SLSH #23

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

SUPERGIRL LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #23 (12/06)
(L 2006-12)
(Untitled)

ROLL CALL: Atom Girl, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Light Lass, Mon-El, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Supergirl, Triplicate Girl

The Legion takes Kara to Rokyn, the last surviving Kryptonian settlement, for treatment. Their visit is interrupted by the attack of another band of super-powered teens.

Meanwhile, Triplicate Girl and Element Lad run into a green dude who is on a secret mission.

Shadow Lass and Atom Girl enjoy a sojourn on Shady’s homeworld, Talok VIII.

In the last panel, an old friend appears in the Phantom Zone.


BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:

Rokyn is the planet upon which the bottle city of Kandor was enlarged nearly a thousand years ago. Rokyn has been a part of LSH/DC continuity since at least “The Five Legion Orphans” in ADVENTURE 356 (May 1967), where a footnote explained: “Rokyn was settled in the 20th century by survivors of Krypton, when the bottle city of Kandor was enlarged.”

Kara’s response to awakening on Rokyn is an interesting window into how Earth appears to a super-Kryptonian: “I can feel gravity again, and all the walls look solid like they’re supposed to.”

Trip says, “The locals are giving us the Qward-eye.” Qward is a weird, other-dimensional planet in the antimatter universe in pre-Crisis continuity.

The green dude that Trip and Element Lad encounter has power over plants...indeed, she suggests that they call him “Plant Kid.” Can this be anyone other than Ral Benem, Chlorophyll Kid, formerly of the Substitute Legion? And if so, perhaps his mysterious “boss” is not a villain?

Doesn’t Cos look particularly cute in the panel where he says, “It’s for the best” ?

Shady’s brother, Grev Mallor, makes his first appearance in the new continuity. As before, he and Shady have a bit of a rivalry over who will be champion of Talok VIII.

When Atom Girl suggests that Shadow Lass run for Legion Leader, Shady ponders and says, “Bossing Brainiac 5 around? Hmm. Why not?” This is an interesting echo of “The Mutiny of the Super-Heroines” in ADVENTURE 368 (May 1968). In that story, Shady proposes that the girls put the boys to work as their servants. When asked who she’d want to serve her, Shady answers, “Brainiac 5. Yes, I’d put him to work scrubbing floors...if his oh-so-logical super-brain could handle the job.” (This was in the period when Shady had a crush of Brainiac 5.)

Among the super-powered teens who attack at the end are: Jeyra Entinn, telepathic assassin (this universe’s version of Saturn Queen?) and a boy with ice powers (the new Polar Boy?)

On the last page, in front of an obvious Phantom Zone projector, is the ghostly form of Lar Gand, aka Mon-El. Hooray!

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SLSH #22

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

SUPERGIRL LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #22 (11/06)
(L 2006-11)
(Untitled)

ROLL CALL: Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Supergirl, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

Various male Legionnaires have crushes on Supergirl.

At a rally for Brainy’s Leader campaign, a super-powered teen resists the Science Police with radiation powers. He is restrained by Cos and Supergirl, who then offer to enroll him in the Legion’s training program.

On Narchus III, Sun Boy and his team are captured by a Dominator, and find themselves in his spaceship with an ominous countdown going on.


BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:

Karate Kid and Shadow Lass used to be a romantic item, but broke up last year. Now, Shady and Ultra Boy are together.

The radiation-powered teen who attacks the S.P.’s is named Roy: the modern version of Radiation Roy, no doubt.

Karate Kid’s evaluation of Ultra Boy’s character on the penultimate page is spot-on, for those who have known Jo Nah for a long time.

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SLSH #21

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


SUPERGIRL LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #21 (6/06)
(L 2006-10)
(Untitled)

Colossal Boy is attacked by mysterious super-powered teens while interrogating the prisoners from Big City. Meanwhile, some of the Legion girls chat with Supergirl, while Brainiac 5’s attempt to resurrect Dream Girl fails...or does it?

Finally, Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy have a chat about the future of the Legion.

ROLL CALL: Atom Girl, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Colossal Boy, Dream Girl (?), Element Lad, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Triplicate Girl

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:
The newspaper of the 31st century is the “Daily Planets.”

