From: [d--u--a] at [yang.earlham.edu] Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc Subject: LSH FAQ: Part 3 Date: 23 Sep 93 03:28:11 GMT THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST version 1.1 Compiled by Doug Atkinson ([d--u--a] at [yang.earlham.edu]) Part 3 Questions covered in this section: 7. What are the origins of the new characters? And who created them? 8. What is it with Bounty? 9. What was Black Dawn? 10. What is the connection between the LSH and L.E.G.I.O.N.? +11. How was the moon destroyed? And who is Dev-Em? *12. What was the Adult Legion story? ================================================================== 7. What are the origins of the new characters? And who created them? 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. ================================================================== 8. What is it with Bounty? Bounty first appeared in LSH v4 #6 as Celeste's partner, with no explanation of her origin. Many LSHers commented on her resemblance to Dawnstar, and so did many fans. Roxxas seemed to recognize her, and said she'd changed her wardrobe and hair. (Dawnstar had black hair, and Bounty's was dark brown. Dawnstar tended to dress in skimpy yellow things, while Bounty was wrapped to the neck in basic black.) When she was injured, Querl's medical scan mentioned mysterious scar tissue, and he apparently recognized her. In v4 #36, it was confirmed that Bounty was, indeed, Dawnstar, but possessed by something. After being badly injured in a battle with Sade, the entity abandoned her and left for parts unknown. (The scar tissue was from the removal of her wings.) This Bounty is not the first to go by that name in an LSH story, however. The first one appeared in SLSH #234, and it is quite possible he was possessed by the same entity. From WHO'S WHO IN THE LSH #1: "BOUNTY: Jaeger Tallspirit of Minerstown. "The son of rebels Maire and Redwind, Jaeger grew up on a colony planet. Both parents hated it; his mother because she resented being in hiding after her mostly successful career as a hijacker had been jeopardized by too many sightings and a new family, his father because he missed the open skies of homeworld, Starhaven. They couldn't return to Earth, because Maire would be caught, and Starhaven was impossible because Redwind's cousin was a Legionnaire. [Dawnstar.] They settled into an uneasy life in Minerstown, always ready to run if necessary. "When the Science Police came to arrest his mother for theivery [sic], young Jaeger's life was shattered. Hardened, he became the ultimate loner, turning his tracking skills to bounty hunting, bringing in fugitives dead or alive and making a point of doing so before the Science Police could reach them. He wanted to show them that they could be beaten, legally. Torn between love and justice, he turned bitter and ceased caring about the people he captured..." The profile of this Bounty matches that of the later one in many ways. Both have a background from Starhaven and tracking skills. Both underwent an abrupt change into bounty hunters, and both dressed entirely in black. It is quite possible that there is a connection between the two; perhaps both were possessed by the same entity, or perhaps Dawnstar was possessed by the spirit of the original somehow. ================================================================== 9. What was Black Dawn? Black Dawn was a crisis that culminated August 12, 2991. It was a great disaster of some sort, but its nature has never been fully explained. What is known: The crisis stretched over at least a month, and put great pressure on the LSH. Team leader Sensor Girl had already resigned, and deputy Timber Wolf was unable to cope, so Sun Boy took over the team to guide it through (and remained leader for a few months afterwards). The crisis would prove to be a turning point in a number of ways. Full Dominator control of Earthgov began at this time, and it led directly to the collapse of the LSH. Many members quit afterwards, and public perception of the team was lowered considerably. The crisis cost the LSH several members; Reflecto was killed by Molecule Master during the investigation. Timber Wolf was hit by radiation and seriously injured, eventually leading to his transformations into Furball. Wildfire was "lost" in an unspecified manner. From the evidence, some conclusions can be drawn. If it is true that Wildfire is the sun, it seems likely that the crisis involved Earth's sun. Given the name, it probably involved an attempt to shut off or destroy the sun. (Perhaps more likely the latter; the Sourcebook has a line from Polar Boy saying "If not for the LSH at Black Dawn, you'd be ashes now.") Wildfire may have used his energies to re-ignite it or stop the destruction. The original Molecule Master was a servant of the Time Trapper, so Glorith may possibly have been involved somehow. ================================================================== 10. What is the connection between the LSH and L.E.G.I.O.N.? 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 the adopted child of Brainiac, given him by the Computer Tyrants of Colu to seem more human. 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). ================================================================== 11. How was the moon destroyed? And who is Dev-Em? 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. ================================================================== 12. What was the Adult Legion story? 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: 1. Chemical King: Seen in the gallery of dead heroes; "Sacrificed his life to prevent World War VII." Chemical King was introduced into the true LSH in ADV #371, and remained a minor member for several years. In the '70s it was decided to kill him, in part because of the Adult Legion, in part because he was considered a boring and confusing character. He died in SBOY #228, preventing Dark Circle agent Deregon from starting WWVII. 2. Reflecto: A dead hero; "Killed in a duel with the Molecule Master." He has been used in two ways. The first Reflecto to appear was in LSH v2 #277, and was actually Jo's amnesiac personality possessing Superboy. Jo had been believed dead and given a statue in the gallery of dead heroes. The Molecule Master, who had previously appeared in SBOY #201, fought the LSH (including the somewhat memory-confused Superboy, who had abandoned the Reflecto identity by this point) in LSH v2 #281. The android was destroyed, and in the course of the story the Jo/Superboy matter was sorted out, so technically Reflecto was "killed" by Molecule Master. (The fight, which had several LSHers ganging up on the android, scarcely qualified as a duel, however.) The Ultra Boy statue was altered into one of Reflecto, thereby more or less fulfilling the Adult Legion prediction. 