Who's Who: The Blight

The Blight
by Siskoid

Super-Power(s): Corruption
Planet of Origin: Unknown

Relationship to Legion: Enemies

Introducing....Soultaker!

It's the end of a decade, and the 2010s have... not been very kind to the Legion of Super-Heroes or its fans.

Actually, the 2010s haven't been good for anyone.

Following the end of The New 52 Legion in 2013, the Legion was in an extended period of getting pulled in and out of Comic Book Limbo several times. Delegated to guest appearances in other comics (Justice League United and Smallville), getting turned into an evil knock off of itself (Justice League 3001), and having its return teased throughout DC Rebirth (Batman and Supergirl), the Legion finally gained a new ongoing title this year by Brian Michael Bendis and Ryan Sook.

From 2010 to 2019 there have been a handful of new Legionnaires joining the already plentiful ranks, including Chemical Kid, Dragonwing, Glorith II, Harmonia Li, Comet Queen, Monster Boy, Gold Lantern, and Superboy Jon Kent (whether he counts as Superboy III, IV, or V I haven't determined).

However, just before this decade comes to a close, Geoff Johns sneaked in one more new Legionnaire in the final issue of Doomsday Clock. While many are still working out the notion of Doomsday Clock finally ending after two years of delays, it was especially easy to miss the newbie. Oh, and she only appears shoulder up in ONE panel, so of course some (most?) missed her.

So, just before 2020 enters, let's take the time to look at SOULTAKER.

Who's Who: Elements of Disaster

Elements of Disaster
by Siskoid

Members: Phy'r, Rrok (or Rrox), A'rie, and Ebb
Real Names: Dirk Morgna, Brika, Flutter, and none

Super-Power(s): Control over each of their elements
Planets of Origin: Earth, Dyrad, Swizzar, and unknown

Relationship to Legion: Enemies

Reboot: The Legion #11

The Legion #11 (October 2002)
title: "System Burn"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Olivier Coipel
inker: Andy Lanning
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jason Wright
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Gear, Invisible Kid, Kid Quantum II, Live Wire II, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Star Boy, Triad, Ultra Boy, Violet, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Coluan group mind (behind the scenes), Cub Nah, JLA (Atom, Batman, Flash III, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, Martian Manhunter, Superman, Wonder Woman), Kinetix, Sharn Nux, Shvaughn Erin, Terrorforms, Timber Wolf

Opponents: 
Computo/Mr. Venge, Robotica, Robotican Terroforms, Tharok (behind the scenes)

Sarcasm Kid's 2019 LSB Christmas Gift

Hey guys. Apologies again for the lack of content from yours truly recently. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back to reviewing and recapping some of the different Legion parodies and homages next year once I'm able to manage my schedule.

Until then, here's a little something I commissioned from Legion fan Peskyshortcake over on tumblr

Pesky's a fan of the Legion cartoon and the "Supergirl" TV show. I've known her for a couple of years and have commissioned her multiple times. Since she's a big fan of Brainiac 5, I thought this'd be a neat idea for a commission and figured you guys might get a laugh out of it.

Keen viewers may notice a certain someone in the background.

By the way, figure out what the binary code on Brainy's shirt translates to...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas from Karate Kid The Series

1978 DC Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters 
story/words uncredited
art by Jim Sherman and Jack Abel
on-sale date: September 1977
"in-story" chronology: December 1977 or 1978?
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

We interrupt the current review of the Karate Kid series to bring you this special Christmas adventure! The Legion of Super-Heroes went back in time to visit Karate Kid in NYC, and while they were there they battled Superman's foe, Toyman!

