Welcome to the LSH FAQ!version 2.0 Compiled by Doug Atkinson, douga@earlham.edu
Edited by Vernon Harmon, vernon@cs.cmu.edu HTML by Vernon Harmon, vernon@cs.cmu.edu
This FAQ is intended to serve as an overview of certain popular topics of discussion regarding the Legion of Super-Heroes. Each question here has been hashed out on rec.arts.comics or rec.arts.comics.misc, or in the Omnicom mailing list, enough to qualify as being Frequently Asked. Some of these questions don't have answers yet; if not, the information available is given instead.
The first version of this FAQ dealt almost exclusively with the current series(v4). The second release adds some long- standing, older issues that are still relevant. This version is a larger overhaul, reflecting changes caused by the change in creative teams.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
This section covers the changes in character's histories between the conclusion of volume 3 and the beginning of volume 4, as well as including the members who have joined since. Every person who has ever been a member is treated. Not all changes to characters that have occurred during the current series are treated, however--this section is primarily intended to cover the Five-Year Gap.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
The story begins with John Byrne's revision of Superman following CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. Byrne felt that a Superboy story had no innate tension (because the reader knew that he would have to survive to become Superman), so he decided to eliminate Superboy from continuity.
The LSH editor of the time decided that LSH continuity had to be saved, however. The LSH origin was intimately tied to Superboy, so preserving him became necessary.
The creative teams of both books concocted the Pocket Universe. Essentially, it was discovered that the Time Trapper had created (or saved) an Earth and Krypton, which he kept in a small, separate universe. All the pre-Crisis Superboy stories occurred there, and (with a few exceptions) all LSH time journeys to the past went to that world. However, Cosmic Boy discovered that the true 20th century was different from Superboy's, leading to a crossover that resulted in the death of Superboy to save the pocket Earth. (The pocket Earth was later destroyed in SUPERMAN.) This story, though cobbled together, served to preserve LSH continuity. (This story appeared in SUPERMAN v2 #8, ACTION #591, and LSH v2 #37-38.)
Here is John Byrne's description of the creation of the Pocket Universe: (from _Comic Buyers' Guide_ #997)
"And that brings us to the death of Superboy.Some unspecified officials in DC later decided to remove Superboy completely. An edict was sent down to the creative team to eliminate the Pocket Universe. This involved then-dead Mon-El reviving, and being found to house the remains of the Time Trapper (apparently destroyed in LSH v3 #50). Mon-El was discovered to be from the Pocket Universe as well (a logical development, since his origin was intimately tied to Superboy). He wound up seemingly destroying the Time Trapper and eliminating the Pocket Universe (and thus the inspiration for the LSH) from history altogether. However, it had been revealed at some point that the Trapper had engineered the creation of the LSH. Their purpose was to defeat Mordru, who would otherwise have come to rule the galaxy with no opposition. With the Trapper, the Pocket Universe, and the LSH gone, Mordru ruled supreme (in what has come to be known as the "Mordruverse")."No, it wasn't 'a parallel universe or Earth-2 or just lack of continuity' that necessitated the death of Superboy in LSH #38. Actually, it was that ol' hobgoblin of small minds, an excessive allegiance to continuity which triggered this tale. Especially ironic, given that the prime mover in all this was Paul Levitz, he who has sneered his very best sneer at the Marvel mentality which demands canonical continuity.
"Here's what happened:
"Early on in the genesis of the 'new' Superman, I went into the DC offices for a conference with Jenette [Kahn], Paul, Andy Helfer, and Dick Giordano. We were getting, at that point, very close to the moment at which my pencil would actually have to touch paper for the first time, and we all wanted to be sure we knew where we were going.
[Digression about Krypton deleted.]
"One of the points I kept coming back to at this meeting was the matter of Superboy. We'd agreed there would be no Superboy in the new chronology (Confession: I now consider this a mistake. Ah, well...) and several times during this one meeting I addressed myself specifically to Paul, who, as scribe of LEGION, would be most directly affected by the 'removal.' If there was no Superboy--and never had been--how did the Legion come into existence? What was their inspiration? It was easy enough to fudge all the Legion stories in which Superboy had appeared, but hadn't the original Legionnaires created their club as kind of a tribute to Superboy? My suggestion was simple enough: When I was a child in England I had a book about the adventures of "Young Robin Hood." Like the Disney Kids or the Muppet Babies, this little tome presented the adventures of Robin and Marian, Little(r) John, and Tuck--everyone, in fact--with no regard to the mangling this caused to the original legend. And that, of course, is the best thing about legends: Since little or nothing is really real, it doesn't much matter what you shovel into the box. Only purists (like me) would be offended by, say, John Watson meeting young Sherlock Holmes years before Arthur Conan Doyle said they met. So, as Steven Spielberg must surely have said to himself, why not? This seemed to me the solution to the Superboy problem: Superman himself had become legendary by the time--Superboy was simply retrofitted into the legend. Paul nodded sagely at this and said he had his own solution and I should not worry.
"I didn't worry--until I got a panicked call from Andy Helfer, a few months after I started the project. 'There's no Superboy!' Andy exclaimed. 'That screws up Legion continuity!' This was followed by a hollow *thunk* as my forehead hit the drawing board.
"Short form: Something had to be 'done' about Superboy, and the story which saw print, replete with its pocket universe and villainous machinations, was the 'solution.' I still think my idea--retrofitting the legend--would have been better, but at least I got to draw Krypto, and that alone was worth the aggravation."
To restore the lost continuity, the writers brought back an obscure villainness named Glorith, who had previously appeared in ADVENTURE #338 as a stooge of the Trapper (and died in that issue). With the Trapper gone, she still lived as First Wife of Mordru. However, she (and others, including Mordru) realized that the LSH was missing. She sought to restore it, casting a magical ritual that left her in the role of Time Trapper.
Because Superboy was gone, she chose Lar Gand (formerly Mon-El, now Valor) as the inspiration for the LSH. She brought R.J. Brande (a Durlan member of L.E.G.I.O.N.) to the 30th century to become the team's financier, and re-engineered Valor as Superboy's replacement. Continuity had been patched over again.
The Time Trapper was revealed to still be alive and hiding in the remains of the Pocket Universe; Glorith consumed his essence, taking on the remainder of his power and his memories. Recent issues of VALOR suggest that he is still in existence, though.
Later, however, other(?) DC higher-ups realized that eliminating the Trapper/Pocket Universe also eliminated the origin of Matrix, who was playing a major role in the Superman books. The Pocket Universe was restored to LSH history (re-created by Glorith), but Superboy played a much smaller role, existing for only 2 weeks. This fact was not explained in the comic, however; Superboy made only a one-panel cameo in an annual. However, the Superman cross-over series "Time and Time Again" had Superman meeting the current LSH, with all parties remembering Superboy...much to the confusion of the reader. The situation was not made clear until the Sourcebook was released.
The continuity involving the Pocket Universe has recently changed again. In v4 #53, the history of the LSH is told to Glorith by an unknown party with time powers (possibly the Time Trapper). According to him (or her, or it, or them) the LSH did travel to the Pocket Universe to meet Superboy, which weakened its stability. He still died fighting the Time Trapper, but Glorith destroyed Daxam as well. (This combines both old and new continuity.) She absorbed the Time Trapper and the stories after v4 #13 occurred as written.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
Kid Quantum is a retroactively inserted LSHer, who joined between Invisible Kid I and Laurel Gand. He served for under a year, then apparently died, making him the LSH's first casualty. He was arguably also the team's first minority member. His death prompted the team to outlaw members whose powers depended on gadgets.
Kid Quantum first appeared on page 11 of v4 #9, in a flashback to Laurel's origin, although he was not identified. His statue appeared among that of other dead heroes in the same issue, although he was not identified until LSH Annual v4 #3. His origin was given in LSH v4 #33, and the reader is referred to that issue for details. Essentially, his cover story was that he was a Xanthuan who gained stasis powers from the same comet that empowered Star Boy. His powers were revealed to come from a belt, instead. He died in battle, but his body was never found.
This is, however, untrue. The truth is: Glorith attempted to enslave the race of Antarean Proteans in 2973. In response, they took the sentience of all but seven of them and placed them into one body, christened the Soul of Antares. This Soul was stripped of the native Protean shape-shifting power, given a force-field belt and sent to join the LSH; when Glorith came close to finding him, his death was faked by Proty I. He wound up in hiding on Yal. (The seven Proteans were the Protean Sentients; both Proties were Sentients.)
(The matter of the Protean Sentients is pure retcon. During the Levitz days, Proteans started out non-sapient but telepathically picked it up if exposed to sapience for long enough. This in itself was a retcon.)
Fans generally reacted poorly to a new LSHer being retroactively introduced, and the character did not appear again (except briefly, in stasis) for a year or so. There are some indications that he was intended to join the Legionnaires; their WHO'S WHO entry and DC COSMIC TEAMS cards both list him as a member. He has now met the team, and may be joining them.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
[This question was included in previous versions of the FAQ, containing all the knowledge to that point. LSH v4 #53 has substantially altered our knowledge of the nature of the SW6 Legion--they aren't Dominion clones after all under the new writers, it seems.
[This summer's ZERO HOUR crossover series promises to clear up continuity of several titles, including LSH and LEGIONNAIRES. It seems likely that the SW6's nature will be re-explained then. Until then, I will refrain from conjecture.]
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
In LSH v4 #27, page 4, a list appeared of the subjects held by the Dominators in their chambers under Weisinger Plaza. Most of them were pre-existing characters. These characters were:
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
Vi and Ayla: This question has not been definitively settled, although there is considerable circumstantial evidence that they are lovers. Examples:
In LSH v3, #22, Paul Levitz started it all with this scene:
Vi: You may still be squeamish, but you did a great job
as Legion leader on this mission, Lightning Lass.
Ayla: I try, Violet. We both seem to have grown a lot
lately. And I think we're both better people for it, don't you?
Stronger, more aggressive--more sure of ourselves.
Vi: I've rethought a lot since I was trapped in that sens-
tank, Lightning Lass. I changed my whole life, Ayla. [Editor's
note: Notice the switch to real name instead of code-name...] What
about you? Never mind. Maybe that's not fair. Maybe we don't
know each other that well.
Ayla: No, I...I...I'd like to answer you, but...
[They are interrupted at this point.]
Some other, less suggestive material occurred in v3 #s 21,
23, and 30. In #56, this scene occurred after Ayla had failed to
pick up Pol:
Ayla: I must have scared a year's growth off him...and he
can't afford to lose it.
Vi: Looking for someone, Ayla?
Ayla: Oh...hi, Violet. I suppose not.
Vi: Punch yourself off mission monitor board duty and we
can talk about it. We haven't had a lot of time to talk lately.
Ayla: I was busy...at least I thought I was. I'm sorry,
Violet.
Vi: S'okay. Just remember who your friends are, lady.
This scene works better as a reconciliation of friends
than lovers, somehow.The beginning of v4 contained a number of references to Vi's anticipating a reunion with Ayla.
In v4 #16, after Vi has had her lost leg replaced by a mechanical prosthesis, she wishes to return to action as quickly as possible. Rokk tells her: "Well, I could *order* you off the front lines. And--you know she won't *say* it--but that's *exactly* what Ayla would *like* me to do." Interpret as you will.
In v4, #20 we see them in a bedroom; Vi is half-dressed, and Ayla has just stepped out of the shower.
In #38, while watching the destruction of Earth, they are holding hands.
In #39, they appear to be discussing their relationship-- "I'd like to be needed by you every once in a while, too." "Oh, Vi, I *always* need you. More than *anything*." They are also sitting on the same bed. This was the strongest evidence to date.
In #50, the following exchange occurs: (by the new writers)
Vi: I can read you like a book, Ayla. You must have
*another* great hand.
Ayla: *You* should know...
