this, several members had overlapping powers, particularly Superboy, Supergirl, Mon-El, and Ultra Boy. Some issues included comical moments where candidates with bizarre, useless or dangerous abilities would try out for membership and be rejected. A few of these flawed candidates went on to form the Legion of Substitute Heroes.
The Legion was based on Earth and protected an organization of humans and aliens called the United Planets. The regular police force in the UP was the Science Police.
Many of these early stories were "gimmick" tales, revolving around someone trying to trick the Legion, or a member of the Legion being controlled or injured in some way so that he turned against his comrades. Stark tie-ins with the Superman stories appeared from time to time, with Jimmy Olsen and Pete Ross becoming "honorary members" and Lana Lang becoming a reserve member. Characterization was often skimpy. In fairness, these sorts of stories were common in DC Silver Age comics, and many of these stories are beloved by long-time Legion fans.
Creators of the early ''Adventure Comics'' stories included Jerry Siegel, Edmond Hamilton and John Forte.
A watershed moment for the Legion came with ''Adventure Comics'' #346 (July 1966), which was written by then 14-year-old Jim Shooter. A Legion fan, Shooter submitted a quartet of stories to DC. In an era before comic book artists and writers received regular credits on their work, Shooter—ignorant of the creation process behind the stories he enjoyed—submitted full page layouts on typing paper, complete with captions and dialogue bubbles. DC, at the time ignorant of Shooter's age, was impressed enough with his efforts to arrange for veteran artists Curt Swan and George Klein to fix up the layouts for publication. Those first four stories introduced several longtime Legion elements, including Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Ferro Lad, Nemesis Kid, the Khunds, and Universo and his son Rond Vidar.
Soon thereafter, Shooter became the regular writer of the Legion stories, with Curt Swan (and later Win Mortimer) as artist. Shooter brought more characterization and action to the Legion, an approach which was working well for competitor Marvel Comics, and moved away from gimmickry. As it turned out, Shooter was an early participant in a gradual revolution of storytelling at DC over the next decade.
Shooter wrote the story about Ferro Lad's death—the first "real" death of a Legionnaire (although Lightning Lad had been believed dead for a while before)—and introduced many other enduring concepts, including the Fatal Five, Shadow Lass, the Dark Circle, Mordru, and the "Adult Legion", a conjecture regarding what the Legion would be like when they grew up.
However, the Legion's golden age did eventually end, and their last appearance in ''Adventure Comics'' was #380 (May 1969), when they were displaced by Supergirl.
Back-up feature
The early 1970s saw the Legion relegated to the status of back-up feature. First they appeared in ''Action Comics'' from #377–392 (June 1969–September 1970) featuring more stories by Shooter and Mortimer, usually vignettes with only one or two of the Legion appearing. These were nonetheless decent character-driven stories, rather unusual for their team in that regard.
Following that stint they began appearing occasionally as a backup in ''Superboy'' starting with #172 (March 1971) with creators including E. Nelson Bridwell, Cary Bates, and George Tuska. But soon signs of revival appeared, as young artist Dave Cockrum (who would go on to fame as the artist and co-creator of Marvel's "all-new, all-different" X-Men) began drawing the series with ''Superboy'' #188 (July 1972). Cockrum was a prolific designer of eye-catching superhero costumes, and began revising the outfits of many Legionnaires, many of which endured for much of the next 15 years.
The most notable story during this time was ''Superboy'' #195 (June 1973), in which a hero whose body was made of energy, who called originally himself "ERG-1," applied for membership in the Legion, and seemingly gave his life on a mission. The hero would go on to become Wildfire, one of the more popular Legionnaires.
''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes''
The Legion returned to cover-billing on a book when ''Superboy'' became ''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' with #197 (August 1973). (Although the cover read "Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes", inside in the indicia the title was still officially just "Superboy".) Crafted by Bates and Cockrum, the feature proved popular and saw such events as the wedding of Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel (formerly Triplicate Girl) (#200), and the death of Invisible Kid (#203). Cockrum was replaced on art with #203 (July/August 1974) by Mike Grell, who would also become a fan favorite. Several of the Legionnaires' costumes were changed and updated during this period, with some of the heroes' outfits, including those worn by Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, and Cosmic Boy, becoming especially skimpy. Shooter returned during this period and wrote his swan song on the title with a tale involving the Time Trapper and a new villain, Pulsar Stargrave.
