Week of 26 March 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #5 (3/26/08)
"End Times"
ROLL CALL: Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

Una perishes fighting a bunch of rats, and Buddy Blank's grandson becomes Kamandi.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #40 (5/08)
"Enemy Rising Part One: Headlong Into Darkness"
ROLL CALL: Atom Girl, Chameleon, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

Lightning Lad seems to be getting accustomed to his role as Leader, although there's still trouble with government bureaucrats. Projectra is sued by Orando's creditors, And meanwhile, monsters are attacking all across the Galaxy.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Projectra's full name is "Wilamena Morgana Daergina Annaxandra Projectra Velorya Vauxhall."

Saturn Girl's invasion of Timber Wolf's mind leads to great dissension in the ranks and furious arguments among the Legionnaires. And without Wildfire around, either.

Lightning Lad has various sportsl posters hanging up in his room, including one of Magno Ball champ Rokk Krinn. (Another is a Rollerball poster, doubtless a reference to the awful movie.)

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY: Tomorrow's Heroes trade paperback

(This actually came out last week, but I missed it.)

Trade paperback reprinting the first seven issues of the comic. With all the attention paid lately to the Lightning Saga Legion and the Jim Shooter's version of the Teenage Revolution Legion, I've seen very few comments on the third current version of the LSH. Coupled to the cartoon, this comic is doing some really nice things, while being pretty faithful to the history fo the classic Legion. Definitely worth a look.


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Week of 19 March 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comic.)

COUNTDOWN #6 (3/19/08)
"Outbreak"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

It appears that Val is dead and his body is in stasis at Cadmus. Meanwhile, Una sets out with Buddy Blank into an Earth in the throes of morticoccus pandemic.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: This Earth is not the same one from which our heroes started; on this Earth, Buddy Blank is a lab assistant at Cadmus.

Una explains that in the 31st century, medical nanites keep people healthy and, presumably, young enough for Legionnaires in their 20s and 30s to still be called "Boy," "Girl," "Kid," and such. (This idea, minus the nanites, was first proposed many years ago in the time of the classic Legion.)

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Week of 12 March 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #7 (3/12/08)
"Gone Tomorrow"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

The folks have been sent to an Earth on which they never existed (echoes of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #11, when various heroes found that they had been erased from history). Meanwhile, Una starts to regrow a backbone, but quickly lapses back to being Whiny Woman. Karate Kid dies (again!).

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Karate Kid has died a couple of times before, both times because of a fusion powersphere. In the Classic Legion, he threw himself into a powersphere to protect Orando from the Legion of Super-Villains; the SW6 Karate Kid died in the explosion of a fusion powersphere in Metropolis.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #12 (5/08)
"Lone Wolf"
ROLL CALL: Bouncing Boy, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Sun Boy, Phantom Girl, Shrinking Violet, Timber Wolf, Tyroc (Animated Legion)

While the rest of the Legion goes to be feted at a Legion Day ceremony, Timber Wolf goes off on his own and foils a bomb threat directed at the ceremony.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: This comic came out on a Wednesday; the Saturday before, the Legion TV show also dealt with a Legion Day ceremony. Based on the Legionnaires in attendance, it looks like these are two different ceremonies.

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SUPERMAN #674 (5/08)
"Shadows Linger Part One: Bright Tomorrows"
ROLL CALL: Mon-El (Lightning Saga Legion)(?)

Conversing with Mon-El via Phantom Zone communicator, Superman learns more of Lar's history. On Daxam, Lar found an ancient starship and flew away from Daxam, an act which was prohibited ("PROHIBITED! PROHIBITED! PROHIBITED!") by the tyrannical Priest-Elders. At the end of the issues, the Priest-Elders show up on Earth demanding that Superman turn Lar over to them for punishment.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Okay, Lar Gand's story here is substantially different from the one in the Classic Legion...or other subsequent versions of the LSH. To my mind, more than anything else, this establishes the Lightning Saga Legion as yet another distinct version...albeit one whose history hews pretty close to the Classic Legion's.

Lar Gand has been in the Phantom Zone for, what, fifteen or twenty years by now? And Superman is just now getting around to asking him about his past? Okay, I know Superman is a busy person, but sheesh!

