Who's Who: Thrust

 

Thrust
by Siskoid

Real Name: Unknown

Super-Power(s): Power duplication, rad skater skillz
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Ally of Timber Wolf in 20th Century

Welcome to the Silver Age!

When people talk about "the Golden Age" of The Legion, some of us don't agree when that actually is. For some, it's the Renaissance due to Dave Cockrum in the early Seventies. For others, it's the Paul Levitz-Keith Giffen era in the mid-Eighties. And for some, it's the Keith Giffen "Five Years Later" series at the end of the Eighties.

That being said, EVERY Legion fan knows what we mean when we refer to "the Silver Age."

Memorial Day 2017

Memorial Day is a day in the US on which those who died in active military service are remembered. It began as a type of catharsis after the US Civil War, which ended in April 1865. Memorial Day became a national holiday in 1971. 

In the 30th and 31st Century, the Legion has had several members fall while on active service. Today, we honor them. 

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #302

Legion of Super-Heroes #302 came out in May of 1983 and was another smashing chapter in the incredible run by Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen, and Larry Mahlstadt. As I said when I started this lastest run of Legion reviews, Levitz and Giffen are firing on all pistons during this run and this issue is a perfect example.

The main story is a battle between Lightning Lad and Lightning Lord. But there is more than just a 'we hate each other, let's fight' plot line here. This is a story that is built on Legion history and more current events. And it also is one of those stories that carries forward from this issue as the Ranzz story here is continued and even more emphasized in the early issues of the Baxter series.

But as usual, there are multiple subplots bubbling through as well. Timber Wolf is still pining for Ayla.  Supergirl, Brainiac 5 and an away team have been lured to Weber's World where another villain is waiting. Element Lad is heading to Imsk to investigate a mystery eating away at the Legion from the inside. And, oh by the way, the main team is still trying to reshape the planet Daxam from a bust of Darkseid back into a planet.

Despite all those arcs, Levitz and Giffen effortlessly showcase them all without the book seeming unwieldy and without giving any one arc short shrift. It is amazing and it showed how a team could embrace all of the Legion universe and not be intimidated or lessened by it.

Add to that Giffen and Mahlstadt's stylish and innovative art, and this book is almost a primer for the run as a whole. So let's dive in.

Reboot: Legionnaires Annual #3

Legionnaires Annual #3 (1996)
title: "The Long Road Home"

writer: Roger Stern

pencillers: Tony Castrillo, Chuck Wozkiewicz, Dan Jurgens
inkers: John Lowe, Don Hillsman, Dexter Vines, Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau, Albert DeGuzman
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Ruben Diaz
editor: KC Carlson

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

Mission Monitor Board:  
XS; (in flashback: Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl)

Guests: 
Atom I, Avatar, Behemoth, Doctor Fate, Doctor Mid-Nite, Donna Troy (as Darkstar), Flash I, Flash II, Flash (John Fox), Green Lantern I, Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), Hourman I, Liri Lee, Metalicca, Rip Hunter, Starman I, Superman, Ultra-Man, Waverider, Wildcat; (in flashback: Flash III, Impulse, Iris West, Jesse Quick, Max Mercury); citizens of the future

Opponents: 
Lord Nevlor (behind the scenes); Nevlor's versions of Avatar, Behemoth, Metalicca and Ultra-Man; Protectors, Time Trapper

Who's Who: New Earth

 

New Earth
by Siskoid

Place: New Earth

Relationship to Legion: New home of the SW6 Legion

TOS: Superman Annual #4 (1961)

Take a look at this two-page profile of the Legion from Superman Annual #4 (1961). 

This illustration by Curt Swan and George Klein appeared before the Legion received their series in Adventure Comics #300, which was cover-dated September 1962. 

I can't help but wonder if features like this helped build up interest in the group.  

Please notice that the text says that the Legion exists in the 21st Century! Also, note that Star Boy is not featured, even though he made his debut in Adventure Comics #282 in March 1961. Ultra Boy is also absent, as he made his debut in Superboy #98 cover-dated July 1962.

Jimmy Olsen, Elastic Lad

Jimmy Olsen. Office boy. Cub reporter. Photographer. Superman's Pal. Man of Action. Honorary member of the Legion of Superheroes. Created at a time when youthful companions were common in superhero comics, Jimmy has never been just a sidekick. Rather than merely accompanying Superman on adventures, Jimmy has been both coworker and friend to Clark Kent. He is a member of that supporting cast at the Daily Planet that has followed Superman into cartoons, television shows, and films. In many ways, he may seem an anachronism to modern comic readers, even silly. But while he remains an important part of the Superman world, it is hard for modern readers to understand how important a character he used to be in his own right.