LSH (v8) #2

Legion of Super-Heroes #2 (February 2020)
title: (Untitled)
writer: Brian Michael Bendis
penciller: Ryan Sook
inker: Ryan Sook and Wade Von Grawbadger
colorist: Jordie Bellaire
letterer: Dave Sharpe
associate editor: Brittany Holzherr
editor: Brian Cunningham
covers: Ryan Sook (main); Jim Cheung & Tomeu Morey (variant)

reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board: 
It's hard to list who had a role in this story, because it was another example of "let's have everyone in the scenes but only identify the main ten or so characters."
Here are the characters who were identified or had speaking parts, in (kind of) order of their appearance: Cosmic Boy, Timber Wolf, Brainiac 5, Ultra Boy, Superboy, Lighting Lad, Triplicate Girl, Wildfire, Blok, Mon-El, White Witch, and a female Legionnaire who had many lines but who was never introduced who I am assuming was Phantom Girl.Also recognizable were Element Lad, Colossal Boy, Dawnstar, Chameleon Boy, and Bouncing Boy

Supporting Characters:
Rose Forrest, MadamHonor President Brande, Robin the Boy Wonder

Opponents:
the Horraz, bad writers, worse editors

Who's Who: Pernisius

Pernisius
by Siskoid

Real Name: Lord Pernisius

Super-Power(s): Harnessing the energies of Eternium
Planet of Origin: Rimbor (birth world unknown)

Relationship to Legion: Villain

Reboot: The Legion #10

The Legion #10 (September 2002)
title: "Thresholds"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Kev Walker, Kalman Andrasofszky, Olivier Coipel
inker: Andy Lanning
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jason Wright
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition (hologram), Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Gear, Invisible Kid, Kid Quantum II, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark (becomes Live Wire II), Star Boy, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Admiral Jesker, Chuck Taine, Kinetix, Mekt Ranzz, R.J. Brande, Sharn Nux, Shvaughn Erin, Trudy Trusoe, Vigo Toosalembli, Wimena Wazzo; Deep-Corp, the Kwai, Science Police, Terrorforms

Opponents: 
Mr. Venge, Ra's al Ghul, Robotica (behind the scenes), Tharok

Who's Who: Zoraz

Zoraz
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Inapplicable

Super-Power(s): It's complicated
Planet of Origin: Inapplicable

Relationship to Legion: Sparring partner

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 Annual #1

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 Annual #1 (September 1990)
title: "Childhood's End"
writer: Alan Grant
penciller: Jim Fern
inker: Jeff Albrecht
letterer: John Workman
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Art Young
cover art: Jerry Bingham
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: In Adventures of Superman Annual #2, Vril Dox and Lar Gand travelled to Earth to find his father, the evil Brainiac. Due to faulty controls, they lost control of their ship and clipped an airliner on the way down. Superman saved the plane, but Dox's ship crashed into the ocean, and eventually, into an underground tunnel of Project Cadmus. Lyrissa, Lady Quark, Strata, Telepath, Lobo, and Phase were following in a separate ship, and were met upon their arrival by Superman. He overheard one of them mention the name Dox and became suspicious they were allied with Brainiac. He offered to help and went ahead into the tunnel where he found Lar Gand fighting the hero Guardian, who also mistook Vril Dox for his father. While they fought, the telepathic director of Cadmus, Dubblix, was possessed by Brainiac and forced to sabotage the project's reactor. Superman and the L.E.G.I.O.N. realized that they should not be fighting just in time for the alarms to sound. Superman and Lar Gand get the reactor out of Cadmus just in time. Before letting Dubbilex go, Brainiac told his son that he is on their home planet of Colu and challenged him to a confrontation. Superman tried to convince Dox that killing his father is wrong, even if that father is Brainic, but Dox did not listen and set out once again to find his father.

Karate Kid #15

Karate Kid #15 
"Bring Back My Future To Me!"
script by Bob Rozakis
co-plotted by Jack C. Harris
art by Juan Ortiz
lettered by Clem Robins
colored by Mario Sen
edited by Al Milgrom
cover by Rich Buckler (penciller) and Jack Abel (inker)
cover date: July/Aug 1978
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

I gotta say, this is one of the more dynamic Karate Kid covers out of the fifteen issue run. The colors are weirdly vibrant and the idea that Karate Kid is going to punch his way into the correct reality and/or time-line....that's an idea that is PRIME for reusing. I wonder if Geoff Johns saw this cover as a kid?
Of course, if you spend too much time looking at this cover you're sure to notice that Karate Kid's right arm is a tad out of proportion. So don't look there. Forget I said anything. Onto the story!