With #231 (September 1977), the book's title officially changed to ''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' and became a "giant-size" title, at this point written by longtime fan Paul Levitz and drawn by James Sherman (inked by a variety of artists, notably Jack Abel and Bob McLeod). In #241–245 (July–December 1978) Levitz and Sherman (and then Joe Staton) produced what was to that time the most ambitious Legion storyline: Earthwar, a galactic war between the United Planets and the Khunds, with several other villains lurking in the background.
Issue #239 (May 1978) featured a well-received story titled "Murder Most Foul", in which Ultra Boy is framed for murder. Written by Paul Levitz and illustrated by Jim Starlin, the mystery was resolved in S/LSH #250–251 (April–May 1979), but Starlin was so unhappy with the editing and the decision to break up his lengthy tale into two parts that he removed his name from the project, and the artist was credited as "Steve Apollo".
During this period, one of the Legionnaires spun off into his own 20th century-based title, named ''Karate Kid'', which lasted 15 issues.
Levitz left the book to be replaced by Gerry Conway, a controversial choice among comics fandom. Still illustrated by Staton, the book led up to the next major change in the title's appearance.
Their own title at last
With issue #259 (January 1980), Superboy departed from the Legion due to a plot of a villain, and the book was renamed simply ''Legion of Super-Heroes''. These issues are referred to by fandom and collectors as "v2", or volume two. (There was a four-issue ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' series in 1972 and 1973 which is officially volume 1, or "v1", but it consisted solely of reprints. Volume numbers are conventional in the magazine industry in order to distinguish identically titled successor magazines with different enumerations.)
Jimmy Janes took over the art chores with #273 (March 1981), in a lengthy tale by Conway and then Roy Thomas involving Ultra Boy disappearing during a mission and his long odyssey to rejoin the team. This story told the long-awaited tale of the Legionnaire Reflecto (only glimpsed during the Adult Legion story in ''Adventure Comics''), featured villainy by the Time Trapper and Grimbor the Chainsman, and saw Superboy rejoin the team in #282 (December 1981).
Paul Levitz writes the Legion
Following the Time Trapper story, Paul Levitz returned to write the book with #284. Pat Broderick illustrated the book for a short while before Keith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt took over the art chores. Their clean style and flair for drawing high-tech gadgetry made them immediately popular, and this was enhanced by the five-part Great Darkness Saga which ran from #290–294 (August–December 1982), featuring a full assault on the United Planets and a surprise supervillain behind it all.
The Legion celebrated issue #300 (June 1983) by revisiting the Adult Legion story through a series of parallel world short stories illustrated by a number of popular Legion artists of days past.
Giffen's style changed abruptly a few issues later to a darker and sketchier style inspired by Argentinian artist José Munoz. This occurred simultaneously with DC's shift to launch a pair of "Baxter format" comic books (the other was the popular ''New Teen Titans'') on higher-quality Baxter paper. The extant Legion series was renamed ''Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes'' for a year before it began reprinting stories from the new ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' volume 3 (often referred to as "v3" by Legion fandom).
While Levitz wrote most of the stories during this time, there were several memorable fill-ins by Mindy Newell.
The series launched in August 1984 with a five-part story featuring the Legion of Super-Villains. Giffen left in the middle of the story and was replaced by Steve Lightle. Lightle's elaborate style fit the book well, but he only remained on the book for a year. Despite this, he designed costumes for several new Legionnaires who were introduced, notably the longtime member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, Polar Boy.
Greg LaRocque began a lengthy run in #16 (November 1985), including a crossover with John Byrne's recently-rebooted Superman titles in #37 and #38. The crossover was DC's first of many attempts to explain the origins and fate of Superboy, and his history with the Legion, in light of the revision to the DC Universe caused by ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''. Perhaps appropriately, the crossover also first demonstrated the continuity paradoxes that inevitably resulted from such attempts; a statue for Supergirl in the Legion's memorial for deceased members, shown in #38, had vanished by #51, as per DC editorial's then-recent edict that Superman was to be the only survivor of Krypton; because of this, Supergirl never existed at all in the post-Crisis timeline.
