Who's Who: Legion of Super-Rejects

 

Legion of Super-Rejects
by Russell & Siskoid

Members: Calorie Queen, Chameleon Kid, Phantom Lad, Magno Lad, Esper Less, Micro Lad
Relationship to Legion: Villains
Legion Log
Six rejected Legion applicants decided to band together and insist on their right to represent their respective planets in the Legion. They did not consider it "fair" that they could not be considered just because their planets were already represented by a Legionnaire.
The members were:
Calorie Queen (Taryn Loy) of Bismoll, who had the same matter-consuming powers as Matter-Eater Lad but was as powerful as three men due to experiments her father did on her to convert caloric energy into super-strength.
Chameleon Kid (Toog Lintens) of Durla had the same shape-changing powers as Chameleon Boy, but was a body-builder, so stronger overall than any form Chameleon Boy could take.
Phantom Lad (Solon Darga) of Bgtzl has the same native ability to become a phantom as Phantom Girl has, and considered himself stronger because he was a boy.
Magno Lad (Kort Grezz) of Braal, who had the same magnetic powers as Cosmic Boy. He was a champion of Braal's Magnetic Olympics, so considered himself better skilled at magnetism than Cosmic Boy.
Esper Lass (Meta Ulnoor) of Titan, who had the same telepathic powers as Saturn Girl.
Micro Lad (Lalo Muldron) of Imsk, who had the same shrinking powers as Shrinking Violet.

The group, who later became known as "the Super-Rejects" but never actually referred to themselves in this way, challenged their six counterparts to a fight, winner(s) to be Legionnaire(s). Faced with these more powerful opponents, the Legionnaires instead relied on skill and teamwork to defeat their challengers.

Three of the Super-Rejects learned their lesson and returned to their individual homes. The other three simmered in their bitterness, eventually joining the Legion of Super-Villains and committing to the path of Evil.

By the way, the graffiti in the illustration says, "The Legions Stinks!" in Interlac.

During the Five-Year Gap that followed the chronicling of the Magic Wars, Tenzil Kem hired the former Calorie Queen on his senatorial staff. He had apparently suggested the Legion take her on after he was drafted back to Bismoll to stand for political office, but the team had refused under unknown circumstances. Their loss was his gain. She eventually inherited his seat after he was bounced by the opposition party, when Tenzil was mistakenly declared dead.

In the Reboot, the Legion's newest recruits were attacked by but readily defeated an almost completely different team they dubbed the Legion of Super-Rejects, composed of Cherry Bomb, Density, Phantom Lad, and Tongue.

No team was ever called the Legion of Super-Rejects in the Threeboot.

After Infinite Crisis, the Legion of Super-Rejects' original history has presumably been more or less restored.

Important Legion of Super-Reject stories:

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #212
(reprinted in The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11
and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 5)

The debut of the Legion of Super-Rejects

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #11

Calorie Queen would go on to become Tenzil Kem's top aide in the Bismollian Senate

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #14

So good in fact that she won his seat when he was indisposed (believed dead)

Legionnaires #44

After the Reboot, only Phantom Lad is once again a member of the Super-Rejects