The Legion Of Superheroes in a nutshell!

The Legion of Superheroes exist in the past, present and future and they are wonderful in every time. With a massive membership of the years, a legion of substitutes, and some hilarious rejected members they are always fun to read, watch and talk about. Be sure to let me know who your favorite legionaires are down in the comments!

[@wehavebeenwatchingpodcast]

Love the new intro and style - can't wait to see more!

[@h.j.victory6103]

The Great Darkness Saga is my all time favorite LSH storyline

[@andreworr4307]

The legion have been my favorite superhero team since the early 70s ( i was born in 63) still are today, long live the legion ! Lol

[@mercuryman1250]

Starboy was the most underrated and coolest. So was night girl and color kid 😂

[@crhu319]

The Legion is one of the few super hero teams where the dynamics between the women drive things. Dream Girl, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl in particular have the foresight, telepathy and infiltration spying powers needed for any scenario. The teams missions are often defined by how strongly Dream Girl believes in her vision, how intrusive Saturn Girl will get to investigate, and where Phantom Girl will go to verify or spy or open doors. Theyre the Totally Spies of the 30th century. 😂

[@sergioandrade8735]

One of the things I miss about the Silver Age are the future Utopias, 30th century Earth, the Bottle City of Kandor, Aquaman's Atlantis, etc. All the futures are so depressing.

[@Solitaire001]

Sadly, even The Legion went down the depressing direction with the "Five Years Later..." era. For me, the only bright spot of that time were the SW6 Legionnaires. When they split them off into their own title it brought back the light-hearted feel of the early Legion.

[@sergioaccioly5219]

Just reminding people that Val Armorr fought Superboy (the Pre Crisis version) to a standstill more than once. He was actually one of the heavyweights of the team until he died. And each member had to have a power that was unique to him. In at least of the LSH continuities had Lightning Lad proposing this rule out of sibling riv alry, to keep his sistewr from joining. didn't quite work. And the Post five year gap LSH is my favorite Legion era, for the record.The DnA phase is a close second.

[@FerretJohn]

Biggest problem with the Legion is that thanks to all the reboots and crises DC has done it's hard to figure out which incarnation is which. Until the 90s rolled around and the Legion got "modernized" the group had some fairly silly rules, like no one could have powers identical to another member (exception being Kryptonians), and of course the age cap, that got removed in the 90s too.

[@Solitaire001]

I strongly agree about reboots being a major reason for the problems with The Legion. One of the reboots (in conjunction with "Zero Hour") was done because The Creative Team had reached a point where they were spending more time fixing problems than telling stories. I don't fault The Creative Teams, they were doing the best they could but the rug kept getting pulled out from under them. Concerning the rule against duplicate powers, a loophole was that it only applied to full-time members. Since Superboy and Supergirl were part-time members, other full-time members could have effectively the same powers although with a twist or have at least one unique power. As an example, although Ultra Boy effectively has the same powers as Mon-El, his actual superpower is ultra energy which he can focus in one direction and gives him the same powers as Superboy except each power is better than Superboy's (as an example, his penetra-vision can see through all materials including lead). Another example is Wildfire, who originally appeared to have no unique powers (he could duplicate the powers of other members) was afraid to display his unique power because it might kill him so The Legion rejected him. Later, he used his power and it appeared that he killed himself. Later, he was able to reconstitute himself and reenter his costume and he joined The Legion.

[@TheSpiciestTaco]

I've always had a soft spot for the Legion of Superheroes. Thoroughly enjoyed your video!

[@Solitaire001]

Concerning Ultra Boy: None of the superpowers he displays are his actual superpower. His actual superpower is ultra energy. Due to being swallowed by a giant space whale his body was irradiated with ultra energy, and it appears that he gained the ability to generate ultra energy. Later they did a revision where he consumed the meat from the giant space whale and that gave him his powers. The reason for the one power at a time limitation is that he can only focus his ultra energy in one direction. By focusing it as follows he can gain the following superpowers: Muscles and bones - Superstrength, Skin - Invulnerability, Eyes - Flash vision or Penetra Vision, Muscles - Ultra speed. However, generally each of his abilities is slightly better that Superboy's. As an example, his Penetra Vision can see through all materials, including lead.

