5YL: Legionnaires #7

Legionnaires #7 (October 1993)
title: "Devils in the Deep"

writers: Tom & Mary Bierbaum

penciller: Adam Hughes
inker: Mark Farmer
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw
assistant editor: Eddie Berganza & Mike McAvennie

editor (Flipper): KC Carlson

cover: Adam Hughes
reviewer: Siskoid

Mission Monitor Board:  
Andromeda, Apparition, Brainiac 5 (SW6), Ferro, Inferno, Invisible Kid (SW6), Matter-Eater Lad (SW6), Saturn Girl (SW6), Shrinking Violet (SW6), Triad, Ultra Boy (SW6)

Guests: 
Atlanteans (Tritonians), Keiki, her parents, Newlin, his parents, Science Police

Opponents: 
Devil-Fish

Polar Boy: Hot or Not?

Make your temperature-related jokes, but our group of candid women with no real Legion knowledge still need to evaluate if Polar Boy is Hot or Not.

Participants
Our honorary Legion members are...
Art-Girl - Snowbound in Memramcook (yes, that's the name of a real place).
DJ Nath - Cuddling with a border collie.
Havana Nights - Trying to reconcile her Legion code name with what's about to happen here.
Lip-Bomb - More blankets! Co-star of Mind Linked, on You-Tube, with her sister DJ Nath.
Science Girl - All about the layers, even in summer.
Shotgun - Has her storm chips in case a blizzard hits. Oh look...
Moderator: Siskoid - Waited for a blizzard to moderate this chat.

Threeboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #2

Recap: The 30th century is a place of complete calm and peace. But that means that imagination and passion have been replaced by sterile security. Standing out from such a bland landscape are the brightly colored, proactive, and young Legion of Super-Heroes. The main team numbers around 20, all with powers and codenames, but the movement numbers in the millions across the planets. If you are young and want progressive change, count yourself part of the team. With this political power rivaling their super-heroics, the Legion is disliked by the authorities, including the United Planets, the Science Police, and planetary leaders all. To this the team recites a mantra ... 'eat it Grandpa'.

Writer Mark Waid and artist Barry Kitson had quite a task ahead of them. They were charged with rebooting the Legion of Super-Heroes and getting the team's fandom to accept ... nay ... embrace the changes. The Legion fandom, as a whole, is characterized as being tremendously proud of their knowledge of the team's history. Fans want to harken back as much as look forward. And destroying the foundation was surely a calculated risk. How are you new enough to be approachable while still honoring the past.

Superboy & The Legion #249

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #249 (March, 1979)
title: "Capital Crimes of the Chemical Conqueror!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Joe Staton

inker: Jack Abel
letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Joe Staton & Dick Giordano (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Sun Boy, Brainiac 5, Mon-El, Superboy, Phantom Girl, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl

Guests: 
RJ Brande

Opponents: 
Mantis Morlo, the Chemical Conqueror

Who's Who: XS

XS
by Siskoid

Real Name: Jenni Ognats

Super-Power(s): Super-speed.
Planet of Origin: Earth

Legion Seniority: XS was the first completely new Legion recruit after the Reboot.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #51

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #51 (Oct, 1988)
title: "The Trial of Brainiac 5"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller/co-plotter: Keith Giffen
inker: Mike DeCarlo
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford
editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Saturn Girl, Polar Boy, Brainiac 5, Element Lad, Tellus, Dream Girl, Quislet, Blok, Phantom Girl, Invisible Kid, Shrinking Violet, Lightning Lass, Magnetic Kid, Sun Boy, Wildfire, Dawnstar, Timber Wolf, Sensor Girl, Shadow Lass, Ultra Boy; cameo of Mon-El

Guests: 
Cosmic Boy, Rond Vidar, Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy

Opponents: 
the Legion Constitution, arrogance, the threat of Starfinger

LSH Cover to Cover 5: 1966

Here's our fifth installment of our Legion of Super-Bloggers feature on all of the comic-book cover appearances of The Legion in chronological order. We're up to the year 1966, and from now on we're going to go by years just to make it easier to track.