The conversation between the Legion girls and Supergirl is a nice nod to past “girl’s night out” stories.

There’s a slightly-tattered Zatanna poster hanging in Legion Headquarters.

One of the super-powered villains is “Kid Quake” -- a new version of the old Quake Kid. And the red-haired guy is Nemesis Kid. Their commander is addressed as “Tarik” -- can it be the Tarik the Mute who founded the Legion of Super-Villains?

Cosmic Boy’s plan to throw the Legion elections open to “all Legionnaires, not just those with powers,” is an echo of the old days when Legion elections were decided by vote of the readers. Now that’s a tradition I’d like to see them bring back....

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52 LSH Tie-In Alert

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

52 #19 (9/13/06)
"History Repeats"

52 #20 (9/20/06)
“God is Fragged”

52 has been a confused mishmash and something of a snooze, but LSH fans will want to take a look at these two issues, and be alert for future issues.

The Emerald Eye of Ekron makes an appearance, and we learn a startling secret about its origin.

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52 Cameo Alert

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

52 #3 (5/24/06)
"History of the DCU Part 2"

Cameo appearance of two versions of the LSH: the 1960s Classic Legion and the 1970s Modern Legion.

ROLL CALL:
Classic: Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy (?), Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Superboy (on previous page)

Modern: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Star Boy, Superboy, Timber Wolf, Wildfire

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52 #4 (5/31/06)
“History of the DCU Part 3”

A single-panel flashback to the Crisis on Infinite Earths features LSH cameos.

ROLL CALL:
Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Lightning Lad, Mon-El, Saturn Girl, Sun Boy, Supergirl, Wildfire

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52#5 (6/7/06)
“History of the DCU Part 4”

A single-panel flashback to the Crisis on Infinite Earths features LSH cameos.

ROLL CALL:
Mon-El, Sun Boy, Ultra Boy, Wildfire

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SLSH #20

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

SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #20 (9/06)
(L 2006-9)
"Big Trouble"

ROLL CALL: Atom Girl, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Supergirl, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

The U.P. tries to co-opt the Legion, but the Legionnaires will have none of it. Meanwhile, giants of Colossal boy’s people are terrorizing the world, and it’s up to the Legion to stop them...and to find out why the giants were on the rampage. They don’t exactly find an answer, but there is an intriguing hint of some other group seeking to take the Legion’s mantle.

In an ancient L.E.G.I.O.N. cruiser, Brainiac 5 (assisted by Atom Girl, Element Lad, and Light Lass) continues his scheme to resurrect Dream Girl.

And we learn why Cos has been so hard on Supergirl lately....

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:

The L.E.G.I.O.N. cruiser is a nice nod to previous continuity, and Brainiac 5’s characterization of Vril Dox (“He wasn’t the fastest chip on the motherboard”) is a hoot.

After the LSH clubhouse was destroyed, the United Planets foots the bill for a new, much larger headquarters. This is exactly what happened way back in ADVENTURE 367 (April 1968), but this time there’s a completely different spin on matters.

The explanation for the existence of Big City is wonderfully crazy: “...then, about two hundred years ago, Bizarro-Brainiac attacked McMurdo City....he figured if the original Brainiac shrunk the city of Kandor, then he’d do the opposite and -- ”

Is it just me, or does Brainy look particularly cute in the panel where he says, “Yes. Now, the same principle is also true for information...” ? And I’ve never really found Brainy all that cute (except maybe when Invisible Kid was kissing him).

And the final revelation in this issue is interesting...so Cos might be in love with Kara? I wonder what the current incarnation of Night Girl is going to think of that?

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SLSH #19

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

SUPERGIRL LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #19 (8/06)
(L 2006-8)
A 31st Century Whodunnit!
ROLL CALL: Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Star Boy, Supergirl, Timber Wolf

Most of this issue is taken up with a clever locked-room mystery story starring Chameleon and the Science Police.