[@jamesmichael561]

Always nice to learn about the Legion of Super Heroes. I liked the animated show. I remember you did a podcast on rejected Legion members that was very entertaining!

[@Animedad]

Those were guest episodes I did on When Nerds Collide, they were a lot of fun.

[@robblack4630]

I always liked the opening song, and at the end of it as the song amps up, all of them lift their fists up in unison (as in power to the peoples) showing off their rings.

[@kimbelsimpson7535]

The cartoon could have been a whole lot better than it was.

[@crhu319]

​@@kimbelsimpson7535it needed more seasons and it could have been.

[@jamesoniel8732]

I'm a huge Legion fan. you did a great job of recapping events at the heart of LSH history.

[@michaelmurphy5916]

I'm 69. I loved comics when I was a kid and I still do. Only someone my age could come up with this question. What ever happened to the Legion of Substitute Heros?

[@Animedad]

They live on in our hearts! (I erroneously called them the League of substitute heroes in the video)

[@michaelagner4355]

Karate Kid is a master of numerous fighting techniques, some alien ones too, not just Karate

[@Solitaire001]

The main reason Jim Shooter created Karate Kid was that most of the Legion members had powers that were basically point and shoot. He wanted a member who was a hands-on fighter, and he introduced three at the same time: Karate Kid, Ferro Lad, and Nemesis Kid (who turned out to be a villain).

[@Shaggy-8392]

That Keith Giffen era was fantastic.

[@kimbelsimpson7535]

Keith Giffen was a great artist until he changed his art style.

[@Solitaire001]

@@kimbelsimpson7535 I strongly agree about Giffen's art. His early art style was among the best ever on Legion. Then it changed so much that he looked like a completely different artist, and one I didn't care for.

[@kimbelsimpson7535]

​@Solitaire001 Thank you for a while I thought I was the only one who noticed.

[@Solitaire001]

@@kimbelsimpson7535 I view a change in artist like a regeneration of The Doctor in "Doctor Who." Although it may take me a bit of time to get used to the change in artist, often I find I like them just as much as the ones who left. Among my favorite Legion artists are: Grell, Early Giffen, Imnonen, Sherman, Perez, Spouse, and Moy.

[@kimbelsimpson7535]

If I don't like a particular artist I usually stop reading the book until they change the artist unless the storyline is good as far as favorite artist go out of those you mentioned Mike Grell and Perez are my favorite but I also liked Dave Cockrum's work.

[@h.j.victory6103]

Mike Grell is one of my favorite LSH artist 🎨

[@Solitaire001]

Mike Grell was the artist that was on The Legion when I started reading it and he was the first artist I really noticed. He was terrific, and for me the first of many great art teams. Also great were: Giffin/Malhstead, Stuart Immonen, and The Moy Brothers.

[@kimbelsimpson7535]

Mike Grell was one of my favorite artists too because he did more titles than just the Legion of Superheroes, and I liked the fact that the Warlord bared a strong resemblance to Green Arrow.

[@kevinkingslayer2450]

My FAVOURITE superhero team since the eighties...Ultra Boy,Mon-El and The Nemesis Kid.... The Legion would DESTROY The Avengers for BREAKFAST....😏

[@duterry5638]

I like the 1st legion's superheroes and there costume They were my favorite Need to bring them back

[@wildermidnight]

I've always felt it was the Legion's sheer simplicity that resonated with younger readers back in the silver age. You outgrew them for cooler comics once you get to be around twelve and anyone caught reading them past that point would be labelled a baby. This is why I loved the Kiffen/Bierbaum era of the team. It was like those few old "Imaginary Tales of the Adult Legion" was expanded to an entire series. It was anything but simple. Even decades later I still hate the way the series ended. Just haven't been able to get into the Legion since then.

[@dennisgarrett5071]

Agreed

[@dennisgarrett5071]

Agreed

[@renji90998]

Legion of Superheroes should get another series or movie.

