Here are the four pages of Legion Profiles that were featured in Superman Annual #4 (1961) and then re-printed and expanded for Adventure Comics #316 (January 1964).
What I find interesting about these profiles is the little differences that went away afterwards. Saturn Girl with short-short hair? Maybe in one story. Shrinking Violet with black leggings instead of boots? Cool look that I don't think she *ever* actually wore. A reference to Chameleon Boy's parents? Star Boy standing in the middle of a fire?! Ultra Boy's powers being ONLY penetra-vision (a fact that is made out-dated in the very story this featurette appeared in, Adventure Comics #316!) And the lack of names for Beppo and Comet, both of whom were still nameless at this time in Silver Age history.
And of course, there is no effort at all to try to list the Legionnaires in any particular order....except adding Element Lad and Proty 2 to the end, because they were the newest additions. At this point the founding of the Legion had still not been revealed, so there was no knowledge that Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad were "the founders."
I always loved these images of Colossal Boy, Sun Boy, Bouncing Boy, and Star Boy. They seemed the most dynamic and cool!
ReplyDeleteStar Boy is standing on the surface of a STAR. At least that is how I always saw that picture.
ReplyDeleteAhhh....could be! Thanks for pointing that out!!
DeleteI always thought that Shrinking Violet's legs were in shadow (as, indeed, all of her SHOULD be given she's under a piece of furniture) thus the dark rendering of her lower limbs and part of her skirt.
ReplyDeleteOh, I guess you're right. It does still look cooler than her actual uniform imo.
DeletePhantom Girl coming up through the table was reenacted as a later cover. And as for Chameleon boy, on my "clubhouse diorama" he is represented by a rubbish can.
ReplyDeleteThe genius of Curt Swan on display here. Love it!
ReplyDeleteChris