Meanwhile, Supergirl encounters Theena and finds that Seiss (the Calamity Kid analog from a few issues back) is nowhere to be found. And Brainiac 5 has vanished, taking both Lemnos and Dream Girl’s body with him.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:

A classic exchange among kids in Legion Plaza as Supergirl flies by: “Looksky! Birdplane!” “Dude, what’s a ‘birdplane’?”

In the same panel there’s a stand for “Morlo’s Fast Food” -- a clear reference to Doctor Mantis Morlo, an old-time Legion adversary.

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SLSH #18

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

SUPERGIRL LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #18 (7/06)
(L 2006-7)
Who’s The Boss?
ROLL CALL: Atom Girl, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Supergirl, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy

The Legion spy within the ranks of the Science Police is revealed as Chameleon. Meanwhile, Brainiac 5 is working on bringing Dream Girl back to life, a process that somehow involves the villain Lemnos. The only problem is that Naltor wants Dream Girl’s body back.

Supergirl continues to settle in with the Legion, although the mystery of how she got there is still unsolved.

And just when you thought things couldn’t get more complicated, Dream Boy shows up....

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:

Brainiac 5 makes reference to “these puerile ‘boy-lad-lass-girl’ code names.” This echoes some of the derisive comments that various comics fans have made about the Legion over the decades.

Supergirl’s “ring on, ring off” play with the flight ring’s “secret identity action” recalls Supergirl’s original secret identity as Linda Lee (Danvers) in early Action Comics.

“Dream Boy’s” name, Rol Purtha, recalls the real-life company Ral Partha, which manufactured miniature figures for gaming.

When Rol Purtha appears, he predicts that Brainiac 5 was going to say, “--Wouldn’t take another step if I were you, you ignorant savages!” In fact, Brainiac 5 does NOT say this (thanks to Rol’s interruption) -- it appears that Rol Purtha’s predictive abilities are not very good. Either that, or they are subject to the Uncertainty Principle.

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LSH Alert

The trade paperback CRISIS ON MULTIPLE EARTHS volume 4 reprints the JLA/JSA/LSH team-up from JLA #147 (10/77) "Crisis in the 30th Century" and JLA #148 (11/77) "Crisis in Triplicate."

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Infinite Crisis

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

Legion appearances or tie-ins in INFINITE CRISIS:

INFINITE CRISIS #1 (12/05)
(Untitled)

No Legion appearances or tie-ins.

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INFINIE CRISIS #2 (1/06)
“The Survivors”

LSH cameos in one panel during a flashback to Crisis on Infinite Earths
ROLL CALL: Blok, Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, Sun Boy, Ultra Boy, Wildfire

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INFINITE CRISIS #3 (2/06)
“Divine Intervention”

No Legion appearances or tie-ins.

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INFINITE CRISIS #4 (3/06)
“Homecoming”

No Legion appearances or tie-ins.

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INFINITE CRISIS #5 (4/06)
“Faith”

No Legion appearances or tie-ins.

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INFINITE CRISIS #6 (5/06)
“Touchdown”

The Legion of Earth-247 appears in a single panel.
ROLL CALL: Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl (?), Star Boy (?), Ultra Boy, Wildfire
BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: The number of this Earth, 247, is undoubtedly an homage to the Legion’s first appearance in ADVENTURE 247.

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INFINITE CRISIS #7 (6/06)
“Finale”

No Legion appearances or tie-ins.


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SLSH #17

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

SUPERGIRL LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #17 (6/06)
(L 2006-6)
(Untitled)
ROLL CALL: Atom Girl, Brainiac 5 (cover only), Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra (cover only), Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Supergirl, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl

Supergirl remains convinced that her life after Krypton, includng the 31st century and the Legion, is a dream. Meanwhile, just about everyone in Metropolis is going ga-ga over the Maid of Might -- with the exception of Light Lass.

Elsewhere (it says that right on the page), the Dominators gloat about the success of their mission to deliver a “technorganic payload” to Earth, with the ominious-sounding slogan “Remember the 52.” Is it possible that the “technorganic payload” was Supergirl herself?

And amidst continuing friction between the Science Police and the Legion, a Legionnaire (Chameleon?) has been sent on an espionage mission to infiltrate the S.P.


BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:

We meet Seiss, who produces subsconic waves when he has indigestion. These waves cause everything from headaches and vomiting to earthquakes. In this way, Seiss seems to be a comgination of Calamity King and Infectious Lass.

Other teens tease Seiss in a way that’s reminiscent of the Legion’s traditional taunting of rejected applicants.

Seiss is approached by a shadowy figure who says, “I...know a group that will easily recognize your full potential.” Is this a representative of the Legion of Super-Villains...or the Legion of Substitute Heroes? Only time will tell.

Element Lad’s verbal confusion about Brainiac 5’s status is amusing: “He’s a good g-- I mean, he’s on our si-- --I mean--” Shadow Lass breaks in with “He’s not a super-villain. Let’s leave it at that.”

Chameleon, Invisible Kid, and Light Lass are involved in the Legion’s espionage mission -- a nice echo of the “Espionage Squad” of earlier days.

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SLSH #16

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

SUPERGIRL LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #16 (5/06)
(L 2006-5)
(Untitled)
ROLL CALL: Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Supergirl, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

While the rest of the DC Universe is starting “1 year later,” this month the Legion starts “1001 years later” with a change in title and the arrival of Supergirl. The Maid of Might is promised to become a regular Legionnaire, and all I can say is, “took long enough.” This is a great homage to the original days of the Legion, when Supergirl and Superboy were both members, and when the name of the feature was “Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes.”

Still, we’ve learned that ties between the Legion and the rest of the DC Universe are a double-edged sword. Sure, it would be nice to have Supergirl dashing back & forth through the time barrier, summoned by a blinking Legion statuette. But sooner or later the folks who run the rest of the DC Universe will make some change that impacts the Legion. Supergirl will die, then be retroactively removed from existence; Superboy will never have existed, not even in a pocket universe; eventually Glorith shows up and starts rebooting reality, and then things go all to hell.

So far, the creative team behind this current Legion incarnation have done a good job of being fresh and new while still respecting the Legion’s long history -- it will be interesting to see how they handle having the Girl of Steel back in the LSH.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:

Klar and his neighbors live in “Eando Towers” -- an obvious reference to Eando Binder, the pen name of brothers Earl and Otto Binder (“E and O,” get it?). Otto Binder was the writer who created the Legion in Adventure #247.

Cos’s suggestion of open elections for Legion Leader recalls the old tradition of having the readers vote each year for leader. Cos says “We have 127,000 members...” I wonder if this number has anything to do with the comic’s circulation figures? Are there really 127,000 Legion readers out there?

Flight rings apparently project a force field that protects Legionnaires from the vacuum and cold of outer space, a field which manisfests as a yellowish aura about each Legionnaire. Nice update of the old transuit concept.

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LSH(5) #15

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

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (v. 5) #15 (4/06)
(L 2006-4)
"Ancient Times"
ROLL CALL: Blok, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Dawnstar, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Karate Kid, Quislet, Saturn Girl, Sensor Girl, Tyroc, White Witch, Wildfire

This issue features three out-of-continuity stories, along with a framing sequence set among the teenagers of the 31st century.

The structure of this issue recalls LSH(2) #300 (6/1983), “The Future is Forever.” In that comic, Ferro Lad’s brother had a number of visions set in alternate universes, showing alternate versions of the Legion. The visions were presented in the style of past Legion comics. Most of Douglas Nolan’s visions involved the end of the Legion.

In this issue, teenagers who witness the supposed end of the Leigon tell stories set in various past eras, showing previous versions of the Legion (including many faces we haven’t seen for a long time). The tales all involve the Legion saving the day when adults failed.

Quislet’s parting wish reminds us that all of this is out of continuity, and that (presumably) the Infinite Crisis will have its effect even on the Legion. But we’re used to that by now....

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:

The first story involves Bouncing Boy, Duo Damsel, and Element Lad in a crossover with the Green Lanterns and Flashes of the JLA and JSA. There has been one previous Legion/JLA/JSA crossover: JLA #147-148 (10-11/1977), “Crisis in the 30th Century/Crisis in Triplicate”). The current story doesn’t seem to have any connection to this crossover. Based on Duo Damsel’s costume and her relationship with Bouncing Boy, this tale would be set somewhere between ACTION #380 (9/1969) and SUPERBOY #193 (2/1973).

