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 Log
The boy who would take the name Bloodclaw was born somewhat misshapen, with a primitive look about him. Fortunately for him, his odd musculature translated into a strength advantage, which he used to answer any taunts over his appearance in Khundia's challenge courts. He eventually gained such stature that he was allowed cybernetic enhancement, one of the highest honors a Khund can achieve. He chose a pair of mechanical hands with sharp claws and became one of the Empire's best fighters.

Firefist's story is a common one on Khundia. Through strength, rage, and excellent marksmanship and leadership abilities, he rose quickly through the army ranks, and was awarded the chance for cybernetic enhancement. He had his entire body mechanically enhanced for greater strength, speed and endurance, and had an energy-blaster built into the armor near his hand. He claimed as his wife the most beautiful female on Khundia, the teleporter Veilmist.

The boy who came to be known as Flederweb was born on Khundish-occupied Aetia, where he was chosen, like many other unfortunates, for Khundish biotechnology experiments. The scientists altered his muscles, skin and bone structure so that he had wings like a bat's and could stick to walls. Against his will, he was inducted into Khundish military service, where he was fitted with a mind-control device to ensure his obedience.

While male Khunds are bred for aggression, females are bred for breeding. In Khundish law, a woman is actual property of her husband, and if her husband is killed by an eligible male, he becomes her new husband. While this system is repressive to most Khundish females, some have managed to use it to their advantage. One of these is Veilmist, a stunningly beautiful woman, whose scientist father gave her the added bonus of teleportation powers. She has managed to seduce four Khunds into killing her previous husbands, each time rising several notches in Khundish status. The last in this series is Firefist.

Some time after the period known as the Five Year Gap, these four Khunds were selected to join forces with the Legion of Super-Heroes against the undead army of Mordru. (They do not seem to exist in any other version of continuity.)

Bloodclaw's prosthetics proved to be his undoing, when he ran afoul of an undead Magnetic Kid, which used its powers to make him cut himself. He was buried with full Khundish military honors.

The deal between the Khunds and the Legion stipulated that Firefist was to co-lead the team, but his aggressive nature caused so many conflicts that the Legion finally ignored him. In a fit of frustration during the assault on Mordru, he lashed out at Legionnaire Devlin O'Ryan, whose reflective powers apparently killed Firefist with his own blast. But his cybernetic systems actually kept him alive, and the Khunds rebuilt him. After completing an assignment to kill Starfinger, his path crossed with the Legion's once again, but the arrival of cadets from the United Planets Militia Academy prevented him from taking revenge. When last seen, he was still in the Khundish military, and had been involved in a plot to destroy Weber's World.

In the Legion, Flederweb liked being treated as a person rather than a curiosity, and sought to stay with the team after Mordru was defeated. He was forcibly taken back by the Khundish army, but was captured by the Legion during the Khundish attempt on the Starfinger's life. The Legion freed him from the mind-control device, and he helped them try to stop the Khundish destruction of Weber's World. He then helped free the Heroes of Lallor and joined forces with them against occupying Khunds.

Upon meeting Ultra Boy, Veilmist attempted to goad him into killing Firefist before Devlin accidentally did the job. She then attempted to attach herself to Devlin, hoping to convince Jo to kill him later. The Khundish military did not allow her to stay with the Legion however, invoking Khundish law and Devlin being too young to be married and own "property". Instead, ownership reverted to the army, and then back to a resurrected Firefist. When, during the Khundish attempt to destroy Weber's World, she offered to help the Legion if Jo would take her from Firefist, her husband killed her for her disloyalty. She was nevertheless among the Legionnaires of many worlds who fought Superboy-Prime's forces during Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds.

Important Khund Legionnaire Stories:

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #44

Four Khunds join the Legion to fight Mordru's undead army

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #46

Bloodclaw is killed by an undead Magnetic Kid

 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #47

Firefist is accidentally killed by Devlin O'Ryan's powers

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #48

Veilmist sets herself up for her next husband

 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #57

Firefirst is "repaired"; he and other Khund Legionnaires attack Weber's World

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #58

Firefist kills Veilmist for choosing to help the Legion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #59

Flederweb fights then joins the Heroes of Lallor

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5

Veilmist is among the Legionnaires who fight Superboy-Prime during the Final Crisis