Who's Who: Night Girl

Night Girl
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Lydda Jath

Super-Power(s): Super-strength, but only at night or in the near absence of light
Planet of Origin: Kathoon

Relationship to Legion: member of Legion of Substitute Heroes; later Legion reservist and Legionnaire

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #268

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #268 (Oct, 1980)
title: "Life After Life After Life!"

writer: J.M. DeMatteis

penciller: Steve Ditko
inker: Bob Wiacek

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: George Perez & Terry Austin

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Chameleon Boy, Dream Girl, Karate Kid; appearances by Cosmic Boy, Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad

Guests: 
R.J. Brande

Opponents: 
Dr. Mayavale

Legion of Super Heroes S01 E12: Sundown, Part 1

"Sundown, Part 1" was written by David Slack and directed by Tim Maltby, original airdate: April 28, 2007, review by Glenn 'Continuity Kid' Walker.

Mission Monitor Board: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Ferro Lad, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, and young Superman.

Opponents: The Sun-Eater, the Controllers' robots, simulations of the Fatal Five.

This episode, and its second part, emulates one of the most legendary events in Legion history, the story of the Sun-Eater and Ferro Lad's sacrifice to save us all. In a time when superheroes didn't die every other day, and return from the dead with equal frequency, this was a big deal. Just another of Jim Shooter's landmark stories in Legion mythology, this time coming to animation, as the Legion of Super Heroes faces "Sundown, Part 1."

Threeboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #37

When is a reboot not a reboot?

When does something go from a simple 'continuation' and become a 'bold new direction'?

Legion of Super-Heroes #37 was the first issue for the new creative team of Legion and Comic legend writer Jim Shooter and (then) new talent artist Francis Manapul. The Mark Waid/Barry Kitson were in the rear view mirror. The Tony Bedard/Dennis Calero issues seemed like a pause. But their last issue definitely felt like a coda of sorts, ending with a splash of the team. The theme of those runs, of youthful political progression pushing on the establishment, was gone. Readers seemed to be clamoring for something more 'classic'. And what could be more classic than Shooter.

But this run feels hardly classic. Not that I want retreads or retellings. I don't mind good innovation. Remember, I actually praised the Waid/Kitson run. Instead, Shooter seems to be trying to infuse some of the 'extreme' nature of the  perhaps a more mature comic market to try to bring a gritty feel to the team. And Shooter also decides to bring in new characters very early on. You would think that a 'set up' arc to re-establish the team, would make more sense.

As for the art, I am a Manapul fan. This is relatively early in his work and lacks the sort of breathy, pencil-y feel of his current style. It has a nice, sort of Image feel it which seems at home with the story Shooter is telling.

If you can't tell, I am not a big fan of this run and this might be more difficult for me to cover than the end of the 5YL issues I did way back when. So bear with me.

Thanks to Russell for adding this poster, the complete image of the cover above. It is a nice showcase of his work on the book and the new costumes for some of the characters. Chameleon Boy's has a sort of classic Silver Age vibe to it.

And as a lover of Ayla, I like Light Lass's new look.

On to the book.

Happy Thanksgiving 2016

by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
This is our third year here at the Legion of Super-Bloggers. We started in September 2014, and now here we are still going strong in November 2016. As we continue to barrel forward into the future, it's important to have a clear understanding of the past. So here is our 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Day LSB post!

For those of you who may not be from the United States, Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday of November. It is set aside to get together with family and friends to take stock of all of our blessings over the past year. It was originally created by our first immigrants, the Pilgrims, after they survived a horrific first year in their New World.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. As an adult living abroad (I lived in Japan for 14 years) I always tried to take vacation time at the Thanksgiving weekend and have "family time." Now that I am back in the United States, it is the one time of year that I take time off and visit my family. In 2014 I was so thankful to be working on this page with like-minded people that I hit upon the idea of making up a Legion of Super-Heroes version of Norman Rockwell's famous "Freedom From Want" painting. I created the illustration at the top of the page, and call it "Giving Thanks Day 2986."

