TOS: Action Comics #287 Group Review

featuring
The Legion of Super Bloggers Round-Table Discussion on
Action Comics #287 (April, 1962)
title: Supergirl's Greatest Challenge!
writer: Jerry Siegel
penciller: Jim Mooney
inker: Jim Mooney
letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

Mission Monitor Board: 
Supergirl, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Sun Boy, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Triplicate Girl

Guests:
Lois Lane, Whizzy (descendant of Streaky), Fred Danvers, Edna Danvers, Streaky

Opponents:
Positive Man, Negative Creature, Chameleon Men

Mon-El: Hot or Not?

A group of candid women with no real Legion knowledge tell us if each Legionnaire is hot or not. And we've brought in new blood!

Our honorary Legion members are...
Art Girl - Knows what colors go with which.
DJ Nath - Knows what she likes and what she likes is nice boys.
Lip-Bomb - Is about to walk into a room where her puntastic skills are going to be challenged. Co-star of Mind Linked, on You-Tube, with her sister DJ Nath.
Science Girl - A new addition to the cast, her power is to nullify YOUR power on the basis that it doesn't make any kind of scientific sense. And don't worry, Havana Nights hasn't left us, she was just real busy this week and couldn't make it. Nobody's a replacement for anybody.
Shotgun - And here she thought her maths degree made HER the science girl.
Moderator: Siskoid - Recruiter extraordinaire.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #49

Recap: Mordru's attempt to rule the universe has been ended. The Legion of Super-Heroes are recovering from a hard war in which they had to fight their beloved fallen friends. Earlier in the year, Tenzil Kem helped upend the rule of Prince Evillo on the planet Tartarus by reviving the dead souls Evillo sent to a purgatory-like land.

Legion of Super-Heroes #49 was something of a call back to the earlier creative tone of this title. Looking back at the title, then writers Keith Giffen and Tom & Mary Bierbaum would insert humor issues as a way to let plots simmer a little longer or to give readers a chance to take a breath after a major arc closed. In particular, Matter-Eater Lad was used as comic relief to let the readers have a chuckle while reading an otherwise dystopic future.

Superboy and The Legion #233

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #233 (Nov, 1977)
title: "The Infinite Man Who Conquered Time The Legion!"

writer: Paul Levitz

pencillers: Jim Sherman

inker: Bob Wiacek

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Liz Berube

editor: Denny O'Neil
cover: Mike Grell (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Star Boy, Lightning Lad, Brainiac 5, Dream Girl, Wildfire, Colossal Boy, Phantom Girl

Guests: 
Rond Vidar, Professor Jaxon Rugarth (Metropolis University Time Institute)

Opponents: 
Sklarian Raiders, Infinite Man

Synopsis: 
On Earth, four Legionnaires are bringing an experimental hyper-time drive back to their head-quarters when they are ambushed by Sklarian Raiders. This is only a slight delay in their schedule, however. When they return to LSH HQ Dream Girl is overjoyed to see them return. She admits that she had foreseen the attack, but that it was too late to do anything to help them, including her boyfriend, Star Boy. Wildfire is absolutely unsympathetic, and the others ignore him.

Who's Who: Echo

Echo
by Siskoid

Real Name: Myke-4 Astor

Super-Power(s): Sonic blast
Planet of Origin: Rimbor

Legion Seniority: Echo's membership in the Legion during the Five-Year Gap was revealed in Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #28. He is considered the era's sixth recruit.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #33

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #33 (April, 1987)
title: "The Universo Project Chapter 2: Forgotten Planet!"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Greg LaRocque
inker: Mike DeCarlo
ink assist: Arne Starr
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Saturn Girl, Dream Girl, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Mon-El, Ultra Boy, Blok, Tellus, Wildfire, White Witch, Quislet, Element Lad

Guest-Star(s): 
Atmos, Xera of Manna-5, Energax, the Silver Sword, Gas Girl, and countless other unnamed prisoners

Opponents: 
Universo, Zymyr

Synopsis: 
On their unnamed prison planet, Chameleon Boy takes the lead, due to his espionage and disguise experience. He tells everyone to act "controlled" so the spy-cams don't catch on that they have broken free of their mental blocks. Saturn Girl agrees to rebuild the mental blocks superficially so that they can continue to pretend to be controlled.

