Who's Who: Science Police - Gigi Cusimano

Gigi Cusimano
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Gigi Cusimano

Super-Power(s): None
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Science Police liaison

Legion Log
Gigi Cusimano was a promising cadet at the Science Police Academy on Mars when she met and fell in love with another cadet, Gim Allon. During a break from classes they were enjoying the wild sand-ski course when Gim was showered with radiation from a falling meteroid. He soon developed the power to grow, which made him to decide to quit the Science Police to become Colossal Boy and  join the newly formed Legion of Super-Heroes.

Gigi continued at the Science Police Academy, where upon graduating, she was assigned to the prison planet, Takron-Galtos under the leadership of Lieutenant Kimball Zendak. While serving together they formed a life-long friendship based on mutual respect.

Several years later, after Zendak was promoted to SP Chief, Gigi was assigned to Earth. She roomed with fellow officer Shvaughn Erin, who was the newly-named Legion Liaison Officer. Through her, Gigi met and befriended several other Legionnaires, including her old boyfriend, Colossal Boy.

Gigi also began an on-again off-again romance with Sun Boy. When his "love 'em and leave 'em" personality wore on her, she planned to get revenge on him with the help of her old friend Colossal Boy and his newlywed wife, Yera.

Gigi sped through SP leadership training and was not afraid to volunteer for hazard duty, such as helping to infiltrate and destroy the Dark Circle and helping protect planet Bismoll from Pulsar Stargrave. Therefore, no one was surprised when Gigi was awarded the Chief Starburst at a relatively young age and promoted to leadership of the Mars post.

Only a few years later, when Earth President Desai requested Chief Zendak's resignation after the embarrassing Universo Project fiasco, Gigi was promoted to Chief of Science Police, Earth branch. Gigi was therefore on Earth and in charge of the Science Police forces when chaos broke out during the Magic War. When the Legion ended the threat, Chief Gigi Cusimano was the woman in charge of helping to restore order to the United Planets.

During the so-called Five-Year-Gap, Earth leaves the U.P. and governance of both the United Planets and the Science Police is relocated to Weber's World. Chief Kimball Zendak becomes Science Police Commissioner while Gigi Cusimano is promoted to Chief. It is revealed there is an Officer Sara Cusimano, but the family connection is not explained. Whether this Gigi's sister, cousin, or what, remains unknown.

In the Reboot, Gigi is a Science Police officer, but not one that crosses paths with the Legion very often. She has been friends with Gim Allon, the Legionnaire known as Leviathan, since they were kids, and helped him come to terms with his drafting by the Legion.

Gigi Cusimano makes no appearances in the Threeboot.

After Infinite Crisis, Gigi's original history has presumably been more or less restored. She is still Science Police Chief - Earth.

Gigi Cusimano was co-created by Paul Levitz and named after his wife, the former Jeannette Cusimano.

Important Gigi Cusimano stories:

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #301
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Debut appearance of Gigi Cusimano

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #302
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Gigi is a trusted SP officer

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #303
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Gigi reports directly to Chief Zendak

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #304
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Gigi doesn't take any guff from Wildfire

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #306
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Officer Cusimano's early career was working side-by-side with Lt. Zendak 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #312
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Gigi and Sun Boy are an item..? 

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #318

Gigi and Colossal Boy are old friends

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #320

Gigi gets revenge on the cheating Sun Boy

Legion of Substitute Heroes Special #1

Gigi is dispatched to Bismoll to chaperone the Substitute Heroes

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #323

Gigi is assigned to be liaison for Dev-Em investigating the Dark Circle

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #324-325

Gigi thinks Dev-Em has gone rogue and joined the Dark Circle

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #5

(reprinted in The Legion: An Eye For An Eye TPB)

Gigi is dispatched to Orlando space to escort the Legion back to Earth

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #8
(reprinted in The Legion: The More Things Change TPB)

Gigi helps the Legion take down the remaining LSV members

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #9
(reprinted in The Legion: The More Things Change TPB)

Gigi is invited to Legion parties

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #20

Sun Boy tries to relight things with Gigi

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #24

Gigi tries to capture Flare

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #37

Gigi is consulted by Marella Tao about Legion romances

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #39

The history of Gigi and Colossal Boy....

Gigi is promoted to Chief of the Mars SP Office

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #57

Gigi is promoted to Science Police Chief, replacing Zendak

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #61

Gigi is SP Chief during the Magic War

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #62

Gigi is in charge of Earth defenses during the Magic War

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #13

5 years later, Gigi Cusimano is Science Police Chief

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #51

Introduction of Officer Sara Cusimano, family connection unknown

Legionnaires #0

Reboot Gigi is sent to recruit Lyle Norg into the Legion

Showcase '95 #6

Gigi shares an adventure with old friend Leviathan

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #72

Gigi arrests a White Triangle member

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v4) #6

Gigi helped Gim come to terms with his being drafted into the Legion

Adventure Comics #522

After the Retroboot, Chief Cusimano needs Dawnstar to find the missing Chief Zendak