"Freedom From Want" by Norman Rockwell

I think most people will agree that this year has been a pretty difficult one. For the page we were happy to welcome Shotgun as our newest member. She works with Siskoid on our our Reboot Series' reviews, and we're glad to have her. On the world scale, we lost so many points of light this year, I don't even know where to start. Personally, I can't believe that Prince is gone. He was always one of my favorites.

The world seems to turning into a darker place. The US Presidential election was a low-point of ignorance and awfulness. Wars continue to ravage the world. Hate is invited in to too many homes and hearts.

Which means that we here at the Legion of Super-Bloggers must continue to embrace the bright, positive future promised by super-heroes in general and by the Legion of Super-Heroes in particular. Is 2017 the year we get a NEW Legion of Super-Heroes series? We can only hope....Even without that beacon of light, however, we here at LSB promise to continue to work diligently to post something new every single weekday. We haven't missed a (week) day since our debut in September 2014, and we don't intend to miss a day any time soon.

Thank you, LSB reader, for making all of our efforts worth it.

Have a safe and happy (Thanksgiving) weekend...

and Long Live the Legion!

Reboot: Legionnaires #30

Legionnaires #30 (October 1995)
title: "Struck by Lightning!"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

penciller: Jeffrey Moy
inker: W.C. Carani
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson

cover: Jeffrey Moy and W.C. Carani
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Leviathan, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Spark, Triad, XS

Guests: 
Valor, Lightning Beasts, Science Police

Opponents: 
Lightning Lord

Who's Who: Nemesis Kid

Nemesis Kid

by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Hart Druiter

Super-Power(s): Able to temporarily adapt any specific power needed to defeat any one opponent.  
Planet of Origin: Myar

Relationship to Legion: Originally a Legionnaire; later an Arch-Enemy

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #267

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #267 (Sept 1980)
title: "To Bottle A Genie!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Dave Hunt

letterer: Milton Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Colossal Boy, Element Lad

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy

Opponents: 
Klaatu, bad writing

Titans/LSH "Universe Ablaze!" #3

Titans/Legion of Super-Heroes: Universe Ablaze! #3 
(2000)
title: no specific title

writer/layouts: Dan Jurgens

finished art: Phil Jimenez

letterer: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw
separator: Heroic Age

logo design: SJI Associates
editor: Mike McAvennie
special thanks to Chris Ivy & Lary Stucker
cover: Dan Jurgens & Phil Jimenez, color separation by Richard & Tina Horie

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Happy Birthday, Steve Lightle!

Happy Birthday, Steve Lightle! 

Tomorrow is the birthday of former Legion-artist and extraordinary creator Steve Lightle, who has graced us with his presence since November 19, 1959.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #73

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #73 (October 1995)
title: "End of the Road"

writers: Tom McCraw, Tom Peyer

penciller: Lee Moder
inker: Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson

cover: Alan Davis & Mark Farmer
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5 (behind the scenes), Cosmic Boy, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Spark, Triad

Guests: 
Dirk Morgna (discussed, not seen), Shvaughn Erin, Valor, Lightning Beasts, Science Police

Opponents: 
Lightning Lord, Luto and other ruffians at Koochie's

Who's Who: Mordru

Mordru
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Mordru

Super-Power(s): Master of black magic, Mordru is able to bend virtually any force in the universe to his will.  
Planet of Origin: Zerox

Relationship to Legion: Arch Enemy

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #266

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #266 (Aug, 1980)
title: "Kantuu!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Colossal Boy, Element Lad

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy

Opponents: 
Kantuu

Scream TYROC!!

In Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #265 Tyroc quits the Legion and is no longer part of the Silver/Bronze Age Legion continuity. This is an ignoble end to a character who started off badly, was treated badly by the men who should have looked after him, and who left the stage with a whimper rather than with a roar. This is especially ironic for poor Tyroc, as his power was his super-voice! 