There is also evidence that the SW6 Vi is developing an
interest in women, as seen in her diaries. In v4 #25 she speaks
approvingly of Ayla's figure. (Enviously, but it shows she was
looking.) In #35 she writes, "She [Saturn Girl] hugged me too and
was nearly crying. It's different to hug a woman because of her
chest. Saturn Girl's uniform makes her chest look so nice. What
am I talking about? I'm insane."Additionally, then-LSH editor Michael Eury referred to the two as open lovers in an "Inside DC" column. T&M mentioned this in the letter column without confirming or denying it.
Such a relationship would not be out of character for either one. Though both have been involved with men in the past, it has never been said that they are *not* bisexual. (To be fair, lack of negative evidence does not equal positive evidence; but nothing established is being contradicted.)
However, there has been no definitive proof offered yet, and the letter columns have been vague on the subject. Also, while circumstantial evidence is easy to find, such a conclusion cannot be disproved through the same means. There is one piece of evidence that can be seen as saying they aren't lovers; in v4 #45, Ayla is startled when Vi bodily throws her to the ground and out of the way of an attack. It could be said that she is surprised by the close bodily contact, which she wouldn't be if they were lovers.
In addition, their most recent WHO'S WHO entries, written by T&M, refer to them as "close friends." WHO'S WHO is not averse to identifying characters as gay, since Pied Piper is clearly identified as such, so this is a decision of the writers, not the editors.
Until proof is given, the conclusion must be: They are definitely close friends. Whether there is something more is uncertain, but the reader may be excused for believing so.
[What would be necessary to be considered outright proof? Some clear physical display of affection--unlikely in a series which has shown only one kiss in 53 issues--or a direct statement by one of the characters. I would gladly settle for a statement by the editors or writers rather than a scene in the comic itself, so long as the matter could be settled one way or another.]
Jan: For a long time, Jan had never been in a relationship of any sort. ("I'm...er...out of my *element* when it comes to romancing girls, but..." ADV #327)
Jim Shooter, writing the series in the mid-'70s, suggested in a fanzine interview that he might be gay. (Interlac APA, 1975: "Element Lad: Hmm. An introvert who covers with snappy patter! Could be gay; who knows? He is confident, almost arrogant. He has a right to feel very special, and his is an overwhelming power.")
There was speculation about this among the fan press in the early-to-mid-80's as well; possibly in response, then-writer Paul Levitz brought him together with SP Officer Shvaughn Erin. (See below.) This is generally cited as evidence that he is not exclusively gay, though he could be bi.
In LSH v4 #31, it was a) revealed that Shvaughn was actually a man, Sean, using chemicals to change his gender; and b) hinted strongly that Jan was gay, without actually saying so. (Page 11: "...are you trying to tell me you find *this* as attractive as *Shvaughn*?" "Don't you understand? *Anything* we ever shared physically...it was in *spite* of the Profem, not *because* of it...!" This statement can be interpreted in a number of ways.)
[The Shvaughn-Sean switch is definitely a retcon, although of the sort that introduces new material rather than contradicting old material.]
Again, the lettercol has been vague on the subject. Although I prefer to stick with information from the comic, this diary entry from the Sourcebook clears it up pretty well: "Shvaughn. I probably did love her sexually at one time, despite our incompatabilities...but there was always something else--some unspoken tension, some hidden reality that was coming between us. I always assumed it was me, and in part it must have been. There I was, pretending to be stimulated sexually at a time when my journey required that I deny my own sexuality, much less hers."
In LSH v4 #50, when Jan is recovering from injuries and a near-death-experience, he asks Sean to stay with him...a sign that their relationship may resume? McCraw has yet to touch on this.
The evidence is clear that the writers consider him gay, despite his previous relationship with a woman. The continuity- conscious reader may consider him to be bi if they prefer. There can be little doubt that Sean is gay.
Relevant to the discussion is this excerpt from AMAZING HEROES #144, in Andy Mangels' article "Out of the Closet and Into Comics:"
"It must be the blond curly hair or something, because both characters with that hairstyle in the DC Universe have long been the subject of a debate of 'is he or isn't he gay?': Star Boy of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES and Jericho of the NEW TEEN TITANS. [Editor's note: Presumably he means Element Lad, not Star Boy.]
"Although it has largely been assumed in LEGION fandom that Star Boy [Element Lad] is gay, creator Paul Levitz apparently felt that none of the 30-plus members of the Legion were gay (even though, statistically, three of them should be). When the rumors about Star Boy were at their highest, Levitz promptly gave him a girlfriend, an idea which met with much disapproval not only from fandom, but from the professional community as well.
"'Element Lad at this point has a girlfriend,' says LEGION co-plotter/artist Keith Giffen. [This article was written at the time LSH v3 #52 was out. He and Shvaughn had been involved for five years or so at this point.] 'I've always contended that he was gay. First, I didn't see anything wrong with it. He's gay, big deal! It's like he's Lutheran or Methodist, big deal. Colossal Boy's Jewish, so what? They still can grow. I would think that by the 30th Century homophobia is sort of looked back upon as a quaint aberration of human nature. I mean, you're dealing with alien races who don't even have the same equipment! That was one of the theories about Element Lad--no he's not gay, it's just that his equipment won't fit into anything else because he's the last survivor on his planet [sic]. That's kind of dodging the issue. It looks like now that he's pretty much heterosexual, although that does disappoint me. Just the fact that people were saying "Is he gay, isn't he gay?"--just the fact that it was so understated and so naturally done, without holding up the banner and saying "Gay guy, gay guy, right over here!" If people did gays in comics naturally, there wouldn't be a big brouhaha every time someone did a character that might even be remotely intimated as gay. Something that should just be a natural part of a character becomes a controversy.
"'I believe Paul was of the "piece of the equipment not fitting" angle, and thought that was more logical,' concludes Giffen. 'We never agreed on Element Lad. I've just gotten back on the book [as co-plotter with Levitz], and if we did introduce a gay character it wouldn't be like "Hi, I'm Mesmer Lad. I'm six- foot-two, blond-haired, blue-eyed, and gay." It wouldn't be like that. It would just be introduced and played out as part of the character's personality. There'd be no banner, no banging of the drums, and no speeches on how socially aware we are, wink-wink, nudge-nudge. I don't want to introduce a gay character just to prove how liberal I am. I'd like to think if we did it we could do it as well as Element Lad's alleged gayness, so that people do start picking up on it after a while but it doesn't become this shrieking, screaming match.'"
Although I am unaware of any gay characters introduced in the last year of v3, the Ayla-Vi situation almost perfectly fits what Keith describes above. (Note that, while it may have begun in the early 20s of v3--when Giffen wasn't on the series--it was brought up again in #56, shortly after his return...) The Jan story is closer to what he wanted to avoid, but even in that story the gayness issue was secondary. Mekt Ranzz was implied to have a male lover in LSH v4 ANNUAL #3, and there was no fanfare whatsoever.
[One point to consider: This topic should not necessarily be considered in terms of modern concepts of sexuality. Consider that alien humanoids may differ in sexual identity from Earth humans. Winath was settled from Earth, but Imskites and Trommites aren't descended from humans. It is possible that Trommites may exhibit radical changes in sexual orientation throughout their lives, or that they become homosexual when not exposed to Trommites of the opposite sex, or that they are all naturally bisexual. They may not even have sexual orientations as we define them. It may not be possible to pigeonhole Jan or Vi into "gay," "straight," or "bi." For that matter, real people aren't always that easily pigeonholed, either. The very concept of sexual orientation is relatively modern, and many (if not most) people don't fit into nice, neat categories. It is certainly not unknown for someone to have a relationship with a member of the opposite sex and then later decide they are gay. In other words, Jan being exclusively gay isn't a total violation of continuity, as some readers have claimed.]
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
Two Legionnaires, Kono and Kent Shakespeare, have never had their origins given within the comic itself, though they have been given in WHO'S WHO and the DC Heroes Sourcebook. For the benefit of those who read only the comic, their origins are:
Kono: Kono's mother was a major technology raider for Sklar. At one point she aided the Hag (who was actually the White Witch) and was given a blessing: her daughter would have mighty abilities and know glory and adventure as had no Sklarian before her. When her first daughter, Brita, was born, she turned out to have the ability to transfer mass between objects. She grew up raiding with her mother. However, when the Great Collapse hit, the Khunds invaded Sklar; Kono used her powers to render all their clothes immaterial. Horribly embarrassed, they put a heavy price on her head, and she was forced to flee, eventually winding up smuggling Silverale on Rimbor. She started out competing with Jo, but he wound up taking her into his group.
Kent: He grew up in Metropolis, and was studying to be a med student when he was exposed to a mysterious virus. He was brought to Brainiac 5 for study; it was determined that he was being transformed into a powerful metahuman. He joined the LSH as Impulse, and was selected as a target by Earthgov. Quitting after Black Dawn, he was forced to move around, being sheltered by other Legionnaires. He joined the Braalian Militia with Rokk, and served there until Venado Bay. Eventually Garth and Imra got him a job on Quarantine.
Celeste's origin has never been clearly stated, though she is definitely a niece of Leland McCauley III. No essential information about her or Devlin is available that has not been given in the comic. [The origin of her Green Lantern-like powers is unclear.]
Creator credits: Kono was created by Mary Bierbaum. Devlin was created by Tom Bierbaum. Celeste, Kent, and Bounty were created by Al Gordon. (Bounty was "created" by him in the same sense that Paul Levitz "created" Sensor Girl.) Sade was created by Jason Pearson.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
The long-mysterious Black Dawn has been explained in LSH v4 #52. As predicted, it involved a crisis in which the sun was threatened (by Dr. Regulus, working for Molock Hanscomb, the third Starfinger). Brin received a strong dose of radiation, and Drake gave himself to re-ignite the sun.
This version is inconsistent with previous versions in a number of ways. First, the Sourcebook established that it was an ongoing crisis covering at least a month. Only one battle was shown. Secondly, Black Dawn marked the beginning of the LSH's unpopularity and the Dominion's takeover of Earthgov. None of that is indicated in any way in #52. Also, there is no indication of the Molecule Master's involvement. Moreover, several sources list the source of Brin's injuries as a "wave of radiation," not the explosion shown here.
Finally, the leadership and membership of the LSH is inconsistent with previously established versions. According to WHO'S WHO, Sensor Girl resigned during Black Dawn and deputy leader Timber Wolf was unwilling to take the responsibility; this left Sun Boy to take over the leadership. (This was established in the series in #28.) The version in #52 has Sensor Girl still present; Sun Boy has only one line of dialogue, and is clearly not in charge. Star Boy, who is pictured, had resigned long before. Active members Tellus, Crystal Kid, Dawnstar, Element Lad, Echo, Impulse, and Karate Kid are not pictured. [To be fair, the story shown is Brin's memories, and not all the LSH could be pictured in the space given. Still, some of it is simply inconsistent.]
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
Essentially, L.E.G.I.O.N. is a series set in the 20th century that utilizes many of the settings and background of the LSH.
LEGION (omitting periods to speed typing) was a spin-off of Keith Giffen's INVASION! crossover of 1988. It was an attempt to give the modern DC universe a more coherent background of aliens; competitor Marvel Comics has well-established traditions of the Skrulls, Shi'ar, and Kree, but DC aliens tended to be one- shot invaders. INVASION! had Earth being invaded by a number of established alien races, some from the 20th century, and some LSH aliens appearing in the 20th century for the first time. (20th century aliens were the Citadel [Omega Men], Psions [Omega Men], Thanagarians [Hawkman], and Okaarans [Omega Men]. LSH aliens were the Dominators, Khunds, Gil'dishpan, Durlans, and Daxamites.)
LEGION was founded by a variety of aliens who had been captured by the Dominators. Many of them had a connection to the LSH.
THE DURLAN (unnamed) would be seized by Glorith and brought to the 30th Century, to become R.J. Brande. He would be robbed of his memory, but enough of it would be restored that LEGION would be a dim influence on the LSH.
