Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #14

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #14 (Sept, 1985)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "Unto The New Generation"

writer: Paul Levitz

artist: Steve Lightle

inker: Larry Mahlstedt

letterer: John Costanza

colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger
cover: Steve Lightle & Larry Mahlstedt (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
The entire membership of the Legion of Super-Heroes, with featured appearances by Element Lad, Wildfire, Colossal Boy, Timber Wolf, Sun Boy, Ultra Boy, Brainiac 5, Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Phantom Girl, Blok, White Witch, Shrinking Violet, and Star Boy

Guests: 
Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy; RJ Brande; Dev-Em;
those applicants who become new Legionnaires: Magnetic Kid, Tellus, Polar Boy, Quislet, Sensor Girl; those applicants who do not join: Power Boy, Comet Queen, Energy Boy, Mentalla

Opponents: 
On-Tiir (clone)

The Legion meets The New Teen Titans

Check out this teen-age picnic!
This is an ad for the mid-Eighties books Legion of Super-Heroes and The New Teen Titans when they were in the midst of switching over to "Baxter" direct-only books. This appeared in the DC Sampler #3. 

Things to notice:
Blok is eating a hamburger!?
White Witch and Raven are comparing spells
Chameleon Boy and Changeling are fighting as animals?
Sun Boy is hitting on Starfire

Art is by Dan Jurgens and Romeo Tanghal

Art Institute of Zwen: Tim Fish

While I was doing research on last week's Chemical King Who's Who post, I came across the blog of an artist named Tim Fish.

He has a few adorable sketches about my favorite era of the Legion. The one above features the hero of the week, Chemical King. Here's one featuring another unsung hero, Tyroc.

Hot Night Girl!

by Anj

After re-reading a bunch of early 1970s Cary Bates/Mike Grell Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes issues, I am convinced that we could have a 'hot' entry for each and every issue.

Case in point, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #212. Now anyone who knows me at all would immediately assume that I would be showcasing Calorie Queen, one of my absolute favorite tertiary characters in the Legion mythos. She is all sorts of hotness.

Happy Birthday, Mon-El

According to the 1976 DC Calendar, today will be the birthday of Lar Gand, better known throughout the galaxy as Mon-El.
Mon-El spent 1,000 years in the Phantom Zone until the Legion created a serum that would cure him of Lead Poisoning (it's a real thing, kids!). Eventually he will be the strongest member of the Legion of Super-Heroes as well as its Leader for two terms.
Mon-El is an Aries. Today he will present himself to those who are distracted. He shouldn't put up with it. He should turn and walk. If that doesn't get their attention, he should do something that will. He deserves to have everyone's undivided focus.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #28

Recap: The Earth is a state of chaos after the Dominator's Triple Strike is accidentally triggered. In the aftermath, the Dominators take open control of the planet via martial law. In response, the Underground and their new allies the SW6 Clone Legionnaires, begin to fight back. One group of rebels is currently holed up in a Dominator lab, where a number of super-beings are being mind-wiped in pods. Sun Boy, effected by the radiation from Triple Strike, begins burning himself from the inside.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #28 is a fascinating issue, a pause in the wild ride that the Terra Mosaic arc has given us. The Earth is in shambles. The Underground is plotting. The main Legion is on their Talus base, recovering from the BION attack. The SW6 Legionnaires are trying to understand this new world. And as a fan, reading these issues, I want more ... and I want it now.

Superboy starring The Legion #212

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #212 (Oct, 1975)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "Last Fight For A Legionnaire"

writer: Jim Shooter

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Chameleon Boy, Shrinking Violet, Matter-Eater Lad, Superboy, Karate Kid

Opponents: 
six rejected applicants for Legion membership who want to take the place of fellow native members: Magno Lad, Esper Lass, Phantom Lad, Chameleon Kid, Micro Lad, and Calorie Queen

Synopsis: 
Magno Lad arrives at Legion head-quarters but is quickly rejected for membership because he is from Braal, the same home planet as Cosmic Boy. He is then met by five other costumed people who want to "put the whammy" on six very specific Legionnaires.