Levitz' run ended with the return of Giffen and a four-part story, concluding in #63 (August 1989), focusing on the decline of science and the rise of magic wreaking havoc with the United Planets. Although the forces of good prevailed, both the UP and the Legion were left in shambles, the pieces to be picked up in the next series.
Although Levitz substantially changed the Legion and its characters and greatly altered the tone of the series from what had gone before, his run was extremely popular and was a high-water mark in the Legion's history.
"Five Years Later"
Giffen took over plotting as well as penciling with the ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' volume 4 title which started in November 1989, with scripts by Tom and Mary Bierbaum and assists by Al Gordon.[1] Five years after the Magic Wars, the United Planets is a darker place and the Legion a distant memory. However, a group of former Legionnaires worked to re-form the Legion in this harsh new universe, in which Earth was ruled by the alien Dominators.
Shortly after this storyline began, the decision was made to retroactively remove Superboy almost completely from Legion involvement, leaving a question of where the Legion's inspiration for founding came from without Superboy. The writers' solution was a massive retcon, in which Mon-El serves in that role, having acted as a 20th century hero named Valor. Also added were the characters Laurel Gand—a parallel for Supergirl—and Kent Shakespeare (a.k.a. Impulse) in order to further fill the void. Issue #5 featured an alternate universe story in which this restructuring was affected.
Giffen skipped plotting on several issues for reasons that weren't made clear. This resulted in the Bierbaums writing several fill-in stories instead, causing the cohesiveness of the book to suffer as a result. This period also included several storylines that some fans found controversal even though they came from readers' speculations in the letters page. One was that Lightning Lad's body had been housing the consciousness of Proty, Chameleon Boy's Protean "pet," ever since his resurrection years before, and another was that former Science Police liaison Shvaughn Erin was actually a transsexual, while her longtime beau Element Lad was of ambiguous sexuality and would not have required her to be female (see Element Lad and Homosexuality).[2]
One major storyline during this period was the discovery of "Batch SW6", a group of clones of the early Legion, circa their ''Adventure Comics'' days. Keith Giffen's original intention was that the clones would eventually be revealed as the real Legion, and the ones whose adventures had been chronicled for so long were the clones.[3] Instead, there were now two Legions, and a parallel title, ''Legionnaires'', was launched, with art by Chris Sprouse, starring the "SW6" Legion. The series was lighter in tone than the main Legion book.
Giffen left the book after a storyline which involved the destruction of Earth (''Legion of Super-Heroes'' #38, December 1992), and the Bierbaums continued, overseeing the return of several classic characters. When the Bierbaums left, writer Tom McCraw took over and made a number of immediate changes, including forcing several Legion members underground, requiring them to take on new identities and bringing longtime absent Legionnaire Wildfire back. An unsuccessful attempt was made to give the adult Legionnaires new costumes.
''Zero Hour''
In 1994, DC's editorial department decided that the team's continuity should be entirely rebooted. As part of the ''Zero Hour'' company-wide crossover, ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' came to an end with issue #61, dated September 1994, to be started over from the very beginning.
Rebooted (1994–2004)
Following Zero Hour, a new Legion continuity was created, beginning with a retelling of the origin story starting in ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #0 and then continued in spin-off sister series ''Legionnaires'' #0 (both released in October 1994). Lightning Lad was renamed Live Wire, and after the group's founding, a large number of heroes were added to the roster very quickly. Several members were given new codenames, and some new heroes were added, including XS (the granddaughter of the Flash), Kinetix and Gates.
In homage to the recently discarded continuity, several older Legionnaires were reintroduced in different capacities. Chuck Taine (who had been the hero Bouncing Boy in the old continuity) became the Legion's maintenance engineer, and Tenzil Kem (who had been Matter-Eater Lad) became the Legion's chef. Rond Vidar—who had been the son of villain Universo, an honorary Legionnaire and a Green Lantern in the previous continuity—made a few token appearances as a colleague of Brainiac 5.
The rebooted Legion, with their allies and enemies. Art by Phil Jimenez.