[@Animedad]

I totally agree.

[@jayzonely]

No question about it.

[@jonathansoko1085]

Id love one but its gotta be done right. Bendis attempted to modernize them but failed miserably, bendis just ruins anything he touches. Johns should be the one to reintroduce them, rebirth style. They are ripe for a good movie but it needs the right writer and director. Btw marvel bit off the legion like a million times

[@andreworr4307]

@@jonathansoko1085 if only ? With the not so great track record of live action dc has id be terrified they might fuck up the legion ?but if done right, then it would be so good to see ?

[@mark-s]

From when the legion started right until around 1989, they were brilliant until after the magic wars when 5 years later saga started the legion came off the rails in the 90s but levitz and johns bought the feel of original team back in the 00s but after the new 52 the legion has been dire and worst of all was the newest bendis attempt 😢

[@PungiFungi]

Special mention should be made of the Shi'ar Imperial Guards from Marvel comics...whose members were based on the Legion. Some, like Hobgoblin, was a very blatant homage to Chameleon Boy, even having antennae.

[@wagnercolbert737]

Long live the Legion

[@roxylindholm5179]

Miss the 70‘s style Timberwolf, sketched by Mike Grell.

[@bobmathis-friedman6742]

I loved the Adult Legion story from the 60's...

[@Solitaire001]

Unfortunately, that story became a curse on The Legion because it locked the Team on a preset path. It wasn't just the deaths but also injuries, and marriages. As an example, one of the reasons they killed off Chemical King was that few understood his powers and he was fated to die anyway. Likewise, that story showed Colossal Boy's leg being injured which caused him to have to leave The Legion, and in the Present he repeatedly suffered leg injuries. Eventually, they did a story (I think it was in LSH #300) where they made it clear that the Adult Legion story was just a possible future. It showed other possible futures, such as one where the Legion kept its rule forbidding marriage, so all of the more level-headed members left the Team. The remaining members voted to go to war against the Khunds and eliminated the rule against killing. The issue also featured a setup for the death of Shadow Lass as was shown in the Adult Legion story. But the story showed that was just a possible future and she didn't die.

[@prospero7867]

The most important story in Legion history was Levitz and Giffen's Great Darkness saga. Would have liked to see a mention.

[@Renegade_2023]

Long long time fan of The Legion. Most memorable moment? When Computo killed Triplicate Girl! Right on the cover Turned out to be one of the triplets!! But still shocking!

[@carmaigdeforest7284]

Right, and the remaining two became Duo Damsel, yes?

[@Solitaire001]

@@carmaigdeforest7284 Yes. Eventually another one died at that hands of The Time Trapper/Glorith. Eventually it was revealed that Brainiac 5 gave that remaining body the ability to generate force fields so she could protect herself.

[@rtstrong]

i love the ReBoot Legion's costumes in that the both unique and uniform at the same time.

[@Solitaire001]

Those costume were inspired by the one that was given to Impulse (Bart Allen).

[@kimbelsimpson7535]

I was a Legionaire fan since 1966 I was only 5 then and couldn't read at the time but a cousin of mine who was a big DC COMICS fan turned me on to them and once I learned to read that was one of the first comics I started reading and I've been a hard-core fan ever since.

[@dennisgarrett5071]

Same here.

[@jmace2424]

I mean aren’t we all technically allergic to lead? 🤣

[@Solitaire001]

I could be wrong but I think with humans lead is a toxic substance (please correct me if I'm wrong). With Daxamites they are fatally allergic to lead. Any exposure of even the smallest amount* will immediately weaken them and will quickly kill them unless it is removed and they are administered an anti-lead serum. However, even if the lead is removed the weakness they acquired from lead exposure will remain for life. Since the anit-lead serum wasn't invented until the 30th Century, to save Mon-El's life Superboy put him into the Phantom Zone for 1,000 years to halt the lead poisoning. *During the "Invasion" event a group of Daxamites (including Lar Gand's father) were in Earth's upper atmosphere. There was enough lead in the air there to immediately weaken them and the lead did kill Lar's father.

