by Russell & Siskoid
Super-Power(s): Khunds are humanoids with no known biological abilities (such as Braalian's control over magnetism).
Planet of Origin: Khundia
Relationship to Legion: Thorns in the side of the United Planets and therefore the Legion
Legion Log
Note: The Khunds have been players on the interstellar stage since before they were part of an alien alliance to invade Earth in the late 20th Century. The present article will focus only on their dealings with the Legion, principally in the 30th and 31st Centuries.
The Khunds are the race of people who hail from the planet Khundia, a small planet at the edge of the United Planets' galaxy. In the 30th Century, the UP learned of Khundia due to its war-like control over their separate galaxy. Concerned that the Khunds could pose a threat to UP space, they asked the Legion to investigate Khundia. However, just as the Legion was ready to begin that investigation, Khundia launched an attack against Earth. Warlord Garlak knew that his planet's spaceships and weapons were vastly superior to Earth's forces, but he was afraid that the Legion could stop him. He therefore hired a spy to infiltrate the Legion and work against them from the inside. Unfortunately for the Khunds, the Legion was able to beat back the espionage as well as the Khundish fleet.
After that attempt at conquest, the Khunds were a consistent threat to the United Planets, especially on their shared border. When the Dark Circle tried to take over the UP, causing the incident called "Earthwar," the Khunds again attempted to take over Earth. This time they got through Earth's defenses, but were eventually dispelled by the combined forces of the military, the Science Police, and the Legion.
The Khunds then seemed content to "rattle their sabres," especially on their border, always threatening war with the UP but then being kept at bay by the threat of the Legion. When there was another rumor of war, it turned out to be individual Khund warriors dispatched to Earth in order to assassinate the candidates for Earth President. In later years, most Khundish activities were by individuals (such as giving support to the Emerald Empress), not officially sanctioned acts of the military government.
The Khunds have no specific super-powers, but are highly educated in military strategies and all forms of combat. Often their highest level warriors submit to cybernetic surgery, becoming bionic or cybo-technic in order to increase their chances of victory in personal combat. There appears to be at least three hues on Khundia: pale pink, pale yellow, and similar to Earth's "Caucasian."
The Legion has visited Khundia on at least three occasions: During Earthwar, when they discovered that Garlak was a mental slave of someone else; during an espionage "fact-finding" mission led by Chameleon Boy; and during an "attack" by the Prophet and Omen, when they were strongly ordered off-planet by the Khundish authorities (they stayed).
After the so-called Five-Year Gap... It was revealed that Laurel Gand's heroism was forged in an attempted invasion of Daxam by the Khunds, which she prevented as a young girl using her orbital city's defenses. The reformed Legion tangled with the Khunds early on, when they waged war on the United Planets. When Mordru and Glorith put the galaxy in peril, the Khunds sent the Legion four Khundish members (whose histories are available in their own Who's Who article).
After the Reboot, the Khunds are members of the Dark Circle and their expansionism is one of the first threats handled by Valor AKA M'Onel after his resurgence in the 30th Century. They do eventually manage to sway some UP planets to their "Associated Planets" in a surprising diplomatic move, including Starboy's own Xanthu, even acting as allies against Robotica when she attempted to invade Earth.
After the Threeboot, the Khunds do not play an important role in Legion stories, though Karate Kid and Shadow Lass once had a date that consisted in fighting a Khundish platoon.
After Infinite Crisis, the Khunds' original history has presumably more or less been re-established, though they have yet to make any substantive appearance.
In a parallel universe combining Legion continuity and Star Trek's Mirror Universe, the Khunds waged a war with the Klingons.
The Legion of Super-Heroes animated series, the Khunds were mentioned but not seen, though the tie-in comic did feature members of the species on a couple of occasions.
Defining Villainous Moment:
Adventure Comics (v1) #347
Important Khund Stories:
Adventure Comics #346-347
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5
and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 2 )
Garlak, Warlord of the Khunds. leads the invasion of Earth!