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #301

Hello everyone! It's Anj and as usual, I am occupying the Friday post on the blog. Today is a special day because I will be beginning my set of reviews of the post-300 Legion issues by the superstar team of Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen. For many, this run is the high water mark for these characters and I am in that camp. The team came out swinging with the Great Darkness Saga and that stands out as the best story in their run. But for me, it is this next year of issues that really shows how in control of these characters Levitz and Giffen were. This was a time when multiple plotlines were simmering in the background. Characters were changing and growing. And everything just seemed to be firing on all cylinders. Everyone mentions Great Darkness Saga, but I mention issues 304 and 305 as my overall faves as they showed just how deep the plots ran and just how vast the Legion mythos was.

Obviously, we will start with Legion of Super-Heroes #301, a story that focuses mainly on Chameleon Boy, his quest to regain his powers, and his somewhat turbulent relationship with his father RJ Brande. But the creators, as usual, give us a couple of pages to build up other plotlines and check in on other characters. No one is left untouched for too long.Everything feels smooth and planned out.

And, while Giffen has changed his art style many times over the years, this is the style I like the most, a very smooth, very organic feel with innovative panel layouts. While I loved the 5YL 9 panel grid for what it was, these pages really sing and allow Giffen to stretch his legs.

Okay, enough introduction to the run ... on to the issue itself.

Reboot: Showcase '96 #8

Showcase '96 #8 (September 1996)
title: "Assassination Agenda"

writer: Tom McCraw

penciller: Humberto Flores
inker: John Lowe
lettering: Chris Eliopoulos
colorist: Tom McCraw

editor: Mike McAvennie

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Gates, Leviathan, XS

Guests: 
D'Ned, High Chancellor Pen'Ta, Officer D'Rnn, Vice Chancellor T'Jark

Opponents: 
Holdur, N'Cia, Quicksand

Who's Who: Roxxas

 

 

Roxxas
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Kivun Roxxas

Super-Power(s): Frenzied state makes him impervious to pain

Planet of Origin: Murgador

Relationship to Legion: Villain

JSA Classified #2

JSA Classified #2 (October 2005)
title: "Power Trip! Part 2"

writer: Geoff Johns

penciller: Amanda Conner
inker: Jimmy Palmiotti

letterer: Rob Leigh
colorist: Paul Mounts

asst editor: Harvey Richards
editor: Stephen Wacker
cover: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti & Paul Mounts (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Power Girl/Andromeda, Superman, Supergirl, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy; appearances by Phantom Girl, Sun Boy, Karate Kid, Micro Lad, Dream Girl, Shadow Lass, Ultra Boy, Star boy, Chameleon, Brainiac 5

Guests: 
Jimmy Olsen, Mr. Terrific, The Flash, Dr. Mid-Nite, Mr. Bones

Opponents: 
time-warping and/or dimensional hopping, the Psycho Pirate

Legion of Super Heroes S02 E02: The Man from the Edge of Tomorrow, Part 2

"The Man from the Edge of Tomorrow, Part 2" was written by Michael Jelenic and directed by Brandon Vietti, original airdate: September 29, 2007, review by Glenn 'Continuity Kid' Walker.

Mission Monitor Board: Lightning Lad, Brainiac 5, Triplicate Girl (now Duo Damsel), Chameleon Boy, Timber Wolf, Phantom Girl, Bouncing Boy, and Superman.

Opponents: Imperiex, the Fatal Five (Tharok, the Persuader, Validus, Mano, and the Emerald Empress), the Legion of Super Villains (formerly the Light Speed Vanguard: Esper, Tyr, Hunter, Ron-Karr, Wave), Alexis Luthor, the Dominators.

Guest-stars and cameos: Superman X, Colossal Boy, Saturn Girl, Matter-Eater Lad, Cosmic Boy, Sun Boy, Blok, Star Boy, Element Lad, Dream Girl, Shrinking Violet (wearing green rather than purple), and Tyroc.

In the first episode of this second season of the "Legion of Super Heroes" animated series, we met Superman X, a clone of our Superman from the 41st Century. He came back in time to seek the Legion's help in fighting a menace from his time, Imperiex, unfortunately and ultimately this only led to the villain going back in time to the Legion's present to raise hell. When we last saw our heroes, they had returned to the 31st Century only to find their headquarters and New Metropolis a burning smoking ruin in Imperiex's wake.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #300

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #300 (June 1983)
title: "The Future Is Forever"

writer/co-plotter: Paul Levitz

penciller/co-plotter: Keith Giffen (framing sequence)
inker: Larry Mahlstedt (framing sequence) 

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger
cover: see Tuesday's post for the list of cover artists

Mission Monitor Board:  
"All 24 active Legionnaires, plus a host of former Legionnaires, Honorary Legionnaires, Substitute Legionnaires, Guest Stars, and More!"

Editor's Note: 
Presenting the review of the fabulous 300th issue of Legion of Super-Heroes, with a special celebration-length 55 page story review featuring most members of the Legion of Super-Bloggers! 
Take it away, guys!

Reboot: Legionnaires #42

Legionnaires #42 (November 1996)
title: "When Strikes the Sorceress!"

