Who's Who in the Legion #3 EXTRAS

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 the series featured planets in the Legion Universe. 

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

Who's Who: Servants of Darkness

Servants of Darkness
by Russell & Siskoid

Members: Guardian, Kalibak, Lydea Mallor, Orion, Superman (clones)

Relationship to Legion: Villains

The FW Podcast: Who's Who in the Legion (2)

The Fire and Water Podcast Presents…
Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes episode 2

The cross-over you thought would never continue----continues!

The Irredeemable Shag teams-up with the Legion of Super-Bloggers to cover the galactic seven-issue mini-series! A three-episode podcast has its second episode on-line starting TODAY at the Fire & Water Podcast Network!

Our second podcast episode features reviews of the third and fourth issues of Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes, the seven issue mini-series from 1988. For Episode 2 of the podcast Shag welcomes LSB Constitutional Scholar Siskoid 5 and Silver Age Lover Tim to talk about issue 3, featuring the Infinite Man, Lady Memory, Laurel Kent, and the Legion of Substitute Heroes, along with a few actual Legionnaires! For the second half of the episode Shag and Tim were joined by Dr. Anj in their talk about issue 4, which features the Legion of Super-Villains, the Ranzz Family, Mon-El, and many many more!

You can find the episode on http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/ww-legion2/

Hop in your Legion Cruiser and go there RIGHT NOW and listen. Then leave Listener Feedback on their page as well as here on our page.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #280

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #280 (Oct, 1981)
title: "O! Call Back Yesterday!"

writer: Roy Thomas

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Bruce Patterson

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Mike W. Barr
cover: George Perez

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Karate Kid, Dawnstar, Blok, Superboy/Ultra Boy; Mon-El, Element Lad, Colossal Boy, Wildfire, Shrinking Violet, Chameleon Boy; cameo appearances by all other members except Dream Girl

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy

Opponents: 
Grimbor, the Time Trapper

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #274

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #274 (April 1981)
title: "The Exaggerated Death of Ultra Boy!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Steve Ditko
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Rich Buckler & Bob Smith

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra; Wildfire, Brainiac 5, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Colossal Boy, Chameleon Boy, Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Dream Girl, Timber Wolf

Opponents: 
amnesia, Space Pirates of the Space Caribbean

Who's Who: Legion of Super-Pets

The Legion of Super-Pets
by Russell & Siskoid

Members: Krypto (dog), Streaky (cat), Comet (horse), and Beppo (monkey) were the charter members; Proty II (protoplasm) joined later
Relationship to Legion: Auxiliary support group of and to the Legion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #16

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #16 (Nov, 1985)

title: "Baptism"

writer: Paul Levitz

artist: Steve Lightle

inker: Bob Smith

letterer: John Costanza

colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger
cover: Steve Lightle (signed)
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Element Lad, Polar Boy, Magnetic Kid, Sensor Girl, Tellus, Quislet; cameos of others at Graym Ranzz' baptism ceremony

Guests: 
Circadia Senius, Rond Vidar, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Shvaughn Erin

Opponents: 
unnamed terrorists and hypnotized SP officers

Who's Who: Matter-Eater Lad

Matter-Eater Lad
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Tenzil Kem

Super-Power(s): The ability to eat virtually any type of matter or energy. This is a natural ability of all native Bismollians.  
Planet of Origin: Bismoll

Legion Seniority: Matter-Eater Lad joined after Mon-El but before Element Lad, making him Legionnaire #18.

Legion Log 
Matter-Eater Lad joined after one of the last open application calls for new members. There is a possibility that he appeared in a different costume and heard Bouncing Boy's origin (Adventure Comics #301), but his first official appearance was three issues later when he is inducted into the Legion. Oddly, he is not seen again until Adventure Comics #317. It's possible that around this time, editor Mort Weisinger took another look at just who was supposed to be in this so-called Legion of his and assigned his writers to clarify the point. This would explain the return of Star Boy in this same issue, and the absence of any new throwaway members after this. Regardless of the circumstances, Matter-Eater Lad returned and from then on was an active member. 