While in some ways following the pattern of the original continuity, the new continuity diverged from the old one in several ways: some characters died as they had previously, others did not, and some Legion members spent time in the 20th century where they recruited Ferro. The Legion also started out having to earn the respect of the United Planets, which they did through two well-earned victories: successfully defending Earth from the White Triangle Daxamites, a group of racists; and exposing United Planets President Chu as the mastermind behind the Braal-Titan War, the Sun Eater hoax, the formation of the Fatal Five and the brainwashing of future Legionnaire Jan Arrah. Overall, it was a successful and well-received return to the days of a teenaged Legion defending a shining future from the forces of evil.
''Legion Lost''
Main articles: Legion Lost
However, sales began to fall. New writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning—often referred to as "DnA", a tag they commonly used for interviews—came on board with penciller Olivier Coipel to produce a dark story leading to the near-collapse of the United Planets and of the Legion itself. In the wake of the disaster, a group of Legionnaires disappeared through a spatial rift and the two existing Legion series came to an end.
The limited series ''Legion Lost'' (2000-2001) chronicled the difficult journey of these Legionnaires to return to their home, while the ensuing limited series ''Legion Worlds'' (2001) showed what was happening back in the United Planets during their absence.
A new series, ''The Legion'', was launched in which the Legion was reunited and given a new base and purpose. Written for its first 33 issues by DnA, the series was cancelled with issue 38.
Infinite Crisis and Earth-247
The Legion/Teen Titans Crossover (co-written by Geoff Johns and Mark Waid) ended the reboot continuity, and the temporal changes tie in to ''Infinite Crisis'', (written by Geoff Johns). Legionnaire Shikari Lonestar managed to evade the temporal change and emerge into the current continuity. She was not seen again until ''Infinite Crisis'' #6, where she was reunited with her Legionnaires on Earth-247. However, it is unknown if the post-''Zero Hour'' Legion always resided on Earth-247.
Current continuity (2005—) ("Threeboot")
The current Legionnaires.
Following a crossover with the Teen Titans in ''Teen Titans'' #16 and the ''Teen Titans/Legion Special'' a new series was launched; written by Mark Waid, who previously rebooted the title following the events of ''Zero Hour'', and penciled by Barry Kitson. This new series recreated the team from the ground up and is using the Boy/Lad/Girl/Lass/Kid names that the end of the "preboot" era and the (prior) reboot had moved away from. Waid has said that this is the first view of the DC Universe after the events of ''Infinite Crisis'', as shown in a line referring to Infinite Crisis in the ''Teen Titans/Legion Special''. The current continuity is sometimes referred to as the "Threeboot" continuity by the fan community as it is the third incarnation of the Legion that has been published since 1958.
Issues following #16 featured a modified ''One Year Later'' logo, shown as ''1,001 Years Later'', referring to the current Legion's adventures taking place 1,000 years after the ''One Year Later'' storyline. Beginning with issue #16, ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 5) was retitled ''Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes''.
Initial issues of the current title have reintroduced the characters and provided new and divergent origins for them. Most of the characters resemble their previous counterparts in costume and powers. The most notable exceptions include Chameleon Boy, now called simply Chameleon and depicted as an androgynous creature, Star Boy, who in this version of the Legion is black, Colossal Boy, who is now a giant who shrinks to human size, and Phantom Girl, who exists in two universes at once and even seems to have conversations with people in her own dimension while talking to Legionnaires at the same time.
The future universe of this Legion is an emotionally and mentally repressive society which involves human sexuality and contact being kept at arms' length as well as Orwellian surveillance of minors. The Legion's main goal is social reform as well as protecting people and inspiring them with the legends of superheroes of old, even though the team isn't appreciated by various government authorities.
The Legion is worshiped by thousands of "Legionnaires"; young people on various different worlds who worship the group in a cult-like manner. Some of the Legionnaires keep a constant vigil outside Legion headquarters.
"1,001 Years Later": Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes (2006—)
When confronted by the Legion, Supergirl insists she is the real Supergirl, Kara Zor-El. She then informs the Legion that they are in fact not real, and exist only because she is dreaming them. Cosmic Boy theorizes that Kara has gone through so many traumatic experiences during her brief career as Supergirl that ending up in the 31st century has caused her to assume that everything she's experienced since Krypton's destruction has all been an extended dream. Supergirl is then mentally probed by Saturn Girl, who learns that Kara's last memory before arriving in the 31st century was of the war between Rann and Thanagar during the events of ''Infinite Crisis''.