The second story features Dawnstar, Karate Kid, Saturn Girl, Tyroc, and Wildfire and is set during the Earthwar series: SUPERBOY & LSH #241-245 (7-11/1978). The panel with Wildfire pounding the desk duplicates one in the earlier series.

The third story shows Blok, Quislet, Sensor Girl, and the White Witch stepping into the Crisis on Infinite Earths to destroy the Anit-Monitor’s machine and save Barry Allen. The Legionnaires could have stepped out of any issue during the Crisis.

Finally, when Dav Huntr throws back his hood, he reveals a face that strongly resembles Superboy.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (v. 5) #15 (4/06)
(L 2006-4a)
(Untitled)

ROLL CALL: Atom Girl, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Lone Wolf, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

The lettercol just keeps getting more bizarre, more out-of-continuity, and funnier. And Cham finally gets Trip.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:

This guide to the LSH has several similarities to “The Origin and Powers of the Legion of Super-Heroes,” a feature that appeared in different comics between 1961 and 1968. (The entire feature is complete in LEGION ARCHIVES volume 5.)

First and most striking, the panel of Ultra Boy using his heat vision to melt what appears to be a futuristic cannon: this panel is almost an exact duplicate of the Ultra Boy panel in “The Origin and Powers of the LSH.”

Second, Light Lass is shown levitating a tree in both features.

And third, in “The Origin and Powers of the LSH,” Cosmic Boy is shown using his powers to keep two futuristic vehicles from colliding. In the present-day feature, Cos uses his powers to keep a futristic vehicle from colliding with Trip.

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LSH(5) #1-3

NOTE: This is the first of four catch-up posts reviewing the first 11 issues of the Legion’s “Teenage Revolution” reboot.

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

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (v. 5) #1 (2/05)
(L 2005-1)
"And We Are Legion"
ROLL CALL: Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Phantom Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

This new reboot of the Legion begins in medias res. This time around (in the 31st century), the Legionnaires are at the center of a galactic movement of young people rebelling against a staid, boring, conservative society. In an interesting echo of ADVENTURE 359’s “The Outlawed Legionnaires,” the Science Police are against the Legion.

One particularly fun bit, making fun of the adults: The Science Police leader carries on a conversation with his Captain via visiplate, even though the Captain is standing in the same room.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:
“Colossal Boy” calls himself “Micro Lad” -- in a reversal of Gim Allon’s historic powers, he is from a race of giants, and he has the ability to shrink to only six feet tall.

The Legion Headquarters is a nice echo of the original inverted-spaceship Clubhouse.

Among the features of the lounge are two racks of DC Comics. (There are also two unidentified figures on the couch; one of them might be Princess Projectra.)

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (v. 5) #2 (3/05)
(L 2005-2)
Untitled (Cover title "Tomorrow’s Heores Today"
ROLL CALL: Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Karate Kid, Shadow Lass, Sun Boy

After the Legion stops an assassination attempt on the U.P. Council, a team is sent to Naltor to deal with a dream-related crisis.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:
An android that exhales a dangerous gas...recalls the attack of the Molecule Master in SUPERBOY 201’s “The Betrayer From Beyond.”

Element Lad’s power only works on things that he is touching.

The crisis on Naltor is an echo of similar events in ADVENTURE 362/363 “The Chemoids Are Coming” & “Black Day for the Legion.” But this time around, I doubt that Mantis Morlo is behind the trouble.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (v. 5) #3 (4/05)
(L 2005-3)
Untitled (Cover title "It’s a Magic Number"
ROLL CALL: Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Sun Boy, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

Spotlight on Triplicate Girl, as Luornu’s three bodies go on simultaneous dates with Element Lad, Sun boy, and Ultra Boy. We learn about Luornu’s homeworld, Cargg, and the origin and nature of her powers. Meanwhile, Cosmic Boy prepares for “some sort of mysterious apocalypse on the horizon that could claim billions of lives.”

