Bronze Age Legion Writers

 

The Legion of Super Writers Part 2

by Emsley Wyatt

As we profiled in the first part of this article, the Legion of Super-Heroes had a group of talented men guiding their destinies from their very beginning: Otto Binder, Jerry Siegel, Edmond Hamilton, and Jim Shooter. After the Legion of Super-Heroes were unceremoniously kicked out of Adventure Comics in 1969, then-writer Jim Shooter left the series. He has said that economically he needed to write 17-page stories, and that he could literally not afford to write the 8-page back-ups. 

Although it is said that the Bronze Age begins a few years after this, with the decommissioning of the Legion from Adventure Comics and the near simultaneous loss of Jim Shooter, this seemed like a good breaking off point.  

The Action Comics Back-Ups

Before we close the Time Bubble door on the Silver Age Legion of Super-Heroes series, we here at the Legion of Super-Bloggers wanted to pause one last time to look back at the fourteen Action Comics stories. In this particular series there is a lot of foundation for where the series ended up going.

TOS: Action Comics #392

Action Comics #392 (Sept 1970)
title: "The Legionnaires Who Never Were!"
writer: Cary Bates
penciller: Win Mortimer
inker: Jack Abel
letterer: Ben Oda
editor: Mort Weisinger
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board: 
Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl; Karate Kid, Cosmic Boy, Matter-Eater Lad, Shrinking Violet, Brainiac 5; cameos by Shadow Lass, Chameleon Boy, Sun Boy, Mon-El, Element Lad, and Ultra Boy

Opponents:
Pozr-Du, mistaken identities, over-enthusiastic trust in technology

TOS: Action Comics #389

Action Comics #389 (June 1970)
title: "The Mystery Legionnaire!"
writer: Cary Bates
penciller: Win Mortimer
inker: Jack Abel
letterer: Ben Oda
editor: Mort Weisinger
reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board: 
Cosmic Boy, Shrinking Violet, Chemical King

Opponent:
Klim the robotic thief

Legion Cameos: Superman #213

Superman #213 (January 1969)
title: "The Most Dangerous Door in the World!"

writer: Cary Bates

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: Jack Abel

editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Carmine Infantino & Neal Adams 

guest reviewer: Emsley "Ultra Fan" Wyatt

Guests: 
Supergirl, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, and.....??

Opponents: 
Lex Luthor and his generic henchmen, and....????

Editor's Note: Here is a second installment of what we call "Legion Cameos." These are stories where the Legion or certain Legionnaires play a small but usually significant role in the proceedings. This time out we have Legion of Substitute Blogger Ultra Fan telling us about a certain Superman vs. Lex Luthor story from 1968. Take it away, Emsley...!

First the cover (inks by Neal Adams).  A seemingly dead Superman lies in front of a vault to be opened only “in the event of my death.”  Shut up and take my twelve cents.  I thought that this was a great cover.

But I didn’t care for the title.  Maybe “The Mystery of Superman’s Vault” would have been better.  But unlike Al Capone’s vault, later made famous by Geraldo Rivera and containing only some old bottles, this vault promises a treasure of incalculable value.

The Return of the Composite Superman!

This time out, it’s another Silver Age guest appearance of the Legion of Super-Heroes!  The Composite Superman is back! He once again uses his combined powers of the Legion to menace the Superman and Batman team in the pages of World’s Finest Comics #168. 

My Legion Lost Years - A Semi-Lifelong Love

Fourteen months ago I posted my first article on this blog discussing my lifelong love of the Legion.

There was a lot to cover as I am getting up in years and have been reading comics now for nearly 4 decades. And I consider the Legion to be my first comic. In fact, whether it is true or not, I consider Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #211 to be my first comic.

Superboy starring The Legion #222

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #222 (Dec, 1976)
title: "This Legionnaire Is Condemned!"

writer: Cary Bates

penciller: Mike Grell
inker: Bob Wiacek
editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Tyroc, Mon-El, Brainiac 5, Superboy, Ultra Boy, Princess Projectra, Shadow Lass, Chameleon Boy

Opponents: 
Extortionist Fenton Pike

Synopsis: 
On Earth, a series of odd occurrences are plaguing the people of Metropolis. Science Police officers arrive to talk to the Legion about Tyroc, who they believe is responsible. Legion Leader Mon-El explains to the SP officers that Tyroc wanted the Legion to move their head-quarters to his island home of Marzal, to help integrate his society into the world at large. When the Legion refused, Tyroc stormed out and vowed to make things difficult for the city. Mon-El promises the SPs that the Legion is trying to locate and capture Tyroc.