[@briankerr2102]

My first memories of the Legion of Superheroes was a digest- a smaller version of the comic, but with many more pages and a flat glued binding. I remember reading it on a long bus trip. My favorites were Timberwolf and Wildfire, who you took your sweet time getting to- in New 52 no less.

[@Animedad]

I bought plenty of Archie double digests, but I didn’t know there were Legion digests. Sorry about Timberwolf/ Wildfire, I had to cut tan hour long podcast to 15 minutes.

[@orinprime3282]

Thanks for the post. The Legion, which is the primary one, is the one before COIE. Afterwards, there were so many reboots, it lost a great deal. The bendis legion doesn't even rate. The one true Superboy is Kal El. The rest have been protrayed as a joke. Best moment in LSH was during the Great Darkness Saga. The splash page when Superboy and Supergirl, emowered to overcome a red sun, clobber Darkseid with a doub;e punch.

[@samshughart3479]

This format is really awesome yo, i hope your channel gets big! was randomly looking for a legion video so i’m glad i found a NEW one and NEW channel. Would love a vid on any fourth world or new gods characters!

[@Animedad]

Thank you! I’ll try to tackle the fourth world in the next couple of months. Your encouragement means a lot!

[@carmaigdeforest7284]

The Legion of Superheroes was a fave of mine in 1969 (I was 11). As I remember it, Brainiac 5 and Supergirl has a teenage romance going on. I was never a collector, but it would be a kick to see the panel I remember of the two of them in full liplock.

[@Solitaire001]

One of my favorite Legion stories was "Brainiac 5 Secret Weakness." In the story Brainiac 5 is depressed because Supergirl has returned to her own time, leaving him behind and because of that he waking up exhausted because he's having trouble sleeping. Then Supergirl shows up. Brainy quits The Legion and runs off with Supergirl in small spaceship. While in Space, they encounter a radiation storm. To save his life, Supergirl wraps his body in her cape (composed of indestructible material). When the storm is over Supergirl unwraps Brainy from her cape. However, this was the real Supergirl who had returned to the 30th Century and the "Supergirl" he was running off with was actually an android Brainy constructed in his sleep (the reason he was exhausted). As the damage from the radiation was causing her to shut down he told him that her built her to love him. Brainy and Supergirl had a reunion.

[@Sonic2332]

Arms-Fall-Off-Boy was my favorite. lol jk

[@simonbarnett8668]

Your fade to Elon Musk from R.J Brand made me snort my drink and earned a like and a sub!

[@Animedad]

Thanks!!

[@kimbelsimpson7535]

Your fade to Elon Musk made me cringe.

[@Solitaire001]

When they rebooted The Legion after Zero Hour, after their early missions they added the rule that a power cannot rely on external devices. This was due to the death of the first Kid Quantum, who had weak quantum powers but needed a belt to enhance them to be useful. He died because his belt malfunctioned. His sister eventually joined The Legion after having her own powers enhanced so that she didn't require an external device. Concerning the Threeboot Legion, it was revealed to be the Legion from Earth-Prime (the same Earth as Superboy-Prime). They were inspired by the comic books from the 20th Century. BTW, there's a new version of the Legion that debuted in "Doomsday Clock." Due to the actions of Doctor Manhattan, the previous Legions were deleted from existence and a new Legion debuted. There were differences from the previous versions. Among them: Lightning Lad and Light Lass are brother and sister but are not twins and part of a large family, it has a Gold Lantern powered by Happiness, Mon-El is a Kryptonian from New Krypton and has many children, Rose Forest (formerly the hero Rose & Thorn) is from the 20th Century and is an adviser to The Legion (she got to the 31st Century the hard way, by living over 1,000 years, something happened that stopped her aging), and Bouncing Boy is just a high-level metahuman (when inflated he is completely invulnerable).

[@lemonherb1]

I really wished they made RJ Brande to have been J'onn J'onzz. I've enjoyed versions published, though I haven't followed any of their post New 52 appearances. But I have to say, I particularly enjoyed the era when they had the two monthly books in the 90s. I particularly loved Jeff Moy's Legion work.