Happy Birthday, Night Girl!

According to the 1976 DC Calendar, today will be the birthday of Lydda Jath, better known throughout the galaxy as Night Girl.
Night Girl was one of the founding members of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, and served with distinction with them until Polar Boy disbanded that group. She later agreed to serve in the second incarnation of the Subs, alongside Cosmic Boy, Duo Damsel, and Bouncing Boy. Later still, she joined the Legion proper.  

Who's Who: Chemical King

Chemical King
by Russell & Siskoid 

Real Name: Condo Arlik

Super-Power(s): Ability to control (speed-up or slow-down) all chemical reactions. 
Planet of Origin: Phlon

Legion Seniority: Chemical King joined the Legion at the same time as Timber Wolf, but was listed first in alphabetical order. That made him Legionnaire #26.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #13

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #13 (Aug, 1985)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "If You Think The Khunds Are Cuddly You'll Love the Lythyls!"

writer: Paul Levitz

artist: Steve Lightle

inker: Larry Mahlstedt

letterer: John Costanza

colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger
cover: Steve Lightle & Larry Mahlstedt (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Timber Wolf, Blok, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Element Lad, White Witch, Invisible Kid, Mon-El; cameos by Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Shadow Lass, and Star Boy

Opponents: 
the population of the planet Lythyl

More Than Zero: Zero Month 20 Years Later

CROSSOVER! Everybody loves a crossover! Today several comic-themed websites are teaming-up to remember DC's "Zero Month"!

In 1994 DC Comics published Zero Hour, a five issue mini-series designed to not only serve as a major summer crossover but also fix some of the continuity problems that had emerged since the end of Crisis on Infinite Earths. Some have suggested that Zero Hour caused more problems than it fixed (especially Legion fans), but at the time it was the dawn of an exciting new era for DC. To kick off this new age DC followed Zero Hour in August & September 1994 with "Zero Month." As the name suggests all of the main DC books published an issue numbered zero, though each had a different approach to the idea. Some books featured a new origin. Some contained tweaks to the existing origin. Some contained brand new versions of old characters. Some featured a complete reboot (like the Legion). All of them served as a jumping on point for new and old readers alike.

Art Institute of Zwen: Sprock Yeah Legion!

There is a lot of Legion of Super-Heroes art out there. On any given day you can go on Deviant Art and type in Legion of Super-Heroes and find all sorts of things that may tickle your fancy.

Or you could go to Sprock Yeah, Legion!

The Subs by Tom Fowler

Cosmic Boy: Hot or Not?

The great experiment. Show a group of women who have no real foreknowledge of the Legion of Super-Heroes and ask them for their first impressions of each male Legionnaire. What no one expected was a hilarious tear down of the male superhero figure, starting with the Legion's very first...

Participants
Our honorary Legion members are...
Art Girl - A true blue visual artist whose tastes tend to anime more than American comics, she's acutely aware of costume fashions, and even more acutely afraid of birds.
DJ Nath - The empath of the group, she's into music and Scott Pilgrim. She and her sister (future contributor Lip-Bomb) have a cool You-Tube channel called Mind Linked. Guess what their power is.
Havana Nights - A divorcee has her own take on what makes a guy attractive, and she's sure to make more than a few Legionnaires feel burned.
Shotgun - Blasts away with unfiltered opinions. Don't expect any sugar-coating from this Manga fan!
Moderator: Siskoid, and may Glorith have mercy on his soul.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #27

Recap: The Dominion's control over the planet is now out in the open. Angry that they have lost the coveted SW6 Legion clones, the Dominators release BION, a sort of Amazo of the Legion with the hard drive of Computo. Mistaking the original Laurel Gand for the clone, the two battle on Earth until Laurel needs to retreat to Talus. She doesn't know that BION is following her. Meanwhile, on Earth, a group of rebels from the Underground have taken over a Dominator lab with more pods. But this isn't a united rebellion. The Substitute Legion, led by Jacques Foccart, and Grinn and his troop, loyal to Universo, have different ideas about warfare.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #27 is a great follow-up issue to last month's action-packed chapter as it continues to push forward the multiple plot threads that the creators are weaving in The Terra Mosaic. With the Dominators out in the open, the political landscape of the planet is unraveling. And that will always lead to violence. This is war.

