Who's Who in the Legion #7 EXTRAS

 

Continuing the series where we spotlight the features that appeared at the beginning of each issue of the mini-series Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes (1988). In this, the last issue, the series featured a short featurette about history, the Legion Academy, fashions, and the Legionnaires' parents. 

Krypton Girl and the Legion of Super-Heroes

Title: Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #47 - "The Super-Life of Lois Lane!"

Creators: Kurt Schaffenberger and Mort Weisinger

Imaginary stories were a frequent idea for DC during the Silver Age. Predating Elseworlds and the overall Multiverse theme, they were stories characters thought up in-universe about what might've been or could've been. Largely, the concept was used to tell tales about who Superman or Batman might marry.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #47 gave us a typical Imaginary Story operating on the role reversal concept. It also gave us a short appearance of the Legion of Super-Heroes. This particular Imaginary Story is one of my favorites, and served as the basis for an alternate Earth concept I've worked on for several years.

This gave us an idea of how things might go if Lois Lane was the hero, but also gave us a sneak peek at Lois Lane as a Legionnaire. It's minor, but manages to stand out due to Lois not having much interaction with the Legionnaires despite them being good friends of Clark.

Superboy (v2) #50

The New Adventures of Superboy #50 (February 1984)
title: "Dial 'V' For Villain!"
writer: Paul Kupperberg
artist: Keith Giffen (pp 1-7, 39-40)
penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger (pp 8-38)
inker: Dave Hunt (pp 8-38)
letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Jerry Serpe
editor: Julius Schwartz
cover: Keith Giffen

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

Mission Monitor Board: 
Superboy; Chameleon Boy, Brainiac 5, Colossal Boy, Element Lad, Star Boy, Wildfire

Guests:
Krypto; Pete Ross, Lana Lang, Bash, Lisa, Valerie; Ma and Pa Kent; Police Chief Parker

Opponents:
small-time hood with telekenesis powers named Nylor Truggs; Lex Luthor

Who's Who: The Unkillables

The Unkillables
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Various; see below

Super-Power(s): Advanced strength
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Adversaries

Who's Who: Uli Algor

Uli Algor
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Uli Algor

Super-Power(s): None; advanced technological weapons
Planet of Origin: Skor

Relationship to Legion: Adversary

Lois Lane #50

“Lois Lane’s Luckiest Day”  

Lois Lane #50 (July 1964)

Writer: Leo Dorfman

Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger

Review by Emsley Wyatt 

Editor's Note: Recently, it was brought to our attention here at Legion of Super-Bloggers that we had missed an important Legion appearance in our The Original Series reviews. Ultra Fan Emsley Wyatt reminded us of Lois Lane #50, and even offered to review this guest-star appearance for us. So take it away, Emsley....!

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!

Whatever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow?

writer: Alan Moore

penciller: Curt Swan
inkers: George Perez (part 1),
Kurt Schaffenberger (part 2) 

letterer: Todd Klein
colorists: Gene D'Angelo (original), Tom McCraw (collected)

editor: Julius Schwartz
cover: Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson

reviewers: "Bilingual Boy" and Dr. Anj

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superman; Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid (1), Brainiac 5, Supergirl

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

Opponents: 
Bizarro, Brainiac, Lex Luthor, the Toyman, the Prankster, the Kryptonite Man, Metallo, the Legion of Super-Villains (Saturn Queen, Lighting Lord, Cosmic King), Mr. Mxyzptlk

Who's Who: Insect Queen

Insect Queen
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Lana Lang

Super-Power(s): Using her biogenetic ring, Lana is able to alter her physiology into any insect form she knows, gaining the powers of that insect
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Honorary member

Simply Amazing!

The Amazing World of DC Comics was DC Comics' self-produced fan magazine of the mid-1970s. Running 17 issues, the fanzine featured articles about DC characters and their creators, and was exclusively available through mail order. The bulk of the issues were edited by Allan Asherman, replaced later by Paul Levitz and then Cary Burkett. Individual issues were edited by Bob Rozakis or long-time Legion fans Carl Gafford and Neal Pozner.

Primarily consisting of text pieces, with occasional strips and comics features, Amazing World (AWODCC, for short) was printed on high quality paper with heavy stock for the covers. Amazing World in its seventeen issues featured several articles on and about the Legion. For awhile it even featured an exclusive column about the group, named The Legion Outpost (the same name as the fanzine, but not directly related).

The Super Friends meet The Time Trapper!

Hey Legionnaires! It's your old pal the Kord Kid, back with another tale that has a unique tie to the Legion of Super-Heroes. Remember back when I covered that Wonder Woman story that featured the Time Trapper? No? Well, here it is...Wonder Woman #101. Go ahead and read it, I'll wait here. 