Matter-Eater Lad struggled to be taken seriously, but was sometimes portrayed as comic relief, most famously when he was changed into a grossly obese young man. Later, he was shown to have a difficult family life, with his parents moving to Earth to be near him, then moving back to Bismoll so their younger son could grow up on Bismoll. Matter-Eater Lad also had issues with self-confidence. Just as he seemed to conquer these doubts, he had to leave the Legion when he was drafted into politics on his home planet. Later, Brainiac 5 had him eat the Miracle Machine, which drove him insane. Although he was eventually cured, he never rejoined the Legion, preferring the life of a Senator on Bismoll. And although Calorie Queen and his younger brother both vied for his spot in the Legion while he was a member, neither came forward to actually join after Matter-Eater Lad had left. 

Although Matter-Eater Lad was one of Dave Cockrum's least favorite Legionnaires, he was Keith Giffen's favorite.

During and after the five-year gap following the Magic Wars, Matter-Eater Lad was drawn back into the Legion after Polar Boy was unjustly imprisoned on Dominator-controlled Earth. He freed his friend and would use his political connections and owed favors on behalf of the team. Matter-Eater Lad ultimately seduced and married former Legion villain Saturn Queen.

Matter-Eater Lad was also one of the members of the SW6 Legionnaires, and appeared in Legionnaires when it was spun-off into its own series. This version of Tenzil harbored feelings for Shrinking Violet.

After the Reboot, Tenzil Kem, like Bouncing Boy, is recast as part of the Legion's civilian support staff. Tenzil serves as the team's personal chef. Unlike his pre-Reboot counterpart, Tenzil's spit is similar to acid.

After the Threeboot, Tenzil Kem is reintroduced as a government lawyer, investigating Cosmic Boy's disappearance and the legality of his final act as Legion leader. He seems to possess the powers of his previous incarnations, escaping a deathtrap by devouring an entire silo full of grain; and bites off one of Mekt Ranzz's fingers.

After Infinite Crisis, Matter-Eater Lad's original history has more or less been re-established. For a time, he posed as a 21st-century diner owner called Mitch so he could befriend Mon-El in the past and make sure the future happened as it should. When he returned to the 31st century, he once again left the Legion for Bismoll, but as of Justice League United Annual #1, appears to be an active member once more.

Matter-Eater Lad has appeared in several episodes of The Legion of Super-Heroes animated series, voiced by Alexander Polansky.

American indie rock band Guided By Voices recorded a song based on the character called "Matter-Eater Lad" for their 1994 EP Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer.

Important Matter-Eater Lad Stories: 

Adventure Comics #303

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 1)

Matter-Eater Lad is introduced as the newest member of the Legion

Adventure Comics #317

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 2)

Matter-Eater Lad re-appears after a year-long absence

Adventure Comics #338

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 4)

The first time we meet Matter-Eater Lad's parents

Adventure Comics #344

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)

Matter-Eater Lad tries to escape from imprisonment

Adventure Comics #345

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)

Matter-Eater Lad is accidentally turned obese

Adventure Comics  #351
(reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 6)

Matter-Eater Lad returns to normal size

Adventure Comics #374

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 8)

Matter-Eater Lad participates in Mission: Diabolical

Action Comics #381

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9)

Matter-Eater Lad has problems with his parents

Superboy #184

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10)

Matter-Eater Lad has problems with his little brother

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #212

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11)

Matter-Eater Lad resigns from the Legion

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #251

Matter-Eater Lad eats the Miracle Machine; goes insane

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #289

Brainiac 5 attempts to cure Matter-Eater Lad's insanity

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #297

Matter-Eater Lad is cured of his insanity

Legion of Substitute Heroes Special #1 (1985)

Matter-Eater Lad helps the Subs fight Pulsar Stargrave

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #10-11

Matter-Eater Lad rescues Polar Boy from a Dominator prison

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #14

Matter-Eater Lad vs. Evilo, during which time he loses his political office
to Calorie Queen