Meanwhile a group known as the Wanderers wreaks havoc in the galaxy, first letting loose on Earth a group of giants, then striking the team on Kandor itself where they had gone with Supergirl. As a side-effect of a psi-attack, Saturn Girl becomes able to sense and communicate with Mon-El, who is trapped in the Phantom Zone and is able to exist as an invisible and intangible wraith on Kandor. While some Legionnaires are trying to free Mon-El, this new version of the Wanderers attacks Legion HQ, trapping everyone inside. Several Legionnaires as well as Mon-El are recruited by the Wanderers to help combat an imminent Dominator threat.
The Dominators' attack on Earth was started after Booster Gold jumped through time and stole an advanced weapon which he needed to stop Mister Mind in the final battle of ''52''. They mistook Booster's speech while taking the weapon ("''for saving 52 worlds''") as a warning that Earth had teamed up with 52 unnamed worlds to declare war on the Dominion and had broken the non-aggression treaty signed after the Invasion a thousand years before. To further complicate matters, the combined forces of the Legionnaires and the Wanderers that were attacking the Dominion in a preemptive strike was perceived as proof of Earth's new alliance with 52 unnamed worlds.
The Waid/Kitson run ended with issue #30 after Barry Kitson's move to Marvel Comics with Tony Bedard becoming the new writer for a six-issue run from #31 to #36[4], culminating with Supergirl's return to the 21st century. Beginning with issue 37, former writer Jim Shooter (who wrote Legion stories in the late 1960s and early 1970s) begins an open-ended run.[5]
Lightning Saga
Depiction of the Legion in the "Lightning Saga" crossover. From ''Justice Society of America'' #5 (vol. 2) (2007), art by Fernando Pasarin
The Lightning Saga crossover in ''Justice League of America'' (vol. 2) #8-10 and ''Justice Society of America'' (vol. 3) #5-6 features a group of Legionnaires similar in appearance to the pre-''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' versions of Star Boy (now called Starman), Dream Girl, Wildfire, Karate Kid, Timber Wolf, Sensor Girl, Dawnstar, and Brainiac 5.[6] Several revelations, (Wildfire's containment suit being built out of the Red Tornado's robotic shell,[7] Dream Girl's abilities being derived from the Dreaming,[8] Night Girl's membership in the Legion, Karate Kid's death and resurrection,[9] and the Legion fighting against separatism and xenophobia as well as crime), aren't consistent with the pre-''Crisis'' Legion of Super-Heroes' history. However, Superman has statues of this version of the Legion in the Fortress of Solitude, though he has not seen them since the end of the ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', and later recalls Lightning Lad's death and resurrection.[10] The crossover ends with the return of Wally West, his wife and twin children to Earth. The Legionnaires, with the exception of Starman, Una and Karate Kid, return to their future.
This incarnation of the Legion is set to appear in the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" story-arc in ''Action Comics'' which starts in October 2007.[11]
Appearances in other media
Amalgam
In the Amalgam Comics universe, the Legion is combined with Marvel Comics' Guardians of the Galaxy to create the Legion of Galactic Guardians 2099.
Toys and Games
Various Legionnaires and associated villains have been issued in toy format:
★ Action figures, beginning with the Super Powers Collection (1986), and continuing through DC Direct (1999-present).
★ McDonald's Happy Meal figures (set of 8, based on characters from the animated series, 2007).
★ HeroClix, with the characters representing a cross-section of continuity from the Silver Age to today.
★ Trading cards representing various continuities and published by various companies (1966-1996).
★ Vs. System cards as part of the collectible card game.
Superman: The Animated Series
Main articles: Superman: The Animated Series
''.]]
Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy, and Saturn Girl made an appearance on ''.'' In the 1998 episode "New Kids in Town", they traveled through time to stop Brainiac from destroying the Man of Steel at an early age. Jason Priestley voiced Chameleon Boy, Melissa Joan Hart was Saturn Girl, and Chad Lowe voiced Cosmic Boy. Similar to pre-Crisis comics, Superman was the inspiration to the team. This episode also features cameos of other prominent Legionnaires.