Here then for your consideration is our LSB Memorial To Tyroc! Sound Off!! 

Remembering Dave Cockrum

Happy Birthday, Dave Cockrum! 

Today would have been the 73rd birthday of extraordinary Legion artist Dave Cockrum, who was born on this date in  1943.

Does anyone who reads comics not know who Dave Cockrum is? I'm afraid that since he died in 2006, knowledge of his work is fading. So to help remind people of who Dave Cockrum is and how important he was to comics, here are but a FEW of the countless Dave Cockrum accomplishments!

Reboot: Legionnaires #29

Legionnaires #29 (September 1995)
title: "Rising Sun"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

penciller: Jeffrey Moy
inker: W.C. Carani
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson

cover: Jeffrey Moy and W.C. Carani
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid, Leviathan, Saturn Girl, Spark, Triad, XS

Guests: 
Alchemist, Derek Morgna, Dirk Morgna, Live Wire, President Chu,  Ultra Boy, Valor, Science Police

Opponents: 
Dr. Regulus

Who's Who: Mano

Mano
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Mano

Super-Power(s): A mutant, born with a glowing right hand. He eventually manifested a destructive disc on his palm that is able to completely destroy any object. 
Planet of Origin: Angtu

Relationship to Legion: Villain; member of the original Fatal Five

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #265

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #265 (July, 1980)
title: "The Brigadoon Syndrome!"

plot: Gerry Conway
script: J.M. DeMatteis

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Dave Hunt

letterer: Milt Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano 

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Tyroc, Shadow Lass, Dawnstar; cameos of Lighting Lad, Saturn Girl, and Wildfire

Opponents: 
prejudice, slavery, extra-dimensional universes, bad editorial decisions

The Composite Superman is Back! WFC #283

World's Finest Comics #283
September 1982
"Prologue"
Written by Cary Burkett
Pencilled by George Tuska
Inked by Frank McLaughlin
Lettered by John Costanza
Colored by Gene D'Angelo
Len Wein Editor
Cover by Rich Buckler & Frank Giacoia


The seemingly dead Composite Superman (as chronicled in World's Finest Comics #168 covered HERE) who hates the World's Finest Team so much that he cosplays as an amalgam of them, has returned to menace Superman & Batman in the pages of 1982's World's Finest Comics #283 in the first part of a two part epic, appropriately titled "Prologue."

Epilogue: The Waid/Kitson Threeboot

My review for Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #36 is in the book and it seemed like the right time to look back at this title and get a sense of everyone's thoughts, mine included. I know there is another year of issues in this title but, to be honest, the Shooter book jumps the rails a bit. I wanted to look back at this era as its own experience.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #72

Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #72 (September 1995)
title: "Absent Friends"

writers: Tom McCraw, Tom Peyer

penciller: Lee Moder
inker: Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson

cover: Alan Davis & Mark Farmer
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid, Leviathan, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Spark, Triad, XS

Guests: 
Alchemist, Ambassador Wazzo, Brad Majors, Evolvo, Gigi Cusimano, Inferno, Karate Kid, President Chu, R.J. Brande, Shvaughn Erin, Spider-Girl, Ultra Boy, Science Police, U.P. ambassadors and delegates, Morgna Industries employees

Opponents: 
Dr. Regulus, Leland McCauley, White Triangle

Who's Who: Lightning Lord

Lightning Lord
by Russell & Siskoid


Real Name: Mekt Ranzz
Super-Power: Ability to project bolts of electric energy similar to lightning.

Planet of Origin: Winath
Relationship to Legion: Arch-enemy to, but also elder brother of, Legionnaires Lightning Lad and Light(ning) Lass. 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #264

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #264 (June, 1980)
title: "Dagon's Cavern of Doom!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Dave Hunt

letterer: Milt Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

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

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Wildfire, Dawnstar, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Tyroc

Opponents: 
Dagon