LEGION TOYS: Kamandi (DC Universe Classics)

His name is Kamandi! It may seem like a strange name to you - - but actually it is a sort of dramatic tribute to the people who once populated Command "D", the last section of a large underground bunker complex! Now there is only the last old man - - and his grandson - - who could well be - - The Last Boy On Earth!

When Karate Kid's Time Bubble is Time-Jacked by the Lord of Time, it sends him back to the 30th Century, only not the version he is familiar with, but an alternate future, a world populated with talking, anthropomorphic animals and Kamandi, The Last Boy On Earth!

LEGION TOYS: Robin (DC Universe Classics)

When his parents, The Flying Graysons, were murdered, young Dick Grayson was taken in and trained by The Batman! Now a student at Hudson University, Dick regularly swings into action as....Robin The Teen Wonder!

Robin first comes to blows with Karate Kid on his sojourn throughout the 20th Century, but ultimately teams-up with the Legionnaire to defeat a bizarre evil experimentation known as Diamondeth!

The Legion on Super-Team Family The Lost Issues

Imagine living in a world where all comic characters were “under one roof,” where you could walk into a comic store and find a book in which your favorite characters could team up or battle without regard for who owns what. 

Well, we don’t live in that world, but we can get a tantalizing peek at what it might look like thanks to Ross Pearsall over at https://braveandboldlost.blogspot.com/.

He takes characters and situations from all of the major comic book companies, puts them in the blender and creates some pretty tasty concoctions, And he puts a new one up every freakin’ day!  Iron Man meets Green Lantern.  The Justice League battles Ultron. Adam Strange and Doctor Strange (Long-lost brothers).  And one of my personal faves, The Creeper versus The Green Goblin. 

And it isn’t just the “big boys” you’ll find here.  No character or book is too obscure to escape Ross’s treatment.  The X-Files and Swamp Thing.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Vampirella. Quantum Leap and Sliders.

Some of the covers are laugh-out-loud funny.  Others make you wish that you could actually read the darn story.  But this is, after all, a Legion of Super-Heroes site.  So let’s look at some of his Legion-related covers....starting with one from last March, which inspired this article: The Legion vs. The Avengers! I'd buy that for a dollar all right! 

The Brave And The Bold #198

The Brave And The Bold #198 
"Terrorists of the Heart!"
written by Mike W. Barr
pencilled by Chuck Patton
inked by Rick Hoberg
lettered by Todd Klein
colored by Adrienne Roy
edited by Len Wein
cover by Jim Aparo
cover date: May 1983
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

The last time we saw Karate Kid in a solo adventure he was leaving 1978 to head back into the future. He was desperate to try to cure Iris Jacobs, who had been transformed by Major Disaster and the Lord of Time into Diamondeth.

As we saw in several issues of Legion of Super-Heroes, he was successful in not only reaching the future but also in curing Iris.

However, we did not ever see another solo Karate Kid adventure, or any Karate Kid-centric Legion story that wrapped up his "banished into the past" story-line. Specifically, the confrontation between him, Princess Projectra, and her father, King Voxv, was never shown; that would have been a hugely dramatic scene that all Legion fans at the time were hoping for! Therefore we have no choice but to  imagine how Karate Kid and Projectra must have convinced His Majesty that this Earthling "peasant" was somehow worthy of marrying his daughter. Unfortunately, none of the Legion writers between 1978 and 1983 deemed that family drama worth sharing.

Then, in the winter of 1983, Karate Kid suddenly showed up on the newsstands again! This time he was a co-star with Batman in The Brave and The Bold....the only Legionnaire besides Superboy and Supergirl so honored! This was the last time Val Armorr ever got co-star billing in pre-Crisis continuity. So...what kind of conclusion do we get for Karate Kid? Let's find out!

Karate Kid The Series Aftermath

commentary by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

What happened to Karate Kid after his solo-series was cancelled? Let's find out!

Kamandi #58

Kamandi #58 
"Enter the Legionnaire"
script by Jack C. Harris
co-plotting with Bob Rozakis
art by Dick Ayers and Danny Bulanadi
lettered by Shelly Leferman
colored by Mario Sen
edited by Al Milgrom
cover by James Sherman (penciller) and Bob McLeod (inker)
cover date: Aug/Sept 1978
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

Are you ready for the weirdest team-up in Legion history? Here's a story that no one ever thought could happen, with DC's two major "futures" coming into contact for the first (and until the Crisis, only) time. Karate Kid was just trying to return to the 30th Century, but somehow he lands in the Great Disaster. Now he's involved with the Last Boy on Earth, as he and Kamandi are co-starring in a movie for a bunch of lobsters....!?! Read on, McDuff!

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!

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!

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!