Who's Who: Zera Vultan

Zera Vultan
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Zera Vultan

Super-Power(s): None
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: One-time enemy

Reboot: The Legion #9

The Legion #9 (August 2002)
title: "Baby on Board"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Stephen DeStefano
inker: Stephen DeStefano
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Ultra Boy (dream)

Guests: 
Bard Brunel, Cub Nah, Timber Wolf, Vyrgans, Wimena Wazzo (dream); spaceliner passengers and crew (named: Arkwryte, Gertlbugly, Stevenson)

Opponents: 
Leland McCauley/Ra's al Ghul (behind the scenes), Robotica (behind the scenes); a drunk passenger

Recap: 
Unbeknownst to Ultra Boy, Apparition was pregnant when he disappeared into an anomaly and spent a year in a far galaxy. She went to Rimbor to have the child, and fell in with Timber Wolf and his gang. After the birth, having heard that the Lost Legion returned, she and Brin evaded her mother's mercenaries and left on a transport bound for Earth...

Who's Who: Zaryan the Conqueror

Zaryan the Conqueror
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Nalhrog Zaryan

Super-Power(s): Ruthlessness
Planet of Origin: Brok

Relationship to Legion: Enemy

L.E.G.I.O.N. Crossover! The Adventures of Superman Annual #2

The Adventures of Superman Annual #2 (August 1990)
title: "Quest For Vengeance"
writer: Dan Jurgens
pencillers: Bob McLeod, Curt Swan, and Kerry Gammill
inkers: Bob McLeod, John Byrne, Dick Giordano
letterer: Bill Oakley
colorist: Glenn Whitmore
editor: Mike Carlin
cover art: Kerry Gammill and John Byrne
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Dox led an attack force on the asteroid base of the pirate Dragon-Ra but did not realize he was headed into a trap. He had sent Lobo to infiltrate the base and expected that by the time they arrived, Lobo would have killed Dragon-Ra. Instead, the pirate had used his ability to transmute matter to subdue both Lobo and Lady Quark.  Dox was hoping that Lar Gand would be his ace-in-the-hole but he was quickly taken out of action when Dragon-Ra turned his blood into molten lead. The pirate was on the verge of killing Dox when Lobo and Lady Quark caught him off guard and knocked him out. Lobo planned to kill him but was stopped by Lar Gand. Dox took advantage of a fallen boulder to ensure that Dragon-Ra was killed but not at the hands of anyone on his team. In the aftermath of the battle, Lady Quark accepted Dox's offer to join the team, and she mentioned in passing that he resembles someone she heard about on Earth, a green alien from the planet Colu. Dox realized that his father, Brainiac, somehow survived the Computer Tyrants and must be dealt with.

Lana Lang's Two Alien Boy-Friends

“Twice Told Tales” or “Mars and Stars”
Another  "double-header" review by Emsley Wyatt

“Lana Lang's Romance On Mars”
Adventure Comics #195 (December 1953)
Writer: uncredited
Artist: Curt Swan & Stan Kaye
Cover: Win Mortimer

"Lana Lang and the Legion of Super-Heroes” 

Adventure Comics #282 (March 1961)

Writer: Otto Binder

Artist: George Papp
Cover: Swan & Kaye

I’ve done a couple of these “Twice Told Tales”, one involving Mon-El, and one involving Sun Boy.  Well, it had slipped my mind that there was a third such pair of stories, this one involving the initial appearance of yet another Legionnaire, Star Boy.  Thanks to “Anonymous” for reminding me of this fact.  OK, here we go.  First, here are the covers.  As previously, the older story is on the left and the newer on the right.