VRIL DOX II is a clone of the original Brainiac. He is the legendary hero who overthrew the Computer Tyrants, and an ancestor of Brainiac 5. The Computer Tyrants came back personified as a villain who may have later become Pulsar Stargrave, an LSH villain. (Vril has been in Brainiac 5's origin since the '60s, but he never appeared until LEGION. Stargrave first appeared in SBOY #223, and had a muddled origin in which he may be the original Brainiac or the heart of a star personified, or something.)
LYRISSA MALLOR was planetary champion of Talok VIII and an ancestor of Shadow Lass. Her daughter, LYDEA MALLOR, is in the book, and showed up in LSH twisted into a Servant of Darkness.
GARRYN BEK was at one point taken over by the Emerald Eye of Ekron, as was his wife, MARIJ'N, although it was apparently destroyed. (Uh-huh.)
LAR GAND hung around for a while; he became the LSH's Valor eventually. (His father was one of the Daxamite observers during the Invasion; he died sending a message to Daxam).
PHASE is LSHer Phantom Girl, sent back in time by Glorith and rendered amnesiac.
STRATA, a Dryadian, survived to be the last female of the race (and showed up in v4 #3).
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
The destruction of the moon was shown in ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #478, and its repercussions in LSH v4 #19. Essentially, Superman was involved in a time travel story that involved alternating between the past and the future. Large amounts of energy were apparently necessary to catapult him through time.
At the end of the crossover, Superman arrived in 2995, where mad Daxamite Dev-Em was involved in a pitched battle with the LSH. Dev-Em ultimately decided to activate a destruct system the Dominators had installed (Operation: Triple Strike). With the help of Superman, Dev-Em was defeated, and Imra was able to disable the destruct device. However, the Linear Man, who had been behind the time trip, realized that the moon had to be destroyed to maintain history as it was established. He re- activated the system, sending Superman back in time and destroying the moon. (The LSH managed to escape, and Dev-Em was later revealed to have survived.)
The "Time and Time Again" storyline, of which this was a part, appeared in ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #476-8, SUPERMAN #54-55, and ACTION #664-5.
Dev-Em is an old character who has been through two major retcons, both to bring him into line with continuity and give him a more reasonable origin.
He first appeared in either ADV #287 in the 20th century, and #320 in the 30th, as a juvenile delinquent from Krypton who'd survived its destruction. He met the LSH as a member of the Interstellar Counter-Intelligence Corps (ICC) while going against Molock the Merciless. He remained a minor background character for a while, appearing in the Great Darkness Saga and getting a minor story in TLSH.
After the Pocket Universe was created, Dev-Em was turned into David Emery, boy from Earth. His parents were Titanians who emigrated because they had no powers. David inherited a strong (recessive) latent talent from them, and, essentially, wished himself into a Kryptonian. He made up an origin, the one given in his first appearance (which was a false memory given to Superboy and Mon-El.) [This origin appeared in WWITLSH, but never in the series itself.]
After the Pocket Universe was destroyed, his origin didn't really work (Kryptonian survivors were commonplace pre-Crisis, but rare post-Crisis), so he was given a new origin in WHO'S WHO, one more in keeping with the original. He became a 20th Century Daxamite juvenile delinquent, who left Daxam to use his powers. Lead-poisoned, he was sent to the future by Valor so advanced medicine could cure him. He still joined the ICC, but became more and more erratic until, finally, he went on his lunar rampage. Afterwards, he was somehow found by Leland McCauley IV, put in suspended animation by an Emerald Eye, and added to McCauley's "collection." His condition following McCauley's loss of the Eye in LRS #6 is unknown.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
The Adult Legion stories were future stories set in the adulthoods of the LSH, which Superman occasionally visited. Their first appearance was in SUPERMAN #147. (Although the LSH that Supergirl originally joined was said to be made up of the children of Superboy's LSH, that was long ago retconned away.) Originally they were composed of Lightning Man, Cosmic Man, and Saturn Woman, with opponents Lightning Lord, Cosmic King, and Saturn Queen, the Legion of Super-Villains. (See accompanying section on the LSV.)
The Adult Legion came into its own in ADV #354-5, with a full story detailing the futures of the characters. This story, written by Jim Shooter, proved to be pivotal in determining the futures of many Legionnaires. Several characters made their first appearances in this story, and their introductions, marriages and deaths were used as a guideline by writers for a long time.
Paul Levitz finally made a conscious effort to break away from the Adult Legion straitjacket, in LSH v2 #300. (Actually, the breakup of Ayla and Brin a few issues earlier could be seen as the same thing.) "Shadow Woman," a Caucasian, was pictured among the dead Legionnaires as having "died saving the Science Asteroid." Blue-skinned Shadow Lass was introduced a year later, and there was not necessarily any connection between the two. In LSH v2 #299, she appeared wearing pink makeup, a new costume (resembling the one in ADV), and calling herself "Shadow Woman." She and Mon- El were summoned to the Science Asteroid to save it from the Khunds; she appeared dead in the battle but in fact survived it.
The same issue had the first true appearance of Douglas Nolan, Ferro Lad's twin brother, who had been introduced in this story. His mutant mind was somehow reaching into alternate universes, and he was experiencing them fully. The Adult Legion was clearly implied to be just one of these alternate universes, not a proven future for the characters.
In v4 there has been a small amount of return to the Adult Legion. Although the writers aren't following the future shown by any means, they are drawing on it as a source of inspiration.
STORY ELEMENTS INTRODUCED IN THE ADULT LEGION AND USED BY LATER WRITERS:
The second Reflecto to appear was the planetary hero of Rimbor and a rejected LSH applicant (as shown in LSH ANNUAL v4 #1). He joined the LSH during the Five-Year Gap, and according to the Sourcebook: "Only months after joining, Reflecto was searching for criminals involved in the famous Black Dawn disaster when he was attacked by an android named Molecule Master... Reflecto's power protected from most of the Molecule Master's attacks, but what Reflecto didn't know was that the android was also releasing a slow-acting poisonous gas that seeped past Reflecto's protective power. This dishonest and cowardly attack succeeded, and Reflecto died on July 7, 2991."
(Note: Anything in this list could still occur, if a writer wanted to stretch things enough. Some are more likely than others. Also, none of the LSHers have used the altered codenames given here, except Tasmia, who called herself Shadow Woman briefly.)
It should also be noted that any of the predictions listed could still occur. Ayla could still marry Brin, Tasmia could still die protecting the Science Asteroid, and Chuck and Luornu could still have a son. The story just isn't likely to occur as written, is all.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
The Legion of Super-Villains first appeared in an Adult Legion story (the first) in SUPERMAN #147. The members were Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, and Saturn Queen; they battled Superman and the Adult Legion, teamed with the adult Lex Luthor. They reappeared in ADV #354-5 (see previous question). This LSV was composed of adults. Because the Adult Legion is no longer considered to be in continuity, this LSV (which never appeared in a continuity story) can be considered to be functionally nonexistent. WHO'S WHO considers them spurious.
The "true" adult LSV appeared first in SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #63, as Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, Chameleon Chief, and Sun Emperor. (Saturn Queen came along later.) They were also from our LSH's future. Their existence is more difficult to ascertain, because they did cross over with the LSH. In fact, the three "core" members (CK, LL, SQ) became LSHers in ADV #331, when villain Dynamo-Boy was controlling the team and had expelled all other members. They were arrested, but according to WWITLSH, "vanished en route to Takron-Galtos." They reappeared in JIMMY OLSEN, but have not reappeared as time-travelling adults in an LSH book. (LEGION INDEX considers the JIMMY OLSEN group and the ADV #331 group to be separate, but I know of no evidence for this.)
The members were left to reappear gradually in the present. The first to do so was Lightning Lord. In SUPERMAN #147, he claimed to be Lightning Man's brother, and to share his origin on Korbal. This is true of the "real" version, who first appeared a while later in SBOY #147. (The story was a retelling of the SMAN origin, but told by the younger Garth, and including Ayla, who had not yet appeared in the older story.) He began with red hair, which turned white in SBOY #172 (to fit with his adult version). Though he was the longest-existing LSV member who was part of the adult group, he has never been observed to make the time-travel journeys the adult version did. Moreover, he seems thoroughly reformed now.
Cosmic King was the next to reappear, years later, in LSH v3 #2. He referred to having just been expelled from his native Venus (the accepted origin for the adult) at the time of the story. While he could likewise have travelled in time, he has never been seen to.
Saturn Queen waited the longest to be introduced, in LSH v4 #14. She appeared as the twelfth wife of Prince Evillo; no mention was made of her origin. (The adult version also had a vague origin, involving the crime-damping powers of Saturn's rings. That story element has almost certainly been eliminated by now.) By this point, changes had been made in the concept of the LSV; see below.
Chameleon Chief and Sun Emperor first appeared in SBOY #208, as members of a new LSV. (The original was founded by Tarik the Mute in ADV #371; of the aforementioned characters, only Lightning Lord was a member. This is chronologically the first LSV, no matter when the time-travelling groups first appeared.) No origins were given (Sun Emperor got one in WWITLSH, but not Chameleon Chief).
With the exception of Saturn Queen, who had not appeared as a youth at the time of publication, WWITLSH does not consider ADV #331 or JIMMY OLSEN #63 as first appearance for the LSVers. This is a sign that the time-travelling Adult LSV is not considered to be equivalent to their younger members. On the strength of that, and the lack of time travel by the core group, their appearance in ADV #331 could be ignored, and their first appearances considered to be SBOY #147, LSH v3 #2, and LSH v4 #14. (The latest edition of WHO'S WHO gives Lightning Lord's first appearance as SMAN #147, however.)
However, a couple of sources related to the current series mention Cosmic King as founder of an LSV, which he controlled using drugs. Spider Girl was mentioned as a member of a group he led in WHO'S WHO, and the 2995 Sourcebook mentions Saturn Queen as an associate, though she was never caught (explaining how she never appeared, but Tenzil could still recognize her). Cosmic King was never a leader of an LSV in the Trapperverse, except the two future groups; the first was headed by Tarik the Mute, the second by Sun Emperor, and the third (the one that Cosmic King joined) by Nemesis Kid. (Lightning Lord also headed the group at one point.)
Originally, Spider Girl was associated with all three of these, and Saturn Queen with none, so it is difficult to determine which group Laevar Bolto (Cosmic King) led. Since he is mentioned in Spider Girl's WHO'S WHO entry as the one that recruited her, it would logically be the first and possibly the second. Apparently Tarik has been retconned out and replaced by Laevar (also removing CK's statement in v3 about having just left Venus, unless he was time travelling).
This still does not settle the question of the time- travelling group in current continuity. However, the best evidence is that the Dynamo-Boy story never occurred in this continuity, at least with time-travelling adult LSV members. (The LSH Constitution would have kept them out, actually; if they were contemporaries of the Adult Legion, they would have been over 18. Dynamo-Boy would certainly have ignored rules that didn't help him, however.)
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
The original reference to a character of this name came in LSH v4 #5, the "Mordruverse" issue. He was Mysa's contact in the underground, but they "got him" and he was replaced by Andrew Nolan.
The second reference to a character of that name came in #27, with the list of subjects held in the Dominators' Weisinger Chambers. Here the character was named "Annie" and had bad luck powers (see question #5).
Finally, Foxworth appeared in #31 as an underground contact of Reep's, informing him of the whereabouts of his father, R.J. Brande.
According to T&M, Foxworth and both Foxmoors were meant to be the same character, but absent-mindedness led to the name change. [It seems odd that a male character would be named "Annie," but that's the 30th Century for you...]
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
The Legion of Substitute-Heroes first appeared in ADV #306, as a group of rejected LSH applicants. They were all rejected at an LSH open call, and decided to band together "to act as pinch-hitters for the Super-Heroes and help them in any way we can!" They were:
CHLOROPHYLL KID: Ral Benem of Mardru. Could speed up and slow down the growth of plants. The LSH couldn't see any use for his power on their missions.
FIRE LAD: Staq Mavlen of Shwar. Could breathe fire, but the LSH felt his power was too dangerous and "could cause accidental holocausts."