Superboy starring The Legion #220

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #220 (Oct, 1976)
title: "The Super Soldiers of the Slave-Maker!"

writer: Jim Shooter

penciller: Mike Grell
inker: Bob Wiacek
editor: Murray Boltinoff  

cover: Mike Grell
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Wildfire, Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Superboy, Mon-El, Lightning Lad, Element Lad

Opponents: 
The dictator of Tharrg and his war-loving race; cowardice

Synopsis: 
On Murgador, the people are enslaved. One of them, a young man named Pollor, has called the Legion for help, and they have finally arrived. However, although Pollor would rather die than live enslaved, the majority of the people want the Legion to go. Dinda, the leader, demands that they leave. Legion leader Mon-El counter-demands an explanation before agreeing to do so. Dinda explains that the warrior race from the nearby planet Tharrg planted a bomb in Murgador's core that will be detonated if the people disobeys Tharrg's commands.

Superboy starring The Legion #218

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #218 (July, 1976)
title: "The Secret Villain the World Never Knew!"

writer: Cary Bates

penciller: Mike Grell
editor: Murray Boltinoff 

cover: Mike Grell (signed)
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Tyroc, Superboy, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Colossal Boy, Brainiac 5, Element Lad, Light Lass, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Star Boy; flashbacks of Shadow Lass & Karate Kid, cameos of various other Legionnaires

Opponents: 
Zoraz, Absorbancy Boy

Synopsis: 
At Legion HQ, Tyroc arrives just as three rejected applicants walk away. Inside, Brainiac 5 is explaining about Tyroc to Colossal Boy, Light Lass, and Element Lad, who were off planet when Tyroc met the Legion so do not know him yet. With a shout of "OYUUUUUU!" Tyroc joins them. Just as they are all being introduced, Zoraz attacks, quickly knocking out the five before turning his attention to Tyroc. Tyroc uses an explosive yell that Zoraz absorbs, then Zoraz blasts the alarm and escapes as Tyroc is distracted.

Superboy starring The Legion #216

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #216 (April, 1976)
title: "The Hero Who Hated The Legion!"

writer: Cary Bates

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Superboy, Brainiac 5, Shadow Lass, Karate Kid, Tyroc

Opponents: 
The Beta Gang, prejudice

Synopsis: 
On Earth, Cosmic Boy explains to a group of Legionnaires about satellite C-117. It had been launched into space in 2918 in order to take photon readings and solar measurements. In reality, it was the storage capsule of stolen and then missing "Zigel Jewels." According to a death-bed confession, the crooks had hidden the jewels in the satellite a day before it was launched, expecting to crash it within a week. Instead, they were apprehended, and the jewels stayed in orbit nearly sixty years. However, the satellite had crashed earlier in the week on the remote island of Marzal, so the Legionnaires are assigned to retrieve them.

Superboy starring The Legion #215

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #215 (March, 1976)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "The Final Eclipse of Sun Boy"

writer: Cary Bates

artist: Mike Grell
editor: Murray Boltinoff 

cover: Mike Grell (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Phantom Girl, Sun Boy, Superboy, Element Lad, Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl

Opponents: 
unnamed would-be assassin

Synopsis: 
On Bgtzl, Phantom Girl captures a man after witnessing him kill someone. The assassin's gang swears that she will not live long enough to testify against him. Phantom Girl's brother, Gmya, is concerned for her safety. Sun Boy, Element Lad, and Superboy arrive on Bgztl to pick her up, and Gmya disappears in the crowd.

Back on Earth, but before the Legionnaires make it back to their head-quarters, Sun Boy is "possessed," and his powers go wild. Superboy tries to stop him, but his super-energy only adds fuel to Sun Boy's fire. Element Lad turns the hydrogen around Sun Boy to nitrogen, putting out his flames. This allows Element Lad to get close enough to knock him out.

Superboy starring The Legion #214

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #214 (Jan, 1974)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "No Price Too High!"

writer: Jim Shooter

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Brainiac 5, Shadow Lass, Karate Kid, Wildfire

Opponents: 
unnamed "Overseer" in charge of the automated planet, Gyrich

Synopsis: 
On the automated planet Gyrich, five Legionnaires are sneaking around under Shadow Lass' darkness in order to escape detection by robotic guards. They are on-world to fix what they think is a malfunctioning automatic defense computer. Suddenly, Superboy notices a passenger ship has entered the atmosphere. Because the automatic defenses will shoot it down, Superboy rushes off to rescue the sole occupant, an arrogant adolescent boy. He identifies himself as the son of Leland McCauley, the owner of planet Gyrich. Robot guards respond to the Legionnaires activity, so Wildfire and Karate Kid take care of them. The Legionnaires bring the boy along as they return to the shadows, but the boy thinks he can order the robots to let them go. He arrogantly shows himself to some robotic guards and is immediately taken hostage. The Legionnaires have no choice but to give themselves up, too.