Superboy starring The Legion #211

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #211 (Sept, 1975)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "The Ultimate Revenge"

writer: Jim Shooter

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Element Lad, Star Boy, Light Lass, Chemical King, Sun Boy, Superboy; cameos by Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, and Saturn Girl in flashbacks

Opponents: 
Roxxas

Synopsis: 
Out in space, the Haven is a hollow, man-made asteroid that is transparent to radar. It is a safe-house for dozens of the galaxy's most ruthless killers, including Roxxas, who is arriving as our story opens. Just as his tour of the facility ends,  the Legion raids it. Light Lass, Star Boy, and Chemical King take care of most of the criminals. Element Lad sees Roxxas, but is too shocked to capture him.

Who's Who: Shadow Lass

Shadow Lass
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Tasmia Mallor 

Super-Power(s): Ability to project darkness
Planet of Origin: Talok VIII

Legion Seniority: Shadow Lass joined during a battle between the Legion and the Fatal Five, the first Legionnaire inducted during a mission. She is Legionnaire #25.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #12

The Legion of Super-Heroes #12 (July, 1985)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "The More Things Change"

writer: Paul Levitz

artist: Steve Lightle

inker: Mike Machlan

letterer: John Costanza

colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger
cover: Steve Lightle & Larry Mahlstedt (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Wildfire, Dawnstar, Brainiac 5, Sun Boy, Timber Wolf, Blok, Phantom Girl, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Element Lad, Dream Girl

Opponents: 
unnamed space pirates

TOS: Superboy #89 Group Review

featuring
The Legion of Super Bloggers Round-Table Discussion on
Superboy #89 (June, 1961)
title: "Superboy's Big Brother"
writer: Robert Bernstein
artist: George Papp
letterer: Joe Letterese
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover: Curt Swan and Stan Kaye

Mission Monitor Board: 
Superboy, Mon-El (1st appearance; not yet in Legion)

Guests:
Martha Kent, Jonathan Kent, Lana Lang, Krypto (cameo), Jor-El (flashback), Lara (flashback)

Opponents:
Some Phantom Zone criminal (flashback)

Synopsis:
When a space ship crashes outside Smallville, Superboy finds an amnesiac, super-powered youth who might be his older brother. He christens him Mon-El and sets him up with a secret identity, but he soon finds evidence that Mon-El is not, in fact, Kryptonian.

Commentary:
(Late night round table discussion between Siskoid, Russell Burbage, Tim Wallace, David Sopko, and the team's biggest Mon-El fan, Kyle Benning)

Legion Archive 9: Collins & Farmer

Completing the series on the cover art of The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, our last all-new illustration for the series is by Mike Collins and Mark Farmer.

I had no idea who Mike Collins is when I saw this piece. It seems like he was an artist who worked primarily in the UK, but also did DC work in the late Eighties. In fact, at the time this Archive was published he was one of the artists on Legion of Super-Heroes (vol 4). Mark Farmer, likewise, was the regular cover inker with his long-time penciller partner, Alan Davis.

Hot: Glorith of Baaldur

Whether you like the removal of Superboy from Legion history or not, you can't deny we benefited from this paradoxical decision with the rise of Glorith of Baaldur! A minor character in pre-Crisis, Glorith made one solitary appearance as a henchwoman of the Time Trapper. With history being re-written, and re-written again, Glorith ascended to power. And boy I'm happy she did!