The Legion was an established series by this time, and several of the characters were now recognizable enough to merit repeat appearances on the cover. Lightning Lad, Colossal Boy, and Cosmic Boy appeared five times this year, while Saturn Girl and Phantom Girl both appeared four times.

The year 1966 started with a bang, with one of the greatest and most well-known Legion covers ever. Of course, I'm talking about the debut of Computo the Conqueror, and the murder of Triplicate Girl.

This was also the year where Star Boy is expelled for killing, Matter-Eater Lad blows up like Bouncing Boy, and, oh yeah, some writer named Jim Shooter starts working on the series. He brings with him Princess Projectra, Karate Kid, Ferro Lad, and Nemesis Kid! All in all, one of the greatest years of Legion Lore ever! Let's get to it, shall we?

All covers were still being pencilled by the late, great Curt Swan. Inking was predominantly done by George Klein, with one issue (Adventure Comics #341, being inked by Sheldon Moldoff.

5YL: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #4

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) Annual #4 (1993)
title: "Jamm"

writers: Tom & Mary Bierbaum

pencillers: Stuart Immonen, Darryl Banks, Joe Phillips, Christopher Taylor, Nick J. Napolitano
inkers: Terry Austin, Wade Von Grawbadger, Ron Boyd, Dan Davis
lettering: Bob Pinaha
colorist: Tom McCraw

editors: K.C. Carlson, Eddie Berganza, Mike McAvennie

cover: Stuart Immonen
reviewer: Siskoid

Mission Monitor Board:  
Andromeda, Apparition, Brainiac 5 (SW6, only in pin-up), Cosmic Boy (SW6), Dawnstar, Dragonmage, Invisible Kid, Kent Shakespeare, Matter-Eater Lad (SW6), Shadow Lass, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy (SW6), Valor

Guests: 
Daxamites, Harlak, Infectious Lass, Jamm (1st appearance), Lauren Gand, Loomis, Night Girl, Pol Krinn II, Rond Vidar

Opponents: 
Angon (a Bloodline Parasite), Mordru's undead army

5YL: Legionnaires #6

Legionnaires #6 (September 1992)
title: "An Eye for an Eye"

writers: Tom & Mary Bierbaum

penciller: Chris Sprouse
inker: Karl Story
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw
assistant editor: Eddie Berganza

editor: KC Carlson

cover: Chris Sprouse & Karl Story
reviewer: Siskoid

Mission Monitor Board:  
Alchemist, Andromeda, Apparition, Catspaw, Chameleon, Computo II, Cosmic Boy (SW6), Dragonmage, Ferro, Gossamer, Invisible Kid (SW6), Matter-Eater Lad (SW6), Saturn Girl (SW6), Shrinking Violet (SW6), Triad, Ultra Boy (SW6)

Guests: 
U.P. Vice-chairwoman Jeryl, Science Police officers

Opponents: 
Emerald Empress (Cera Kesh), Leland McCauley, Mano, Mordecai, Persuader, Tharok

Threeboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #1

Hello all! Welcome to the Threeboot Legion reviews by me, Anj! I have touched on the book in prior posts but bear with me as I do a bit of an intro before I jump into the review. As this might be someone's first encounter with my reviews, a warning. My reviews tend to be lengthy, so settle in.

It was December 2004. I was seriously entrenched in adult life. And it had been 10 years since I had read a Legion of Super-Heroes comic. The devolution of the 5 Years Later comic, the reveal that Cosmic Boy was Time Trapper, and the ultimate reboot of the team in Zero Hour had done something I didn't think possible.

Superboy & The Legion #248

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #248 (Feb, 1979)
title: "Beneath The Streets Lurks....Death!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Joe Staton

inker: Dave Hunt
letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Joe Staton & Dick Giordano (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Sun Boy, Phantom Girl, Cosmic Boy, Shadow Lass, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Mon-El, Superboy, Brainiac 5; cameo of Light Lass and Colossal Boy

Guests: 
RJ Brande

Opponents: 
muck monsters "living" in the sewers under Metropolis

Who's Who: The Khund Legionnaires

The Khund Legionnaires
by Siskoid

Code Name: Bloodclaw

Super-Power(s): Super-strength, metal claws.

