by Siskoid
Real Name: E. Davis Ester
Super-Power(s): Create
spontaneous stress fractures (physical and mental) in people and objects
Planet of Origin: Touston
Planet of Origin: Touston
Legion Seniority: Calamity King was the fifteenth and last recruit to join the Legion in the mostly-unchronicled era known as the Five-Year Gap.
Legion Log
E. Davis Ester was a jinx who caused bad luck wherever he went, creating spontaneous stress fractures (physical and mental) in people and objects. He applied for Legion membership as Calamity King, but was rejected for being too dangerous to his teammates. Star Boy's expulsion from the Legion, among other things, was even briefly blamed on his having shaken his hand. He drifted from job to job after his rejection, accidentally causing trouble wherever he went.
During the so-called Five-Year Gap, Calamity King was offered Legion membership when Polar Boy became desperate for members. His luck apparently followed him there and the group was disbanded just two months after he joined. He joined the anti-Earthgov resistance movement run by Jacques Foccart (Invisible Kid) and served as a double agent, sent to work with Earthgov and disrupt it with his power. He was exposed and made a subject for the Dominators' genetic experiments. It is unknown whether or not he survived either the detonation of many underground chambers by Grinn or the Earth's destruction. (These events were told textually, without his appearing on-panel, though an appearance with other Legionnaires during the Final Crisis would seem to confirm his one-time membership at least.)
After Infinite Crisis, Calamity King's original history has presumably been more or less been re-established.
Calamity King has appeared on the Legion of Super-Heroes animated series, voiced by Alexander Polinsky.
Important Calamity King Stories:
Adventure Comics #342
Calamity King is rejected for Legion membership
Adventure Comics #343
Calamity King is blamed for all of the Legion's bad luck
Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5
Calamity King takes part in Final Crisis
Legion of Super-Heroes animated series
Calamity King, voiced by Alexander Polinsky
I love the bluntness the Legion always had when it came to rejecting applicants. Brainy is basically like "next!"
ReplyDeleteI also like how Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel needed props to remind the Legionnaires of their losses.
I had no idea how long the list of gap legionairres was. (Are we really going to have to go through all of these losers in 'hot or not' before we get to Kent Shakespeare, Devlin, or Gates?)
ReplyDeleteThe contract with the Hot or Not crew does not, as yet, extend beyond the original continuity Legionnaires, although they've asked me if they could do a few posts on Subs and other Legionnaires (in bulk).
ReplyDeleteIsn't this still original continuity? I mean, you can argue for #4 or #5 of this run as a cut-off versus End of an Era (although the sort of lawyerly mind that would pick one of those issues would probably have bailed at the Crisis or the Death of Superboy), but the five year gap/v5 wasn't a new continuity...
ReplyDelete(Or are you saying 'up to End of an Era, no members who's entire membership was off-panel? In which case, no Gates but probably the other two)
I think you know what I mean Jeff ;)
ReplyDeleteYou can expect the Subs. There MIGHT be some "rejects" like Calamity King and Plaid Lad. It's too far off to make the call anyway.
He could have been a good concept if written better and a personality that reflected his abilities .
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised he wasn't called "Bad Luck Boy " !