This issue abounds in great lines, among them: “I only have six hands,” “I like being naked,” “That’s if you’re trying to prove I’m Superman,” “She can’t be Triplicate Girl...I am,” “I don’t call you ‘Not Light Lass’ when you’re not using your powers, do I?” and the classic “What makes you think I’m not?”

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS:
Although Luornu’s clothes triplicate when she does, her flight ring does not.

Flight rings are rare and expensive, so only a limited number can be made. Each one is coded to its wearer’s DNA, and cannot be operated by anyone else.

Phantom Girl is reading a Batman comic. I’m sure it’s possible to identify the exact issue from the pictured cover.

The effects of Element Lad’s transformations only last a maximum of sixty seconds.

Luornu originally had the power to manifest enough copies of herself to repopulate a planet. The three bodies which came to Earth to join the Legion were subsequently rejected by the rest of the Luornus on Cargg. (This is a really cool twist on Luornu’s powers.) Since she has the fused knowledge of an entire planetary population, it’s no wonder that Triplicate Girl is so smart.

Lurornu and Dirk’s play-acting recalls Lana Lang’s endless attempts to prove that Clark Kent was Superboy. The writers have a tremendous amount of fun with this sequence, especially with Chameleon’s clumsy befuddlement. (Cham’s muttered “Stupid, stupid Legionnaires” echoes the oft-repeated refrain “stupid, stupid rat creatures” from the comic Bone.)

We hear a scrap of a joke that Sun Boy is telling: “...and then the Rokynite says to the Naltorian...” In pre-Crisis continuity, Rokyn was “New Krypton,” a planet settled by ten enlarged inhabitants of the bottle city of Kandor.

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Legion Tie-In Alert: Rann-Thanagar War Trade Paperback

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

RANN-THANAGAR WAR (Countdown to Infinite Crisis) Trade Paperback
ISBN 1-4012-0839-8
(Also published separately as RANN-THANAGAR WAR (Countdown to Infinite Crisis) #1 - 6)

This is pretty confusing. This trade paperback collects the complete run of RANN-THANAGAR WAR, a limited series of "Countdown to Infinite Crisis" special editions published in 2005.

There's also RANN-THANAGAR WAR (Infinite Crisis Special) #1, a single-issue special published in 2006.

Both feature cameos by Vril Dox and other members of L.E.G.I.O.N.

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Legion Tie-In Alert: Rann-Thanagar War Single-Issue Special

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

RANN-THANAGAR WAR (Infinite Crisis Special) #1 (4/06)
"Hands of Fate"

Has an appearances by Vril Dox and Captain Comet of L.E.G.I.O.N.

I haven't been paying attention to the "Rann-Thanagar War" portion of INFINITE CRISIS, but I suppose I'll have to check it out for the L.E.G.I.O.N. connection.

(For that matter, it's possible that there have been other L.E.G.I.O.N. appearances in INFINITE CRISIS....)


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LSH(5) #14

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

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (v. 5) #14 (3/06)
(L 2006-3)
"The Incredible Shrinking Violet"
ROLL CALL: Atom Girl, Brainiac 5 (in flashback), Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

At the urging of Saturn Girl's mother, the United Planets decides to fully fund the LSH as an independent arm of Earthgov. About bloody time, I say. And another "about bloody time" to the appearance of the first acknowledged gay character in this incarnation of the Legion: Colossal Boy's adorable brother. (Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first incarnation of Colossal Boy to have a brother of any sort.)

Some more really great lines. "As my grandunit used to say, Delegate Parnal, the photon has already escaped the event horizon." "That microsphere Brainy kept in his lab? The one Ultra Boy thought was a snowglobe? It was the Imskian civilization. Atom Girl's whole race came to worship Brainy after he --"

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: As a nice touch and a nod to past continuity, a Star of David pendant is clearly visible on Colossal Boy's brother's nightstand; it was long ago established that Gim Allon and his family are Jewish.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (v. 5) #14 (3/06)
(L 2006-3a)
(Untitled)
ROLL CALL: Element Lad, Karate Kid, Lightning Lad, Shadow Lass

The out-of-continuity lettercolumn continues, and is truly hilarious. Those poor goats....