You may have needed that refresher, but Wonder Woman didn't. Keep reading and you'll understand what I mean...as we look at The Super Friends, issues 17 & 18, written by E. Nelson Bridwell, with art by Ramona Fradon and Kurt Schaffenberger.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #45

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #45 (April, 1988)
title: "Unlucky Streak"

writer: Paul Levitz

pencillers: Greg LaRocque, Kurt Schaffenberger, Curt Swan, Dave Cockrum, Mike Grell, Keith Giffen
inkers: Mike DeCarlo, Dick Giordano
ink assist: Arne Starr
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Ken Steacy
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
All of the Legionnaires appear, with sizable amount of stage time devoted to Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Sun Boy, Mon-El, Superboy, Wildfire, Polar Boy, Dream Girl, Brainiac 5, Sensor Girl, and Shadow Lass

Guests: 
Labyrinth Warden Tsaquin, SP Officer Erin, Atmos, Graym and Validus Ranzz

Opponents: 
The Luck Lords, Lightning Lord

Who's Who: Superboy

Superboy
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Kal-El (Clark Kent)

Super-Power(s): Super-strength, super-speed, super-invulnerability, various vision powers, etc.
Planet of Origin: Krypton

Legion Seniority: Although Superboy was asked to join the Legion in their first published appearance in Adventure Comics #247, he was clearly not the fourth member to join. However, there is some discrepancy as to who he actually joined before and/or after. According to the DC Heroes Role Playing Reference: LSH, written by long-time LSH writer Paul Levitz, Superboy was Member #11.

Legion Log 
Superboy made his debut appearance in More Fun Comics #101 in 1944. He had his own series in Adventure Comics, as well as his own title, Superboy, until both were taken over by the Legion of Super-Heroes. In Adventure Comics #247 he first met Cosmic Boy, Lighting Boy (Lad), and Saturn Girl, and they asked him to join their Legion. He agreed, and for the next several years he was a regular member, participating actively. 

In the Legion's seventh year the United Planets instituted a 25 member limit, so Superboy resigned rather than forcing someone else to. However, in Year Nine, with the resignations of Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, and Supergirl, Superboy was asked to return, and graciously agreed. He served as an active member for two more years. In Year Eleven, Superboy resigned again, choosing Reserve status due to the demands on his time in Smallville as he neared maturity there.

Superboy was  humble and easy-going with everyone, even though the majority of members suffered from a sense of awe and reverence when interacting with a Living Legend. Duo Damsel had a crush on Superboy when he first joined, but eventually got over him, as she knew who he was going to grow up to be with. Superboy was on friendly terms with all of the earliest members, but was especially close to Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl (his first three friends from the future), and with Mon-El and Ultra Boy, as super-peers.  

Immediately after the so-called Crisis on Infinite Earths it was revealed that there was never a Superboy in the "true" Legion timeline, and that Superboy's very existence was a creation of the diabolical Time Trapper. Superboy sacrificed himself to save his "pocket" universe from the Crisis and to return his Legion friends to their true timeline. 

After Glorith changed Legion history, Superboy's role was played by Kent Shakespeare.

After the Reboot, the Legion met the clone Superboy (later known as Kon-El) when they returned to the past in an effort to save Valor's life. After they rescue the latter from the Phantom Zone, he joins the Legion as M'onel and Kon-El is awarded honorary membership. He seldom encountered the Legion after this, though did use and sometimes misuse his Legion Flight Ring. After developing Kryptonian powers, Kon-El is accidentally taken to the 31st century by Darkseid, where he found by Phantom Girl and made a full-time member of the Legion, spending five months with the team.

In the Threeboot timeline, no version of Superboy has ever been a member nor even met the Legion.

After Infinite Crisis, the original Legion history was more or less restored. One obvious change is that the "pocket universe" Superboy isn't a member. Instead, Clark Kent is once again visited in his youth by the founding Legionnaires and only acts as Superboy in the 30th century. He has no contemporary career. As an adult, Superman still keeps his Legion flight ring as a keepsake.

During the Final Crisis, Kon-El, believed dead for a millennium, is saved and resurrected by Brainiac 5 and other members of the Legion in time to help them fight Superboy-Prime's new Legion of Super-Villains. Kon-El is returned to the 21st-century after "Legion of 3 Worlds".

It is not clear how Clark Kent's history interacts with the Legion's in the timeline created after Flashpoint. The clone Superboy did eventually meet members of the Legion lost in the 21st century one two occasions.

Superboy was the hero of his own Filmation cartoon in 1966-1969, voiced by Bob Hastings. Superboy also had his own syndicated television drama from 1988-1992, starring first John Haymes Newton (first season) and then Gerard Christopher (2nd-4th seasons). A young Clark Kent was portrayed by Tom Welling on the television series Smallville (2001-2011). In the Smallville episode, "Legion" Clark meets three teenagers from the future named Rokk, Imra, and Garth. A young Superman was also the featured star of The Legion of Super-Heroes animated series, voiced by Yuri Lowenthal.

Important Superboy Stories: 

Adventure Comics  #247

(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 1)

Superboy joins the Legion

Superboy #89

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 1)

 The first appearance of Superboy's "Big Brother," Mon-El

Adventure Comics #333

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 4)

The Legion becomes involved in a war between Krypton and Earth 

Adventure Comics  #342
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)

 Superboy defends Star Boy against the charge of murder 

Adventure Comics  #345
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)

 Superboy inadvertently causes Matter Eater Lad to enlarge to an obese size

Adventure Comics  #350-351
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 6)

Supergirl and Superboy must leave the Legion.....