LSH Cover to Cover 4: Curt Swan

Here's our fourth installment of our Legion of Super-Bloggers feature on all of the comic-book cover appearances of The Legion in chronological order.

Last time we went from Adventure Comics #321 to Adventure Comics #329, with a quick stop-off at Superboy #117. That brought us up to February 1965 and the debut of the Legion Flight Rings.

There was a definite "core" of Legionnaires by this point. Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, and Colossal Boy appeared most often, with Lightning Lad, Mon-El, and Chameleon Boy featured prominently often, too. Surprisingly, Light Lass was on every cover from Adventure Comics #333 thru Adventure Comics #338. No other Legionnaire besides Superboy ever had that great a stretch.

Hot and Cool Cover: Legionnaires #7

by Siskoid

Today's "Hot" post comes courtesy of cheesecake artist extraordinaire Adam Hughes. We've shown off his work before, so we know his figures are pretty and sexy, without being trashy. FACT. Legionnaires #7's cover is a perfect, summery example, catering to several fantasies.

We have a beefcake Sun Boy FOR ONCE not being douchy and actually in a very sweet pose with one of the oldest romantic fantasies of all time, a mermaid. And all around the couple, all of Triad/Triplicate Girl, the human threesome, or if you like, the three personality types you might find attractive - confident and clever, shy and submissive, and passionate spitfire. In three bathing suit styles.

And in no way does the image seem lascivious or tawdry. Mr. Hughes, we salute your art's hotness!

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #48

Recap: The universe is reeling as Mordru has attempted total domination via a near unstoppable zombie army. Several Legion factions have converged on Tharn to take on Mordru directly. Not only are there Legionnaires, but also Khundian Legionnaires, the Martian Manhunter, and an Amethyst-possessed Kono. Things look bleak as Mordru has battered almost the entire team, burying them alive.

Legion of Super-Heroes #48 brings the Mordru War storyline to an end. This arc has been something of an interesting one for me to revisit. It has been years since I have read the later issues of this title and so I feel like I am reading these for the first time, although with some vague recollections.

Superboy and The Legion #232

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #232 (Oct, 1977)
title: "The Disease That Wouldn't Die!"

writer: Gerry Conway

pencillers: Ric Estrada

inker: Jack Abel

colorist: Liz Berube
lettering: Clem Robins

editor: Denny O'Neil
cover: Mike Grell (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Shrinking Violet, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Shadow Lass, Mon-El, Timber Wolf, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Sun Boy

Opponents: 
Immune, Dr. Regulus

Synopsis: 
In space, Superboy is experiencing his first Klodny Week with three of his Legionnaire friends. Oddly, they refuse to explain exactly what Klodny is or what they are celebrating. A blowhard United Planets unionist yells at Shrinking Violet about her planet Imsk's request for a larger space zone around itself. Suddenly, space pirates attack their luxury ship. Superboy captures them, Lightning Lad fixes the hole in the ship, Violet fixes the life support wiring, and Saturn Girl "interrogates" them. They were only a diversion so that another ship could sneak into our solar system.

Who's Who: Reflecto

Reflecto
by Siskoid

Real Name: Stig Ah

Super-Power(s): Reflect fast-moving objects, matter or energy
Planet of Origin: Rimbor

Legion Seniority: Though Reflecto was an identity once used by Superboy, accidentally posing as Ultra Boy, a new Reflecto was the fifth recruit to join the Legion in the mostly-unchronicled era known as the Five-Year Gap.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #32

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #32 (March, 1987)
title: "The Universo Project Chapter 1: Forgotten Heroes!"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Greg LaRocque
inker: Mike DeCarlo
ink assist: Arne Starr
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Saturn Girl, Dream Girl, Mon-El, Ultra Boy, Blok, Tellus, Wildfire, White Witch, Quislet, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy

Opponents: 
Universo, Zymyr

Synopsis: 
On some unnamed planet, Saturn Girl suddenly wakes up, both physically and mentally. She finds herself in a barricade, surrounded by other mind-controlled prisoners. She encounters Dream Girl, who is still mind-blocked. She doesn't recognize any one else she meets. She has no idea what is going on. She observes spy-cameras as she works the fields and otherwise pretends to still be a mental slave. She verifies that they are on an island, surrounded by a sea of sulfur.