Karate Kid #13

Karate Kid #13 
"Tomorrow's Battle....Yesterday!"
script by Bob Rozakis
art by Juan Ortiz and Bob McLeod
lettered by Milt Snapinn
colored by Anthony Tollin
edited by Al Milgrom
cover by Rich Buckler (penciller) and Bob McLeod (inker)
cover date: Apr/May 1978
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

This issue picks up directly from where we ended last issue, which if you are paying attention means that poor old Karate Kid hasn't had a break in three issues! If you recall, *last* issue picked up directly from where #11 ended, and that was when Karate Kid time-bubbled himself back to 1977 and was promptly snatched up by Major Disaster and his secret ally! So Karate Kid's current adventure has been continuing for more than three issues without a break!

If you're just now joining us in the time stream, though, Karate Kid has somehow found himself back in Superboy's Smallville. Although he is confused about the whys and wherefores, he believes that he is facing off against a fake Superboy. As the victim of Major Disaster's manipulations more times than we care to count, the Kid thinks that the Superboy he faced last issue and is currently wrestling with when this issue opens is either a. a robot or b. a replica of some sort. (What, no thought that he might be an alternate universe Superboy?) Suddenly added to the mix: a Legion of Super-Heroes mission team who does not recognize Karate Kid as a member! He therefore thinks that they, too, are fakes. And that is all you need to know....!

Karate Kid #12

Karate Kid #12 
"The 'Time' of Your Death!"
script by Bob Rozakis
art by Juan Ortiz and Bob McLeod
lettered by Milt Snapinn
colored by Anthony Tollin
edited by Al Milgrom
cover by Rich Buckler (penciller) and Jack Abel (inker)
cover date: Feb/March 1978
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

Well even though this issue starts, literally one moment after the end of last issue, we are in a very different 1977 New York City, folks. Not only do we have a new cover logo (did you notice?) but we have a brand new creative team. New writer Bob Rozakis kicks the story off with a bang, and new artists Juan Ortiz and Bob McLeod hand in a more-than-capable job. The cover this time is by Rich Buckler, who was doing a lot of DC covers at around this time.

Clearly DC was trying to sell this book as a super-hero book and not as a karate or kung-fu tie-in. And you know what? It worked, because this is the first issue of Karate Kid that I actually bought off the stands!  I got it because of the Legion and because of the art inside.

Karate Kid #11

Karate Kid #11
"Disasters of Yesteryear!"
story by Jack C. Harris
additional material by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada
edited by Denny O'Neil
cover by Al Milgrom (penciller) and Jack Abel (inker)
cover date: Dec/March 1977
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

This cover seems to be light-years away from the Mike Grell and Grell-inspired covers that used to wrap around this series. Has DC decided that the Legion fandom isn't going for this book, so there is no need to maintain Mike Grell's covers? (He was still doing the Legion covers at the time.) Or did DC think that Legion fans would buy this even without Mike Grell's covers? Either way, this cover seems like the Hero should be a bit more of the center of attention, don't you think?

Karate Kid #10

Karate Kid #10 
"Death Duel on Orando"
script by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada and Jack Abel
colors by Carl Gafford
edited by Denny O'Neil
cover by Al Milgrom (penciller) and Jack Abel (inker)
cover date: Oct 1977
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

This time around we're talking about the issue of Karate Kid that I always wanted but never had.

As a wee lad I saw a few issues of Karate Kid for sale but never picked them up because 1. I wasn't a fan of the cartoony art and 2. I wasn't a huge karate/kung fu fan. It has something to do with my father and brother loving that stuff and me not wanting to get into their "realms," but the point is, I was never out there searching for any issues of Karate Kid. 

Until this issue.

I saw a copy of the cover in the Amazing World of DC Comics #14 (which I devoured, as it was all about the Justice League) and saw that the Legion of Super-Heroes was guest-starring. So I did in fact bug my father to take me to the local 7-11 and to the local grocery store and to the local drug store but no, I never did find a copy of this book!

Flash forward to today, when via the Legion of Super-Bloggers time bubble I have access to scanned versions of this series and I FINALLY read this story 40 years after it was published.

Karate Kid #9

Karate Kid #9 
"The Black Belt Contract!"
script by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada and Joe Staton
edited by Denny O'Neil
cover by Al Milgrom
cover date: August 1977
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

In typical mid-Seventies fashion, we start this story on the docks, after dark, with two shadowy characters in trench coats, one an Angry Black Man and the other a debonair White man, discussing underworld activity. An episode of SHAFT? Perhaps it's BARNABY JONES (a Quinn Martin production)? No, it's the newest issue of Karate Kid. 