NIGHT GIRL: Lydda Jath of Kathoon. Had enhanced strength (and Kryptonian-like powers in one story, which were ignored later), but only at night. (This varied greatly; in some stories, ordinary light bulbs could deactivate her power.) The LSH felt this was too limited, and rejected her.
STONE BOY: Dag Wentim of Zwen. Like all members of his race, he could turn into immobile stone (to wait out his planet's six-month nights). The LSH "said [his] power was too static and would accomplish nothing positive," and rejected him.
The Subs continued for quite a long time, acting as occasional supporting characters in the series. They added one new member in ADV #342:
The team was basically along for the ride for a long time, never really accomplishing anything major. Night Girl got by far the most appearances, since she was Cosmic Boy's girlfriend (and eventual wife). The rest were basically in the background; they would help out occasionally, but were never really central to anything.
They did get a few chances to be helpful: in the Earthwar (SLSH #241-245) they filled in defending Earth after most of the LSH was captured. A few issues later (SLSH #254) they, guided by the insane Brainiac 5, apprehended the League of Super-Assassins. They also chipped in during the Great Darkness Saga (LSH #290- 294). However, they never really rose from the shadow of the real team.
They underwent a major shift in DC COMICS PRESENTS #59, where Keith Giffen needed foils for Superman and Ambush Bug. Instead of being played as the second-string team, they were written as well-meaning, humorously bumbling incompetents. The team had added two new members:
PORCUPINE PETE: Peter Dursin of Earth. A mutant with porcupine-like spines he could fire, he was also rejected for demonstrating inadequate control.
DOUBLE-HEADER: Dyvud/Frenk Retzun of Janus. Members of his race gradually split into two identical beings with identical chromosomes. However, his two halves couldn't get along, and they were rejected on the basis of their constant bickering.
The team took a swift turn downhill in terms of seriousness at this point. DC published the LEGION OF SUBSTITUTE- HEROES SPECIAL in 1985, which was played completely for laughs. (For the record, this is the first time the humorous implications of Matter-Eater Lad's power were explored.) The team was handled as totally incompetent, and managed to defeat Pulsar Stargrave through sheer luck only. (This issue was never really regarded as being in continuity, for the record. The origin it gives for Porcupine Pete should be completely ignored; it's a tribute to an old JIMMY OLSEN story.)
The team made no significant appearances for a long time after this; in LSH v3 #14, Polar Boy joined the LSH and referred to having disbanded the Subs. The others went their separate ways, and the only other Sub to make any appearances for a long time was Night Girl, who stayed with Rokk.
During the Five-Year Gap, Polar Boy became LSH Chairman for the second time. Since the team was disintegrating at the time, he brought in Ral, Ulu, Staq, Drura, Peter, and Dag to shore up the ranks. After the team was disbanded, Brek was arrested by Earthgov; the rest kept a low profile, and went underground. They joined Jacques' underground resistance group, being trained in paramilitary skills and re-dubbed the SUBS, Superhuman Underground Battle Squad. They were given training in their powers (and, incidentally, treated seriously again). Dag was given "hypno- animation" that allowed him to move in stone form. Staq was given better control over his flames, and revealed to be immune to flame. Ulu began using his powers on the air, blinding all but those with special goggles. Ral was trained in controlling the Dominion's plant-based technology.
The team played an important role in driving the Dominators from Earth. It appeared briefly that they would join the LSH again, but current plotlines have the UP sending them to apprehend the LSH instead.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
The LSH first appeared in ADV #247 (4/58), in a twelve- page Superboy story. At first, they were merely a one-shot gimmick, like so many others in the Super titles. If not for postitive reader response, they might have been a forgotten footnote in Superman's history.
The team reappeared in ADV #267 (12/59), and made a series of appearances in other titles for the next three years. New members continued to be introduced, and Supergirl joined the team three years after Superboy (ACT #276, also the first appearance of Brainiac 5, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, and Bouncing Boy). Eventually, Super-titles editor Mort Weisinger decided the team's popularity warranted their own title. They bumped the "Tales of the Bizarro World" back-up from ADVENTURE with #300 (9/62).
The "Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes" series continued in the longest unbroken stretch the team has had in a single title, lasting for 81 issues. Along the way, they continued to make guest appearances (in such titles as JIMMY OLSEN and LOIS LANE). They moved from back-up status to controlling the book (although Superboy still had an occasional backup).
ADV #380 (5/69) was the book's last original LSH issue. In what proved to be a grave tactical error, Weisinger moved the LSH to a back-up in ACTION COMICS, giving Supergirl (who had previously had the ACT spot) the ADV lead. (This may have been intended either to increase ACT's sales or give Supergirl a boost. Neither was successful; Supergirl moved on to a short-lived series, ADV got a bunch of minor characters, went bi-monthly, and was cancelled, and ACT showed no real change.)
Popular writer Jim Shooter, who began writing the LSH with ADV #346 (7/66) quit the book with #384 (1/70), and the series limped along until #392 (9/70). At this point Weisinger retired and the series vanished for six months, reappearing when editor Murray Boltinoff picked it up for a backup in SUPERBOY (beginning with #172, 3/71).
During this period a four-issue limited reprint series, titled LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, was published (2/73-6/73). Artist Dave Cockrum helped to restore the series' popularity. After a sporadic two-and-a-half years as a backup (see Bibliography for specific #s), the team had its first regular cover billing beginning with SBOY #197 (9/73). It continued there, in one form or another, until 1987.
The series began as SUPERBOY starring the LEGION OF SUPER- HEROES, and was still officially only SUPERBOY in the indica. It became SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES on the cover with #222 (12/76). The indica picked up the change in #231 (9/77).
The mid-'70s also saw the first LSH spinoff: KARATE KID, beginning 3/76 and lasting for 15 issues (until 7/78; the title was bi-monthly). The majority of the series was set in the 20th Century, so its affect on the main title was minimal. (The writing was also generally below that of the main title.)
Under the hands of writers Cary Bates, Paul Levitz, and Gerry Conway, and artists Dave Cockrum, Mike Grell, and James Sherman, among others, the series fared reasonably well. Two tabloid-sized specials were published (one featuring the wedding of founders Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl, the other reprinting Mordru's first appearance).
Possibly as a reward for success, possibly to return Superboy to comics (he'd become rather unimportant to the title), DC decided to give the LSH its own title. SLSH became LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, volume 2 (the numbering continued) with #259 (1/80). Superboy was "permanently" (for about two years) removed from book, and given his own book.
One miniseries spun off from the LSH in this period: SECRETS OF THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (1/81-3/81), a three-issue miniseries following in the footsteps of WORLD OF KRYPTON and THE UNTOLD LEGEND OF BATMAN. It was less an original series than a retelling of the team's history and the characters' origins. (It did contain the revelation that R.J. Brande was a Durlan, and Reep was his son.)
Paul Levitz returned to the title in #284 (2/82), beginning an extremely long and popular run that would last for 7 years. In 1982 the book made history by publishing DC's first all-original annual.
The title continued until #313 (7/84), when it became a participant in an experiment of DC's, the "hardcover-softcover" program. LSH, TEEN TITANS, and OUTSIDERS would be published in two editions: a Baxter-paper, direct-sales-and-subscription-only "hardcover" edition; and a newsstand, "softcover" edition. The Baxter series would contain new stories, as would the newsstand title for the first year. After the first year, the newsstand series would begin reprinting the previous year's Baxter edition stories. [Baxter paper is a high-quality, higher weight paper than newsprint, which reproduces the art better and is sturdier.]
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES Volume 3 #1 (8/84) was the result. The regular series became TALES OF THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES. It published original stories from #314 to #325, and switched to reprints from #326 to #354.
One other spinoff came around this time: THE LEGION OF SUBSTITUTE-HEROES SPECIAL #1 (1985), the result of a decision by DC to spotlight their minor characters (beginning with the Atom).
DC came to consider the hardcover-softcover project a failure. (Newsstand readers were left behind on important events, sales were apparently poor, and a direct-sales-only book would be more efficient.) The reprint series was cancelled, leaving only the Baxter series. It spawned two mini-series spinoffs: LEGIONNAIRES 3 (2/86-5/86), featuring the then-retired founding member fighting the Time Trapper, and COSMIC BOY (12/86-3/87), a tie-in to the LEGENDS crossover (and the Time Trapper).
A spinoff of the INVASION! series, L.E.G.I.O.N. '89, begain in 1989 (see question #9). Although not strictly an LSH spinoff, it utilized many of the settings (and a few characters) of the 30th Century series.
Paul Levitz finally decided to retire from writing, ending v3 with #63 (8/89). A two-month gap followed, and LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES Volume 4 #1 came out in 11/89. The storyline had jumped five years into the future. The series was drawn and co-plotted by Keith Giffen, who had been involved with the book in the early '80s and returned to v3 in 1989, and co-plotters and scripters Tom and Mary Bierbaum.
[Note: According to former LSH artist Steve Lightle, DC originally intended to follow v3 with a series retelling the early stories, adjusted for post-Crisis continuity. He was slated to draw it, until the company changed its mind and went to the Giffen series instead.]
Volume 4 continues to this day. There have been three spinoffs. The VALOR regular series began in 1992 (it's more a spinoff of the ECLIPSO and L.E.G.I.O.N. books, but it features an LSHer). The TIMBER WOLF 5-issue limited series was also published in 1992.
The third spinoff, LEGIONNAIRES, was not originally intended for its original form. Rather, it was supposed to retell the early days of the team (like the series described above). However, DC editorial policy changed to forbid series that reworked established continuity (perhaps in the wake of GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD DAWN and HAWKWORLD). The series was reworked to feature the SW6 characters, and began 4/93.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
The LSH has appeared in many books over the years. It has had its own series (with cover billing) in the following titles:
Action Comics #378-387, 389-392.
Adventure Comics #300-380.
All-New Collector's Edition #C-55.
Legion of Super-Heroes, volume 2, #259-313, and 3 annuals.
Legion of Super-Heroes, volume 3, #1-63, and 4 annuals.
Legion of Super-Heroes, volume 4, #1-present. (Latest
issue at time of revision: #48.) 4 annuals to date.
Legionnaires, #1-present. (Latest issue at time of
revision: #7.)
Superboy #197-237, 239-258. [#238 was an all-reprint
issue.] The LSH made sporadic appearances in the "Tales of the
Legion" series in issue #'s 147, 172-173, 176, 183-184, 188, 190-
191, 193, and 195.
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #314-325.
They have made guest appearances in:
Note: Some issues (those I could consult) are marked,
either with an asterisk (*), a plus (+), or a caret (^). Issues
with an asterisk are full-fledged LSH appearances (with at least
one LSHer, or a major LSH villain). Multiple-asterisked issues
are particularly important, the number of asterisks denoting the
relative importance of the issue. (These are usually reserved for
first appearances of LSHers.) An asterisk is my assurance that the
purchaser will have a full-fledged LSH story in one way or
another.
Those with a plus have a lesser amount of the LSH (or the
group plays a secondary role) but are still important in some way.
An issue with a plus may have only LSH villains (such as JIMMY
OLSENs with the LSV), or one LSHer making a guest appearance. The
reader may wish to consider before buying a plussed issue, but
will not be totally robbed of the LSH.
Those with a caret have an unimportant LSH appearance (or
cameo) and can probably be safely skipped by all but the most
ardent completists. A typical careted story has the LSH in one
panel, or the Legion of Super-Pets but no LSHers.
Those with no mark were not available for review.
I quote from SLSH #243: "Collectors should be warned that
some of these stories just contain a panel or two of the Legion,
while others are as important to the annals as any series story.
Decide how complete you want your collection to be *before* you
start shopping."
Note, also, that this list does not include appearances by
Superboy or Supergirl that do not involve the LSH in some way.
The Legion Subs are counted along with the full-fledged LSHers as
important appearances, but the Super-Pets are not. (Super-Pet
stories without other LSHers get a caret, since all but one were
20th Century characters.)
Action Comics #267, 276(***), 283-288, 290, 294, 297-298,
306-307, 309, 319, 331-332. 365, 583, 591(*), 663(+).