Who's Who: Zall Morgan

Zall Morgan
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Zall Morgan

Super-Power(s): None
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Ally

Reboot: The Legion #8

The Legion #8 (July 2002)
title: "Terror Incognita 2: Hypersapiens"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Olivier Coipel
inker: Andy Lanning
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Gear, Invisible Kid, Kid Quantum II, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Kinetix, the Kwai, R.J. Brande, Terrorforms; doctors; flashback: Batman, Superman

Opponents: 
Abyss, Brainstorm, Mr. Venge, Ra's al Ghul, Repulse, Robotica, Twine

Who's Who: Xera of Manna-5

Xera of Manna-5
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Xera Kharindot

Super-Power(s): Elemental control
Planet of Origin: Manna-5

Relationship to Legion: Relationship

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #18

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #18 (August 1990)
title: "From the Jaws of Victory..."
co-plot: Alan Grant and Barry Kitson
script: Alan Grant
penciller: Barry Kitson
inker: Mark McKenna
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Art Young
cover art: Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Dox led an attack force on the asteroid base of the pirate Dragon-Ra but things went south very quickly. He had sent Lobo to infiltrate the base and expected that by the time they arrived, Lobo would have killed Dragon-Ra. Instead, the pirate had used his ability to transmute matter to subdue both Lobo and Lady Quark, and he was expecting Dox's attack. Dox was hoping that Lar Gand would be his ace-in-the-hole but he was quickly taken out of action when Dragon-Ra turned his blood into molten lead.

LEGION TOYS: Legion of Super-Pets (DC Direct 2000)

Released in 2000 by DC Direct, the DC Direct Soft Toys were a line of plush toys that featured characters from the DC Universe.

While not always stuffed animal characters (as Lobo, Death, and even Sugar & Spike were featured in this line (Hey Rob Kelly!)), the character I was drawn to was Krypto The Super-Dog. I obtained this on first release at my local comic shop at the time, the now defunct Comics Ink (now Comic Bug apparently) on Overland. This Krypto soft toy survived my first "Great Purge" and when I later got back into collecting around 2012, my team-building disease led me to seek out the remaining Legion of Super-Pets on the aftermarket.

Who's Who: Worldsmith

Worldsmith
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Unknown

Super-Power(s): Unspecified mental powers, which at least seemed to include the ability to change a planet's surface to stone, earth or water
Planet of Origin: Planet

Relationship to Legion: Enemy

Reboot: The Legion #7

The Legion #7 (June 2002)
title: "Terror Incognita 2: Fear of Change"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Olivier Coipel
inker: Andy Lanning
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Kid Quantum II, Shikari, Triad, Ultra Boy, Violet

Guests: 
Chief Zoden, Dreamer, Kinetix, Orla Eidoor, Q'Bahl, Wimena Wazzo; Khunds, Metropolis citizens, Xanthuans

Opponents: 
Abyss, Brainstorm, Leland McCauley/Ra's al Ghul, Repulse, Robotica, Twine; Terrorforms

Who's Who: Westerner

Westerner
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Timthy Santoza

Super-Power(s): Absorb and use others' strength and endurance
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Academy member

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #17

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #17 (July 1990)
title: "The Power of Positive Thinking"
co-plot: Alan Grant and Barry Kitson
script: Alan Grant
penciller: Barry Kitson
inker: Mark McKenna
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Art Young
cover art: Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Dox introduced the newest L.E.G.I.O.N.aire, Lar Gand, a Daxamite with powers similar to that of a Kryptonian. Dox also almost killed Lar Gand when he demonstrated that lead is poisonous to his species. Fortunately, Dox administered an antidote he had developed, but his demonstration did not make his new recruit very pleased. Garryn Bek continued to grow even more full of himself since his bonding with the Emerald Eye and informed Dox he was taking over the team. Fortunately, Dox convinced Bek that he could do more by serving as an inspiration, or guiding light, for the team, rather than troubling himself with the mundane details. Lobo successfully infiltrated the criminal gang of Dragon-Ra, but found the leader to be far more powerful than he expected. He also discovered that Dragon-Ra is holding both Lady Quark and Captain Comet prisoner.

DC Super-Stars #17

DC Super-Stars #17 (December 1977)
title: "The Secret of the Quintile Crystal!"
writer: Jack C. Harris
penciller: Juan Ortiz
inker: Bob Smith
colorist: Liz Berube
editor: Baul Levitz
table of contents art: Jim Aparo
cover: Joe Staton

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board: Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl; Superboy

Guests:
RJ Brande, unnamed Science Police officer

Opponent:
Lord Lorval, Ambassador of Oianus; bureaucracy

The Two Two Clark Kents!

