Post by Fritz on May 17, 2006 21:47:58 GMT -4
ECTO-1 posted this picture on GBHQ:
www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0605/12/legion1.jpg
Nobody else may care, but I'm excited--the Legion of Super Heroes has been a stalwart of the DC universe since 1958, when they first appeared in a Superboy story but proved capable of sustaining, at one time, two series all by themselves. In the early 1980's it was the only other book, besides Teen Titans, that DC could even sell.
I've been reading the series for twelve years. The cartoon may suck as much as The Batman, granted, but for now I'm excited about it.
Now in case you were wondering "Just who are these characters?" here they are, from left to right...
(Note that all of this is based on their comic incarnations--the animated version may have some big differences)
Phantom Girl (also known as Apparition)
Tinya Wazzo of Bgztl
Power: Can become intangible
Tinya Wazzo is the daughter of Winema Wazzo, a political figure on Bgztl, a planet that exists in an alternate dimension--Phantom Girl can become intangible because she's actually partially phasing back home.
In some versions, Tinya is or becomes Phase, a member of the Twentieth Century superteam LEGION.
Tinya is usually romantically linked with Ultra Boy (Jo Nah of Rimbor). In one continuity, they marry and have a son, "Cub"
Brainiac 5
Querl Dox of Colu
Power: Twelfth Level Intelligence; can create force fields, though in most incarnations he needs a belt to do this.
Brainiac 5 is a good guy, if a little snide and arrogant, but he is descended from Vril Dox II, the son or adopted son (depending on the continuity) of Superman's foe Brainiac. He's the inventor of the Legion Flight Ring. His Twelfth Level Intelligence means he's hundreds of times smarter than the average human.
Depending on the iteration, Brainy is romantically linked to either Supergirl (Kara Zor-El of Krypton) or Andromeda (Laurel Gand of Daxam)
Saturn Girl
Imra Ardeen of Titan
Power: Telepathy
Saturn Girl, along with Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad, is one of the three founders of the Legion. She was originally a Science Police cadet, and one of Titan's elite Alpha Level telepaths. (Titan is a moon of Saturn, and the Titanese are descended from Terran colonists). In the current continuity, Saturn Girl can't even talk--Titanese vocal cords have atrophied from centuries of non-use, and she only speaks telepathically.
Saturn Girl is linked romantically to Lightning Lad (Garth Ranzz of Winath). In some continuities, they marry and have four kids, two sets of twins.
Superboy
Clark Kent of Earth/Kal-El of Krypton
Oh, c'mon, I don't need to tell you who this is...
The Legion got it's start in a Superboy story; the Superboy in the Legion was later retroactively changed to a doppleganger from the "Pocket Universe" and later into Conner Kent/Kon-El, the clone Superboy introduced in "Reign of The Supermen"
Lightning Lad (also known as Livewire)
Garth Ranzz of Winath
Power: Electrokinesis
Lightning Lad, along with Saturn Girl and Cosmic boy, is one of the three founders of the Legion. He is descended from one of the "Gandian Worlds" colonized by humans who'd been altered by Dominators; Winathians have a peculiar predisposition to be born in sets of twins. Garth, his twin, Ayla, and their older brother Mekt all recieved the same powers at the same time. Mekt, a rare non-twin, goes insane and becomes a villain, the Lightning Lord. Ayla on the other hand joins the Legion, and is known as Spark or Lightning Lass; in some continuities, her powers are changed to cancelling gravity, and her code name is then Gossamer or Light Lass.
Livewire is romantically linked to Saturn Girl (Imra Ardeen of Titan). In some continuities, they marry and have four kids, two sets of twins.
Timber Wolf
Brin Londo of Zuun
Powers: Strength, endurance, speed, fighting skill. He also predates that wolvy Canuck with the claws by several years, but lacks claws and the ability to guest star in every book his company publishes.
Brin Londo got his powers when his Dad shot him up with an experimental drug called Zuunium. (So yeah, Dr. Londo is definitely NOT a candidate for Father Of The Year). It gave him, well, "wolf powers"--strength, speed, fighting skill.
