Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Who's Who: Timber Wolf

Timber Wolf
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Brin Londo
Super-Power(s): Acrobatics, agility, super-speed, animal instincts
Planet of Origin: Zoon
Legion Seniority: Timber Wolf joined the Legion at the same time as Chemical King, but was listed second in alphabetical order. That makes him Legionnaire #27.



Legion Log 
Timber Wolf made his debut as Lone Wolf. He was the son of a biochemist who had experimented on a power-beam using the local mineral Zuunium. Timber Wolf received his abilities due to exposure to this ray. However, it weakened his will somewhat, so when an android servant of his late father told Timber Wolf that he was the android, and not a real human, he believed him. With the help of the Legion, Timber Wolf eventually learned his true identity. Although he was offered Legion membership, he turned it down at this time. He wanted to undergo physical and mental therapy after his emotional ordeal before committing to the team.     

Timber Wolf as a character next appeared in the infamous "Adult Legion" story, where it is revealed that he was a "future" Legionnaire who would marry Light Lass (Light Lady).

Timber Wolf next appeared as a student at the Legion Academy. After sufficiently restoring his confidence in his own humanity, he'd joined the Academy in order to hone his abilities. As a student, he was asked to go undercover to infiltrate the Legion of Super-Villains and was instrumental in helping the Legion defeat that newly-formed group. At the conclusion of that adventure, Timber Wolf and his Academy roommate and friend Chemical King were both granted Legion membership.

Timber Wolf was a member for more than eight years. Initially, he was friendly with Karate Kid and Chemical King, and had a steady romantic relationship with Light Lass. Early in his third year, however, he either underwent plastic surgery or experienced some type of mutation, as from this time his look altered so that he appeared more feral. At about this time, Chemical King died and Karate Kid went off on an extended quest back in time. Probably due to losing his closest friends, Timber Wolf struggled with bouts of depression. He was prone to blustery exclamations such as "I am a lone wolf! I shall quit the Legion!" at inopportune moments. During his fourth year, Light Lass convinced him to undergo plastic surgery to restore his humanoid features. After that, he would only "go feral" during high-stress situations. 

From that time on, he seemed to be more at ease and at peace with himself. It was at this time that he began to spend more time with Blok, and perhaps his calming influence helped Timber Wolf realize that the Legion was his family, and that there was no need to huff-and-puff when deep down, he really wanted to stay. Blok was his closest friend after the deaths of Chemical King and Karate Kid. In general, he got along well with most members, with the possible exception of Lightning Lad, who was overprotective of his twin sister; Chameleon Boy, who he blamed for the Khund Invasion mission that nearly got him killed; and Shadow Lass, who thought he was stupid.

After the events of The Great Darkness, Light Lass herself dealt with a bout of depression and anxiety, and decided to take some time off from the Legion. She begged Timber Wolf to go with her, but he refused. He in turn begged her to stay. He tried to convince her that the Legion was a loving, supportive family and that they needed her. When he would not go with her, she left without him. Even after Light Lass rejoined the Legion as Lightning Lass, she did not forgive him for what she considered his lack of emotional support. She refused to get back together with him, so he drifted along with no steady girlfriend for the rest of his Legion career. 

Timber Wolf, due to his origin and upbringing, suffered from a severe lack of self-confidence when it came to emotional and intellectual problems. However, he had an almost animal instinct and common sense; he often could see through problems that his teammates made overly complex. During his eighth year, he was elected Deputy Leader under Sensor Girl, meaning that the overall membership saw something in him that he himself might not have seen. 

Five years later, Timber Wolf was revealed to have been reduced to a giant and mindless dog-like creature, which new Legion member Kono named Furball. The transformation was caused by Doctor Regulus, who blasted him with a dose of radiation during his attempt to destroy the sun in the unseen storyline "Black Dawn". The Legion hid Brin's identity to protect his friends from the truth, but a young girl named Gemini discovered this and "liberated" him from his teammates. Together, theytraveled the galaxy in search of Darkseid (who was holding Gemini's brother hostage). Intrigued by Gemini's kindness towards Furball, Darkseid returned him to normal. He returned the Legion, but horrified at their treatment of him, he stole a time bubble and fled to the 20th Century. There he befriended the "New Blood" super-hero Jamm and was experimented on again by mad scientists who sought to create their own "Timber Wolf". The process transformed him again, giving him a more wolf-like form, though his mind remained intact. Timber Wolf ultimately returned to the future and reconciled with the Legion.

After the Reboot, Timber Wolf is apparently a native of Ultra Boy's home planet, Rimbor, where his gang, the Lone Wolves, is a rival to Jo's Emerald Dragons. When Ultra Boy's wife Apparition saved his life, he became indebted to her, and followed her to Earth where R.J. Brande offered him Legion membership to help fight Robotica. Though he found it difficult to integrate into the team, especially given Ultra Boy's jealousy over Brin's relationship with Apparition (a platonic but protective one), but he soon proved his mettle in battle against the Fatal Five. This version of the character had a healing factor. Later, the serum that gave him his powers caused him to mutate into a feral werewolf.


After the Threeboot, Timber Wolf is a mystery man and a lone wolf from the planet Zuun, who has helped the Legion in the past and dated both Light Lass and Princess Projectra, and only recently joined the team. He is prone to violent outbursts of rage, especially when Projectra, for whom he still carries a torch, is threatened. When, maddened by the loss of her home planet of Orando, she blames the Legion for her losses, Timber Wolf takes her side, going so far to cover up Projectra's savage beating of Phantom Girl. His origin story is never told.