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5
and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 2 )
Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #217
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 12)
Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #236
Gharlak attempts to sneak into UP space
Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #237
Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #242
so the Legion invades Khundia!
Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #243
The remaining Legionnaires battle to protect Earth from Khundish forces
Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #244
The Khunds attempt to take over Earth,
but didn't reckon on four retired Legionnaires standing in their way!
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #285
(reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition)
Galmark attempts to destroy Nullport
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #287
(reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition)
The Legion returns to Khundia, andwe get our best view of the planet yet;
also introduces us to Kharlak
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #298
(reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition)
Kharlak is hungry for vengeance against the Legion...
(although his name is mis-spelled)
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #299
(reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition)
...unfortunately, The White Witch destroys his plan
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #300
(reprinted in 1,050 Years of the Future TPB
and The Curse TPB )
New Khundish technology attacks the Science Asteroid
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #307
(reprinted in The Curse TPB)
Gurkak attempts to defeat Blok while the Legion is working
as security guards for Ambassador Relnic
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #308
(reprinted in The Curse TPB)
The Prophet shows up on Khundia as a warning of the coming of Omen
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #309
(reprinted in The Curse TPB)
The Legion visit Khundia again to battle The Prophet,
as Ambassador Relnic argues with Ambassador Ghadrak
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #310
(reprinted in The Curse TPB)
The Khurds order the Legion off of Khundia
Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #10
(reprinted in The More Things Change TPB)
The Khunds disrupt the election of Earth's President
by sending assassins to kill each of the candidates
Ghorbak faces off against Sun Boy....
Wharlik is defeated by Wildfire...
....and a nameless warrior ends up being killed by Invisible Kid!
Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #51
Garak of the Glow plots to get captured by the Legion
Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #53
Jiwark attempts to kill Mon-El and Shadow Lass
Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #54
Garak of the Glow succeeds in freeing the Emerald Empress
from Labyrinth, the prison planet
Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #244
but didn't reckon on four retired Legionnaires standing in their way!
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #285
(reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition)
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #287
(reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition)
The Legion returns to Khundia, andwe get our best view of the planet yet;
also introduces us to Kharlak
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #298
(reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition)
(although his name is mis-spelled)
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #299
(reprinted in The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition)
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #300
(reprinted in 1,050 Years of the Future TPB
and The Curse TPB )
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #307
(reprinted in The Curse TPB)
as security guards for Ambassador Relnic
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #308
(reprinted in The Curse TPB)
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #309
(reprinted in The Curse TPB)
as Ambassador Relnic argues with Ambassador Ghadrak
Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #310
(reprinted in The Curse TPB)
Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #10
(reprinted in The More Things Change TPB)
by sending assassins to kill each of the candidates
Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #24
Kamrag is denied membership in the new Fatal Five
Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #51
Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #53
Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #54
from Labyrinth, the prison planet
Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #9
In the 5YL timeline, Laurel Gand defeats a Khund invasion force as a young girl
Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #15-17
The reformed Legion deals with a UP-Khundia war
Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #44-48
To deal with the Mordru/Glorith threat, four Khunds become Legionnaires
Legionnaires #9-11
The SW6 Legion stumble upon Khunds transporting the lost Kid Quantum
Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #57-58
The Khund Legionnaires return, and not all of them are on the side of right
Valor #19
As the timeline starts to collapse, a super Khund may kill Valor before his legend can begin
Legionnaires #56
After the Reboot, a Khundish threat is the first of the returned M'Onel's problems
Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #103
The Khunds start offering protection to the Associated Planets
Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #104
Amilia Crugg, the Khunds' chief armorer strikes a deal with Leland McCauley regarding a space anomaly
Legionnaires #69
Crugg is branded a traitor
Legion Worlds #4
True to their word, the Khunds help defend Xanthu from an invasion
The Legion #13
The Khunds help defend Earth against their common enemy, Robotica
Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #22
After the Threeboot, the Khunds are background to a date between Karate Kid and Shadow Lass
Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes #2
In the combined Legion/Trek Mirror Universe, the Khunds are at war with the Klingons
Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #3
In the animated universe, the Khunds make a rare appearance
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