Brin was often romantically linked in prior continuities to Ayla Ranzz of Winath (Lightning Lass/Light Lass) but in current continuity is carrying on with Princess Projectra of Orando.
Bouncing Boy
Chuck Taine of Earth
Powers: Can inflate like a rubber ball and bounce
For the life of me I can't remember right now how Bouncing Boy got his powers--I think he got some of Enlongated Man's gingold, but I'm not positive of that--in the 1994-2004 continuity, Chuck never got super powers, and worked for the Legion as their chief engineer.
Chuck is romantically linked to Lornu Durgo of Carggg, alias Triplicate Girl. In some continuities, they did marry.
Other favorites not pictured, but a guy can hope...
Cosmic Boy
Rokk Krinn of Braal
Powers: Magnetic control
Cosmic Boy, along with Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad, is one of the three founders of the Legion, and served as it's first Leader. He is descended from one of the "Gandian Worlds" colonized by humans who'd been altered by Dominators; his race developed the ability to generate and control powerful magnetic fields. Before co-founding the Legion, Cos was a champion in the sport of magna-ball. He has a younger brother, Pol, who later joins the Legion under the code name Magno Lad.
Though in some continuities Rokk has an early crush on Saturn Girl; and XS, Jenni Ognats of Aarok, the granddaughter of Barry Allen, had a crush on him; his most successful romantic link was to Lydda Jath of Kathoon, a member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, code name Night Girl. In one continuity, they have a son, Pol, named after Rokk's brother (who had died in action by that point.)
Chameleon
Reep Daggle of Durla
Powers: Shape changing
Cham can change shape. In some continuities, Legion backer RJ Brande is actually his father, Ren Daggle. Cham is also cool because his last name sounds kind of dirty.
Cham hasn't had any strong romantic links, but in the 1994-2004 continuity he did have a crush on Ayla Ranzz (Spark/Lightning Lass)
Matter Eater Lad
Tenzil Kem of Bismoll
Power: Can eat matter in any form
His mouth is his most powerful weapon, but not because of his power (which is actually pretty useless)--he barrages his opponents with zingers, wisecracks, and inane non-sequitors that have some enemies convinced he's far more dangerous than any Daxamite. Let me put it this way: Keith Giffen helped refine this character's personality in the 80's and early 90's. If that means anything to you, that's probably all you need to know.
In some versions, Tenzil has a crush on Shrinking Violet (Salu Digby of Imsk) but it's been hinted in other versions he's a bit of a "player". In one contininuity, he actually marries former villain Eve Aries of Titan, the Saturn Queen.
Notable Enemies in the Comics
Mordru
Mordru is the human incarnation of a Lord Of Chaos, and has lived for thousands of years--he's actually, in comic terms, made most of his appearances over the last ten years in JSA. This evil wizard was the dictatorial ruler of the Sorcerer's World, Zerox, before being defeated by the Legion.
The Fatal Five
Possibly the Legion's most intractible foes, dangerous enough to stand up to the Legion even though they're usually outnumbered 3 or 4 to 1.
Tharok
This vicious cyborg is the leader of the Fatal Five.
Persuader
Nuen Chun Ti of Earth is a mercenary who wields the Atomic Ax, an extremely nasty piece of weapondry. Appropriately enough, he wears a hockey mask.
Emerald Empress
Sarya of Vengar was a serial killer before aquiring the Emerald Eye of Ekron, an artifact believed to be connected to the Guardians of the Universe--like the Green Lantern rings, it can turn willpower into emerald energy to do whatever the user wants.
Mano
This guy is the Hand of Fate--in his right hand is the power to destroy a planet. In the 1994-2004 continuity, he was actually a very reluctant member of the Fatal Five.
Validus
This giant monstrosity can shoot "mental lightning". In one continuity, it was revealed that he was actually a Mystery Baby From the Future: Garridan Ranzz, one of the sons of Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl.