Adventure Comics #247(****), 267(*), 282, 287(^)-288(^),
289-290, 293.
Adventures of Superman #476(^)-478(*).
Ambush Bug Nothing Special #1(^).
Ambush Bug Stocking Stuffer #1(^).
Best of DC #24(+)
Booster Gold #8-9(*).
The Brave and the Bold #179, 198(+).
Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12(+).
DC Comics Presents #2, 13(*), 43, 59(+), 80.
DC Special #28.
DC Special Series #21.
DC Super-Stars #17.
Jimmy Olsen #62-63, 70, 72(+)-73, 76-77, 85, 87-88, 99-
100, 106(+), 117(^).
Justice League of America #147-148(*).
Justice League Europe Annual #2(^).
Kamandi #58(+).
Legends 1-6(+).
Legion of Substitute-Heroes Special #1(*).
Lois Lane #33, 47, 50, 56.
Secret Origins 8, 25, 37(+), 42, 46, 47(*), 49
Super Star Holiday Special #1.
Superboy volume 1, #86, 89, 93, 98(**), 100, 117(*), 124-
125, 127, 131, 148(^).
Superboy volume 2, #50(*).
Superman, volume 1, #147(+), 149, 152, 155-156, 157, 162,
165, 167, 172, 176(^), 213, 423, Annual 4, 6.
Superman, volume 2, #8(*).
Superman Family #207(^).
World's Finest Comics #142, 168(^), 172, 283-284.
Reprints of LSH stories can be found in:
Action Comics #334, 360, 377, 388.
Adventure Comics #356, 390, 398, 403, 409-411.
Batman #238.
Christmas with the Super-Heroes, volume 2, #1.
DC Super-Spectacular #18, 21.
DC Super-Stars #3.
Eighty-Page Giant #11.
Legion of Super-Heroes, volume 1, #1-4.
Legion of Super-Heroes Archives #1-3. (DC Archives Series)
Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga Trade
Paperback.
Limited Collector's Edition #C-49 (reprints ADV #369-370)
Secret Origins, volume 1, #6.
Superboy, volume 1, #129, 147, 177-178, 180-181, 185, 202,
205, 208, 238.
Super DC Giant #S-24.
Superman #193, 245, 272.
Superman Annual #6, 8.
Superman Family #167-168.
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #326-354 (reprints LSH
v3 #1-29) and 2 annuals, #4-5.
World's Finest Comics #223.
Related titles:
Cosmic Boy #1-4.
Karate Kid #1-15.
L.E.G.I.O.N. '89-93, #1-present. (Latest issue at time of
revision: #58.)
Legionnaires 3 #1-4.
Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes #1-3.
Timber Wolf #1-5.
Valor, #1-present.
Wanderers, #1-13.
[Sources: This list began with my own personal collection
and the list from SLSH #243; it was expanded with contributions by
Greg Morrow. I have not checked every one of these issues
personally, so I cannot vouch for the accuracy of information in
all these cases.]Other recommended reading:
THE OFFICIAL LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES INDEX #1-5, published
by Independent Comics Group, a subsidiary of Eclipse Comics, with
the permission of DC.
Incomplete (only goes to the late 1960's) but an excellent
issue-by-issue reference for the older, more expensive stuff.
Includes plot synopses, creator credits, and character lists.
WHO'S WHO IN THE DC UNIVERSE, 1985 edition, and '87 and
'88 updates.
Not the best source for LSH information, although a lot of
the art is by classic LSH artists. Other sources are recommended
first.
WHO'S WHO IN THE DC UNIVERSE, 1990 edition.
#1 (Dominators, Kono, Rokk Krinn)
#2 (Laurel Gand, Mordru)
#3 (Reep Daggle, Spider-Girl)
#4 (Khunds, Lightning Lord, Persuader)
#5 (Jo Nah)
#6 (Ayla Ranzz, Vi)
#7 (Jan Arrah, Phase)
#8 (Durlans, Furball, Kent Shakespeare)
#9 (Chuck Taine, Dev-Em, Dirk Morgna, Gim Allon, Glorith,
LSH, Luornu, Mysa, Roxxas, Tenzil Kem) Special LSH
issue.
#11 (Legion SUBS, Legion Supporting Cast, Wanderers)
#14 (Ranzz Family, Valor)
#16 (Devlin O'Ryan, corrected Laurel Gand, LSH: The
Beginning, Prince Evillo)
WHO'S WHO UPDATE, 1992.
#1 (Legionnaires, Timber Wolf, Valor)
WHO'S WHO IN THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1-7, 1988.
Although out of date, still the best single reference for
obscure LSH-related characters. Contains information not found
anywhere else (since it was made up for the series by writer
Barbara Randall or kibitzer Paul Levitz).
THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES SOURCEBOOK, VOLUMES 1-2.
Published by Mayfair Games as a source for the DC Heroes
RPG, and co-written by Paul Levitz. Other sources cover the same
ground, and it's almost ten years out of date, but each is still a
handy one-volume reference source. #1 covers Legionnaires,
villains, and supporting cast; #2 covers worlds of the 30th
Century. [WARNING: The sourcebook is written for the first
edition of the game, and requires serious adaptation for use with
second or third edition. The 1st edition Mon-El is 2^25 times
stronger than the 2nd edition Valor if the stats aren't
converted.]
2995: The Legion of Super-Heroes Sourcebook.
Published by Mayfair Games as a source for the DC Heroes
RPG, and written by T&M. Fills in a lot of the holes, and is an
invaluable reference for the finer details of the new continuity.
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
This timeline is based on the one from the 2995 Sourcebook, which was apparently based by T&M on one written by LSH fan Chris Miller. Issue references and additional details were added by yours truly. (The original concentrated on arrivals and departures, births and deaths, and marriages; I've added individual stories. Many of the dates in the pre-v4 stories are speculative--anything with a question mark represents my guess at best fit between stories.)
Note that dates given in the comic (issue #30 of the current series, to be specific) sometimes differ from those in the sourcebook. In these cases, both dates are listed.
[Note, too, that the issue references for leadership elections are not meant to indicate that an election was shown that issue, merely that it marked the first issue of a new leader's tenure. For example, in ADV #371 Ultra Boy is mentioned as the new leader, but his election is never shown.]
1/5/73 Imra Ardeen, Rokk Krinn, and Garth Ranzz foil an
attempted assassination of R.J. Brande.
1/6/73 Brande persuades his three rescuers to form the Legion
of Super-Heroes as Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, and
Lightning Boy, respectively. (Garth soon changes his
name to Lightning Lad.) Cosmic Boy is selected by the
team's computers as the best leader for the group.
3/3/73 The Legion recruits its first members, Triplicate Girl
and Phantom Girl. (First shown in ACT #276.)
7/10/73 Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy and Invisible Kid join.
(Revealed in ACT #267.)
8/15/73 Kid Quantum joins. (Revealed in LSH v4 #33.)
9/5/73 Brainiac 5 and Laurel Gand join. (ACT #276, modified in
LSH v4 #9.)
12/4/73 In a journey to the past, the group inducts the
legendary Valor as an honorary member. (A revision of
ADV #247.)
1/74 No election is held, but Cosmic Boy is given a vote of
confidence as leader.
4/1/74 Ultra Boy joins. (SBOY #98; revised in LSH v4 Annual
#1.)
5/30/74 Star Boy joins. (First mentioned in ADV #282; shown in
LSH v2 #306.)
7/16/74 The Legion suffers its first fatality as Kid Quantum
dies at Mount Schorer, Mars. (Revealed in LSH v4 #9;
explained in LSH v4 #33.)
7/28/74 Shrinking Violet and Sun Boy join. (After ACT #276 for
Vi, and revealed in ADV #290 for Dirk)
8/30/74 The group admits previously rejected Bouncing Boy.
(Revealed in ACT #287; shown in ADV #301.)
12/11/74 Valor is located and freed from the Bgztl Buffer Zone.
He defeats an android attacker and is returned to the
Buffer Region. (ADV #300)
12/24/74 Matter-Eater Lad joins. (ADV #303)
1/75 Saturn Girl is elected leader. (ADV #304)
1/18/75 Lightning Lad dies repelling the first Khundish invasion
of Earth. Zaryan the Conqueror also dies. (ADV #304)
1/23/75 A permanent cure for Valor's lead weakness is found, and
the legendary hero is freed from the Bgztl Buffer
Region. The Legion admits him as a full-fledged member.
(ADV #305)
2/12/75 Roxxas the Butcher kills every inhabitant of Trom,
except Jan Arrah, who escapes.
2/17/75 Five rejected Legion applicants--Chlorophyll Kid, Fire
Lad, Night Girl, Polar Boy, and Stone Boy--form the
Legion of Substitute Heroes. (ADV #306)
3/5/75 Element Lad joins, launching a mission that brings to
justice Roxxas the Butcher. (ADV #307)
3/12/75 Lightning Lad's twin sister Lightning Lass joins. (ADV
#308)
5/23/75 Proty I, an Antarean "pet" of Chameleon Boy's,
sacrifices its life to resurrect Lightning Lad. (ADV
#312)
10/20/75 Dream Girl joins. (ADV #317)
10/31/75 Dream Girl transforms Lightning Lass' power to turn her
into "Light Lass." Dream Girl resigns shortly
thereafter. (ADV #317)
11/75 Sun Boy betrays the LSH under the influence of space
fatigue. To prevent this, a new clause is added to the
LSH Constitution. (ADV #318)
11?/75 The Subs defeat Throon's Citadel of Doom. (ADV #319)
11?/75 With the aid of Dev-Em, the LSH captures Molock. (ADV
#320)
12/14/75 Bouncing Boy loses his power and resigns. He is given
honorary status. (ADV #321)
1/76 Saturn Girl is re-elected leader. (ADV #323)
2?/76 The LSH meets the Heroes of Lallor for the first time.
(ADV #324)
4?/76 Hypnotized by Queen Azura of Femnaz, the female LSHers
defeat and imprison the males. They subsequently
release them. (ADV #326)
5?/76 The LSH encounters Lone Wolf. (ADV #327)
6?/76 Command Kid joins the LSH, but unbeknownst to the team,
he is possessed by a demon. The demon is expelled by
Element Lad, and Command Kid quits to return to his
native Preztor. (ADV #328)
9/24/76 The rise of Mordru is halted at Earth as the Legion and
Earthgov armies defeat and imprison the
sorcerer/emperor. (First mentioned in ADV #369)
11/10/76 Lightning Lad loses his right arm while battling the
Dxaundii "Moby Dick" creature. (ADV #332)
11 or 12/76 Lars Hanscomb brainwashes Lightning Lad into
committing crimes under the identity of Starfinger. (ADV
#335-336)
1/77 Brainiac 5 is elected leader, Saturn Girl is deputy.
(ADV #337)
1/77 Three spies from the planet Murra are admitted to the
Legion as a ruse to discover their home planet. The
spies, Blackout Boy, Size Lad, and Magnetic Kid I are
subsequently expelled and lose their powers. (ADV #337)
2?/77 Lallorian hero Beast Boy goes insane and dies rescuing a
young girl. (ADV #339)
4/22/77 Earth is besieged by Brainiac 5's creation Computo.
One of Triplicate Girl's bodies is killed. (ADV #340-
341)
6/30/77 The Legion's first great constitutional crisis--Star Boy
kills in self-defense, violating the Legion code. He is
expelled, and joins the Subs. (ADV #342)
8?/77 The LSH defeats the false Luck Lords of Thaun. (ADV
#343)
9?/77 Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Duo Damsel,
Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Matter-Eater
Lad, and Saturn Girl are imprisoned by Nardo. Matter-
Eater Lad is struck by rays that render him fat. (ADV
#344-345)
12/8/77 Ferro Lad, Karate Kid, Nemesis Kid, and Princess
Projectra join. (ADV #346)
12/15/77 The Legion teams with Earthgov armies to repel the
second Khundish invasion. Nemesis Kid is exposed as a
traitor but escapes. (ADV #346-347)
1/78 Invisible Kid I is elected leader, with Valor as deputy.