I wonder if Chris Kent is being groomed to be the next Superboy (once DC recovers the right to use the name "Superboy"). If so, I predict that we'll eventually see Chris Kent/Superboy hook up with the Legion. You read it here first!

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WONDER WOMAN #18 (5/08)
"Expatriate Part 1: That Which Wears the Crown"

No Legion appearances as such, but Wonder Woman begins an adventure with the present-day Khunds (aka Klingons), in which she is taken to the Khund homeworld to help defend them from an invasion. The story is continued in next issue. Fantatical completists will want this issue, and probably the next few.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: The Khunds originally appeared in the chronicles of the Legion. As far as I know, they became part of present-day DC Continuity duing the INVASION miniseries...which introduced many elements of the Legion universe into the present.

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Week of 5 March 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #8 (3/5/08)
"Homeward Bound"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Source Legion)

Val is still alive, but dying. Una is no longer an Omac, but the experience has left her weepy and whiny.

And now everybody's back on Earth, where Val might spread the morticoccus virus to everyone on the planet....

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GREEN LANTERN #28 (4/08)
"The Alpha Lanterns Part III"

No actual Legion appearances in this issue, but diehard completists will want to know that the Controllers show up. The Controllers ("Once rivals to the Guardians, these immortals are now on the verge of extinction") are the race that made the Sun-Eaters. They originated in the annals of the Legion, and only later were grafted onto the Green Lantern universe.

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Week of 27 February 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

ACTION #862 (4/08)
"Superman & The Legion of Super-Heroes Chapter 5: Revenge of the Rejects"
ROLL CALL: Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Chameleon Girl, Chlorophyll Kid, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dawnstar, Fire Lad, Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, Night Girl, Phantom Girl, Rainbow Girl, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Stone Boy, Sun Boy, Superman, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, Wildfire (Lightning Saga Legion)
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF EARTH: Earth-Man, Eyeful Ethel, Golden Boy, Radiation Roy, Spider Girl, Storm Boy, Tusker

I am loving this series. It's so good to see the real Legion back in action (as well as back in ACTION). I want them back for good.

All things considered, I'm kinda sorry that this story will be over next month....

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Rainbow Girl? Huh? When I saw the cover, I thought, "Oh, Color Kid has changed sex. Cool." But no, Color Kid is blinded, and they've created Rainbow Girl to take his place. Probably the only thing in the comic that I didn't like. (OTOH, her "emotional color" powers tie in nicely with what's going on over in the Green Lantern section of the DC Universe.)

It was nice to see an explanation of why Infectious Lass has been hanging around with Doctor Thirteen, and was last seen floating in the timestream in BOOSTER GOLD...Fire Lad says that Earth-Man "tossed Infectious Lass into the timestream." Good attention to detail there.

Brainiac 5's revelation that Saturn Girl scanned the minds of Legion applicants is the good kind of retroactive continuity...it makes perfect sense, it explains why some rejects joined the Subs while others went with the LSV, and it's something that no one would have talked about.

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COUNTDOWN #09 (2/27/08)
"Pay the Piper"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

Um...I think they're using the wrong word for what Brother Eye does to Val. They say "dissection," but I think they mean "vivisection." At least, he's alive when the process starts...don't know about the end.

Una spends most of the issue as an OMAC, but she gets better. Good for her.

And totally unrelated to the Legion...but it's nice to see the gay guy save the world at the end.

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JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #13 (4/08)
"Supermen"
ROLL CALL: Starman/Star Boy is pictured on the cover, and we hear his voice through a closed door. That's it.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #39 (4/08)
"Evil Adventus Part 3: Downfall"
ROLL CALL: Colossal Boy, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Saturn Girl's mother is a high-ranking politician trying to help Projectra and the Legion. In past incarnations of the Legion, Phantom Girl's mother was a high-ranking politician who hindered the Legion, and Colossal Boy's mother was a high-ranking politician who both hindered and helped.

Can there be any doubt that the mysterious figure in the command center is applicant M.Rissey from last issue, here to save the day through his administrative skills? I wonder what his code name will be? I vote for Bureaucracy Boy.