The Legion of Supervillains
Evil counterparts of the Legion, seen most recently in the Superman/Batman comic. Their ruling trioka parallels the three Legion founders:
Cosmic King (Laevar Bolto of Venus) doesn't have the same powers as Cosmic Boy, but shares his status as founder and leader of the evil Legion. His power is transmutation, aquired in an experiment.
Saturn Queen (Eve Aries of Titan) is the hereditary heiress to Titan's throne, but fell in to Bolto's bad crowd. In one continuity, she reforms and marries Matter Eater Lad.
Lightning Lord (Mekt Ranzz of Winath) is the insane older brother of Lightning Lad and Lightning Lass/Light Lass, and has the same lightning powers. Like Saturn Queen, in some continuities he eventually reforms.
Other members have included characters named Silver Slasher, Esper Lass, Micro Lad, Chameleon Chief, and more I'm just not remembering right now.
Roxxas the Butcher
There have been two completely different versions of Roxxas, only sharing in common their responsibility for the destruction of the planet Tromm, homeworld of Legionnaire Jan Arrah (Element Lad/Alchemist). One version was a "fabulous" space pirate (frills, makeup, the works) the other was the leader of the racist Daxamite movement called the White Triangle.
Universo
Another character with more than one backstory, he's a master psionic and hypnotist. Pre-Zero Hour, his real name was Vidar, he was from Earth, and he was a former Green Lantern. Post Zero Hour, his name was Sarmon Ardeen, and he was a rogue Titanese Alpha-level telepath--and cousin of Saturn Girl.
Time Trapper
This mysterious being lives in the final age of the universe, just before it's collapse into entropy, and enjoys f***ing around with the Legion. His backstory constantly shifts (in one pre-Zero Hour story, he's revelealed to be a future incarnation of Cosmic Boy; in others, the Time Trapper is a woman named Glorith) and at times he even seems to act benevolently. He was even behind the creation of "Batch SW-6", a group of Legion duplicates introduced into the Pre-Zero Hour continuity which evolved into the prototypes for the post-Zero Hour Legion.
www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0605/12/legion1.jpg
Nobody else may care, but I'm excited--the Legion of Super Heroes has been a stalwart of the DC universe since 1958, when they first appeared in a Superboy story but proved capable of sustaining, at one time, two series all by themselves. In the early 1980's it was the only other book, besides Teen Titans, that DC could even sell.
I've been reading the series for twelve years. The cartoon may suck as much as The Batman, granted, but for now I'm excited about it.
Now in case you were wondering "Just who are these characters?" here they are, from left to right...
(Note that all of this is based on their comic incarnations--the animated version may have some big differences)
Phantom Girl (also known as Apparition)
Tinya Wazzo of Bgztl
Power: Can become intangible
Tinya Wazzo is the daughter of Winema Wazzo, a political figure on Bgztl, a planet that exists in an alternate dimension--Phantom Girl can become intangible because she's actually partially phasing back home.
In some versions, Tinya is or becomes Phase, a member of the Twentieth Century superteam LEGION.
Tinya is usually romantically linked with Ultra Boy (Jo Nah of Rimbor). In one continuity, they marry and have a son, "Cub"
Brainiac 5
Querl Dox of Colu
Power: Twelfth Level Intelligence; can create force fields, though in most incarnations he needs a belt to do this.
Brainiac 5 is a good guy, if a little snide and arrogant, but he is descended from Vril Dox II, the son or adopted son (depending on the continuity) of Superman's foe Brainiac. He's the inventor of the Legion Flight Ring. His Twelfth Level Intelligence means he's hundreds of times smarter than the average human.
Depending on the iteration, Brainy is romantically linked to either Supergirl (Kara Zor-El of Krypton) or Andromeda (Laurel Gand of Daxam)
Saturn Girl
Imra Ardeen of Titan
Power: Telepathy
Saturn Girl, along with Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad, is one of the three founders of the Legion. She was originally a Science Police cadet, and one of Titan's elite Alpha Level telepaths. (Titan is a moon of Saturn, and the Titanese are descended from Terran colonists). In the current continuity, Saturn Girl can't even talk--Titanese vocal cords have atrophied from centuries of non-use, and she only speaks telepathically.