“Twice Told Tales” or “Haven’t I read this comic before?”
Another "double-header" review by Emsley Wyatt

“The Two Clark Kents”

Adventure Comics #191 (August 1953)

No writer named

Artists: Curt Swan & Sy Barry

Cover: Win Mortimer

“The Secret of the Seventh Super-Hero”

Adventure Comics #290 (November 1961)

Writer: Robert Bernstein

Artist: George Papp

Cover: Curt Swan & Stan Kaye

Presenting another “Twice told Tale”, an example of “recycled story lines” for which DC was notorious back in the day.  These stories were published eight years apart.  

Adventure 290 represents the second appearance of Sun Boy although, as regular visitors to this blog are aware, the “Sun Boy” in this story is, for the most part, an impostor.  His first appearance was as a Legion applicant in Action #276 (May, 1961).  

Imposture is definitely the theme of these stories as each features an impersonation of Clark Kent and one features an impersonation of Sun Boy as well.  But enough, let’s get to the stories.  

Following the pattern established in the last episode of this two-part series, the older story excerpts are presented first, then the newer, sometimes in two panel segments, sometimes with side-by-side panels from each story. 

Reboot: The Legion #6

The Legion #6 (May 2002)
title: "Terrorform"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Olivier Coipel
inker: Andy Lanning
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Kid Quantum II, M'Onel, Shikari, Star Boy, Triad, Ultra Boy, Violet, XS

Guests: 
Kinetix, Lizu, Trudy Trusoe, Vigo Toosalembi; Carggite, Winathian and Vyrgan prisoners; reporters

Opponents: 
Abyss, Brainstorm Leland McCauley/Ra's al Ghul, Repulse, Robotica, Twine; Science Police

Who's Who: Weight Wizard

Weight Wizard
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Nik Obershaw

Super-Power(s): Ability to increase and decrease his own mass
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Antagonist

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #16

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #16 (June 1990)
title: "Monster, Monster!"
co-plot: Alan Grant and Barry Kitson
script: Alan Grant
penciller: Barry Kitson
inker: Mark McKenna
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Art Young
cover art: Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane


Recap: Garryn Beck was leading a mission into deep space when his crew encountered a strange emerald eye. The eye formed a telepathic link with Bek and began overreacting to every thought that he had. Bek was unable to gain control, and the eye soon murdered his entire crew. By the time he arrived back at L.E.G.I.O.N. headquaters, his mind had become unbalanced and he appeared intent on killing Dox. When Bek finally found him, he merely collapsed to his knees in tears and began begging Dox for help.

Meanwhile, Lobo was sent to infiltrate a criminal gang. Their leader, Dagon-Ra, welcomed Lobo but also warned that if he tried to betray them it would be fatal for him. On Talok VII, the Computer Tyrants of Colu artificially aged Lyrissa's daughter to adulthood and brainwashed her into a weapon to use against her mother.

Karate Kid #14

Karate Kid #14 
"Diamondeth Is Forever!"
script by Bob Rozakis
art by Juan Ortiz and Bruce Patterson
lettered by Milt Snapinn
colored by Mario Sen
edited by Al Milgrom
cover by Rich Buckler (penciller) and Frank Giacoia (inker)
cover date: May/June 1978
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

This comic-book cover screams ACTION. And although Robin's physiology looks a little bit wonky here, and the perspective is a bit weird to accommodate Karate Kid jumping down to Robin's defense, I like the overall "feel" and coloring of it. It made me buy it as a wee lad, so it must have done something right!