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

pencillers: Jeffrey Moy and Philip Moy
inker: W.C. Carani
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

associate editor: Ruben Diaz
editor: KC Carlson

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

Mission Monitor Board:  
Chameleon, Cosmic Boy (flashback), Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Kinetix, Live Wire, M'Onel, Shrinking Violet (flashback), Spark (flashback), Star Boy, Triad, XS

Guests: 
Azra Saugin, R.J. Brande, Thanot Saugin

Opponents: 
Mysa, Tangleweb (flashback)

Who's Who: Prince Evillo

 

Prince Evillo
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Evillo

Super-Power(s): Magical bio-blasts, hypnotism
Planet of Origin: Tartarus

Relationship to Legion: Villain

LSH (v2) #300 Cover Who Drew It?!

This week we here at the Legion of Super-Bloggers are reviewing the 300th issue of The Legion of Super-Heroes!
As part of that celebration we are presenting today just the cover art for that issue....and reminding you of the "Name The Artist" contest that was mentioned in this issue!

Editor Karen Berger listed 34 artists and told us that each of the 28 characters above was drawn by a DIFFERENT artist/artistic team.

So who drew which character?
Take a good look and make some guesses.
The answers after the jump!

The FW Podcast: Who's Who in the Legion (2)

The Fire and Water Podcast Presents…
Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes episode 2

The cross-over you thought would never continue----continues!

The Irredeemable Shag teams-up with the Legion of Super-Bloggers to cover the galactic seven-issue mini-series! A three-episode podcast has its second episode on-line starting TODAY at the Fire & Water Podcast Network!

Our second podcast episode features reviews of the third and fourth issues of Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes, the seven issue mini-series from 1988. For Episode 2 of the podcast Shag welcomes LSB Constitutional Scholar Siskoid 5 and Silver Age Lover Tim to talk about issue 3, featuring the Infinite Man, Lady Memory, Laurel Kent, and the Legion of Substitute Heroes, along with a few actual Legionnaires! For the second half of the episode Shag and Tim were joined by Dr. Anj in their talk about issue 4, which features the Legion of Super-Villains, the Ranzz Family, Mon-El, and many many more!

You can find the episode on http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/ww-legion2/

Hop in your Legion Cruiser and go there RIGHT NOW and listen. Then leave Listener Feedback on their page as well as here on our page.

What's next for 'Fridays With Anj'?

Hey everyone, it's Anj.

I recently celebrated my nine year anniversary of blogging over on Supergirl Comic Box Commentary.

And it is hard for me to believe but we are coming up on my three year anniversary of blogging here on the Legion of Super-Bloggers. I remember the day that the Irredeemable Shag called me and asked if I wanted to join. And I jumped at the chance.

And over the course of those three years, I have covered some diverse takes on the team.

So what is next on the docket? Well ... let's look at what has come before first....

Reboot: Legionnaires #41

Legionnaires #41 (October 1996)
title: "Aftermath"

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

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

associate editor: Ruben Diaz
editor: KC Carlson

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

Mission Monitor Board:  
Chameleon, Cosmic Boy (flashback), Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Kinetix, Leviathan (corpse), Live Wire, M'Onel, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Triad, XS

Guests: 
Azra Saugin, Doctor Gym'll, Gigi Cusimano, Jeven Ognats, Marte Allon, R.J. Brande, Rond Vidar, Thanot Saugin, Wimena Wazzo, Wynn Allon, Athramites, Science Police, President's security staff, U.P. medics

Opponents: 
Emerald Eye of Ekron, Mysa

Who's Who: Glorith I

 

Glorith I
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Glorith

Super-Power(s): Magic, time control
Planet of Origin: Baaldur

Relationship to Legion: Villain

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #299

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #299 (May 1983)
title: "Not A Ghost Of A Chance"

writer/co-plotter: Paul Levitz

penciller/co-plotter: Keith Giffen
inker: Larry Mahlstedt

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger
cover: Keith Giffen & Larry Mahlstedt

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Invisible Kid, Wildfire, Blok, White Witch, Dawnstar, Element Lad, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Timber Wolf, Dream Girl, Star Boy, Cosmic Boy, Sun Boy, Mon-El, Shadow Lass

Guests: 
SP Officer Erin, the Heroes of Lallor, Dev-Em, Invisible Kid I, Queen Projectra, Queeg

Opponents: 
Karlak, the Khundian Army

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #1

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31^st Century #1 (June 2007)

title: Yesterday’s Hero
writer: J. Torres
art: Chyna Clugston
colorist: Guy Major
letterer: Rob Clark Jr.
editor: Jeanine Schaefer
cover art: Steve Uy
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf (cover only), Triplicate Girl, and Superman

Recap 
This is the comic-book series based on the animated series. This story takes place shortly after the first episode of the animated series. The Legion brought a young Clark Kent to the 31st Century to help defeat the Fatal Five. Initially full of self-doubt, he eventually donned the Superman costume for the first time and led the Legion to victory. Since he could return to the moment he left Smallville at any time, he decided to stay in the future to learn to be a hero.