Light Lass can't sleep, and says, "For one thing, I can't sleep alone." Coming from a planet where just about everyone is a twin, this kinda makes sense. Although it raises questions about the exact relationship between Ayla and Garth. Most of the other Winathians we've seen have been identical twins, but Ayla and Garth are (obviously) fraternal. (And then there's Mekt, a singleton...what's with their family?) Did they sleep together as children? At a certain age, were they separated and made to sleep alone? What did that do to them, psychologically? The suggestion here is that Ayla became a slut...and perhaps Garth just suffered in his loneliness -- or did the parents stick him in bed with Mekt? ("It'll be good for Mekt to have a brother to sleep with, like everyone else...")

And if that scenario is right, what can we read into the relationship between Garth and Mekt? Garth idolized his brother...but Mekt always seemed to resent Garth. Mekt ran away from home...and Garth went after him. Garth founded an organization of super-powered kids so he wouldn't have to feel so alone. Does this all stem from a day when the Ranzz parents told Garth he was too old to be sharing a bed with Ayla, so now he would be sleeping with Mekt?

I won't even get into the question of what kind of power struggles/dominance games might have gone on between Mekt and Garth when the lights were out...although it may explain a lot....

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Week of 20 February 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comic.)

COUNTDOWN #10 (2/20/08)
"The Gods Must Be Crazy"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

Una remains consumed by OMAC, while Karate Kid and Red Robin exchange quips. Then Una/OMAC is unable to absorb Karate Kid, so knocks him out and drags him off for an autopsy.


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Week of 13 February 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

BOOSTER GOLD #0 (4/08)
"Blue & Gold Chapter 1: The Secret Origin of Booster Gold"

There are no Leigon appearances as such, however...in the year 2462, Booster Gold and several Blue Beetles visit the Space Museum. There, prominently displayed, are a Legion flight ring and Brainiac 5's force shield belt. Booster's flight ring is also in evidence on his finger throughout the issue.

In previous continuity, this ring and belt were left in the 20th century by Brainiac 5 (Booster Gold #8 [9/86] and #9 [10/86]). In several subsequent reboots, there has never been an explanation of the origin of Booster's ring and belt. However, the current multiverse seems to include the original Legion/Lightning Saga Legion -- so perhaps the events of Booster Gold 8/9 really occurred after all. (Is "after all" an appropriate expression? This whole time paradox thing is still making my head hurt.)

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COUNTDOWN #11 (2/13/08)
"Eye of the Beholder"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

Everybody's on Apokolips now (except Buddy Blank and his grandson), Val gets to kick some butt, and Luornu gets taken over by Brother Eye and turned into an OMAC (albeit one with fashionable boots).

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Apparently the air on Apokolips agrees with Val; he's feeling a lot better now. A remarkable recovery, considering he was near death just a week or two ago....

Karate Kid consistently calls Luornu "Una." She, OTOH, consistently calls him "Val." Casual readers are going to get the idea that everyone from the 31st century has a three-letter name.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #11 (4/08)
"Mars"
ROLL CALL: Blok, Brainiac 5, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Superman, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl

The comic is now consistent with the second season of the show (i.e. Brainy looks different, Garth has facial hair). The main story, though, is a flashback to the first season era.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: J'onn J'onzz has a history with the Legion -- in the post-Giffbaum era, a 1,000-year-older Martian Manhunter worked with the Legion on several cases.

It's already been established that Brainy misses Superman...at the end of the issue, it appears that Garth is also smitten. Do all the Legion boys have crushes on Kal-El? (Erase and correct...Luornu also has also been shown fancying the Boy of Steel. Maybe it's all Legionnaires, regardless of gender?) (I dunno...given the choice between Kal-El and Mon-El, I'd go with the boy from Daxam any day...)

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SUPERMAN #673 (4/08)
"Insect Queen Part Three: Moonlight & Victory"

No actual Legion content, but the Insect Queen story concludes -- and it certainly has a Legion connection of sorts.

Besides, the whole Chris Kent subplot is sweet.

Moreover, the issue ends with these words: "Next: PARAGON! MON-ELl! DAXAM! and MORE!" Definitely Legion-related.

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By the way, I finally got ahold of LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #10. (Thank goodness for subscriptions!) I've updated the listing in my entry for the week of 16 January 2008.


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Week of 6 February 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #12 (2/6/08)
"Come Together"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

Val is looking and feeling a little better, and everyone is headed to Apokolips.