After Infinite Crisis, Timber Wolf's original history has more or less been re-established. During a mission to the 21st century, he is discovered in Gorilla City participating in velociraptor races with no idea of who he really is. Only the word "Lightning Lad" (spoken in Interlac) manages to bring his memory back. After completing the mission, he subsequently returns to his own time along with other Legionnaires.

In the New52, Timber Wolf and a small group of Legionnaires are trapped in the 21st century while pursuing a time-traveling genetic terrorist. After exposure to the terrorist's mutagen, his fingernails become hardened, resembling sharp talons which he can throw like projectiles (although not without some pain), regrowing new ones in a matter of seconds. As of Justice League United Annual #1, Timber Wolf seems to have returned to the 31st century under unknown circumstances.

Timber Wolf had a non-speaking cameo on the Justice League Unlimited animated series in the episode Far From Home. He is one of the main characters in The Legion of Super-Heroes animated series, where he is voiced by Shawn Harrison.

Important Timber Wolf Stories: 

Adventure Comics #327
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 3)
Timber Wolf makes his debut as Lone Wolf

Adventure Comics #354
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 6)
Timber Wolf is shown to be a Legionnaire in the Adult Legion


Adventure Comics #371
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 8)
Timber Wolf returns as a student at the Legion Academy 

Adventure Comics #372
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 8)
Timber Wolf joins the Legion

Action Comics #378
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9)
Timber Wolf is addicted to the Lotus Fruit

Superboy #172
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10)
Timber Wolf gets involved in the Ranzz family drama

Superboy #191
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10)
Dave Cockrum starts to play with Timber Wolf's look 

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #197
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10)
The debut of Dave Cockrum's most famous LSH character redesign

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #209
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11)
Timber Wolf holds his own against Karate Kid


Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #213
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 12)
Timber Wolf faces Black Mace in a solo adventure

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #221
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 12)
Timber Wolf loves Light Lass, but is still controlled by Charma

DC Special #28
Timber Wolf goes on a mission with Chemical King
when Metropolis is threatened by destruction

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #229
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 13)
Timber Wolf mourns his friend

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #241
Timber Wolf battles Lightning Lord again


Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #253-254
Timber Wolf meets Blok for the first time

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #269-270
Timber Wolf and Light Lass convince Blok to join the Legion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #284
Timber Wolf has plastic surgery to return to his human face

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #287
Timber Wolf is part of the Espionage Squad mission to Khundia

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #288
The debut of Timber Wolf's new uniform

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #289
Timber Wolf and Saturn Girl share a moment?

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #295
Light Lass breaks up with Timber Wolf

 Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #301
Timber Wolf gets another new uniform

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #320
Timber Wolf pines for the missing Light Lass

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #7
Timber Wolf finds the hidden Light Lass...
just as Lightning Lass returns to the Legion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #12
Timber Wolf designs himself another uniform


Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #13
Timber Wolf travels to Lythyl per Karate Kid's last request

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #24
Timber Wolf believes Sensor Girl's powers are illusionary


Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #24
Lightning Lass refuses to go out with Timber Wolf again

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #60
Timber Wolf is voted Deputy Leader under Sensor Girl

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #3
5 Years Later, Timber Wolf returns as Furball

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #12
It is revealed Furball is a were-man

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #24
Darkseid turns Furball back into Timber Wolf


Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) Annual #3
Timber Wolf goes back in time and is transformed once again by a mad scientist

Timber Wolf #1-5
Timber Wolf has his own solo mini-series set in the 20th century

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) Annual #4

Timber Wolf returns to the future
  
Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #50
Timber Wolf fights B.I.O.N.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #52
Timber Wolf's rage can still be soothed by Lightning Lass

Legion Worlds #6
After the Reboot, Timber Wolf bonds with Apparition on Rimbor

The Legion #9
Timber Wolf struggles as a babysitter

The Legion #13
R.J. Brande offers Timber Wolf Legion membership
The Legion #15-16
Timber Wolf joins the Legion and fights the Fatal Five alone

Legion of Super-Heroes (v5) #5
Threeboot Timber Wolf joins the Legion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v5) #49
Timber Wolf foolishly takes Projectra's side after she goes mad

Justice League of America (v2) #9
After Infinite Crisis, Timber Wolf is found riding dinosaurs in Gorilla City

Legion of Super-Heroes (v6) #11
Timber Wolf has an epic fight with Sun Emperor

Legion Lost (v2) #1
Timber Wolf is one of the Legionnaires lost in time after Flashpoint


Legion Lost (v2) #3
Timber Wolf's new EXTREME!!!! power


Legion Lost (v2) #0
Timber Wolf's secret origin


 Legion of Super-Heroes animated series
Shawn Harrison as Timber Wolf

5 comments:

  1. I'm guessing one reason they backed away from the pointed hair and feral look was due to Wolverine's growing popularity, even though Cockrum gave Timer Wolf that look first?

    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  2. With T-Wolf and Night Girl as examples, you have to wonder just how many kids died across the UP because their parents subjected them to horrific experiments, in the hopes that they would become Legionnaires.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Between Chemical King, Karate Kid, and Blok clearly the most dangerous occupation in the legion is being Timber Wolf's friend. Also on a unrelated topic: Timber Wolf racing dinosaurs in Gorilla City? That is AWESOME!! Why don't we have a book about THAT?

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