Justice League Unlimited
Main articles: Justice League Unlimited
The Legion (featuring more of its membership), along with the Fatal Five, later appeared in a 2006 episode of ''Justice League Unlimited'' entitled "Far From Home" with Googy Gress as Bouncing Boy and Matt Czuchry as Brainiac 5. Supergirl was taken to the future to help fight the Fatal Five and free the Legion, and decided to stay and join the Legion after that was finished.
The other Legionnaires who appeared in this episode included Andromeda, Blok, Colossal Boy, Dream Girl, Kid Quantum, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Shadow Lass, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy, and Wildfire. All had minor or cameo appearances.
The Legion also had a featured appearance in ''Justice League Adventures'' #28.[12]
Legion of Super Heroes animated series
Main articles: Legion of Super Heroes (TV series)
Poster advertising animated series
The Legion of Super Heroes animated series premiered on Kids' WB! (the Saturday Morning kids' block on the The CW network) in September, 2006.
The show's premise is that the Legion travels back in time to recruit Superman in their fight against crime in the 31st century, but they go a little too far back and recruit Superman before he has had a chance to fully develop his powers. Superman, the inspiration for the Legion, now has to learn from them how to be a hero.
Season 1 focused on a "core" team consisting of Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Superman, and Timber Wolf, while other Legionnaires such as Cosmic Boy, Colossal Boy, Ferro Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, and Triplicate Girl appeared in various episodes. Classic Legion villains such as the Fatal Five, Starfinger, and the Sun-Eater have appeared. Other Legionnaires, including Blok, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Sun Boy, and Tyroc, made cameo appearances.
Season 2 will take place two years after the end of Season 1, with Legionnaires such as Chameleon Boy joining in the interim. Superman returns, older and wiser, as does a Superman clone from the 41st century, to help battle Imperiex.[13]
Appearances
This list is in approximate chronological order.
★ ''Adventure Comics'' #247, 267, 282, 290, 293
★ ''Action Comics'' #267, 276, 283, 287, 289–290
★ ''Superboy'' volume 1, #86, 89, 93, 98, 117
★ ''Adventure Comics'' #300–380
★ ''Superboy'' volume 1, #147 (origin, appeared during the ''Adventure'' run)
★ ''Action Comics'' #378–387, 389–392
★ ''Superboy'' volume 1, #172, 176, 185, 191, 195, 197-230
★ ''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #231–258
★ ''Karate Kid'' #1–15
★ ''All-New Collectors' Edition #C-55'' (''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' tabloid)
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 2), #259–313, Annual #1–3
★ ''Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #1–3
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' volume 3, #1–63, Annual #1–4
★ ''Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #314–325
★ ''The Legion of Substitute Heroes Special'' #1
★ ''Legionnaires 3'' #1–4
★ ''Cosmic Boy'' #1–4
★ ''Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #1–7
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4), #1–61, Annual #1–5
★ ''Legionnaires'' #1–18
★ ''Timber Wolf'' #1–5
After the Zero Hour reboot:
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4), #0, 62–125, Annual #6–7
★ ''Legionnaires'' #0, 19–81, Annual #2–3 1
★ ''Legends of the Legion'' #1–4
★ ''Legion Science Police'' #1–4
★ ''Titans/Legion of Super-Heroes: Universe Ablaze'' # 1–4
★ ''Inferno'' #1–4
★ ''Legion of Super-Heroes Secret Files'' #1
★ ''Legion Lost'' #1–12
★ ''Legion Worlds'' #1–6
★ ''The Legion'' #1–38
★ ''Teen Titans/Legion Special''
1 - ''Legionnaires'' Annual #1 is an "Elseworlds" story, which is part of neither the pre-reboot nor post-reboot Legion continuity.
After the "reimagining":
★ ''Teen Titans/Legion Special''
★ ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 5), #1–15
★ ''Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #16—
★ ''The Brave and the Bold'' (vol. 2) #4-6
Animated series:
★ ''The Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century'' #1–
Trade Paperbacks and Hardcover Collections
Cover to ''Legion of Super-Heroes: The Beginning of Tomorrow'' trade paperback, collecting the early issues of the post-''Zero Hour'' Legion.