(ADV #348)
3/31/78 Star Boy, Dream Girl, and Bouncing Boy are re-admitted.
Lightning Lad's lost arm is re-grown. (ADV #351)
4/20/78 Ferro Lad dies destroying the Sun-Eater in a desperate
mission that inadvertently creates the Fatal Five. (ADV
#352-353)
6?/78 LSH members are captured and hunted down by the Hunter,
who kills himself when defeated by Invisible Kid. (ADV
#358)
7?/78 Universo takes control of the Earth, outlawing the LSH
and driving them underground. He is defeated with the
help of his son Rond Vidar, who is made an honorary
LSHer. (ADV #359-360)
9?/78 The LSH battles Dr. Mantis Morlo and his Chemoids. (ADV
#362-363)
9/28/78 The Fatal Five fights the LSH on Talok VIII. Shadow
Lass joins. (ADV #365-366)
10/19/78 The Dark Circle comes into conflict with the LSH for the
first time, when they invade Earth. They are defeated
by Brainiac 5 and the Miracle Machine. The Legion
Academy opens, along with a new Legion headquarters.
(ADV #367)
11?/78 Mordru is inadvertently freed by Shadow Lass, and
attempts to destroy the LSH as revenge for his
imprisonment. He is defeated by Dream Girl, Projectra,
and the White Witch. (ADV #369-370)
1/79 Ultra Boy is elected leader, Valor as deputy.
Colossal Boy is temporarily expelled for sabotaging
missions while being blackmailed by the Legion of Super-
Villains. (ADV #371)
1/30/79 Chemical King and Timber Wolf join. (ADV #372)
1/79 The LSH first meets the Wanderers. (ADV #375)
1/23/79 Brainiac 5, Duo Damsel, Karate Kid, Projectra, and Valor
are poisoned by the Seerons. (ADV #378-379)
6?/79 One of Duo Damsel's bodies is given a distinctive, evil
personality by Nam'lor. (ACT #380)
7/79 Karate Kid is elected leader. Valor remains deputy.
(ACT #382)
8?/79 Valor dies due to lead poisoning, but is revived with
the life force of his distant relative Eltro Gand.
Unknown to the LSH at this time, a portion of Eltro's
personality remains, rendering Valor moody and
indecisive. (ACT #384)
1/80 Valor is elected leader, with Element Lad as deputy.
(ACT #392)
7/80 Ultra Boy is elected leader, with rotating deputies.
(SBOY #184)
11/4/80 Timber Wolf is lost in explosion of Asteroid X-52 and is
declared dead.
1/81 Valor is elected leader, with Sun Boy as deputy.
(Revealed in SBOY #190)
4?/81 LSH applicant ERG-1 seemingly gives his life to save
Colossal Boy on Manna-5. (SBOY #190)
5/2/81 Timber Wolf returns, and it is later learned Tyr staged
his disappearance. (SBOY #197; Tyr showed up in SBOY
#199)
5/29/81 Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel wed and resign. (SBOY #200)
6/1/81 Wildfire joins. (SBOY #202)
6/27/81 Invisible Kid is killed by Validus. (SBOY #203)
8?/81 The LSH fights a new LSV, led by Sun Emperor. (SBOY
#208)
9/16/81 Matter-Eater Lad resigns to run for political office on
Bismoll. (SBOY #212)
10/9/81 Tyroc joins. (SBOY #218)
12?/81 The LSH first fights Pulsar Stargrave (SBOY #223)
[Assuming this story occurred in the new continuity]
1/82 Wildfire is elected leader, Element Lad deputy. The
Legion first encounters the Resource Raiders. (SBOY
#225)
1/3/82 Dawnstar joins. (SBOY #226)
2/10/82 Chemical King dies thwarting a Dark Circle Plot to spark
civil war on Earth. (SBOY #228)
5?/82 A study into the nature of time goes awry, transforming
Jaxon Rugarth into the Infinite Man. (SBOY #233)
6/17/82 Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl wed and resign. (ALL-NEW
COLLECTOR'S EDITION #C-55)
7?/82 The insane Brainiac 5 frames Ultra Boy for murder at the
behest of Glorith. (SLSH #239; revised in LSH v4 Annual
#1)
8-9/82 The Legion aids in the United Planets' defeat of the
Mordru-Dark Circle-Khundish alliance in Earthwar. (SLSH
#241-245)
9/27/82 Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl and re-admitted at the
conclusion of Earthwar. (SLSH #245)
1/83 Lightning Lad is elected leader, with Element Lad as
deputy. (SLSH #247)
1 or 2/83 The Legion battles creations of Mantis Morlo under the
Metropolis sewers. (SLSH #248-9)
2/17/83 The Legion defeats the destructive Omega creature
and discovers it was hatched by an insane Brainiac 5.
Matter-Eater Lad is also driven insane when he devours
the Miracle Machine. Both ultimately recover. (SLSH
#250-251)
3?/83 The League of Super-Assassins attempts to destroy the
LSH, under orders from the Dark Man. (SLSH #253-254)
9/1/83 Tyroc resigns to return to his native Marzal. (LSH v2
#265)
10/10/83 Blok joins. (LSH v2 #272)
11/29/83 The Computo matrix is revived and attacks the Legion.
Invisible Kid II acquires his power during
the emergency, helps defuse the Computo threat, and is
admitted to the Legion. (LSH v2 Annual #1)
12/19/83 Projectra and Karate Kid shift to reservist status as
Projectra takes the throne of her native Orando
and Karate Kid joins her as consort. (LSH v2 #288)
1/84 Darkseid attempts to enslave the galaxy but is
fought to a standoff by the Legion and retreats. (LSH
v2 #290-294)
1/84 Dream Girl is elected leader, initially with Element Lad
as deputy. (LSH v2 #291)
2/3/84 The White Witch joins. (LSH v2 #294)
2/5/84 Light Lass resigns to return to Winath. (LSH v2 #294)
4/7/84 Colossal Boy secretly weds the Durlan named Yera in
the belief that she is Legion teammate Shrinking
Violet. Once the ruse is revealed and Violet freed
from terrorist kidnappers, the two agree to continue
their marriage.
6/11/84 Princess Projectra and Karate Kid wed. (LSH v2 Annual
#2)
1/85 Element Lad is elected leader, with Dream Girl as
deputy. (LSH v2 #306)
11/7/85 The first Legion offspring, Graym and Garridan
Ranzz, are born to Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl. (LSH
v2 Annual #3)
11/12/85 Karate Kid is killed in the Legion of Super-Villains
attack on Orando. (LSH v3 #3)
11/15/85 Light Lass is re-admitted as Lightning Lass.
12/30/85 Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl resign to
take advisory roles. (LSH v3 #12)
1/86 Element Lad is re-elected leader, with Brainiac 5 as
deputy. (LSH v3 #12)
2/1/86 Magnetic Kid, Polar Boy, Quislet, Sensor Girl, and
Tellus join. (LSH v3 #14)
10/24/86 Star Boy resigns to return to Xanthu as planetary
protector.
1/87 The annual leadership election is not held, as Universo
is controlling the Earth and Legion.
3/26/87 Universo is defeated and Earth freed. The Earth-based
Legionnaires are also released from his control. Saturn
Girl rejoins the Legion.
4/21/87 Because of the delay in electing a new leader, it's
decided to extend the next term through the end of
2988. Polar Boy is elected leader, Element Lad
deputy.
7/4/87 A mysterious hero known as Superboy appears from the
time stream and is admitted to the Legion. (LSH v3 #37)
7/20/87 Superboy dies in a strange battle involving
manipulation of the time stream by a robed Time
Trapper. (LSH v3 #38)
1/88 Polar Boy and Element Lad continue as leader and deputy.
1/1/88 Glorith of Baaldur destroys Daxam. A small group of
Legionnaires begins planning a retaliatory
attack against Glorith. (LSH v4 Annual #1)
2/4/88 The White Witch resigns, angered by her teammates'
strained behavior in the wake of Daxam's destruction.
She returns to the Sorcerers' World. (A retcon of LSH v3
#51)
2/6/88 Valor is critically injured and a second Duo Damsel
body is killed in the retaliatory attack on
Glorith. Valor ultimately recovers but never
returns to active status. Shadow Lass also leaves
active status at this point to aid in Valor's recovery.
(LSH v3 #50, revised in LSH v4 Annual #1)
2/15/88 Brainiac 5 is tried for insubordination after the
attack on Glorith. He's cleared of charges but
resigns. (LSH v3 #51)
2/29/88 Shadow Lass marries the still critically injured
Valor.
1/1/89 Quislet is propelled back into his home dimension,
effectively eliminating him from Legion membership. (LSH
v3 #58)
1/89 Sensor Girl is elected leader, with Timber Wolf as
deputy. (LSH v4 #60)
6/20/89 Magnetic Kid is killed in the Magic Wars. (LSH v3 #62)
6/23/89 The Arch-Mage is defeated and the destructive Magic
Wars concluded. (LSH v3 #63)
-------------------------The Five-Year Gap Begins-----------------
9/89 The polymer shield removed from Earth.
10/89 The economies of Earth and many United Planets worlds
collapse. Major hardships hit Earthgov and the Legion,
planting the seeds of a long-term strain between them.
11/2/89 Tayla Wellington is elected President of Earth.
1/90 Sensor Girl and Timber Wolf continue in their leadership
positions under a vote of confidence.
1/9/90 Laurel Gand resigns to fight back the Khundish invasion
of United Planets space.
1/19/90 Earthgov secedes from the UP. [According to the comic.]
2/26/90 Saturn Girl resigns to tend her family and its business
in the wake of the Validus Plague on Winath.
3/17/90 Impulse joins.
4/12/90 Chameleon Boy resigns to accept the chairmanship of
Brande Industries.
4/13/90 Wellington's Earthgov declares war on the Legion.
4/14/90 Impulse joins.
6/7/90 The Legion Academy closes its doors.
7/6/90 Former Legion Academy heads Chuck and Luornu Durgo Taine
open the United Planets Militia Academy.
7/24/90 Earth secedes from the United Planets. [According to
the Sourcebook.]
1/91 Fear of difficulties with Earthgov red tape prevent an
election. Sensor Girl and Timber Wolf continue as
leader and deputy.
2/10/91 Atmos and Karate Kid II join.
3/20/91 Sensor Girl resigns to reacquire her crown on Orando.
Deputy Timber Wolf takes over duties, though the Legion
avoids formal recognition as leader for bureaucratic
reasons.
3/25/91 Projectra is re-coronated.
4/12/91 Phantom Girl is killed in an interdimensional
accident at Metropolis spaceport.
4/19/91 Atmos resigns to pursue independent ventures.
5/8/91 The grieving Ultra Boy quits and returns to Rimbor.
5/28/91 Mekt Ranzz is released from Labyrinth into Garth and
Imra's custody.
5/28/91 Crystal Kid, Echo, and Reflecto join.
6/91 Braal invades Imsk.
6/9/91 Announced date of Tinya and Jo's wedding.
6/12/91 Shrinking Violet resigns to serve in the Imskian Army in
the Braal-Imsk war.
7/5/91 Sun Boy is named unofficial temporary leader, as
pressures of the Black Dawn crisis mount and Timber
Wolf's mental state deteriorates.
7/7/91 Reflecto is killed in a duel with the Molecule Master
during investigation of the Black Dawn crisis.
7/30/91 Vi is named Chief of Security of the Damper project.
8/12/91 Black Dawn. Timber Wolf is seriously injured, Wildfire
lost.
8/13/91 Karate Kid II resists arrest and flees, ending his
Legion membership.
8/15/91 Blok, Dawnstar, and Dream Girl resign in the wake of
Black Dawn. Dream Girl accepts the post of High Seer
of Naltor.
8/17/91 Crystal Kid resigns in the wake of Black Dawn.
8/23/91 Element Lad resigns to return to Trom.
9/1/91 Impulse flees Earth to escape arrest, ending his Legion
membership.
9/4/91 Echo resigns and disappears. Tellus resigns to return
to Hykraius.