Karate Kid #8

Karate Kid #8 
"Pandemonium....Panic.....and Pulsar!"
script by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada and Joe Staton
color by Liz Berube
edited by Denny O'Neil
cover by Mike Grell
cover date: June 1977
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

I never went to any, but I hear that those live stadium shows in the late Seventies were just fab.
Here we have Karate Kid and Pulsar fighting on stage as Police Commissioner Banner tries to keep out of the way and three DC Comic staff members frantically take notes. Groovy, baby. Mike Grell back on double-duty pencils & inks clearly enjoys what he is doing. Looks like this is going to be another all-out action issue in the mighty Marvel DC manner!

Karate Kid #7

Karate Kid #7 
"The Gyro-Master Strikes Twice!"
script by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada and Joe Staton
edited by Denny O'Neil
cover by Mike Grell
cover date: April 1977
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

I can't imagine being a kid in the spring of 1977 and seeing this cover and not wanting, nee, NEEDING to pick up this title. Just look at that cover! The Gyro Master is throwing toys at Karate Kid!! And they are twice as deadly as....as....er....slinkies?

Also, point of order but we're about to find out that the Gyro Master actually does NOT strike twice. He actually strikes once and then just loiters around. So that's kind of a let-down, too. But really, who should be counting?

Let's get right to the action, shall we?

Karate Kid #6

Karate Kid #6 
"Showdown With Commander Blud!"
script by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada and Joe Staton
edited by Denny O'Neil
cover by Ernie Chan (penciller) and Mike Grell (inker)
cover date: Feb/March 1977
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

Here we are again folks, slumming in 1977 New York City with a few members of the Legion of Super-Heroes. According to the cover (again by Ernie Chan and Mike Grell instead of Grell solo) Karate Kid has been "driven WILD, the Kid stalks friend and foe ALIKE!" It would have been nice if the Legion had appeared on the cover, too, cuz, you know, the Kid kicking Commander Blud in the face as illustrated here is just not that dynamic. Plus the lack of any background at all doesn't make this one of the better covers.

Karate Kid #5

Karate Kid #5 
"The Tomorrow Thief"
script by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada and Joe Staton
color by Liz Berube
edited by Joe Orlando
cover by Ernie Chan (penciller) and Mike Grell (inker)
cover date: Nov/Dec 1976
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

Here we are again, it's Kung Fu Fighting time! Errr, I mean, Karate Kid reading time. This month we get an antagonist who seeks to take advantage of the fact that Karate Kid revealed that he was from the future..... something I'm not sure he should have done in the first place, but it's in the past now (see what I did there?). Fresh from being named a deputized police officer of the state of New York last issue, Karate Kid finds himself a minor celebrity this time around....in more ways than one.

Karate Kid #4

Karate Kid #4 
"The Rage of Yesterdays Lost"
script by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada and Joe Staton
color by Carl Gafford
letters by Milt Snapinn
edited by Joe Orlando
cover by Ernie Chan (penciller) and Mike Grell (inker)
cover date: Sept/Oct 1976
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

I have had a bit of a problem turning my attention to reviewing the short-lived Karate Kid series from 1976-1978. Although I have access to all fifteen issues, I really have no interest in the odd way that the series was created and presented. I didn't really get into it until later into the run, after it gets its feet more firmly planted, as it were. And that is only speaking generally; as you are about to read (I hope) I have huge specific problems with Karate Kid #4 due to my life experiences with Japan.

So consider this long-winded introduction my apology for not getting to this series earlier. I promise to try to do a monthly review of Karate Kid to the page for the next year; at fifteen issues total that means this should work for the entirety of 2019. Now let's try to muddle through this particular issue where the greatest fighter of the 30th Century faces off against the menace of Master Hand!

Karate Kid #3

Karate Kid #3 
"The Revenger"
script by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada and Joe Staton
cover by Mike Grell
cover date: August 1976
review by Glenn 'Continuity Kid' Walker. 
Editor's Note: This is the third and last review of the 1970s Karate Kid series that Glenn Walker completed for the Legion of Super-Bloggers before his untimely death in December. Glenn was looking forward to reviewing this entire series, so had written up and prepped three full posts before he passed away.
We here at LSB could not imagine not using these wonderfully written reviews; not only as entertainment on their own, but also one last testament to our friend's talent and enthusiasm. ~Russell

As with the first two issues of this series, the cover is another beautiful work by then regular Legion artist Mike Grell. This one, darker than the usual Grell fare and hinting at what would come a few years later in his career with Green Arrow and Jon Sable Freelance, has Karate Kid in a meelee with the titular villain of this issue and an unnamed combatant. Also, Iris Jacobs is in her unfortunately usual damsel in distress position on the floor in the background. It's a cover that almost perfectly captures what this story should have been. I love this cover, and it should be noted that in every case, Grell has delivered what he was supposed to - a dynamic cover meant to sell the comic, and it's a trick that has worked every time so far. I really wanted to read this comic based on the cover. The truth inside is more than somewhat disappointing.