The various Legion titles have been collected in the following graphic novels. The "Archives" editions are hardcover collections and the rest are softcover trade paperbacks:
| Title | Material collected |
|---|---|
| Original | |
| 'Showcase Presents: Legion of Super-Heroes, vol. 1' | ''Adventure Comics'' #247, 267, 282, 290, 293, 300-328 ''Action Comics'' #267, 276, 287, 289 ''Superboy'' (vol. 1) #86, 89, 98, 117 ''Superman'' (vol. 1) 147, Annual #4 ''Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen'' #72, 76 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 1' | ''Adventure Comics'' #247, 267, 282, 290, 293, 300-305 ''Action Comics'' #267, #276, #287, #289 ''Superboy'' (vol. 1) #86, #89, #98 ''Superman'' (vol. 1) 147, Annual #4 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 2' | ''Adventure Comics'' #306-317 ''Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen'' #72 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 3' | ''Adventure Comics'' #318-328 ''Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen'' #76 ''Superboy'' (vol. 1) #117 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 4' | ''Adventure Comics'' #329-339 ''Superboy'' (vol. 1) #124-25 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 5' | ''Adventure Comics'' #340-349 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 6' | ''Adventure Comics'' #350-358 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 7' | ''Adventure Comics'' #359-367 ''Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen'' #106 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 8' | ''Adventure Comics'' #368-376 ''Superboy'' (vol. 1) #147 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 9' | ''Adventure Comics'' #377-380 ''Action Comics'' #378-387, #389-392 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 10' | ''Superboy'' (vol. 1) #172, #173, #176, #183, #184, #188, #190, #191, #193, #195, #197-202 ''Adventure Comics'' #403 |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 11' | ''Superboy'' (vol. 1) #203-212 ''Amazing World of DC Comics'' #9 (one page) |
| 'Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, vol. 12' | ''Superboy'' (vol. 1) #213-223 ''Karate Kid'' #1 |
| 'The Great Darkness Saga' | ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 2) #287, 290-294, Annual #3 |
| 'An Eye For An Eye' (forthcoming: December 19, 2007) | ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 3) #1-6 |
| 'The Death Of Superboy' (published as ''Superman: The Man of Steel'', vol 4) | ''Adventures of Superman'' #430-431 ''Action Comics'' #590-591 ''Superman (vol. 2)'' #7-8 ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 3) #37-38 |
| Reboot | |
| 'The Beginning of Tomorrow' | ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #0, #62-65 ''Legionnaires'' #0, #19-22 |
| 'Foundations' | ''The Legion'' #25-30 |
| Threeboot | |
| 'Teenage Revolution' | ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 5) #1-6 |
| 'Death of a Dream' | ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 5) #7-13 |
| 'Strange Visitor from Another Century' | ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 5) #14-15 ''Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #16-19 |
| 'Adult Education' | ''Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #20-25 |
| 'The Dominator War' | ''Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #26-30 |
See also
★ List of Legion of Super-Heroes members
★ Legion of Net. Heroes
★ Interlac Language
References
1. Grand Comics Database: details on LSH (vol. 4) #1
2. Gay League - Element Lad & Shvaugn Erin
3. The Legion Omnicom: the Hat Trick
4. NYCC '07: Kitson Goes Marvel Exclusive Chris Arrant
5. Official: Jim Shooter Returns to DC's Legion of Super-Heroes Matt Brady
6. ''Justice League of America'' (vol. 2) #8-10 and ''Justice Society of America'' (vol. 3) #5-6, April-June 2007
7. ''Justice League of America'' (vol. 2) #9
8. ''Justice Society of America'' (vol. 3) #5
9. ''Justice League of America'' (vol. 2) #10
10. ''Justice Society of America'' (vol. 3) #6
11. DC Comics October Solicitation for ''Action Comics'' #858
12. Comic Book Resources: THE REAL HALL OF JUSTICE: JASON HALL TALKS 'JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES'
13. Comic Book Resources: CCI: WARNER ANIMATION PART ONE -- LEGION OF SUPER HEROES
External links
★ The Legion of Super-Heroes Online Companion
★ Legion World.net message board
★ The Legion Clubhouse news site
★ The Legion Omnicom blog
★ Adventure Comics Cover Gallery featuring Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes
★ Legion Help File
★ The LSH Clubhouse
★ DC Cosmic Teams: LSH
★ Interview with Mark Waid about the current series
★ Supermanica: Legion of Super-Heroes Supermanica entry on the Pre-Crisis Legion of Super-Heroes
★ Legion Wiki
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