On the cover, Darkseid is blowing up his action figures. Karate Kid and Una have prominent placement.

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JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #12 (3/08)
"New Recruits"
ROLL CALL: Star Boy/Starman

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Thom mentions Colossal Boy and Yera.

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Week of 30 January 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #13 (1/30/08)
"Abandon All Hope"

No Legion content in this issue.

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ACTION #861 (3/08)
"Chameleons (Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes Part 4)
ROLL CALL: Brainiac 5, Colossal Boy, Dawnstar, Polar Boy, Sun Boy, Superman, Wildfire, Yera (Chameleon Girl) (all Lightning Saga Legion)
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF EARTH: Earth-Man, Eyeful Ethel, Golden Boy, Radiation Roy, Spider Girl, Storm Boy, Tusker


BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: This issue directly ties into the Lightning Saga. And there's an interesting bit of foreshadowing, when Superman asks about the lightning rod that the Legionnaires brought back from the 21st century and Brainy answers, "The universe is missing a key figure to activate it. Dream Girl's last vision before she returned to Naltor told me it had to wait. Until the Crisis of the 31st century begins." (Me, I figure if Dreamy went back to Naltor, then it might be a good time to get away from Earth...)

Earth-Man absorbs all the powers of the Legionnaires, becoming a one-man Legion...something like the Composite Superman way back when.

Yera has a code name now -- Chameleon Girl. Does this mean she's a Legionnaire? Couldn't blame her...



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Week of 23 January 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

CUNTDOWN #14 (1/23/08)
"Choke On It"

No Legion content in this issue

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #38 (3/08)
"Evil Adventus Part 2: Cataclysm"
ROLL CALL: Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Timber Wolf
APPLICANTS: Fruit Boy, M.Rissey, Sludge, Sonar, Spy, Virus, Voice

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Lightning Lad says, "I've zeezeed Saturn Girl's flight ring again and again, no answer." This may be a reference to Jimmy Olsen's classic emergency signal watch, which went "Zeezeezeezeezee..."

Applicant Virus has essentially the same powers as Infectious Lass.


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Week of 16 January 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #15 (1/16/08)
"Splitting the Atom"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

One page of Una and Karate Kid (looking particularly awful).

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31sr CENTURY #10 (3/08)
"House Arrest"
ROLL CALL: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy,Fatal Five, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl

Garth and Imra are alone in Legion Headquarters when the Fatal Five attack. Working together, they defeat the villains.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: The cover image has been flipped left-to-right. Look at Saturn Girl's insignia and the Legion symbol on her belt.

Romance between Garth and Imra flourishes.

A sign next to the power core reads, "Do not touch - this means you, Bouncingboy - Brainiac 5" When the other Legionnaires return, Brainiac 5 is saying, "...I find out that you were messing with the power core again, Brouncing Boy..." Churck's fascination with the power core remains to be explained.

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Week of 9 January 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comic.)

COUNTDOWN #16 (1/9/08)

No Legion content in this issue.

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SUEPRMAN #672 (3/08)
"Gossamer Wings (Insect Queen Part 2)"

No Legion content in this issue, either. Although the Insect Queen, a clone of Lana Lang, is obviously based on Lana as Insect Queen in the classic Legion.

Sad...it's the Legion's 50th anniversary, and we've gone all year without any Legion content in DC Comics.

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Week of 2 January 2008

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comic.)

Countdown #17 (1/2/08)

No Legion content in this issue. In fact, no Legion content anywhere this week.

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Week of 26 December 2007

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #18 (12/26/07)
"Safe House"

No LSH content in this issue.

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ACTION #860 (2/08)
"Lightning and Shadows (Superman and the LSH Part 3)"
ROLL CALL: Brainiac 5, Colossal Boy, Dawnstar, Lightning Lass, Night Girl, Polar Boy, Shadow Lass, Superman, Timber Wolf, Wildfire (Lightning Saga Legion)
Justice League of Earth: Earth-Man, Golden Boy, Radiation Roy, Spider-Girl, Storm Boy, Tusker

Superman and the Legionnaires rescue Polar Boy, and then head off to Colu to find Brainy.