Code Name: Firefist

Super-Power(s): Enhanced strength, speed, and endurance; built-in energy blaster.

Code Name: Flederweb

Super-Power(s): Bat-like wings, cling to walls.

Code Name: Veilmist

Super-Power(s): Teleportation.
Planet of Origin: Khundia

Legion Seniority: The Khund Legionnaires were the last Legion recruits of the post-5YL era.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #50

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #50 (Sept, 1988)
title: "Life and Death And The End of Time"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller/co-plotter: Keith Giffen
inker: Mike DeCarlo
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford
editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Ken Steacy
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Mon-El, Saturn Girl;
Ultra Boy, Timber Wolf, Element Lad, Dream Girl, Sun Boy, Quislet, Shrinking Violet, Shadow Lass, Sensor Girl, Polar Boy, White Witch, Tellus

Guests: 
Rond Vidar, Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, Circadia Senius

Opponents: 
The Time Trapper, The Infinite Man

The Lighting Saga (chapter 4): JSA (v3) #6

Justice Society of America (v3) # 6
Title: “The Lightning Saga, Part Four: Three Worlds”
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Dale Eaglesham
Inker: Ruy Jose
Colorist: Jeremy Cox
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman
Reviewer: Myk-El

RECAP:
The Justice League has teamed up with the Justice Society to locate seven lost Legionnaires, who have come back from the future on a mission so secret even they don’t know what it is.  Or at least not until Karate Kid, Starman, Dream Girl, Wildfire, Timber Wolf, and Dawnstar come together. Turns out they all volunteered to sacrifice themselves to “bring him back.” Oh, and did I mention they’ll be using some very familiar lightning rods. Before we can find out any more, Dawnstar announces that she knows where to find the last Legionnaire.

5YL: Legionnaires #5

Legionnaires #5 (August 1992)
title: "New Life, New Death!"

writers: Tom & Mary Bierbaum

penciller: Chris Sprouse
inker: Karl Story
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw
assistant editor: Eddie Berganza

editor: KC Carlson

cover: Chris Sprouse & Karl Story
reviewer: Siskoid

Mission Monitor Board:  
Andromeda, Apparition, Catspaw, Computo II, Cosmic Boy (SW6), Ferro, Matter-Eater Lad (SW6), Shrinking Violet (SW6), Ultra Boy (SW6)

Guests: 
U.P. Vice-chairwoman Jeryl, McCauley's sexy employee

Opponents: 
Emerald Empress (Ingria Olav, dies), Emerald Empress (Cera Kesh), Leland McCauley, Mano, Mordecai, Persuader, Tharok

Invisible Kid II: Hot or Not?

What happens when we let a group of candid women with no real Legion knowledge deliver their first impressions of the second Invisible Kid? Does he measure up?

Our honorary Legion members are...
Art-Girl - Brought to you by the number 2.
DJ Nath - One of two sisters. Co-star of Mind Linked, on You-Tube, with her sister Lip-Bomb.
Havana Nights - On her second "marriage".
Lip-Bomb - Coming down with a cold. Always.
Science Girl - Has older brothers, still better at everything than they are.
Shotgun - Double-barreled.
Moderator: Siskoid - The first and only.

My Legion Lost Years - A Semi-Lifelong Love

Fourteen months ago I posted my first article on this blog discussing my lifelong love of the Legion.

There was a lot to cover as I am getting up in years and have been reading comics now for nearly 4 decades. And I consider the Legion to be my first comic. In fact, whether it is true or not, I consider Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #211 to be my first comic.