....then rejoins it one issue later!

Adventure Comics  #352
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 6)

 Superboy helps bring the Fatal Five together

Adventure Comics  #353
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 6)

Ferro Lad stops Superboy from sacrificing himself to save Earth

Adventure Comics  #369-370
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 8)

The Legion hides out in Smallville to escape from Mordru

Action Comics  #387
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9)

 Superboy leaves the Legion, taking Reservist status

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #200

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10)

 Mon-El decides to ask Superboy to return to full-time membership

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #205

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11)

The friendship between Superboy and Ultra Boy is highlighted

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #208

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11)

The friendship between Superboy and Mon-El is highlighted

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #217

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 12)

The debut of Superboy's descendent, Laurel Kent

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #225

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11)

Superboy is elected Leader, but cannot serve

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #259 

 Superboy quits the Legion again

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #280-282

Superboy returns to the Legion as a Reservist

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #37

The last iconic Superboy-centric cover, by birthday-boy Steve Lightle

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #38

Superboy sacrifices himself to save Smallville and the Legion

Legionnaires #31

Superboy (Kon-El) saves Valor and is made a honorary member of the Legion

Superboy's Legion #1-2

Elseworlds mini-series in which Superboy creates the Legion

The Legion #25-33

Kon-El spends times as a full member of the Legion;
he spends 5 months in the future, loses only 5 weeks in the present

Teen Titans (v3) #16 - The Legion/Teen Titans Special #1

Superboy brings the Titans to the future to help the Legion
with the Fatal Five-Hundred

Superman: Secret Origin #2

Young Clark Kent once again joins the Legion post-Infinite Crisis

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #4

Kon-El is resurrected by Brainiac 5

Adventure Comics (v2) #12

Another tale of young Clark Kent as a 31st-century Superboy

Legion Lost (v2) #14

One of two crossover stories in which members of the Legion
help the New 52 Superboy fight Harvest
  
Superboy cartoon (1966-1969)

The Boy of Steel, voiced by Bob Hastings

Superboy TV series (1988-1992) 

  Gerard Christopher played him for 3 seasons

Smallville TV series (2001-2011)

Clark Kent was played by Tom Welling

Legion of Super-Heroes cartoon (2006-2008)

Young Superman, voiced by Yuri Lowenthal

DC Comics Presents #59

DC COMICS PRESENTS #59,  (July, 1983)
"Ambush Bug II"
Story & breakdown: Keith Giffen
Additional dialog: Paul Levitz
Finishes: Kurt Schaffenberger
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Reviewer: Siskoid

The first comic book I ever bought (The Context)
I've been reading comics since before I can remember. My relatives fed me a steady diet of French (actually, Belgian) bande dessinée as a child (Tintin and Astérix were the stars here), and my English teachers were Richie Rich and Archie (so as a result, I know a lot about dating in the '50s and how to spend googles of money). But it wasn't until the very early '80s, when I was 10 or 11, that I discovered super-hero comics. At first, these were black and white French translations in thick trades and featured a truly random array of Marvel and DC Comics, padded with old House of Mystery-type shorts.

Soon enough, I was into the original-English mags invariably sold at convenience stores with moons, stars and rocket-ships on their signs, like Apollo News and Tabagie Astral (I don't know what it is about my home town, must've been the hippies). Proper comic book stores were still almost a decade away, but comics were cheap, colorful and spread through my consciousness like sweet, sweet heroin. The first comic I ever bought with my own money (yeah, like my mom didn't give it to me right there in the store) was DC Comics Presents #59.

Now, DCCP was Superman's team-up book and I found that whenever Superman starred with another headliner, like Flash or Green Lantern, the comic was boredom incarnate. But when some obscure loser who didn't even live in Superman's normal continuum showed up, it really sang. But that's me. It said something about the variety and longevity of the DC universe which appealed to me.

And what better losers than the Legion of Substitute-Heroes? (The Stars)
These are the guys who couldn't make it into the superhero team that accepted Bouncing Boy and Matter-Eater Lad as their own! For God's sake, the real Legion has a member whose power is to DREAM. I do that too and they never gave me a frickin' flight ring. So, no question, all these guys are incredible losers (except maybe Polar Boy who never deserved the treatment, in my opinion). The villain of the piece is Ambush Bug - one of my favorites - who's not quite the king of parody he would later become, but is already talking to himself. Judging from this monologue, he's not too far from (rightly) believing he's a character in a comic book:

"Ambush Bug II" (yep, that IS the title) has a simple enough plot. Ambush Bug hops on Superman as the Man of Steel is flying to the 30th Century (back when he could "Do the Delorian") and gets left in the Subs' custody (the LSH are out of town) while Supes takes care of some business. Of course, they screw things up and he escapes. Now, the 30th Century was a groovy place. Something right out of Flash Gordon or '60s Doctor Who. There are signs in Interlac all over the place (I wonder if this is the "additional dialogue" attributed to Legion of Super-Heroes scribe Paul Levitz*... you probably couldn't do a Legion story back then without him getting his fingers all over it).