Legionnaires #9-10

SW6 Matter-Eater Lad gets his feelings hurt by a Violet doppelganger

Legionnaires #14

SW6 Matter-Eater Lad goes undercover as a female pirate

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #49

Matter-Eater Lad trading cards; collect them all (click for bigger image)

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #49-50

Matter-Eater Lad falls in love with, and marries, the former Saturn Queen,
becoming co-ruler of Tartarus

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #63

Reboot Tenzil Kem is hired as the Legion's resident chef

Legionnaires #35

Tenzil fights his doppelganger with the help of his acid spit

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #31-33

Threeboot Tenzil Kem meets Supergirl while investigating Cosmic Boy

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #33

Tenzil bites off Mekt Ranzz's finger

Superman #688

Matter-Eater Lad befriends 21st-century Mon-El as "Mitch" (click for bigger image)

Legion of Super-Heroes animated series

Matter-Eater Lad, voiced by Alexander Polansky

Cosmic Boy The Mini-Series

by Tim "the Substitute Blogger" Wallace 

Before jumping into the Cosmic Boy mini-series written by Paul Levitz, with art by Keith Giffen, Ernie Colon, Bob Smith, and Pablo Marcos, I decided to re-read Legends to see just how it was Cosmic Boy found himself in the 20th Century. When we first meet him, he’s sitting in a diner “eating an actual greasy hamburger, reading an actual newspaper” enjoying a vacation of sorts in the 20th Century. Within a few panels he’s pulled into a battle with Brimstone and meeting the JLA. I couldn’t help but picture Cosmic Boy/Rokk Krinn a little like “Die Hard’s” John McClane for the rest of the read. During that initial battle with Brimstone in Legends #1 I couldn’t help but hear McClane’s lament “Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..." Rokk, on an innocent trip to the 20th Century as an “amateur historian”, finds nothing goes as planned and is quite unexpectedly thrust into an adventure.

The thing about Legends was that Darkseid, by way of G. Gordon Godfrey, had turned the people of Earth against costumed heroes. So what happens after Cosmic Boy shows up in the 20th Century for a little vacation and steps in to battle the monster Brimstone? Well, in issue one of this miniseries he gets attacked by a mob of people he just saved. I know…like me, you were thinking “if he’s from the future, shouldn’t he have known about all this anti-hero stuff?” Keep reading!  Luckily he’s not alone…Night Girl appears just in time to grab him up and take him away. She also appears just in time to give us a little flashback explanation of a few things, like her origin. She loved Cosmic Boy from the first time she saw him on the holo-monitor (future TV) and coerced her father, a bio-engineer, into giving her powers so she could join the Legion. She mentions that those powers fade in sunlight (hence the name Night Girl), so I’m guessing she was using her patented Legion flight ring to save Rokk’s butt! She wraps up her back story as they arrive at their hotel. Cosmic Boy, still delirious from the Brimstone battle and mob beatings, begins his own flashback. Borrowing a Time Bubble from the Time Institute he thought he’d take a vacation to the past, with Lydda/Night Girl, but 1986 wasn’t what it was supposed to be. When he ran into Superman, Supes had no memory of Cosmic Boy or the Legion…! After Rokk comes around and he and Lydda start connecting the dots, they soon realize that in this timeline Superman was NEVER Superboy!

BOOM! Crisis strikes again! Even I know that fact shakes the very foundation of the Legion itself! They decide to do some investigating and try to get to the bottom of why things are different. While walking the streets of New York they become aware of a potential disaster. A space shuttle carrying a satellite with a nuclear payload is in trouble, so Cosmic Boy races to the rescue. Arriving just in time to save the day he’s not welcomed with open arms, instead the military opens fire, accusing him of being an alien spy. Alone and injured on a beach, he wonders how he can fix history…without the Legion to back him up?