Superboy & The Legion #247

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #247 (Jan, 1979)
title: "Savage Sanctuary!"

writer: Len Wein

penciller: Joe Staton

inker: Jack Abel
letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Glynis Wein

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Joe Staton & Dick Giordano (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Element Lad, Colossal Boy

Opponents: 
The Fatal Five

Synopsis: 
In outer space, Superboy is flying away from Corvan IV. He is calling for reinforcements after the Fatal Five defeated him, Element Lad, and Colossal Boy.

Who's Who: Spider Girl

Spider Girl
by Siskoid

Real Name: Sussa Paka

Super-Power(s): Prehensile hair.
Planet of Origin: Earth

Legion Seniority: Spider Girl was the fourth new recruit following the Legion's reformation after the Five-Year Gap.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #49

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #49 (Aug, 1988)
title: "A Time To Live"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Pat Broderick
inker: Mike DeCarlo
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Ken Steacy
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Sensor Girl, Mon-El, Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Dawnstar, White Witch, Wildfire, Polar Boy, Lightning Lass, Sun Boy, Magnetic Kid, Element Lad, Shrinking Violet, Timber Wolf, Quislet, Invisible Kid, Shadow Lass, Dream Girl, Blok, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Rond Vidar

Opponents: 
Starfinger, the threat of the Time Trapper

Secret Origins (v2) #25

Secret Origins  (v2) #25 (April, 1988)
title: "The Dreams of Youth"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Rick Stasi
inker: Dick Giordano
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Mark Waid 

cover: Curt Swan & Murphy Anderson?
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
No Legionnaires appear in the actual story. Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad appear in flashbacks, along with cameos by Triplicate Girl, Phantom Girl, Brainiac 5, and Chameleon Boy, plus the then-current membership in a pin-up appearance

Guests: 
RJ Brande

Opponents: 
unnamed assassins, universal evil

5YL: Legionnaires #4

Legionnaires #4 (July, 1992)
title: "If Looks Could Kill"

writers: Tom & Mary Bierbaum

penciller: Chris Sprouse
inker: Karl Story
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw
assistant editor: Eddie Berganza

editor: KC Carlson

cover: Chris Sprouse & Karl Story
reviewer: Siskoid

Mission Monitor Board:  
Alchemist, Andromeda, Catspaw, Chameleon, Computo II, Cosmic Boy (SW6), Dragonmage, Ferro, Gossamer, Inferno, Invisible Kid (SW6), Live Wire, Matter-Eater Lad (SW6), Saturn Girl (SW6), Ultra Boy (SW6)

Guests: 
"Martian Mauler"

Opponents: 
Emerald Empress (Ingria Olav), Emerald Empress (Cera Kesh), Leland McCauley, Magpie, Mano, Mordecai, Persuader, Tharok

5YL: Legionnaires #3

Legionnaires #3 (June, 1992)
title: "The Beast Below"

writers: Tom & Mary Bierbaum

penciller: Chris Sprouse
inker: Karl Story
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw
assistant editor: Eddie Berganza

editor: KC Carlson

cover: Chris Sprouse & Karl Story
special thanks: Gaijin Studios
reviewer: Siskoid

Mission Monitor Board:  
Andromeda, Brainiac 5 (SW6), Chameleon, Cosmic Boy (SW6), Dragonmage, Gossamer, Inferno, Invisible Kid (SW6), Leviathan, Live Wire, Shrinking Violet (SW6)

Guests: 
Science Police

Opponents: 
Emerald Empress (Ingria Olav), Emerald Empress (Cera Kesh), Mordecai, Persuader

5YL: Who's Who Supporting Cast

Welcome to my last entry specifically looking at the 5YL run of the Legion of Super-Heroes. I suppose I am going out with a whimper and not a bang.

The last of the 5YL Legion Who's Who pages looked specifically at the supporting cast of the book.