This version of the Legion captures a lot of the spirit and character of the original LSH. Some details may be different (especially if Karate Kid and Una from Countdown are members), but overall it's like meeting up with old friends after many years. As a die-hard fan of the old Legion, I am really enjoying the journey.

I hope that DC will find some way to integrate this version of the Legion into the new DC Universe, because I'd love to read more of their adventures. But I can't imagine how they would be able to pull it off without eliminating the Teenage Revolution Legion. (Although nobody seems to have problems with the simultaneous existence of the animated Legion in LSH/31st Century.)

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Nice to see the Shadow Lass/Night Girl team in action again. They were always such a natural pair, yet they seldom worked together.

The contrast between the Subs and the Justice League is made explicit by Polar Boy: both were groups of Legion rejects, but the Subs rose to the occasion, while the JL sank. (Although it seems that Golden Boy is not too happy; I suspect he will come over to our side before the end.)

No, that's not Kinetix on page 24: it's Ayla, apparently lit by the yellow of her lightning. It took me a moment, though.

Polar Boy loses an arm and acquires a prosthetic, echoing Lightning Lad's tragedy...and giving him the classic "cold fish" handshake.

Colossal Boy's wife, Yera, has died. ALthough with Durlans, I guess you can never be sure....

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #37 (2/08)
"Evil Adventus Part 1: Conflict"
ROLL CALL: Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl

Note: This issue was available with two different covers which fit together to make a big picture of a bunch of Legionnaires.
ROLL CALL (Left-side cover): Atom Girl, Brainiac 5, Colossal Boy, Element Lad(?), Invisible Kid, Light Lass,Star Boy, Sun Boy, Triplicate Girl 1&2, Timber Wolf
ROLL CALL (Right-side cover): Chameleon, Karate Kid, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Triplicate Girl 3, Ultra Boy

This story, the first part of Jim Shooter's long-anticipated return to the Legion, picks up in continuity soon after the last issue. Lightning Lad struggles with the demands of Leadership, Projectra loses her station, and the team on Triton runs into some trouble.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Cosmic Boy (who is away in the future) is conspicuously absent from the cover. I guess he wasn't there when the picture was taken.

Triplicate Girl's multiple selves no longer wear different colors; they are now clothed identically. I suppose this is more consistent with the way her powers work, but it was a really cool effect.

A glow surrounds the Legion teams in space and on Triton -- a nice visual interpretation of the flight rings' environmental field.

Timber Wolf is back to a more-human appearance.

Seven "pre-approved candidates" are arriving at Legion HQ. Looks like it's Legion Tryouts time again....

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Week of 19 December 2007

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #19 (12/19/07)
"Season's Beatings"

No Legion appearances in this issue.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: AN EYE FOR AN EYE (Trade Paperback)

Reprints LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1 - 6 (8/1984 - 1/1985)

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #9 (2/02)
"Bad Ideas"
ROLL CALL: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Sun Boy, Superman/Superboy, Triplicate Girl

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Bouncing Boy's attraction to Triplicate Girl is obvious, but it's a little less clear how much the Trips reciprocate.

Brainiac 5 learns for sure that he is the descendant of the original Brainiac. He says, "There are deletions in my genetic memory, but I had suspicions. The artifact confirmed the Brainiacs' terrible family secret..." (I'm guessing that the "terrible secret" is not so much the existence of Brainiac, but the fact that he was "perhaps Superman's greatest foe.")

Sun Boy sings a number of sun-related songs. This may be the first incarnation of Sun Boy to spontaneously burst into song.

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SUPERMAN #671 (2/08)
"A Fall of Moondust: Insect Queen Part 1"

This story is of peripheral interest to Legion readers. In the classic Legion, a teenaged Lana Lang became "Insect Queen" when she received a mysterious ring from an insect-like alien. As Insect Queen she became an honorary Legionnaire, and participated in several Legion adventures.

This time around, insect-like aliens are involved, and Lana Lang...except it's the adult Lana Lang, and the Insect Queen seems to be her clone. And there is no Legion connection (yet). We'll see as the story develops in subsequent issues.

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Week of 12 December 2007

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #20 (12/12/07)
"Loneliest Number"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

As the OMACs and Brother Eye attack, Val and Luornu struggle to open the mysterious box. You don't suppose there's a Miracle Machine inside, do you?