9/12/91 Lightning Lass resigns to return to Winath.
9/14/91 Sun Boy resigns and appoints Polar Boy as unofficial
temporary leader.
9/24/91 Fire Lad joins.
10/8/91 The Venado Bay Massacre injures ex-Legionnaire Rokk
Krinn (Cosmic Boy) and robs him of his magnetic
faculties. Ex-Legionnaire Salu Digby (Shrinking Violet)
is also injured, losing an eye.
10/20/91 Chlorophyll Kid, Infectious Lass, Porcupine Pete, and
Visi-Lad join.
11/27/91 Color Kid and Stone Boy join.
2992 At some point in the first few months, Dawnstar is
possessed by the Bounty entity.
1/21/92 The Rebirth Summit held on Xanthu, in an attempt to
restore economies of United Planets worlds from the
Great Collapse.
3/15/92 Storm Boy joins.
3/28/92 Infectious Lass is forced to resign and go underground
to avoid Earthgov prosecution.
4/9/92 Chlorophyll Kid, Color Kid, and Porcupine Pete resign,
begin underground work against Earthgov.
5/27/92 Calamity King joins.
6/30/92 Invisible Kid II resigns to organize underground
resistance to Earthgov.
7/6/92 The Legion disbands. Members at this time are Calamity
King, Colossal Boy, Fire Lad, Nightwind, Polar Boy,
Stone Boy, Storm Boy, and Visi-Lad. Most join the
underground resistance.
7/6/92 Mordru is named Supreme Teacher of Tharn.
7/29/92 Gim re-applies to the Science Police.
8/22/92 Ex-Legionnaire Polar Boy is arrested for attempting
to rally anti-Earthgov dissent.
9/9/92 Dirk signs contract with Earthgov.
3/93 Jo brings Brin to Rimbor to ensure better medical
treatment.
8/14/93 Grev Mallor marries Kahnya Natahnie (Lady Memory).
1/17/94 Marzal, the interdimensional portal-island from which
ex-Legionnaire Tyroc hailed, is destroyed by Earthgov
forces. Tyroc survives and joins the resistance.
6/27/94 Laurel Gand gives birth to daughter Lauren Gand. The
father is common-law husband Rond Vidar.
-------------------------The Five-Year Gap Ends-------------------
10/23/94 Reep Daggle begins to recruit members for the new
Legion, first approaching Rokk Krinn. (LSH v4 #1)
11/21/94 Blok is killed by Roxxas the Butcher. (LSH v4 #3)
11/94 In the altered timeline, Glorith casts the spell to
recreate the Legion. (#LSH v4 #5)
11/94 Celeste Rockfish is hired by Earthgov, ostensibly to
hunt down Roxxas, but actually to draw attention away
from their involvement in his crimes. (#LSH v4 #6)
11/94 The Legionnaires free Mysa from Mordru. (#LSH v4 #6-7)
11/30/94 Earthgov links to Roxxas reported in the Daily Planet.
12/94 Ex-Legionnaires gather on Winath for Blok's funeral, and
are attacked by Roxxas. (LSH v4 #10)
12/4/94 Brek Bannin is finally freed from Earthgov jails by the
legal maneuvering of Tenzil Kem. (LSH v4 #11)
12/14/94 The Legion is formally reinstated, with a membership of
Brita (Kono) An'nan, Jan Arrah Bounty, Reep Daggle, Salu
Digby, Querl Dox, Laurel Gand, Rokk Krinn, Mysa Nal,
Ayla Ranzz, Celeste Rockfish, Kent Shakespeare, and a
"mascot" creature known as "Furball." (LSH v4 #12)
12/94 The Persuader attacks Quarantine and is defeated by Kent
Shakespeare. (LSH v4 #12-13)
12/27/94 The reformed Legion establishes headquarters on the
asteroid world of Talus. (LSH v4 #14)
12/27/94 Brek and Tenzil land on Tartarus. Tenzil releases the
prisoners in the Realm of Darkness, but is declared dead
and loses his Senate seat. Brek remains to train
Evillo's daughters. (LSH v4 #14)
1/3/95 Tenzil Kem rejoins.
1/12/95 The Legion agrees to team with the United Planets
Militia to beat back a Khundish invasion that threatens
the heart of the United Planets. (LSH v4 #15)
2/95 Vi's right leg is shot off in the Khund conflict.
3/14/95 Spider Girl is arrested on Xanthu; she escapes.
3/19/95 Sussa arrives on Earth.
3/22/95 The Khunds are driven back to pre-2995 borders, and the
Legion concludes its participation in the war against
Khundish encroachment. (LSH v4 #17)
3/29/95 Tensions increase on Earth with the execution of Legion
friends, Don and Dawn Allen. (LSH v4 #17) [The
Sourcebook dates this as 3/27.]
3?/95 Lar Gand and Tasmia Mallor repel the Dark Circle from
Carggg. (LSH v4 #18)
3?/95 Foccart and Vidar arrange an alliance. (LSH v4 #18)
4/11/95 Luna is destroyed, ravaging Earth. The mysterious "SW6"
Legionnaires awaken in an underground Dominion chamber
on Earth. (LSH v4 #19)
4/12/95 Batch SW6 escapes from the Weisinger chambers; they
encounter Devlin O'Ryan in Metropolis. (LSH v4 #21-25)
Jo Nah returns from an extended journey through time and
is added to the reformed adult Legion team.
4/13/95 Dacey and Dorritt Ranzz are born to ex-Legionnaires
Garth and Imra Ardeen Ranzz. (LSH v4 #20)
4/95 The Dominators send additional forces to Earth to
maintain control. (LSH v4 #20)
4/95 Brainy and Brin (as Furball) encounter Darkseid on Zuun;
Brin is changed back to his normal form. Darkseid is
sent to another dimension, or something. (LSH v4 #21-24)
4/95 Laurel and Bounty make contact with Circe. (LSH v4 #23)
4/95 BION is sent to retrieve Batch SW6. He attacks Laurel
on Earth, and follows her to Talus, where he is defeated
by Rokk, Loomis, and Kono. (LSH v4 #24-27)
4/20/95 The SW6 Legion is brought to the Earth Resistance. (LSH
v4 #29)
4/95 Foccart and Vidar send a commando force to capture the
Metropolis chambers. (LSH v4 #26)
4/30/95 Lar arrives on Earth. (LSH v4 #29)
4/30/95 Monica Sade is released from the Weisinger chambers.
(LSH v4 #29)
4/30/95 Tensions of Earth reach the breaking point with the
assassination of Earth President Tayla Wellington. (LSH
v4 #29)
4/30/95 Lar goes to Earth to fight the Dominators. (LSH v4
#30)
5/1?/95 Brin and Aria/Gemini go to the 20th Century. (LSH v4
Annual #3)
5/2/95 The Legion has a reunion on Winath for Dacey and
Dorritt's christening. Pol Jath Krinn is born to Rokk
Krinn and his wife Lydda. (LSH v4 Annual #3)
5/2/95 Shvaughn Erin changes back into a man. (LSH v4 #31)
5/15/95 The SUBS escape from the Weisinger chambers with the
help of the SW6 Legion; the youthful Chameleon Boy,
Karate Kid, and Princess Projectra are killed when the
chambers explode. (LSH v4 #32)
5/95 Cham receives word of Brande's whereabouts, and goes to
find him; he locates him on Yal, along with Kid Quantum,
the Soul of Antares. (LSH v4 #32-33)
5/17/95 Selected members of the adult Legion join with the
youthful legionnaires, the resistance and the United
Planets Militia to liberate Earth from its Dominator
despots. Jacques Foccart is appointed acting president
of Earth. (LSH v4 #34-35)
5/18/95 Universo and McCauley IV leave Earth for Gallan. (#35)
5/19/95 Sade and Bounty fight; Bounty is seriously wounded, and
the entity possessing her leaves for another body. (LSH
v4 #36)
5/19/95 The death of Dirk Morgna is announced. (LSH v4 #36)
5/95 Valor of the Legionnaires leaves in a Time Bubble for
2978, but he disappears upon departure. (LSH v4 #37)
5/95 The Naltorian Dreamers win the championship. (LSH v4
#37)
6/3/95 Seismic disturbances spur Foccart to order the takeoff
of the 104 cities equipped for it. Two are destroyed.
(LSH v4 #38)
6/4/95 The Great Terran Disaster. (LSH v4 #38)
6/95 The Legionnaires free Reep, Brande, Kid Quantum, and the
Protean Sentients from McCauley IV on Gallan. (LSH v4
#39)
6/95 The young Legionnaires meet the adult Legion for the
first time. (LSH v4 #40)
6/11/95 Reep Daggle resigns from the reformed adult Legion to
organize and lead the youthful Legionnaires. Jacques
Foccart resigns as President of New Earth to join the
reformed adult Legion and names vice president Troy
Stewart to succeed him. (LSH v4 #41)
6/13/95 The new group, "The Legionnaires," is deputized, with
its membership consisting of the youthful versions of
the original Legion: Alchemist (Element Lad), Apparition
(Phantom Girl), Andromeda (Laurel Gand), Leviathan
(Colossal Boy), Brainiac 5, Catspaw (a recruit),
Chameleon (the adult Chameleon Boy), Computo (a recruit
and sister of Jacques Foccart), Cosmic Boy, Dragonmage
(a recruit), Ferro (Ferro Lad), Gossamer (Light Lass),
Inferno (Sun Boy), Invisible Kid, Live Wire (Lightning
Lad), Matter-Eater Lad, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet,
Triad (Triplicate Girl), and Ultra Boy.
6?/95 The team attacks Glorith, to recover captured team
members and associates. Luornu's second body is freed
from Glorith's control, and Glorith herself is trapped
in a force field. (LSH v4 #42.)
7/29/95 Jacques and Drura join the team. (LSH v4 #43.)
Mysa is possessed, attacks Tharn, and is absorbed into
Mordru. Using this power, he raises armies of the dead
in a number of worlds in both UP and Khund space. (LSH
v4 #43-44.)
7?/95 Firefist, Veilmist, Blood Claw, and Flederweb are
assigned to the team. Kono is possessed by Amethyst.
(LSH v4 #44.)
8?/95 The LSH battles zombies from Earth and reanimated LSH
corpses on Sklar. Jan is unsuccessful in preventing the
Trommite zombies from going to Pasnic. The LSH attacks
Mordru's palace on Tharn; Mysa is separated from him.
He is defeated and left badly weakened. Mysa absorbs
Amethyst's essence. (LSH v4 #45-48.)
8?/95 While driving zombies from Talus, Brin, Angon, and
Jamm are retrieved from the 20th Century. After a
scuffle, Angon is returned; Brin is injured in the
fight. Lar, Tasmia, Lydda, and the SW6 Laurel destroy
the Daxamite Zombies. Jamm is returned to the past.
(LSH v4 Annual #4.)
8?/95 Tenzil, Brin, and a group of native metahumans overthrow
Evillo's reign of Tartarus. (LSH v4 #49.)
8?/95 Tenzil marries Eve Aries. Jan recovers from his
injuries and is sent to recover on New Earth. Wildfire
is apparently revived. (LSH v4 #50.)
10?/95 Dawnstar's parents take her back to Starhaven. Brin
recovers, and Wildfire rejoins the team. (LSH v4 #50.)
10?/95 Ivy and a group of young aliens and metahumans defeat
Grimbor the Chainsman on Quarantine. (LSH v4 #51.)
11?/95 The LSHers undergo many changes while assaulting
Glorith, who vanishes when attacking Devlin. (LSH v4
#53.)
(click here to return to the Table of Contents)
This is a list of the noteworthy non-LSHer characters to appear in the current series. First appearances of all characters is noted (where possible), and major changes in a character's situation have been destroyed. (Note: The character histories given are by no means intended as comprehensive.)
Characters are listed under the name they use most in the series. For example, Antennae Boy is listed under Bez, Khfeurb Chee.
Characters who have been LSHers are covered in question #1. Members of the Legionnaires are not included.