DC Super-Stars Society

It was a poorly-designed house advertisement that ran in DC Comics’ December 1977 issues. Looking like a statement of ownership and circulation more than a major announcement, the memo-style document outlined the formation of The DC Super-Stars Society fan club, in type so small you could forgive readers for accidentally ignoring it.

Bouncing Boy: Hot or Not?

A group of candid women with no real Legion knowledge have a go at the first "regular Joe" Legionnaire.

Participants
Our honorary Legion members are...
Art Girl -Taught an art workshop at the Academy once. Only Crystal Kid did well.
DJ Nath - Playing tunes at the Academy prom; not taking Comet Queen's requests. Co-star of Mind Linked, on You-Tube, with her sister Lip-Bomb.
Havana Nights - Teach poli sci at the Academy; flunked Power Boy.
Lip-Bomb - Shadow Kid's favorite teacher at the Academy, but he won't change his name to Eyeshadow Kid no matter what she says.
Shotgun - When someone needs to be expelled, she's the one they call.
Moderator: Siskoid - Tried to teach at the Academy, left claiming he was just too distracted by Laurel Kent's "costume".

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #47

Recap: Mordru has absorbed the White Witch and her power and has achieved near omnipotence. In a swift stroke to obtain universal dominance, he activated a resurrection spell, raising the dead as a zombie army in his thrall. This includes the dead Legionnaires. Working together with Khunds, the Legion has stopped the resurrection spell. Now an Amethyst-possessed Kono streaks to Tharn with the Martian Manhunter, Dream Girl, and Matter-Eater Lad to face off against Mordru.

Legion of Super-Heroes #47 is something of a filler issue in the larger Mordru story that has been running in this title for the last couple of months. We have been speeding through this story pretty fast. In fact, one of my complaints about last issue was that it seemed to go too fast. We didn't have the time to pause and really get the emotions of what it would be like for the Legion to fight their dead colleagues. Here, unfortunately, the plot seems to pause a bit. In fact, one of the bigger moments of the last issue is pretty much ignored here, rehashing a plot that I thought was finished.

Superboy AND The Legion #231

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #231 (Sept, 1977)
title: "A Day In The  Death Of A World"

writer: Paul Levitz

pencillers: Jim Sherman and Mike Nasser

inker: Jack Abel

colorist: Liz Berube

editor: Denny O'Neil
cover: Mike Grell (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Colossal Boy, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Superboy, Ultra Boy, Mon-El, Brainiac 5, Element Lad, Sun Boy

Opponents: 
The Fatal Five (Tharok, the Emerald Empress, Validus, the Persuader, and Mano)

Synopsis: 
On their way to Earth, the ship carrying Karate Kid and Princess Projectra is grabbed by a tractor beam. Tharok and Validus wanted to kidnap the Legionnaires for some additional insurance as they are heading towards a planet called Mordan.

Who's Who: Atmos

Atmos
by Siskoid

Real Name: Marak Russen

Super-Power(s): Flight, super-strength, super-invulnerability, nuclear bolts, some form of matter manipulation; secretly, will subversion
Planet of Origin: Xanthu

Legion Seniority: Atmos was the fourth recruit to join the Legion in the mostly-unchronicled era known as the Five-Year Gap.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #31

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #31 (Feb, 1987)
title: "Knights In Shining Armor"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Greg LaRocque
inker: Mike DeCarlo
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Sensor Girl, Invisible Kid II; flashback of Princess Projectra, Karate Kid, Ferro Lad, Bouncing Boy, Invisible Kid (original)

Opponents: 
Black Mace, his partner in crime Gharf

Synopsis: 
On Earth, Projectra is in the Hall of Heroes conversing with her dead husband when Invisible Kid II joins her. They talk of ghosts and heroes and death. Invisible Kid is in awe of Projectra, so she offers to tell him a story of when she was a rookie Legionnaire.