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: It becomes clear that Lurornu is still Triplicate Girl...her other two selves are in the future.

She also entertains the possibility (hypothetically) that she's had romantic feelings for Val for a long time...but also hints that her other two selves might not feel the same way. This raises interesting questions about Luornu and her past crush on Superboy, followed by her love for Chuck...could each Luornu have feelings for a different fellow Legionnaire? (Note that in the current continuity, Luornu has dated several of the boys simultaneously.)

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GREEN LANTERN #25 (1/08)
"Birth of the Black Lantern"
ROLL CALL: Starman (cameo)

Starman (Thom Kallor), along with most of the rest of the JSA, appears in at least one big fight scene.

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Week of 5 December 2007

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #21 (12/5/07)
"Down and Out...and Beyond"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

The virus that Karate Kid carries is identified as "morticoccus." Buddy Blank leads Val and Luornu to a chamber containing a mysterious box, which Val must open.

The cover has the date mistakenly printed as "Oct. 5, 2007."

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JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #11 (2/08)
"The Second Coming"
ROLL CALL: Starman

In discussing the possibility of opening a wormhole into a parallel Earth, Starman says that he would need "a map of the multiverse." He then turns to the reader and says, "Anyone have one?" Well, yes, kinds...the text page in last week's DC releases had a guide to the first 26 universes of the multiverse.

Except for "back of the book" features like lettercolumns and profiles of reader-submitted costumes, I can only recall one other time when a Legionnaire spoke directly to the reader. In one of the Devil's Dozen stories (ADVENTURE 350/351), Chameleon Boy changes into a spider, then turns to the reader and makes a jape at Spider-Man.

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Week of 28 November 2007

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #22 (11/28/07)
"Miracle Mile"

Once again, no Legion content -- unless you count a few Dominator corpses on the first two pages.


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GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18 (1/08)
"Hammer to Fall"

There's no actual Legion content here, but this issue features the Daxamite Green Lantern Sodam Yat. Flashbacks show his life on Daxam, where everyone wears big Mon-El-type gold buttons and matching belt buckles.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: The Daxamites call their red sun "Valor" -- which, of course, was Mon-El's superhero name at one point.

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SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #36 (1/08)
"The Quest for Cosmic Boy: Epilogue"
ROLL CALL: Atom Girl (cameo)), Brainiac 5, Chameleon (cameo), Cosmic Boy (cameo), Dream Girl, Evolvo-Lad, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl (cameo), Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass (cameo), Supergirl, Star Boy, Sun Boy (cameo), Timber Wolf (cameo), Ultra Boy (cameo), Wildfire (cameo)

Supergirl returns to the 21t century, Brainiac 5's nefarious scheme is revealed, and Lightning Lad takes over as Leader.

The art is still awful, but next month we'll have a new artist...and the return of Jim Shooter. Hooray!

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: The cover pictures Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, and Ultra Boy in action. Cosmic Boy and Ultra Boy appear in this issue only in cameos, and Dream Girl exclusively inhabits Brainiac 5's dreams.

Before sending Supergirl back to the 21st century, Evolvo Lad wipes her memories of the Legion.

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SUPERMAN ANNUAL #13 (2008)
"The Fall"

There is no actual Legion content, but on page 4 the Legion is mentioned. The Phantom Stranger, talking to Superman, says, "All futures are merely possibilities, to one standing in the past. They branch out -- utopian futures, disasters, futures of all shapes and kind. You have seen some of these futures. Your time with the Legion of Super-Heroes, for one. What future will actually come? That depends on what choices we make."

How this philosophy fits in with the restored multiverse, and what it means for the Legion, we can only guess. Does each Earth have its own sheaf of possible futures? There are several versions of the Legion in existence at the moment -- do they come from the future of different Earths, or are they different possible futures from a particular Earth?

This week's "DC Nation" text page (appearing in various comics) identifies 26 of the 52 Earths. Some of them can be identified with alternate versions of the Legion...and others can be ruled out.

Earth-2, home of the original Justice Society -- possibly also home of the "Glorithverse" Legion of LSH #6 - 61, the one with Laurel Gand, Lightning Boy, Reflecto, and Valor.