Saturn Girl is linked romantically to Lightning Lad (Garth Ranzz of Winath). In some continuities, they marry and have four kids, two sets of twins.
Superboy
Clark Kent of Earth/Kal-El of Krypton
Oh, c'mon, I don't need to tell you who this is...
The Legion got it's start in a Superboy story; the Superboy in the Legion was later retroactively changed to a doppleganger from the "Pocket Universe" and later into Conner Kent/Kon-El, the clone Superboy introduced in "Reign of The Supermen"
Lightning Lad (also known as Livewire)
Garth Ranzz of Winath
Power: Electrokinesis
Lightning Lad, along with Saturn Girl and Cosmic boy, is one of the three founders of the Legion. He is descended from one of the "Gandian Worlds" colonized by humans who'd been altered by Dominators; Winathians have a peculiar predisposition to be born in sets of twins. Garth, his twin, Ayla, and their older brother Mekt all recieved the same powers at the same time. Mekt, a rare non-twin, goes insane and becomes a villain, the Lightning Lord. Ayla on the other hand joins the Legion, and is known as Spark or Lightning Lass; in some continuities, her powers are changed to cancelling gravity, and her code name is then Gossamer or Light Lass.
Livewire is romantically linked to Saturn Girl (Imra Ardeen of Titan). In some continuities, they marry and have four kids, two sets of twins.
Timber Wolf
Brin Londo of Zuun
Powers: Strength, endurance, speed, fighting skill. He also predates that wolvy Canuck with the claws by several years, but lacks claws and the ability to guest star in every book his company publishes.
Brin Londo got his powers when his Dad shot him up with an experimental drug called Zuunium. (So yeah, Dr. Londo is definitely NOT a candidate for Father Of The Year). It gave him, well, "wolf powers"--strength, speed, fighting skill.
Brin was often romantically linked in prior continuities to Ayla Ranzz of Winath (Lightning Lass/Light Lass) but in current continuity is carrying on with Princess Projectra of Orando.
Bouncing Boy
Chuck Taine of Earth
Powers: Can inflate like a rubber ball and bounce
For the life of me I can't remember right now how Bouncing Boy got his powers--I think he got some of Enlongated Man's gingold, but I'm not positive of that--in the 1994-2004 continuity, Chuck never got super powers, and worked for the Legion as their chief engineer.
Chuck is romantically linked to Lornu Durgo of Carggg, alias Triplicate Girl. In some continuities, they did marry.
Other favorites not pictured, but a guy can hope...
Cosmic Boy
Rokk Krinn of Braal
Powers: Magnetic control
Cosmic Boy, along with Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad, is one of the three founders of the Legion, and served as it's first Leader. He is descended from one of the "Gandian Worlds" colonized by humans who'd been altered by Dominators; his race developed the ability to generate and control powerful magnetic fields. Before co-founding the Legion, Cos was a champion in the sport of magna-ball. He has a younger brother, Pol, who later joins the Legion under the code name Magno Lad.
Though in some continuities Rokk has an early crush on Saturn Girl; and XS, Jenni Ognats of Aarok, the granddaughter of Barry Allen, had a crush on him; his most successful romantic link was to Lydda Jath of Kathoon, a member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, code name Night Girl. In one continuity, they have a son, Pol, named after Rokk's brother (who had died in action by that point.)
Chameleon
Reep Daggle of Durla
Powers: Shape changing
Cham can change shape. In some continuities, Legion backer RJ Brande is actually his father, Ren Daggle. Cham is also cool because his last name sounds kind of dirty.