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." 3. Lightning Man and Saturn Woman: Their marriage (shown in a much older Superman story) was confirmed in this story. 4. Night Woman and Cosmic Man: Their marriage was also shown here. (Rokk also has a receding hairline in both books, though it's more dramatic in ADV.) Rokk is pictured as leader of the team; he is, currently, but without his powers. 5. Mon-El: "...left the Legion to become a space explorer!" This is what he is doing in the current series. 6. Matter-Eater Lad: "He left the Legion to serve his world!" In SBOY #212 he was drafted into Bismoll politics and became a Senator. (In this story he was shown as President, which is unlikely now, though he was mentioned as a likely prospect several times.) The Adult Legion story was even mentioned in a footnote in the SBOY story. 7. Colossal Man: Grew a beard, but "was forced to quit the Legion because an injury robbed me of my size-increasing power! But the LSH had given me the experience I needed to land this job! [member of the Intergalactic Guard]" In v3 he was given leg injuries by Starfinger II; by v4 they prevented use of his power, and he joined the Science Police (not the Intergalactic Guard, as shown here. There has never been an Intergalactic Guard in the series, to my knowledge). He grew a beard during the Five-Year Gap. 8. Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel: "I lost my Bouncing Boy powers again...but I didn't care when Duo Damsel agreed to marry me!" This occurred in SBOY #200, with no explanation of how his powers were lost. (He had previously lost his powers much earlier in ADV.) 9. Polar Man: "Polar Man! So you're in the Legion now, eh?" "Yes...with so many members quitting the Legion and the Substitute Heroes, the two groups merged!" Polar Boy joined the LSH in LSH v3 #14; most of the former Subs joined the team during the Five-Year Gap. (Although most of the LSH did leave, the only full-time Subs to quit were Polar Boy and Night Girl. The team did disband after Brek quit, though.) 10. Timber Wolf: Formerly Lone Wolf, shown as having joined the LSH here. He first appeared in ADV #327 as Lone Wolf and refused to join them then; he did join in ADV #372, as Timber Wolf. This issue marked the first use of the new name. 11. Echo: Introduced here as a member of the LSV. He joined the LSH instead, during the Five-Year Gap. STORY ELEMENTS INTRODUCED IN THE ADULT LEGION AND NOT USED TO DATE (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.) 1. Shrinking Violet and Duplicate Boy: Pictured as married and living on Lallor, with two children. Vi and Duplicate Boy broke up after she was rescued from imprisonment, and are unlikely to get back together; Duplicate Boy is being held in a prison camp by Khunds, and Vi may or may not be in another relationship. 2. Light Lady and Timber Wolf: Pictured as married, with children Brin, Bran, and Loni. They broke up after the Great Darkness Saga. [Note: Paul Levitz was the first writer to break up long-standing LSH romances--Vi/Duplicate Boy, Ayla/Brin, and Nura/Thom.] Timber Wolf is in the 20th Century, and Ayla likewise may or may not be otherwise involved. Timber Wolf has returned to the 30th Century, but they are unlikely to get back together. (Their romance does postdate this story, however, so the story was followed in this respect.) This story also implies that Ayla never regained her lightning powers. 3. Ultra Man and Phantom Woman: Both retired, with Jo as a quadrant director of the SP. Their children, Ronn and Arna, inherited their powers. In the real continuity, Tinya is in the 20th Century with amnesia, and believed dead by everyone. Jo is unlikely to join the SP or retire any time soon, but this could still happen. 4. Dream Girl and Star Boy: Retired, married, and living on Xantho [sic] in this story, with Thom as an astronomer. They broke up in v3. Thom has married someone else, and shows no signs of becoming an astronomer. 5. Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel: Pictured as having a son with triplicating powers; they have no children yet, but this could also still occur. Also, they aren't living on Carrg [sic] as shown here. 6. Beauty Blaze: Introduced as a new member of the LSV, but never introduced in the series. (The closest character is Flare of the Fatal Five.) 7. Lex Luthor and Mr. Mxyzptlk: A descendant and the brother of the originals, respectively, they joined the LSH in this story. No equivalents have appeared, except possibly the Zrfffian imp referred to in the alternate and now discredited version of Porcupine Pete's origin, who could have been the same person. Mxyzptlk V, from ADV #322, was a villain. 8. Quantom [sic] Queen: Appeared only on the cover, not the interior. "Perished preventing an escape from [obscured] Cosmos Prison." Quantum Queen appeared in ADV #375 as a member of the Wanderers, but has never been a member of the LSH. Though she did die (and was cloned into a new body), her death had nothing to do with a "Cosmos Prison." The Adult Legion story can essentially be considered to be obsolete at this point. Although it was not a bad story, it showed a limited (or just conservative) imagination in the futures it extrapolated. No pre-existing LSHers died (to our knowledge; not all were pictured), none of them broke up their romances, and the only change in the operation of the LSH was that married members were allowed to remain. Few comics change that little over long time periods, even the LSH (which was, until recently, conservative in many ways when compared to, say, ALPHA FLIGHT or TEEN TITANS). The changes wrought over the past four years render the story almost impossible now. Furthermore, following every prediction of the story would limit the writers unduly. As it stands, the story can serve as inspiration (witness Reflecto and Echo's entry into the LSH) without forcing the writer's hand. It should also be noted, though, 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.