Couples Legion Style

The earliest Legion stories I read as a child were reprints of earlier tales in Adventure Comics. The title at the time was featuring Supergirl, and Legion reprints were common. Two stories that left an impression on me were "The Revolt of the Girl Legionnaires" originally from Adventure #326 and "The Weddings That Wrecked the Legion" from Adventure #337.

These two stories made my preschool mind aware of two things. First: how progressive the future was in that men and women, even as teenagers, were all equal – as opposed to the present day where most super-teams only had one female, like Sue in the Fantastic Four and Wanda in the Avengers. Secondly I was made aware that most of the female Legionnaires were paired off with male Legionnaires. Straight in the Silver Age, but the Legion was ahead of its time gender-wise in the years to come. So it's true, the Legion taught me equality, and sexuality, before I even hit kindergarten.

So for the day before Valentines' Day, let's take a look at couples, Legion style!

Who's Who: Mano

Mano
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Mano

Super-Power(s): A mutant, born with a glowing right hand. He eventually manifested a destructive disc on his palm that is able to completely destroy any object. 
Planet of Origin: Angtu

Relationship to Legion: Villain; member of the original Fatal Five

Who's Who: Lightning Lord

Lightning Lord
by Russell & Siskoid


Real Name: Mekt Ranzz
Super-Power: Ability to project bolts of electric energy similar to lightning.

Planet of Origin: Winath
Relationship to Legion: Arch-enemy to, but also elder brother of, Legionnaires Lightning Lad and Light(ning) Lass. 

Superboy & The Legion #251

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #251 (May, 1979)
title: "The Man Who Destroyed The Universe!"

story/layouts: Jim Starlin (using the pseudonym Steve Apollo)

words: Paul Levitz

finished art: Dave Hunt
letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Joe Staton & Dick Giordano (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Brainiac 5, Superboy, Ultra Boy, Dawnstar, Wildfire, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Colossal Boy

Guests: 
Matter-Eater Lad

Opponents: 
Omega, Brainiac 5

Superboy & The Legion #250

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #250 (April, 1979)
title: "This Is The Day The Universe Dies"

story & layouts: Jim Starlin (credited as Steve Apollo) 

words: Paul Levitz
finishes: Dave Hunt
letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo
editor: Jack C. Harris

cover: Joe Staton & Dick Giordano (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Chameleon Boy, Wildfire, Shadow Lass, Tyroc, Mon-El, Dream Girl, Lighting Lad, Saturn Girl, Sun Boy, Cosmic Boy, Timber Wolf, Element Lad, Superboy, Star Boy, Brainiac 5, Ultra Boy, Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet, Karate Kid, Dawnstar, Princess Projectra (mentioned but not actually shown)

Opponents: 
Omega and his mysterious creator

Superboy & The Legion #239

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #239 (May, 1978)
title: "Murder Most Foul"

plot/layouts: Jim Starlin

dialogue/plot assist: Paul Levitz

finished art: Josef Rubinstein

letterer: Ben Oda

colorist: Cory Adams
editor: Al Milgrom
cover: Mike Grell & Josef Rubinstein (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Ultra Boy, Superboy, Sun Boy, Timber Wolf, Wildfire, Colossal Boy, Mon-El, Dawnstar, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Phantom Girl, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy

Guests: 
Legion advisor Marla

Opponents: 
unnamed murderer and plotter

Superboy and The Legion #238

Superboy and The Legion #238 (April, 1978) was a reprint. For the first time since the Legion had "returned" to cover-billing, 40 issues before, there was no new Legion story this month. Instead, Paul Levitz apologized for the deadline crunch as DC re-presented the classic Universo vs Legion story-line from Adventure Comics 359-360. 

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.