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #26

Recap: The Earth is in ruins from an ill-advised Dominator 'Triple Strike', destroying the moon and the Earth's power spheres. With the Underground trying to take back control of Earth, the Dominators institute martial law, shedding their 'behind the scenes' rule and being up front with their domination. Most of all, the Dominion wants their version of the Legion of Super-Heroes back, the SW6 clones. And to get them, the Dominators release B.I.O.N., an Amazo-like robot with the mind of Computo and the powers of an entire Legion.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #25 focused almost exclusively on the SW6 Legionnaires as they discovered how different the world is now and having them team up with the Underground.

Superboy starring The Legion #210

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #210 (Aug, 1975)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "Soljer's Private War"

writer: Jim Shooter

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Superboy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Princess Projectra

Opponents: 
Soljer, an energized army private from the year 2775

Synopsis: 
Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, and Superboy are playing a game of super-powered tag when it starts to rain. Lightning Lad tries to hit Superboy with a bolt of lighting, but actually hits a small patch of ground. This turns out to re-animate Army Private Mike Essad, who was buried on the spot 200 years ago. During World War VI he was a member of the army whose orders were to invade and "take" Metropolis. However, he threw himself on a gamma grenade to save the rest of his unit. At the same time the grenade exploded, he was also hit by lightning. So Lighting Lad's bolt of electricity somehow revives him, and he thinks his orders are to destroy Metropolis.

Who's Who: Karate Kid

Karate Kid
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Val Armorr

Super-Power(s): Master of all known fighting techniques. Although possessing no specific super-powers, his body was a living weapon
Planet of Origin: Earth

Legion Seniority: Karate Kid joined the Legion at the same open call where Princess Projectra, Ferro Lad, and Nemesis Kid joined. As per tradition, Projectra is listed first, making him Legionnaire #24 after Ferro Lad.
He was elected Legion Leader during the second half of Year 7. 

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #325

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #325 (July 1985)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "5 To The Infinite Power"

plot: Paul Levitz

dialogue: Mindy Newell
penciller: Dan Jurgens

inker: Karl Kesel

letterer: Gaspar

colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger
cover: Dan Jurgens & Karl Kesel (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Ultra Boy, Mon-El, White Witch, Colossal Boy, Sun Boy, Element Lad, Phantom Girl, Blok; cameos by Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad

Guests: 
Dev-Em, Science Police Officer Gigi Cusimano, SP Chief Zendak

Opponents: 
The Dark Circle

DC Comics Presents #43

DC Comics Presents Superman & The Legion of Super-Heroes #43 (March, 1982)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "In Final Battle"

writer: Paul Levitz

artist: Curt Swan

inker: Dave Hunt

letterer: John Costanza

colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Julius Schwartz
cover: Brian Bolland (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superman, Cosmic Boy, Brainiac 5, Sun Boy, Element Lad, Shadow Lass, Wildfire

Guests: 
Legion Reservist Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane; cameos by Black Canary, Green Lantern, Red Tornado, Supergirl,

Opponents: 
Mongul, the Sun-Eater

Legion Archive 8: Jurgens & Kesel

Continuing the spotlight on the art of The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, we  get a wonderful piece by admitted Legion fans and artists Dan Jurgens and Karl Kesel.
This time out we get a straight-forward "rushing towards the camera" pose that works so well with super-hero groups. This is the first time cover appearances for new members Shadow Lass and Timber Wolf; it's a shame we didn't also get Chemical King, who joined at the same time as Timber Wolf but was never as popular. This illustration is also nice because it is grounded by the brand-new Legion headquarters in the background.

Legion Icons

Have you ever noticed in certain stories, when the Legionnaire is on monitor duty and looks up at the Mission Monitor Board, who or what the icons are that represent the membership of the Legion?

Here then are the icons associated with the members of the Legion of Super-Heroes.

