Who's Who: Modulus

Modulus
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Modulus

Super-Power(s): Control over an entire planet's geology, atmosphere, etc.
Planet of Origin: Modo

Relationship to Legion: Villain

TOS: Adventure Comics #364

Adventure Comics #364 (January 1968)

title: "The Revolt of the Super-Pets!"

writer and layouts: Jim Shooter

artist: Pete Costanza

letterer: Gaspar Saladino

cover: Curt Swan and George Klein

reviewer: Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Mission Monitor Board:

Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Superboy, Supergirl, and Ultra Boy

Featuring:

The Legion of Super-Pets: Beppo, Comet, Krypto, Proty (II), and Streaky

Opponent:

The people of Thanl

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.

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #14

How can you be a critic when you are biased? 
How can you write objective looks at something when you are clearly subjective?
Or is the very nature of reviews subjective?

As I look back at these Retroboot Legion issues, I feel like I am so desperate to get a good Legion book that I am willing to give mediocre Legion books good grades. I love the Legion. I'll always try to see the best in the material. 

But this Retroboot book isn't very good. And when it came out I gave it a B/B+ grade. 

I think the biggest thing for me is the inconsistent characterization. We are over a year of this book seeing Harmonia Li being all serene wisdom. So seeing her enraged and aggressive seems way off. Had it been building, I might think differently. But suddenly acting different seems off.

And overall this plot of a maniacal Saturn Queen looking to destroy the 'World of Wisdom', a place we never heard of before? It just isn't clicking this reread.

But what did I think then?

Reboot: Legionnaires #68

Legionnaires #68 (February 1999)
title: "When Robots Attack"

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

penciller: Jeffrey Moy
inker: W.C. Carani
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie
adult legionnaire: Carmela Merlo

cover: Chris Sprouse
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Kid, Element Lad, Gates, Kid Quantum II, Monstress, Saturn Girl, Sensor (cameo), Star Boy, Ultra Boy

Guests: 
Athramites, Dr. Gym'll, Dreamer, Lori Morning, Metal Men (imperfect replicas), Olsen, Proty, Science Police, Tari Gro, a vid shooter; in flashbacks: Aquaman, Atmos, Black Canary, Flash II, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Insect Queen, Martian Manhunter, Prefect Lamar, Superman

Opponents: 
Xotar the Weapons Master; see Notes for robot opponents

Who's Who: The Mess

The Mess
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Meyer Qayd

Super-Power(s): Ability to attract dust and dirt 
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Legion applicant

TOS: Adventure Comics #363

Adventure Comics #363 (December 1967)
title: "Black Day for the Legion!"
writer and layouts: Jim Shooter
artist: Pete Costanza
letterer: Joe Letterese
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover art: Curt Swan and George Klein
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Dream Girl, Duo Damsel Element Lad, Karate Kid, Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Matter Eater Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Princess Projector, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Superboy, and Ultra Boy.

Opponent: Dr. Mantis Morlo and his Chemoids


At the end of the last issue, the Legion appeared to be facing defeat at the hands of Morlo's Chemoids, which could shift their chemical block structure to any substance. We start this issue right where we left off last time....!

LEGION TOYS: Mon-El (DC Direct 2002)

So I'm pretty sure that my Heroes Con 2017 Celebration photo using various action figures as stand-ins for all the great Podcasters and Bloggers I met there is what got me the "Articulated Lad" gig here at Legion of Super-Bloggers in the first place. Also, it probably doesn't hurt that I already owned the Matty Collector Legion of Super-Heroes Box Set.

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1

Hey all,
I think with the posting of this review of Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1 from the retroboot Legion that I am finally caught up with my reviews. While my reviews have gone all the way up to Legion of Super-Heroes #13, this annual should have been snuggled up after LSH #8.  After all, this story picks up right after Ayla and Vi announce that they are heading off on vacation.

So, thankfully, moving forward, I think the timeline is now reset.

On to the book!

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #111

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #111 (January 1999)
title: "Possession"

writers: Tom McCraw and Tom Peyer

penciller: Scott Kolins
inker: Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Alan Davis and Mark Farmer
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5.1, Ferro (cameo), Invisible Kid I, Karate Kid, Kinetix, Live Wire, M'Onel, Spark, Thunder, Violet

Guests: 
Koko, Magno, the people of Sataar

Opponents: 
Sarei and Redin Klerrgh