But the big news goes by in the background: a cover for issue 16, featuring Supergirl wearing a Legion flight ring!

Here's a quote from "DC in Demand" 2/06, from the back of RANN-THANAGAR WAR #1:

"We urge you to also check out what's happening one thousand and one years later, when the Maid of Might becomes the newest member of the Legion of Super-Heroes! Even we're not quite sure how Mark Waid and Barry Kitson are pulling this one off, especially since the Legionnaires believed Supergirl to be an ancient fictional character. Nevertheless, her presence will definitely be felt in the 31st century, starting with issue #16 in March, when the book's title officially changes to SUPERGIRL & THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES!"

Now this is interesting news.

As is the teaser for #15 ("Legion '85"), which shows an obviously pre-Crisis Dawnstar, Blok, and Tyroc: "It's the Legion of Super-Heroes you've waited 20 years for as the greatest heroes of the 31st century become the greatest heroes of the Multiverse. Featuring several LEGIONNAIRES YOU THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER SEE AGAIN!"

Interesting times....

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Legion Tie-Ins: JSA #78-80

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

You might want to look through the back issues for three recent issues of JSA that have a Legion connection.

JSA #78 (12/05) Lost & Found Part 1
JSA #79 (1/06) Lost & Found Part 2
JSA #80 (2/06) Lost & Found Part 3

All three feature Legion villain Mordru. The Merciless One attacks the wizard Shazam, then goes after Doctor Fate before finally being defeated by Jakeem and the Thunderbolt. In the end, Jakeem orders the Thunderbolt to "send this fool somewhere none of us will ever have to see him again" and Mordru disappears in a magical ZAKOOM!

Mordru has been an on-again, off-again foe of the JSA since the team's most recent reboot. As near as I can tell, there's never been an explanation of how this all fits in with the Legion. Considering the hash that Legion "continuity" has become, and the fact that Infinite Crisis is in the process of rewriting the DC Universe yet again, I don't suppose it matters much. Throw in some magic, flashes of pink light and purple smoke, and a resounding ZAKOOM, and it might as well all be explained.


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Legion Alert: BACK ISSUE #14

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

Look for a magazine called BACK ISSUE this week; Number 14 is the "Future Issue" and has a Legion cover, as well as a lengthy interview with Dave Cockrum & Mike Grell, and a two-page spread on the connection between the Legion and Marvel's Imperial Guard.

BACK ISSUE is published by TwoMorrows Publishing, 10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614. The web address is www.twomorrows.com. These are the same people who published THE LEGION COMPANION and BEST OF THE LEGION OUTPOST.




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LSH(5) #13

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

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (v. 5) #13 (2/06)
(L 2006-2)
(Untitled)

ROLL CALL: Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

The end of the Terror Firma storyline comes with an all-out battle between the Legion and the bad guys. Some awfully nice touches here and there, as when Ultra Boy finally gets "Micro Lad's" name right, Star Boy using his power to make air too heavy to breathe, Triplicate Girl's nickname ("Trip"), and Light Lass's line, "So you're planning on a water landing, them...?"

After saving the day, Sun Boy resigns from the Legion in order to stay with the super-powered kids of Terror Firma. Personally, I'd like to believe that he has a crush on the cute blond guy with the dark shades....

The story ends with a hint that Dream Girl might be saved after all.

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LSH (v. 5) #13 (2/06)
(L 2006-2a)
The Hours

ROLL CALL: Brainiac 5, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Ultra Boy

A short, artful story tracing Dream Girl's premonitions in the three hours before her death. An interesting look into the psychological world of a precognitive.

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LSH (v. 5) #13 (2/06)
(L 2006-2b)
(Untitled)

ROLL CALL: Karate Kid, Polar Boy, Shadow Lass

Another out-of-continuity Letter Column (like the one in LSH (v. 5) #6, this time featuring Karate Kid, Shadow Lass, and the (brief) return of Polar Boy.

Despite the teaser, there appears to be no LSH presence so far in Infinite Crisis...just a few cameos.




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