Cham hasn't had any strong romantic links, but in the 1994-2004 continuity he did have a crush on Ayla Ranzz (Spark/Lightning Lass)
Matter Eater Lad
Tenzil Kem of Bismoll
Power: Can eat matter in any form
His mouth is his most powerful weapon, but not because of his power (which is actually pretty useless)--he barrages his opponents with zingers, wisecracks, and inane non-sequitors that have some enemies convinced he's far more dangerous than any Daxamite. Let me put it this way: Keith Giffen helped refine this character's personality in the 80's and early 90's. If that means anything to you, that's probably all you need to know.
In some versions, Tenzil has a crush on Shrinking Violet (Salu Digby of Imsk) but it's been hinted in other versions he's a bit of a "player". In one contininuity, he actually marries former villain Eve Aries of Titan, the Saturn Queen.
Notable Enemies in the Comics
Mordru
Mordru is the human incarnation of a Lord Of Chaos, and has lived for thousands of years--he's actually, in comic terms, made most of his appearances over the last ten years in JSA. This evil wizard was the dictatorial ruler of the Sorcerer's World, Zerox, before being defeated by the Legion.
The Fatal Five
Possibly the Legion's most intractible foes, dangerous enough to stand up to the Legion even though they're usually outnumbered 3 or 4 to 1.
Tharok
This vicious cyborg is the leader of the Fatal Five.
Persuader
Nuen Chun Ti of Earth is a mercenary who wields the Atomic Ax, an extremely nasty piece of weapondry. Appropriately enough, he wears a hockey mask.
Emerald Empress
Sarya of Vengar was a serial killer before aquiring the Emerald Eye of Ekron, an artifact believed to be connected to the Guardians of the Universe--like the Green Lantern rings, it can turn willpower into emerald energy to do whatever the user wants.
Mano
This guy is the Hand of Fate--in his right hand is the power to destroy a planet. In the 1994-2004 continuity, he was actually a very reluctant member of the Fatal Five.
Validus
This giant monstrosity can shoot "mental lightning". In one continuity, it was revealed that he was actually a Mystery Baby From the Future: Garridan Ranzz, one of the sons of Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl.
The Legion of Supervillains
Evil counterparts of the Legion, seen most recently in the Superman/Batman comic. Their ruling trioka parallels the three Legion founders:
Cosmic King (Laevar Bolto of Venus) doesn't have the same powers as Cosmic Boy, but shares his status as founder and leader of the evil Legion. His power is transmutation, aquired in an experiment.
Saturn Queen (Eve Aries of Titan) is the hereditary heiress to Titan's throne, but fell in to Bolto's bad crowd. In one continuity, she reforms and marries Matter Eater Lad.
Lightning Lord (Mekt Ranzz of Winath) is the insane older brother of Lightning Lad and Lightning Lass/Light Lass, and has the same lightning powers. Like Saturn Queen, in some continuities he eventually reforms.
Other members have included characters named Silver Slasher, Esper Lass, Micro Lad, Chameleon Chief, and more I'm just not remembering right now.
Roxxas the Butcher
There have been two completely different versions of Roxxas, only sharing in common their responsibility for the destruction of the planet Tromm, homeworld of Legionnaire Jan Arrah (Element Lad/Alchemist). One version was a "fabulous" space pirate (frills, makeup, the works) the other was the leader of the racist Daxamite movement called the White Triangle.
Universo
Another character with more than one backstory, he's a master psionic and hypnotist. Pre-Zero Hour, his real name was Vidar, he was from Earth, and he was a former Green Lantern. Post Zero Hour, his name was Sarmon Ardeen, and he was a rogue Titanese Alpha-level telepath--and cousin of Saturn Girl.
Time Trapper
This mysterious being lives in the final age of the universe, just before it's collapse into entropy, and enjoys f***ing around with the Legion. His backstory constantly shifts (in one pre-Zero Hour story, he's revelealed to be a future incarnation of Cosmic Boy; in others, the Time Trapper is a woman named Glorith) and at times he even seems to act benevolently. He was even behind the creation of "Batch SW-6", a group of Legion duplicates introduced into the Pre-Zero Hour continuity which evolved into the prototypes for the post-Zero Hour Legion.