Superboy starring The Legion #212

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #212 (Oct, 1975)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "Last Fight For A Legionnaire"

writer: Jim Shooter

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Chameleon Boy, Shrinking Violet, Matter-Eater Lad, Superboy, Karate Kid

Opponents: 
six rejected applicants for Legion membership who want to take the place of fellow native members: Magno Lad, Esper Lass, Phantom Lad, Chameleon Kid, Micro Lad, and Calorie Queen

Synopsis: 
Magno Lad arrives at Legion head-quarters but is quickly rejected for membership because he is from Braal, the same home planet as Cosmic Boy. He is then met by five other costumed people who want to "put the whammy" on six very specific Legionnaires.

Superboy starring The Legion #211

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #211 (Sept, 1975)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "The Ultimate Revenge"

writer: Jim Shooter

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Element Lad, Star Boy, Light Lass, Chemical King, Sun Boy, Superboy; cameos by Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, and Saturn Girl in flashbacks

Opponents: 
Roxxas

Synopsis: 
Out in space, the Haven is a hollow, man-made asteroid that is transparent to radar. It is a safe-house for dozens of the galaxy's most ruthless killers, including Roxxas, who is arriving as our story opens. Just as his tour of the facility ends,  the Legion raids it. Light Lass, Star Boy, and Chemical King take care of most of the criminals. Element Lad sees Roxxas, but is too shocked to capture him.

Superboy starring The Legion #209

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #209 (June, 1975)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "Who Can Save The Princess?"

writer: Jim Shooter

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Karate Kid, Timber Wolf, Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, Superboy, Duo Damsel, Princess Projectra

Opponents: 
The Pain Plague

Synopsis: 
Princess Projectra crash lands her cruiser with the help of Timber Wolf and a tow hook. He and Karate Kid tease her about her piloting skills, but as soon as she collapses they rush her to the medical lab. Saturn Girl calls Brainiac 5. Although he is not on Earth, he diagnoses her from afar using the Legion medical equipment. He tells them that she is suffering from Pain Plague, which is six hours of intense pain no one has ever survived. Brainiac 5 suggests using his Universal Adapter Circuits and an Encephalo Transceiver in order to divert Projecta's pain to the other Legionnaires. Superboy is with Brainiac 5, but will rush back to Earth in order to take the last hour.

Superboy starring The Legion #208

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #208 (April 1975)
title: "Vengeance of the Super-Villains"

writer: Cary Bates

artist: Mike Grell
editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell; reprinted covers by Curt Swan/Stan Kaye and Curt Swan/George Klein

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Mon-El, Ultra Boy, Sun Boy, Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Lightning Lad, Colossal Boy, Star Boy, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra; cameos by Timber Wolf, Chemical King, and Shadow Lass

Opponents: 
The Legion of Super-Villains (Chameleon Chief, Lightning Lord, Nemesis Kid, Radiation Roy, Sun Emperor, Spider Girl)

Synopsis: 
In Smallville, Mon-El  is enjoying his furlough in Superboy's era, staying over at Clark's house with the Kents. On Rimbor, Ultra Boy is enjoying his leave spending time with his parents. However, when the three young men attempt to leave to go back on duty, their parents attack them with futuristic weapons or with poison, not allowing them to depart.

Superboy starring The Legion #207

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #207 (March, 1975)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "The Rookie Who Betrayed The Legion"

writer: Cary Bates

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell (signed) 

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Timber Wolf, Chameleon Boy, Shrinking Violet, Light Lass, Colossal Boy

Guest-Stars: 
Science Police officer Dvron

Opponents: 
Universo 

Superboy starring The Legion #206

Superboy starring the Legion of Super-Heroes #206 (Feb, 1975)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "The Legionnaires Who Haunted Superboy"

writer: Cary Bates

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Nick Cardy (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Ferro Lad, Invisible Kid; cameos by Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, and Mon-El

Superboy starring The Legion #205

Superboy starring the Legion of Super-Heroes #205 (Dec, 1974)
A Review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

title: "The Legion of Super-Executioners!"

writer: Cary Bates

artist: Mike Grell

editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Nick Cardy

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Ultra Boy, Mon-El, Shrinking Violet, Wildfire, Karate Kid, Brainiac 5, Shadow Lass; Lana Lang as Insect Queen; cameos by Chameleon Boy and Phantom Girl

Opponents: 
"possessed" Ultra Boy, "The Master"