Superboy & The Legion #246

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #246 (Dec, 1978)
title: "Will The Last One To Leave Mercury Please Close The Planet?"

script: Len Wein
plot: Paul Levitz

penciller: Joe Staton

inker: Dick Giordano
letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Glynis Wein
editors: Al Milgrom & Jack C. Harris

cover: Mike Grell  (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Shadow Lass, Chameleon Boy, Sun Boy, Karate Kid

Opponents: 
unknown menace killing staff & patients at Medivac-Lab

Who's Who: Kid Quantum I

Kid Quantum I
by Siskoid

Real Name: James Cullen

Super-Power(s): Immobilization field.
Planet of Origin: Xanthu.

Legion Seniority: Kid Quantum was the SW6 Legion's fourth and last new recruit.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #48

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #48 (July, 1988)
title: "A Time To Die"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Greg LaRocque
inker: Mike DeCarlo
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Ken Steacy
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl, Mon-El, Chameleon Boy, Magnetic Kid, Tellus, Sensor Girl, Element Lad, Dream Girl, Timber Wolf, Blok, Colossal Boy, Quislet, Invisible Kid

Guests: 
Duo Damsel

Opponents: 
Starfinger, the threat of the Conspiracy

Legion of Super Heroes S01 E04: Phantoms

"Phantoms" was written by Rob Hoegee and directed by Tim Maltby, original airdate: November 4, 2006.

Mission Monitor Board: Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, Phantom Girl, young Superman, Timber Wolf

Opponents: Drax, his two pets 'Comet' and 'Cupid,' the Phantom Zone villains

When you hear an episode of "Legion of Super Heroes" is called "Phantoms," it can pretty much only be two things (with a 5% chance of ghosts of course), it's either focusing on Phantom Girl or the Phantom Zone. In this case, it's the latter, and later, a little of both. This is the fourth episode of the series, and the third Superman-centric episode. It's getting real old real quick, folks, but I have a feeling change is in the air. Just wait.

5YL: Legionnaires #2

Legionnaires #2 (May, 1992)
title: "In Death's Grip"

writers: Tom & Mary Bierbaum

penciller: Chris Sprouse
inker: Karl Story
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw
assistant editor: Eddie Berganza

editor: KC Carlson

cover: Chris Sprouse & Karl Story
reviewer: Siskoid

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Alchemist, Brainiac 5 (SW6), Chameleon, Computo II, Cosmic Boy (SW6), Dragonmage, Ferro, Gossamer, Inferno, Invisible Kid (SW6), Leviathan, Live Wire, Matter-Eater Lad (SW6), Saturn Girl (SW6), Shrinking Violet (SW6), Triad, Ultra Boy (SW6)

Guests: 
Arm-Fall-Off Boy (cameo), Cera Kesh (1st appearance), Plaid Lad (1st appearance), Sean Erin, X-Bomb Betty (1st appearance), Science police officer, unnamed try-outs

Opponents: 
Emerald Empress (Ingria Olav, 1st appearance), The Hand, Leland McCauley, Mano, Mordecai (1st appearance)

Blok: Hot or Not?

Our group of candid women with no real Legion knowledge rock out on Blok and tell us if he's he Hot, or if he's Not.

Participants
Our honorary Legion members are...
Art-Girl - Her sister is a geologist. For real.
DJ Nath - Trained to teach History and English. One of these is relevant to the discussion. Co-star of Mind Linked, on You-Tube, with her sister Lip-Bomb.
Havana Nights - Rocking the puns today.
Science Girl - Stone cold.
Shotgun - Another former History student.
Moderator: Siskoid - Thinking Blok is one of the few Legionnaires not shorter than he is.

New Year's Resolutions

The calendar has turned to 2016 and with that comes some resolutions.

Fridays have come to mean 5YL Fridays here on this blog but those reviews have ended. I have a couple of more posts in mind to wrap up my thoughts on that series.

But I hereby resolve to review the Threeboot Legion as my Friday contribution for the site.

I liked this series. I thought Waid and Kitson brought back some classic sensibility to the group. It certainly helped that Supergirl joins the book for a major section.

But it was another reboot, chipping away at the foundation of Legion mythology that old time Legion fans still liked to lean on.

So before I get started, I'd love to hear, even broadly, what people thought of this series.