Rokk and Lydda start working more details out back at the hotel. This should be the point in history when mankind starts colonizing space, but they’re not. Superman was never Superboy. History is not what they thought they knew or expected. Lydda is fed up with this ruining their vacation and decides they need to figure it out and fix now! She heads out and grabs tickets to Houston. They’ll go to NASA and get to the bottom of things! Once there though, they sort of blur the line of futuristic heroes and common thugs by breaking into the NASA base. Luckily they’re discovered by an astronaut named Jason, who recognizes them from the news…and still believes in heroes! Rokk explains that someone is tampering with history, trying to prevent man from reaching space. The conversation gets cut short by protestors outside causing a security issue on the base. “No Nukes In Space!” they shout, before climbing the walls around the NASA compound, determined to prove the existence of…well, nukes. Still in civilian disguises Rokk Krinn and Lydda Jath try to help push back the mob, until Rokk’s jacket is torn, revealing his costume underneath. Throwing caution to the wind the dynamic duo of the future go full superhero to safely clear the mob, and save the scientists. As they fly off, Night Girl asks why it is so important. After all, it’s only history. Cosmic Boy reminds her…it’s THEIR history.

That final panel reveals Jason, the man who they helped, is named Jason Krinnski. Important? We shall see...

Rokk and Lydda have made it back to New York and have decided it’s time to call an end to this trip! No more primitive 20th Century technology and no more secret identities (apparently only Sensor Girl still uses one…memo to self, check that out). Just then, Rokk remembers time is still messed up and decides they need the Legion’s help to fix it! Using Night Girl’s strength and Cosmic Boy’s magnetic powers they pull their Time Bubble out of its hiding spot in the ground. It doesn’t work though, or work well…they can’t break the time wall. 

They’re still stuck in 1986. Normally they’d go to Superman for help, but he doesn’t remember them. Who else do they know in the 20th Century? Astronaut Jason Krinnski! So after working all night, doing what they could with 1986’s best tech, the trio thinks they’ve got it. Sadly, round two goes about as well as round one. They still can’t break the time wall. Rokk now figures it’s a power issue. Luckily his magnetic powers are even stronger on Earth due to the planet’s own strong magnetic field, and he uses that to his full advantage. Pushing with all his might, he breaks through the time wall! So why don’t they stop in 2986? Why do they find themselves thrown all the way to the end of time? Three words…the Time Trapper!

Rokk and Lydda find themselves face to face with the Time Trapper at the end of time! The Trapper tells them he's willing to allow them a partial understanding of his actions...and then things get weird! Surreal! Cosmic Boy and Night Girl fall through the floor, into a room whose walls quickly fade into a Salvador Dali-esque world where they find themselves in the palm of the Time Trapper's hand.

He tells the duo of his plan to extend the end of time all the way back to the beginning so he can rule it all, before giving them an hour to get back to their own time to "live in fear until I reach back to destroy your epoch." See what I mean? Weird! They make their way back into the Time Trapper's citadel through a sewer, in search of their Time Bubble, and are quickly attacked by a sewer squid. It only slows them down a little, as Night Girl drops it with a single punch! They split up figuring they'll cover more ground that way. They both find themselves facing off against Nazis, barbarians, Stormtroopers and more, but both manage to make their way to the Trapper's throne room...and the Time Bubble! There's one problem. The Time Trapper is there too and he tries stalling them, till time runs out...and then laughing, he allows them to leave. As they travel to their own time, though, the Trapper warns them the next time a Legionnaire tries to travel through time will be the last! Back at Legion headquarters Cosmic Boy decides to rally the team to take on the Time Trapper, not realizing that's exactly what the villain wants...

And there you have it, an experiment in time travel...we've just revisited my very first experience with the Legion of Superheroes as a quest to find out if I love the Legion (see my first post here) I'll say this much...rereading it now has me pretty curious. I googled the astronaut Jason Krinnski...he's the great-great-great-great...he's Rokk Krinn's ancestor. But, why does Sensor Girl keep a secret identity? Has the Time Trapper really been behind all this? Cosmic Boy seems to think so, but me on the other hand...I'm as confused now as I was in 1986! I thought Superman not recognizing Rokk and never having been Superboy was a result of DC's Crisis, but this story seems to indicate it was part of the Time Trapper's plan. Help me out Legionnaires...what am I missing? Is there a particular issue or story arc I need to follow this up with?