Superboy's Brothers Halk Kar and Mon-El

“Twice Told Tales” or “Haven’t I read this comic before?”
A "double-header" review by Emsley Wyatt

“Superman’s Big Brother”
Superman #80 (Jan/Feb 1953)
Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Artist: Al Plastino

"Superboy’s Big Brother” 

Superboy #89 (June 1961)

Writer: Robert Bernstein

Artist: George Papp

It was not uncommon back in the early days of comics for stories to be, err, recycled after a period of time.  The thinking was that folks only read comics for a period of a few years and that nobody would ever notice and so what if they did.
The idea that the ephemeral medium of comic books would ever be subjected to in-depth analysis would have been inconceivable to the publishers and editors of the Fifties and Sixties.  Usually the “in house plagiarism” was limited to plot points or story elements but you would get those instances where the entire story was retold with only minor changes.  A couple examples of this involved the initial featured appearances of two members of the Legion of Super Heroes, Mon-El and Sun Boy.  This review concerns the former; we’ll get to the latter on another occasion.

Reboot: The Legion #5

The Legion #5 (April 2002)
title: "Credo"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

artist: Peter Snejbjerg
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Invisible Kid, Saturn Girl, Spark, Wildfire

Guests: 
Enkenet, The Kwai (named: Leos), the Progeny and other refugees

Opponents: 
The Credo (named: Brek, Herros, Kusp, Ngangan, Nox, Rayl), Singularity

Recap: 
A small Legion team has gone to Kwai-Space (where the Legion was Lost for a year) to get help from Shikari's people the Kwai...

Who's Who: Warden Tsaquin

Warden Tsaquin
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: J'ss Toor-Tsaquin

Super-Power(s): None, unless you count 360 vision
Planet of Origin: Kaffar

Relationship to Legion: Ally

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #15

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #15 (May 1990)
title: "Nightmares"
co-plot: Alan Grant and Barry Kitson
script: Alan Grant
penciller: Barry Kitson
inker: Mark McKenna
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Art Young
cover art: Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Garryn Beck was leading a mission into deep space when his crew encountered a strange emerald eye. The eye formed some sort of telepathic link to Bek and he was unable to gain control over the eye or his own thoughts. By the time he arrived back at L.E.G.I.O.N. headquaters, his mind had become unbalanced. He demanded to see Dox, apparently intending to kill him. The team was unable to stop Bek or the eye, but when he finally found Dox, Bek merely collapsed to his knees in tears and began begging him for help.

LSH (v8) #1

Legion of Super-Heroes #1 (January 2020)
title: "The Legion of Super-Heroes!"
writer: Brian Michael Bendis
penciller: Ryan Sook
inker: Ryan Sook and Wade Von Grawbadger
colorist: Jordie Bellaire
letterer: Dave Sharpe
associate editor: Brittany Holzherr
editor: Brian Cunningham
covers: Ryan Sook (main); Ryan Sook and Jim Cheung & Romulo Fajardo, Jr (variants)

reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage, with Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol and Siskoid

Mission Monitor Board: 
There is no "let's introduce ourselves" scene so we'll mention only the members who are clearly identifiable, or who identify themselves: Superboy, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Brainiac 5; Karate Kid, Ultra Boy, Wildfire, Star Boy (who doesn't introduce himself, but who is called out by name by Karate Kid); in the last "group shot", I count 31 members.

Opponents:
Mordru, the Horraz, time-travel overwhelmingness, badly plotted stories

Legion Cameos: Adventure Comics #205

Adventure Comics #205 (October 1954)
“The Journey of the Second Superboy”
Writer: Bill Finger
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Sy Barry
Editor: Mort Weisinger
Cover: Curt Swan & Sy Barry
Reviewer: Emsley "Ultra Fan" Wyatt

Guests: Ma and Pa Kent, Kral from Titan

Opponent(s): Kral from Titan?

Editor's Note: Here is another installment of the series of reviews we call "Legion Cameos." These are stories were the Legion or certain Legionnaires play a small but usually significant role in the proceedings. This time out we're going waaay back to before the Legion was even created. Read on!

As everyone here knows (or at least should) the first Legion story “The Legion of Super Heroes” appeared in Adventure Comics #247 published in April 1958.  So why am I reviewing a story published almost four years earlier?  Well, I kind of think of this story as, to steal a word coined by Isaac Asimov, the “Zeroth” Legion story.  You’ll see why as the story develops.