Eye of Ekron Florentine

Adapted by Siskoid from a real recipe

Makes 250 servings*

Ingredients
500 10 oz. boxes frozen chopped spinach
1 Eye of Ekron
250 medium onions, chopped
500 tablespoons olive oil
312½ cups half-and-half
250 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
31¼ teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
187½ teaspoons salt
125 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper

Preparation
Cook spinach according to package directions.

Hot... Shower (Feat. Dawnstar)

Have a good Saturday everyone! If you're looking for a Super-Blogger, we're all taking a shower somewhere. Not saying with who.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #46

Recap: Mordru has regained near omnipotence by absorbing the White Witch and her powers into his body. In an effort to wrest control of the entire universe, he casts a resurrection spell which raises the dead as his revenant army. And his troops include a planet of Trommites and the dead Legionnaires. On Sklar, the Legion and their Khundian allies (??) try to hold off the army for the 96 hours it lasts. Meanwhile, an Amethyst possessed Kono joins the Martian Manhunter, Dream Girl, and Matter Eater Lad to try to bring the attack to Mordru.

Legion of Super-Heroes #46 continued the Mordru war, reestablishing the old wizard as a primary foe of the team. We had seen him have total control over the universe in a different timeline way back in the earliest issues of this book. Here we see just how he could do that.

Superboy starring The Legion #230

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #230 (Aug, 1977)
title: "The Creature That Conned The Legion"

writer: Paul Levitz

artist: Jim Sherman

inker: Jack Abel

colorist: Liz Berube
letterer: Bill Morse

editor: Denny O'Neil
cover: Mike Grell (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

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

Opponents: 
Sden, the alien named in the story's title

Synopsis: 
On Remor, five Legionnaires are about to be honored for their service when a strong earthquake occurs. As most of the Legionnaires are busy rescuing the Remorians, Sun Boy fuses the split earth shut.

Who's Who: Karate Kid II

Karate Kid II
by Siskoid

Real Name: Myg

Super-Power(s): Martial arts mastery
Planet of Origin: Lythyl

Legion Seniority: The second Karate Kid was the third recruit to join the Legion in the mostly-unchronicled era known as the Five-Year Gap.

Legion of Super-Heroes(v3) #30

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #30 (Jan, 1987)
title: "Brainy's Lucky Day!"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Greg LaRocque
inker: Mike DeCarlo
ink assist: Arne Starr
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Sensor Girl, Timber Wolf, Colossal Boy, Mon-El, Ultra Boy, Blok, Phantom Girl, Shadow Lass, Dream Girl, Lightning Lass, Shrinking Violet, Tellus, Wildfire, White Witch, Quislet, Sun Boy, Dawnstar, Element Lad, Polar Boy

Guests: 
Ambassador Relnic, SP Officer Gigi Cusimano, Dr. Chaseer

Opponents: 
Universo

Synopsis: 
A Day In The Life of Brainiac 5....begins on Earth, at Legion head-quarters with Brainy apologizing to Sensor Girl (Projectra) for being so obsessive when she was still hiding her identity. Jeckie tells him she forgives him, but to not let it happen again. Colossal Boy and Timber Wolf ask Brainiac 5 to settle a bet about Moopsball rules, but he reminds them that his 12th level brain is a tool of thinking, not an indicator cluttered with unimportant facts.

Spotlight on Jeff Moy

The Archie Legion owes its fan nickname as much to the simpler tone of its rebooted stories as the cartoonish, seemingly manga-inspired artwork of Jeffrey Moy.  Some fans loathed the style, but more than enough loved it to help sustain the title more than five years after the Zero Hour restart … and Jeff practically drew every one of those issues.

Sun Boy: Hot or Not?

A group of candid women with no real Legion knowledge decide whether Sun Boy is as hot metaphorically as he is literally.

Participants
Our honorary Legion members are...
Art Girl - Hates the color orange, so what does she think of fire?
DJ Nath - Can't stand the heat, so lives in a basement apartment.
Havana Nights - Her superhero code name actually comes from City of Heroes fire-powered character made in her effigy.
Lip-Bomb - Straining not to drop fire puns all the way through. Co-star of Mind Linked, on You-Tube, with her sister DJ Nath.
Shotgun - Goes to the beach four times a week.
Moderator: Siskoid - Suffering from heat stroke.