I like how each of the Substitute Heroes have their own icons, too.

Hot: SW6 Legionnaires in the buff!

A double feature of 5YL today! Our "Hot" entry of the day features the SW6 Batch in the buff! 

When the SW6 Batch emerged from the Dominator devices, they were au naturale. Well, except for Ferro Lad who apparently managed to score his trademark mask. It's interesting to see which Legionnaires were uncomfortable going starkers and which didn't seem to mind.

This definitely qualifies as one of the hotter Legion appearances! A little something for everyone!

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #25

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #25 opens up the third year of the book and is something of a new direction. This is the first issue where Keith Giffen is not part of the creative team. Tom and Mary Bierbaum are the only listed writers; the artist is Dusty Abell (his only issue on the title). This somehow feels different.

For one, the initial major drive of this book was to define the new darker universe and to bring the Legion back together. After two years, we are there. The Legion is now together, with a headquarters, and established as an entity. We have know about the Dominators and the Khunds.

Superboy starring The Legion #209

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #209 (June, 1975)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "Who Can Save The Princess?"

writer: Jim Shooter

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Karate Kid, Timber Wolf, Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, Superboy, Duo Damsel, Princess Projectra

Opponents: 
The Pain Plague

Synopsis: 
Princess Projectra crash lands her cruiser with the help of Timber Wolf and a tow hook. He and Karate Kid tease her about her piloting skills, but as soon as she collapses they rush her to the medical lab. Saturn Girl calls Brainiac 5. Although he is not on Earth, he diagnoses her from afar using the Legion medical equipment. He tells them that she is suffering from Pain Plague, which is six hours of intense pain no one has ever survived. Brainiac 5 suggests using his Universal Adapter Circuits and an Encephalo Transceiver in order to divert Projecta's pain to the other Legionnaires. Superboy is with Brainiac 5, but will rush back to Earth in order to take the last hour.

Who's Who: Ferro Lad

Ferro Lad
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Andrew Nolan

Super-Power(s): Ability to turn his body into an iron-like substance
Planet of Origin: Earth

Legion Seniority: Ferro Lad was one of the four members who joined during the Open Call immediately prior to the Khund Invasion. Traditionally, Princess Projectra is listed first among them, followed by Ferro Lad, and then Karate Kid, making him Legionnaire #23.

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #324

Tales of The Legion of Super-Heroes #324 (June, 1985)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "The Secret of the Dark Circle"

plot: Paul Levitz
dialogue: Mindy Newell

penciller: Dan Jurgens

inker: Karl Kesel

letterer: Bob Lappan

colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger
cover: Dan Jurgens & Jerry Ordway (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Ultra Boy, Mon-El, White Witch; cameo of Dawnstar

Guests: 
SP officer Erin Cusimano, Laurel Kent, Dev-Em

Opponents: 
The Dark Circle

Adventure Comics #247 Tributes

by Siskoid

Adventure Comics #247's classic "Superboy Rejected" cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye from 1958 is most definitely the most homaged cover in Legion history. Surprisingly, such tributes started to come out relatively late and proliferated in the late oughts. Here we attempt a complete listing of Adv247 tributes.

Legion Archive 7: Frank Miller

Continuing the spotlight on the art of The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives. Did you know that Frank Miller of Sin City, 300, and The Dark Knight Returns, is a Legion fan?
I think we can assume he is, because this time we get a beautiful illustration from him for the seventh Archive volume.  This is another time where I think someone at DC asked the artist to supply an illustration (or the artist requested a commission?) and there was no particular requirement for which members to use. I say that because this piece features Triplicate Girl, even though she became Duo Damsel back in a story featured in Archive #6! In fact, with Dream Girl also in this illustration, this piece should have been used as the cover of Archive #2 because that was the only time Dreamy and Triplicate Girl were members at the same time!
Or maybe Frank Miller isn't such a Legion fan after all...?