First, the cover:
So the Kents find another space rocket with another boy inside.  Wow, what a coincidence!

The first page is a full page “splash panel” showing Superboy and the boy from the cover flying through the sky.  Also, there’s some dialog that echoes the “Look. Up in the sky” opening narration of the 50’s Superman television series.  There’s also a narrative box cleverly disguised as a billboard on the roof of a building.  “Is SUPERBOY the only youngster who can fly?  Is he the only one on Earth with super-powers?  The answer—NO.  For out of trackless space comes a rocket, bearing another youngster with amazing powers—a youngster who combines his powers with SUPERBOY’S and helps him battle crime!  How did this all come about?  Read…The JOURNEY of the SECOND SUPERBOY!”

Reboot: The Legion #4

The Legion #4 (March 2002)
title: "Moon Rise"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Olivier Coipel
inker: Andy Lanning
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Gear, Kid Quantum II, Invisible Kid, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Cill, Kinetix, the Kwai, R.J. Brande; Carggite, Winathian and Vyrgan prisoners

Opponents: 
Darren, Leland McCauley/Ra's al Ghul, Mr. Venge, Robotica; McCauley employees, Science Police

Who's Who: Vibrex

Vibrex
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Dist Vetkoh

Super-Power(s): Vibration projection
Planet of Origin: Jupiter

Relationship to Legion: Villain

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #14

L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 #14 (April 1990)
title: "The Sound of Silence"
co-plot: Alan Grant and Barry Kitson
script: Alan Grant
penciller: Barry Kitson
inker: Mark McKenna
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Art Young
cover art: Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Garryn Beck was leading a mission into deep space when his crew encountered a strange emerald eye. The eye formed some sort of telepathic link to Bek and began reacting instinctively to his tiniest thought, even when Bek was sleeping. The situation quickly grew serious after the eye killed several of the crew. Bek was unable to gain control over the eye or his own thoughts and things continued to spiral out of control until everyone on board except him was dead. By the time he arrived back at L.E.G.I.O.N. headquaters, his mind had become unbalanced. He demanded to see Dox, apparently intending to kill him. The team was unable to stop Bek or the eye, but when he finally found Dox, Bek merely collapsed to his knees in tears and began begging him for help.

LEGION TOYS: Saturn Girl (DC Direct 2001)

The final founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes! Hailing from the world of Titan, one of the most talented telepaths among a race of powerful mentalists, and ultimately the bride to be of fellow Legionnaire Lightning Lad, it's Imra Ardeen a.k.a. Saturn Girl!

Legion Cameos: Superman #165

SUPERMAN #165 

(Nov. 1963) “Beauty and the Super-Beast”

Writer: Robert Bernstein

Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: George Klein

Editor: Mort Weisinger
Cover: Curt Swan & George Klein 

Reviewer: Emsley "Ultra Fan" Wyatt

Guests: Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Krypto

Opponents:  "Circe," Superman Revenge Squad

Editor's Note: Here is another installment of the series of reviews we call "Legion Cameos." These are stories were the Legion or certain Legionnaires play a small but usually significant role in the proceedings. This time out we're looking at the infamous "Lion-Head Superman" story. Did you know the Legion was involved in this adventure? 

First, the cover: 

Superman magically changed into a lion.  Pretty cool, eh?  And then you get the “splash” page where Circe is making Superman juggle balls while flying upside-down. What's not to like? 

Reboot: The Legion #3

The Legion #3 (February 2002)
title: "Legion World"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Olivier Coipel
inker: Andy Lanning
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw
seps: Digital Chameleon
seps for Guide: Richard and Tanya Horie

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gear, Kid Quantum, Invisible Kid, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire; in Guide to the DC Universe 2001-2002 Secret Files and Origins only: Star Boy, XS; cameos in both: Apparition, Ferro, Gates, Karate Kid

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, R.J. Brande; in Guide only: Trudy Trusoe

Opponents: 
Interdimensional wyrms, Leland McCauley/Ra's al Ghul, Lightning Lord, Mr. Venge; in Guide only: Abyss, Brainstorm, Repulse, Robotica, Twine