The Original Legion: Who Joined When? (Part One)

By Emsley Wyatt

Who joined when?

When the Legion of Super-Heroes first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 (April 1958) it was as a group without a history.  They were just sort of there.  

The story was intended as a one-and-done, as most comic stories were in those days. But it didn't stay that way.  Readers wanted more and what readers want, they usually get. More and more Legion stories were written and more and more members were created.  Then, readers started to demand a history for the group.  What was their origin?  When did the various members join? This two-part post will attempt to answer that question! 

R.E.B.E.L.S. #8

R.E.B.E.L.S. #8 (November 2009)

title: "Stealth"

writer: Tony Bedard

penciller: Andy Clarke

inker: Andy Clarke

colors: Jose Villarrubia 

letters: Travis Laham
editor: Brian Cunningham
cover: Kalman Andrasofszky

Reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Vril Dox found himself on the run after the new leader of L.E.G.I.O.N. put a bounty on his head. He received a message through time from his descendant, Brainiac 5, who explained that there was no record in his era of Vril Dox after this day. To ensure his survival, Brainiac 5 provided him with the complete personnel files of the Legion of Super-Heroes to maximize his chances. Vril Dox then stole a device from one of the mercenaries chasing him, which gave him control over the giant beast, Tribulus. He travelled to Starhaven, home of the Anasazi Tribe of Earth, who had long ago been abducted by aliens and resettled. There, he recruited the outcast native, Wildstar, and used technology to awaken the latent tracking talents of her people.  Unfortunately, the effects of the process meant that she must now wear a special containment suit for the rest of her life. He then travelled to the planet Cairn to recruit former L.E.G.I.O.N. officer, Strata, and her companion, Bounder. At the same time, the homeworld of the Dominators came under attack by an invading army from another galaxy led by Starro the Concqueror. Dox's ship was also attacked by a Durlan, Captain Ciji, who commanded a troop of Khund warriors. It turned out that Captain Ciji was there to appeal to Dox for help on behalf of the Council of Durla. Dox activated the "iron curtain" protocols that commanded all of the peacekeeping robo-troops of L.E.G.I.O.N. to abdandon their posts and create a barrier in space. Dox contacted every major power in the galaxy for help but his overtures were rejected.

 

Who's Who in the Legion #2 EXTRAS

by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Continuing the series where we spotlight the features that appeared at the beginning of each issue of the mini-series Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes (1988). This time out we continue with the history of the Legion, which had begun in the first issue. 

R.E.B.E.L.S. #7

R.E.B.E.L.S. #7 (October 2009)

title: "No Way Out"

writer: Tony Bedard

penciller: Andy Clarke

inker: Andy Clarke

colors: Jose Villarrubia 

letters: Steve Wands
editor: Brian Cunningham
cover: Kalman Andrasofszky

Reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Vril Dox found himself on the run after the new leader of L.E.G.I.O.N. put a bounty on his head. He received a message through time from his descendant, Brainiac 5, who explained that there was no record in his era of Vril Dox after this day. To ensure his survival, Brainiac 5 provided him with the complete personnel files of the Legion of Super-Heroes to maximize his chances. Vril Dox then stole a device from one of the mercenaries chasing him, which gave him control over the giant beast, Tribulus. He travelled to Starhaven, home of the Anasazi Tribe of Earth, who had long ago been abducted by aliens and resettled. There, he recruited the outcast native, Wildstar, and used technology to awaken the latent tracking talents of her people.  Unfortunately, the effects of the process meant that she must now wear a special containment suit for the rest of her life. He then travelled to the planet Cairn to recruit former L.E.G.I.O.N. officer, Strata, and her companion, Bounder. At the same time, the homeworld of the Dominators came under attack by an invading army from another galaxy led by Starro the Concqueror. Dox's ship was also attacked by a Durlan, Captain Ciji, who commanded a troop of Khund warriors. It turned out that Captain Ciji was there to appeal to Dox for help on behalf of the Council of Durla. Dox activated the "iron curtain" protocols that commanded all of the peacekeeping robo-troops of L.E.G.I.O.N. to abdandon their posts and create a barrier in space.