Earth-3, the Crime Syndicate's world, would seem to be the home of the "Legion of Super-Traitors" from SUPERBOY #117 (12/64) -- except in SUPERBOY #117, Superboy was a member of the Legion. Was there a Superboy on Earth 3? Did he live in Smallvile (with only three Ls)? Maybe he was the teenage version of the Crime Syndicate's Ultraman?

If not, is Earth-3 perhaps home of the evil Legion of Mordru and Glorith from LEGIONNAIRES #18 (9/94)?

Earth-13 is listed as "World of dark and arcane heroes." Could this be the Mordruverse from LSH #5 (3/90)? Or the home of the evil Legion of Mordru and Glorith?

Earth-22, the Kingdom Come universe. A Legion was pictured in one panel of KINGDOM COME -- that Legion was consistent with the Legionnaires/SW6 Legion from LSH #24 - 61 and LEGIONNAIRES #1 - 18 (1992-94). This Legion included Catspaw, Computo, and Dragonmage. In original continuity, the SW6 Legionnaires were "chronal dopplegangers" created by the Time Trapper...but might the Time Trapper have lifted them from Earth-22 instead?

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Week of 21 November 2007

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #23 (11/21/07)
"The Bottled Imp"

No LSH content in this issue. There are some Dominators getting blown up, if that sort of thing excites you.

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ACTION #859 (1/08)
"Illegal Aliens: Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes Part 2"
ROLL CALL: Blok (cameo), Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dawnstar, Invisible Kid II (cameo), Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl (cameo), Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet (cameo), Superman, Ultra Boy (cameo), Wildfire (Lightning Saga Legion)
Justice League of Earth: Earth-Man (formerly Absorbancy Boy), Golden Boy, Radiation Roy, Spider-Girl, Storm Boy, Tusker

Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl descend into the ruined Batcave, but are soon surprised and taken prisoner by the Justice League of Earth. Meanwhile, Superman learns that the Justice League is a group of rejected Legion applicants, led by Earth-Man (formerly Absorbancy Boy). The JLE has turned the legend of Superman around, saying that he was an Earth native who fought to defend Earth from aliens. The populace of Earth has turned against the Legion and aliens in general.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: The basic situation, Earth turned against the Legion, occurred in ADVENTURE #359/360 (8-9/1967) "The Outlawed Legion/The Legion Chain Gang."

Legionnaires found the ancient Batcave in ADVENTURE #341 (2/1966) "The Weirdo Legionnaire"

The Legion's costumes are pretty impressive: they recall the classic costumes, but have a more modern look. Cosmic Boy's outfit recalls that of Cosmic King from the LSV. Most of the Legionnaires have belts displaying the Legion emblem, but Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, and Invisible Kid have different belts.

The alien detention center in the last panel is an updated version of the original Legion clubhouse.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #8 (1/08)
"Three's a Crowd"
ROLL CALL: Bouncing Boy, Lightning Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Phantom Girl, Superman, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl

The Trips go on dates with Bouncing Boy and Superman...but Starfinger shows up to cause trouble.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: In classic Legion continuity, Chuck and Luornu became a romantic couple and eventually married. Prior to that, Luornu carried the torch for Superboy.

In classic continuity, a previous incarnation of Starfinger kidnapped Luornu on the day of her wedding to Chuck.

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Week of 14 November 2007

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

COUNTDOWN #24 (11/14/07)
"Prime Example"
ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Una (Lightning Saga Legion)

Karate Kid's "immune system is crashing" and he seems near death, but the Atmoic Kights come to the rescue.

Really, Val and Luornu haven't done much for the last few issues except follow various people around and engage in the obligatory fights that occur in the DC Universe whenever heroes from different titles meet. Honestly, it seems that they were included in COUNTDOWN just in order to sell more comics to die-hard Legion fans. (I suppose I could be charitable and say that they're there in order to show that the Legion is part of the great events taking place in the DC Universe...but I prefer the cynical version.)

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SUPERMAN #670 (1/08)
"The Stand (The Third Kryptonian: Finale)"
ROLL CALL: Dawnstar, Lightning Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Wildfire (statues only) (cameo)

In a fight with Amalak in the Fortress of Solitude, several Legion statues are toppled in the background (page 37, center panel). It's not a Legion appearance as such, but fanatical completists (you know who you are) will want to know about it.

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