LSH Covert to Cover 2: Curt Swan

Here's our second installment of our Legion of Super-Bloggers feature on all of the comic-book cover appearances of the Legion in chronological order.

Last time we went from their debut in Adventure Comics #247 (April 1958) until they had won the lead feature in Adventure Comics, from #300.  Still, they were not featured on every cover! For example, although they were on #307 (the debut of Element Lad), they were not on the cover of #308 (the debut of Light Lass)! In fact, after Element Lad's debut they were not cover-featured again until Adventures Comics #311...which, ironically, featured the Legion of Substitute Heroes! We therefore pick up with that issue.  

Sharp-eyed readers will notice that the Legion was not on the cover of Adventure Comics #315, either.

Version 6 Shadow Lass is HOT

Shadow Lass is hot, no matter which version of Legion of Super-Heroes you are reading. Case in point: LSH volume 6, which ran for sixteen issues in 2010 and 2011. Stories were by Paul Levitz, with art by Yildiray Cinar and Wayne Faucher and Francis Portela. 

Tasmia Mallor, the blue-skinned brunette wearing black leather, tends to stand out in group shots. 

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #37

Recap: Five years ago, the universe became a darker place, the gleam of hope and optimism faded, and nefarious political organizations and galactic empires spread the influence over the universe like a shroud. The Legion of Super-Heroes, a last bastion against that darkness, disbanded; its members scattered, back to their homeworlds or seeking other opportunities. One of those Legionnaires, Thom "Star Boy" Kallor, put adventuring behind and became a batball coach. Meanwhile, Earth has finally shrugged off the control of the Dominion. But the planet is in shambles.

I have now covered three years of the 5YL Legion of Super-Heroes continuity. One of the parts of this series that has absolutely struck me has been the creative risks we, as readers, have seen. From none-page panels, to back matter, to text pages with a single illustration, to the dense nature of the story, the actual issues have been brilliant. And from a pacing point of view, the creators have done a great job of feeding interest and then pulling back a little, keeping the reader engaged and wanting more. Rest issues and side missions have been inserted in the oddest places, at points where I desperately wanted to read more of the main plots. It has been dizzying and fabulous. And, looking back at this series, now 20+ years old, it feels ahead of its time.

Superboy starring The Legion #221

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #221 (Nov, 1976)
title: "The Trillion-Dollar Trophies!"

writer: Jim Shooter

penciller: Mike Grell
inker: Bob Wiacek
editor: Murray Boltinoff

cover: Mike Grell
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Timber Wolf, Shadow Lass, Colossal Boy, Chameleon Boy, Light Lass, Shrinking Violet, Cosmic Boy

Guests: 
RJ Brande

Opponents: 
Grimbor, Charma

Synopsis: 
On Earth, Superboy and Timber Wolf answer alarms from the Metropolis Fusion Powerspheres. Grimbor catches Timber Wolf by surprise, and Charma stops Superboy from helping his friend.

Who's Who: The White Witch

The White Witch
by Russell & Siskoid 

Real Name: Mysa

Super-Power(s): Sorcery
Planet of Origin: born on Naltor; raised on Zerox

Legion Seniority: White Witch was asked to join immediately after The Great Darkness Saga. She is Legionnaire #33.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #21

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #21 (April, 1986)
title: "Obsession!"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Greg LaRocque
inkers: Larry Mahlstedt and Mike DeCarlo
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Greg LaRocque & Larry Mahlstedt (signed)
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Element Lad, Quislet, Lighting Lass, Shrinking Violet, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Timber Wolf, Star Boy, Sensor Girl, Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl

Guests: 
Science Police officer Shvaughn Erin

Opponents: 
Emerald Empress, The Persuader, various members of the Legion of Super-Villains and League of Super-Assassins

Memorial Day 2015

In the United States, the last Monday of May is set aside as a federal holiday called Memorial Day. It is a day to remember all of those who died while serving in the US Armed Forces.

In the 30th and 31st Century there is probably a similar holiday. Unfortunately.

Here at Legion of Super Bloggers we salute all members of the Armed Forces, in every country on Earth who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we can sit here, drink Diet Mountain Dew, and argue over geeky fan-boy stupid stuff.

Art Institute of Zwen: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez (PBHN)

If a picture is worth a thousand words......Jose Luis Garcia Lopez merits an entire Encyclopedia Britannica worth of praise. It's a damn shame that you can count his actual Legion of Super-Heroes work on one hand.

In the meantime, let's play "Spot the Legionnaire" on a few of his wonderful PR stuff.

Here's the DC/Superman Fan Club poster circa 1978.  

Invisible Kid I: Hot or Not?

What happens when we let a group of candid women with no real Legion knowledge deliver their first impressions of the original Invisible Kid? For entertainment purposes only. Rated PG-13.

Participants
Our honorary Legion members are...
Art Girl - Is invisible because she lives in the deep outskirts of town.
DJ Nath - Is invisible in that way librarians can be.
Havana Nights - Wears camouflage pajamas in an effort not to be seen by those who would have her do household chores.
Lip-Bomb - Has an invisible means of communication called telepathy. Follow her You-Tube channel, Mind Linked, which she shares with her sister Nath, along with her very MIND.
Shotgun - Not invisible. Definitely not stealthy.
Moderator: Siskoid - Wishes he WERE invisible.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #36

Recap: The war is finally over! The Dominion has left Earth! The planet is in shambles, but at least its people are free. And that means it's time for some reflection, some new beginnings, and some taking stock of things now that peace has been achieved.

Legion of Super-Heroes #36 is the finale of the epic Terra Mosaic storyline which has dominated the book for just under a year. It has been a tremendous tale to tell as we have been dealing with politics writ large, personal triumphs and tragedies on a smaller scale, and the usual sidetracks and creative risks that this book is known for.