Bronze Age Legion Writers

 

The Legion of Super Writers Part 2

by Emsley Wyatt

As we profiled in the first part of this article, the Legion of Super-Heroes had a group of talented men guiding their destinies from their very beginning: Otto Binder, Jerry Siegel, Edmond Hamilton, and Jim Shooter. After the Legion of Super-Heroes were unceremoniously kicked out of Adventure Comics in 1969, then-writer Jim Shooter left the series. He has said that economically he needed to write 17-page stories, and that he could literally not afford to write the 8-page back-ups. 

Although it is said that the Bronze Age begins a few years after this, with the decommissioning of the Legion from Adventure Comics and the near simultaneous loss of Jim Shooter, this seemed like a good breaking off point.  

R.E.B.E.L.S. #6

R.E.B.E.L.S. #6 (September 2009)

title: "Dominators"

writer: Tony Bedard

penciller: Claude St. Aubin

inker: Scott Hanna

colors: Jose Villarrubia 

letters: Steve Wands
editor: Brian Cunningham
cover: Kalman Andrasofszky

Reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Vril Dox found himself on the run after the new leader of L.E.G.I.O.N. put a bounty on his head. He received a message through time from his descendant, Brainiac 5, who explained that there was no record in his era of Vril Dox after this day. To ensure his survival, Brainiac 5 provided him with the complete personnel files of the Legion of Super-Heroes to maximize his chances. Vril Dox then stole a device from one of the mercenaries chasing him, which gave him control over the giant beast, Tribulus. He travelled to Starhaven, home of the Anasazi Tribe of Earth, who had long ago been abducted by aliens and resettled. There, he recruited the outcast native, Wildstar, and used technology to awaken the latent tracking talents of her people.  Unfortunately, the effects of the process mean that she must now wear a special containment suit for the rest of her life. He then travelled to the planet Cairn to recruit former L.E.G.I.O.N. officer, Strata, and her companion, Bounder. Their ship came under attack by a Durlan, Captain Ciji, who commanded a troop of Khund warriors.

Ciji reveals to Dox that the Council of Durla are afraid of whoever took over the L.EG.I.O.N. and they want to work together. Meanwhile, a wormhole appeared near the Dominator homeworld and they have come under attack by an invasion force led by Starro.

Valor #17

Valor #17 (March 1994)

title: "DOA Part Six: The Tyranny of Time"

writer: Mark Waid

penciller: Colleen Doran

inkers: Mischa McDowell & Colleen Doran

letterer: Bob Pinaha

colorist: Dave Grafe

associate editor: Mike McAvennie

editor: KC Carlson

cover: Colleen Doran & Terry Austin (signed)

reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Guest-Star(s):

The Legion of Super-Heroes (Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Dragonmage, Element Lad, Saturn Girl, Triad, Ultra Boy) 

Opponent(s):
Glorith

R.E.B.E.L.S. #5

R.E.B.E.L.S. #5 (August 2009)

title: "The Stars We Are"

writer: Tony Bedard

penciller: Claude St. Aubin

inker: Scott Hanna

colors: Jose Villarrubia 

letters: Steve Wands
editor: Brian Cunningham
cover: Kalman Andrasofszky

Reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Vril Dox found himself on the run after the new leader of L.E.G.I.O.N. put a bounty on his head. He received a message through time from his descendant, Brainiac 5, who explained that there was no record in his era of Vril Dox after this day. To ensure his survival, Brainiac 5 provided him with the complete personnel files of the Legion of Super-Heroes to maximize his chances. Vril Dox then stole a device from one of the mercenaries chasing him, which gave him control over the giant beast, Tribulus. He travelled to Starhaven, home of the Anasazi Tribe of Earth, who had long ago been abducted by aliens and resettled. There, he recruited the outcast native, Wildstar, and used technology to awaken the latent tracking talents of her people.  Unfortunately, the effects of the process mean that she must now wear a special containment suit for the rest of her life. He then travelled to the planet Cairn to recruit former L.E.G.I.O.N. officer, Strata, and her companion, Bounder. Their ship came under attack by a Durlan, Captain Cici, who commands a troop of Khund warriors.

LEGION TOYS: Mongul (DC Super-Heroes)

An extraterrestrial tyrant who controls his empire through gladiatorial death matches and  the ever-present threat of the planetary super-weapon called Warworld. When Mongul took control of a deadly Sun-Eater, he was opposed  by Superman, Supergirl, the Justice League of America, and, of course, the Legion of Super-Heroes.