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!