Allon, Marte (ADV #371). Colossal Boy's mother, ex-
President of Earth, now a minister on Orando.
Alloy (LSH v4 #29). Sue Barnett. Mindwiped Dominator
agent.
Amethyst (LSH v2 #296). A sorceress from the 20th
century, who possessed Kono for a while and is now joined with
Mysa. [N.B. Although #296 is given as her first appearance, the
story she appeared in was a "bonus book," not part of an LSH
story. She didn't enter the LSH continuity directly until the
Magic Wars.]
An'Nan, Bel (LSH v4 #50). Kono's mother, a Sklarian
raider.
Bez, Khfeurb Chee (ADV #305). Antennae Boy, a former
member of the Legion of Substitute-Heroes Auxiliary. Now a
newscaster.
B.I.O.N. (LSH v4 #21). Biological Intelligence Organic
Nexus, a Dominator-created android based on Computo and with the
powers of the SW6 LSH. Defeated by Kono, Loomis, and Rokk. It
was revealed recently that it used Luornu's power to triplicate
itself, and the other two invaded Talus to recover the third.
They, too, were defeated. [uh...no. They got away because one of the
dupes was invisible, and once the invisible one had retrieved the
captured one, they all three left. Right? --VHH]
Brande, R.J. (ADV #350). Founding member of
L.E.G.I.O.N., brought forward in time by Glorith to become
financier of the LSH. (Retcon.) He went off to find the Soul of
Antares (leaving son Reep in charge of Brande Industries) and only
recently returned.
Burroughs, Squire (LSH v4 #40). Wildfire's brother, also
in a containment suit. He seems to be an energy being, not anti-
energy. [*apparently* Wildfire's brother, although it had never been
revealed that Drake had any siblings, let alone a brother named
Squire. --VHH]
Campbell, Aria (LSH v4 #21). Gemini. A powerful being,
responsible for the destruction of Darkseid (long story). In the
20th century with Brin. [now there *without* Brin --VHH]
Campbell, Coda (LSH v4 #21). Aria's twin brother,
deceased.
Campbell, Frances/Francis (LSH v4 #21). Aria and Coda's
father.
Circadia Senius (LSH v2 #295). Chronarch of the Time
Institute. Killed by destruction of Luna. [An alternate timestream
Circadia recently appeared with Rond in a Time Bubble --VHH]
Circe (LSH v4 #2). SPE officer, agent of Dominators and
formerly Dirk's lover and reason for working for Earthgov. Killed
him and herself.
Cusimano, GiGi (LSH v2 #301). SP officer who became chief
of the SP.
Darios (LSH v4 #30). UP Admiral, a Hykraian. Came in to
defend Earth from Dominator fleet.
Darkseid (JIMMY OLSEN #134). Engineered a complex scheme
in order to destroy himself. Whereabouts unclear, but not in this
world.
Dev-Em (ADV #287 or 320). Destroyed the Moon (obliquely)
and wound up in McCauley IV's collection. See question #11.
[recently reverted to pre-Crisis appearance during a timestream
ripple while fighting Valor --VHH]
Drisden, Concheta (LSH v4 #40). Daughter of Charma and
Grimbor; see question 5 for more details. Tried to escape from
Takron-Galtos II recently, but was apprehended.
Echo-Chamber Chet (LSH v4 #49). Mortally impaired member
of Brek's team, with sonic powers.
Elasti-Kid (LSH v4 #29). Charles Polk. Mindwiped
Dominator agent.
Erin, Shvaughn (SLSH #241). Revealed to be a man, Sean
Erin; now chief of SP on New Earth. See question 6.
Flare (LSH v3 #24). Ray Sah. Former Fatal Five member
turned mindwiped Dominator agent.
Foxworth (LSH v4 #31). Black marketeer, a contact of
Reep.
Galmark (LSH v4 #44). Khund officer.
Galt (LSH v4 #16). Khund officer.
Gand, Eltro (ACT #378). A descendant of Lar's brother,
who gave his life to save him. Still dead.
Gand, Lauren (LSH v4 #8). Child of Laurel and Rond.
Ghost (LSH v4 #29). Melissa Schlick. Mindwiped dominator
agent with invisibility powers.
Glorith (ADV #337). See question 2.
Grimbor the Chainsman (SBOY #221). Father of Concheta
Drisden, he attacked Quarantine to free her but was repulsed by
Ivy's "team." [recently revealed to be the Advisor of the Paris
Dome ruler (what's his name?). He was removed from his post. --VHH]
Grinn (LSH v4 #16). Mercenary working for Universo.
Killed by Sade. Invisible except for smile (and arms?)
Gym'll, Dr. (LSH v2 #284). Formerly LSH's personal
physician, killed on Medicus One when Luna blew up.
Hunter II (SBOY #199). Adam Orion. An old villain (and
son of an older villain) who turned up on Yal, gunning for Brande
and Reep.
Ivy (LSH v4 #13). A child on Quarantine, with plant
powers (she talks to them and controls them some). Founded a
"super-team" to fight Grimbor.
Jamm (LSH v4 Annual #4). A 20th Century native who gained
mind-control powers as part of the "Bloodlines" crossover. He was
dragged into the 30th Century with Brin, made a nuisance of
himself for a while, and was eventually sent back.
Jonn (?). Formerly co-ruler of Pasnic, a UP World that
has been conquered by Khunds; now head of UP Militia.
J'onzz, J'onn (DETECTIVE #225). The Martian Manhunter.
Survived into the 30th century, and helped the team against
Mordru.
Kiritan, General (LSH v4 #15). Khund general.
Krinn, Lydda Jath (ADV #306). Formerly Night Girl of the
Legion of Substitute Heroes (and the only one never to join the
LSH). Married to Rokk Krinn, and living on Talus. They have a
son, Pol. [currently staying on Winath with Pol while the Legion
is renegade --VHH]
Latham, Marla (SBOY #98). Previously the LSH's Adult
Advisor; now works for Brande Industries.
Lobo-probe, the (LSH v4 #21). A probe duplicate of Lobo,
created by Darkseid and subsequently destroyed by him.
Loomis (LSH v4 #1). Served with Rokk in the military,
lost an arm at Venado Bay; works as LSH handyman.
Lori (LSH v4 #21). Friend of Aria's.
Loy, Taryn (SBOY #312). Calorie Queen. Tenzil's
assistant, took over his seat after he was declared dead.
Lynk (LSH v4 #13). A Hykraian child on Quarantine and a
member of Ivy's "team."
Mallor, Grev (ADV #344). Shadow Kid. Brother of Shadow
Lass, and current planetary champion of Talok VIII. Married to
Lady Memory.
Mallor, Kahnya (TLSH #318). Married to Grev. Formerly
Lady Memory of Talok VIII's Hill People.
McCauley, Leland III (ADV #374). Has had some trouble
with his insane oldest son.
McCauley, Leland IV (LSH v4 #12). Sociopathic son of the
galaxy's eleventh richest man; founded the new Fatal Five in
LEGIONNAIRES. [Note: According to T&M, he is not the same son of
McCauley III who appeared in SBOY #214.] [He is extremely afraid
of germs and viruses. --VHH]
Mano (ADV #352). An old Fatal Five member who became an
agent of Starfinger III. He wound up joining the new Fatal Five
in LEGIONNAIRES.
Mordru (ADV #369). Became ruler of Tharn to hold off
Khunds and reverted to old ways. Married to Mysa; recently
was defeated in an attempt to conquer the galaxy.
Morgna, Derek (?). Dirk's late father.
Morse, Arlington (LSH v4 #26). Vice President of Earth
under Wellington and the Dominators, took over after her death.
Replaced by Foccart.
Orlak (LSH v4 #15). A Khund contact of Reep's.
Persuader (ADV #352). Nyuen Chen Ti. Member of the old
Fatal Five who became a strongarm for Starfinger III. Now with
the new Fatal Five in LEGIONNAIRES.
Policy Pam (LSH v4 #49). Member of Brek's team, with the
power to sell insurance to anybody.
Prince Evillo (ADV #350). His Realm of Darkness was
destroyed by Tenzil and Sugyn. Deposed from rule of Tartarus by
return of eleven ex-wives. Arrested recently after taking control
of the planet again with the Hypnostone. Has two daughters,
Stiletta and Styx, who are members of Brek's superteam.
Proty II (ADV #316). Retconned into one of the seven
Protean sentients (see section on Kid Quantum). Captured with the
others by McCauley IV, but released.
Ranzz, Garridan (ADV #352). Formerly Validus, but
restored to normal form; carrier of "Validus Plague." Forced to
stay on Quarantine. He retains the mental lightning powers he
used as Validus. Joined Ivy's "team."
Ranzz, Graym (LSH Annual v2 #3). Son of Garth and Imra,
now nine.
Ranzz, Mekt (SBOY #147). Lightning Lord. Rehabilitated
and works on Ranzz plantation on Winath. [there is a scene in
LSH v4 An.#3 which suggests Mekt is also gay --VHH]
Relnic, Anton (SBOY #225). Former Earth UP Ambassador,
promoted to Chairman of UP Council.
Rikane, Jed (SLSH #240). Power Boy, former LSH Academy
student. Worked for UP Militia Academy, killed by the Khunds.
Ron-Karr (ADV #314). Former LSV member that joined
Universo's underground.
Roxxas, Kivun "the Butcher" (ADV #307). Tried killing the
ex-LSH for Earthgov, but was stopped and imprisoned; is on Trom
right now.
Sade (LSH v4 #29). Teleporting mercenary, rescued from
the Weisinger chambers. Took off for parts unknown.
Saturn Queen (LSH v4 #14). Eve Aries. Heir to ceremonial
throne of Titan. Twelfth wife of Prince Evillo, now married to
Tenzil.
Scales (LSH v4 #13). A non-Durlan shapechanging child on
Quarantine and a member of Ivy's "team."
Spaceopoly Lad (LSH v4 #49). Member of Brek's team; he
has the power to finish any game of Spaceopoly he starts.
Spider-Girl (ADV #305). Sussa Paka. Stole something
important (not clear what yet) and wound up with the LSH. Is
hanging out with them now. [and is therefore now on the run
with them. She has an attraction to Jo. The cannister has been
revealed to contain bones and dust --VHH]
Spunge (LSH v4 #13). A member of Ivy's "team" on
Quarantine, he eats energy (but it intoxicates him).
Starfinger III (LSH v4 #13). Molock Hanscomb, brother of
the original. Killed the second one for revenge. A crimelord.
Sugyn (ADV #350). Member of the Devil's Dozen.
Rescued from Evillo's Realm of Darkness by Tenzil, and a member of
Brek's super-team.
Tao, Marella (LSH v3 #36). Continued as a newscaster
until being killed by Earthgov.
Time Trapper, the (ADV #317). See question 2.
Tornado Twins, the (ADV #379). Dawn and Don Allen.
Executed by Earthgov on charge of treason; may have been put in
chambers instead.
Universo (ADV #349). Led a resistance group against
Earthgov, and now seems to be allied with Leland McCauley IV.
Currently hypnotizing the UP to arrest the LSH. [apparently
in league with the Khunds, although nothing has been explicitly
revealed yet --VHH]
Val, Yvyya (LSH v4 Annual #3). Owner of the Naltorian
Dreamers, and Thom's wife.
Vrykos (LSH v4 #3). Vampiric servant of Mordru.
Wellington, Tayla (LSH v4 #8). President of Earth, killed
by Dominators.
Williams, Mara (LSH v4 #51). "Rush." A Dominator test
subject with speed powers. She was on Quarantine for a while and
is now joining the UP Officer's Academy. [it's been revealed that she
*has* joined --VHH]
Zaryan the Conqueror (ADV #304). Originally the one who
killed Garth; now revealed to be a Khund and the one that
destroyed Ricklef II. He turned up as one of Mordru's zombie
guardians.
[there's now more than a handful of new characters from the last few
issues of Valor, LGS and LSH, but I'll leave it to Doug to find them all
and update this section. :) VHH]