[@martymerrick530]

Oh wow - that intro is FANTASTIC!!!

[@Animedad]

Thanks for noticing, I’m trying to do something new every week.

[@martymerrick530]

@@Animedad I don’t know how you did this but it’s brilliant!

[@briankerr2102]

@@martymerrick530 I think you're partial to the old, not flat screen TV, that nobody calls a CRT.

[@TheZeroAssassin]

I was sold in this vid 10 seconds in, I was just nodding away going "Yep". Love your style, will def sub

[@davidcdun8896]

My favorite team. The first team I got to know, before JL. With the Infinite Frontier, the latest reboot, DC is using Jonathan Jon-El Kent as the founder of the United Planet, to set up the basic foundation to the formation of the Legion of Super-Heroes.

[@Solitaire001]

Concerning Mon-El's weakness to lead: It is far more devastating than Superman's weakness to kryptonite. With kryptonite, while it can kill a Kryptonian, he/she will recover fully once the kryptonite is removed. With a Daxamite like Mon-El, they are fatally allergic to lead. Not only does it immediately weaken him, but that weakness is cumulative and permanent, with each exposure weakening him further and further. Due to exposure to lead, Mon-El was put into the Phantom Zone for 1,000 years to save his life. It wasn't until Brainiac Five developed a cure for lead poisoning that Mon-El was able to permanently leave the Phantom Zone.

[@joemars41]

Wildfire

[@elizabethholden176]

Fabulous comics. My favourite run was "Five Years Later", but I have many favourite characters and stories - Saturn Girl being a favourite since childhood, and Chameleon Boy for his shape-changing powers.

[@Alverant]

The reboot was "my" Legion and is the only DC comic I collected so I didn't know about the larger reboots. I just remember it fizzling out and not knowing what happened.

[@robertd.5013]

True..but then Lighting Lass became Light Lass...her new powers allowed her to make things super light.

[@Solitaire001]

This was done to allow her to remain in the Legion due to the no duplicate powers rule. Later, her original powers returned and she became a powerhouse (at that time her brother became a reserve member).

[@Mark-nn6em]

Very Nice!

[@juliusfrauenglass2411]

That group picture shown at 4:26 is showing 2 Wildfires and is missing Chemical King who died preventing a World War

[@kimbelsimpson7535]

I was a Legion fan long before I could even read.

[@kirkjv1]

When was this done? Now there's a new version. Love this team but man is it hard to keep up! Dawnstar is my fav only cause she's Native so way to represent!

[@briansmith48]

I know, it's hard to keep up. Knew of the Legion of Superheroes but didn't start buying them until they're hour. I have quite a few. But I must have stopped right before the Dominators took over the Earth. Because I don't remember that.

[@bobby2popsbreaks]

I always loved Legion and it is beyond me how it was not a more popular title or why they could never find the correct writer? The characters and designs were way ahead of their time and they were not even afraid to kill of characters. Validus and they Fatal 5 should have been huge villains for DC but fell by the wayside and hardly anyone even remembers them.

[@DamanHillard]

When you realize that Gordon Shumway of ALF fame is the only alien In America who actually ate cats... 🤔

[@KetiGalaxy]

This video is amazing but my brain was fried by the 10th minute

[@juliusfrauenglass2411]

Shooter started out as a fan who wrote long detailed letters commenting on the comic books.

[@chuckwatson1527]

I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DIDN’T MENTION THE GREAT DARKNESS SAGA AAAAAAAAAA Anyways, I’ve become a huge fan of the Legion over the past few years, my favorite story with them has to be the original Legion Lost by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning with Oliver Copiel on art. Second would be Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank which you covered here. It can be overwhelming with the different versions of the team and so many characters which is why I think in hindsight the latest version of the team by Brian Michael Bendis wasn’t a breakout hit. I found the run very enjoyable but the aforementioned other stories work because they focus on a select number of characters and then gradually expand the roster as it progresses. DC is seriously sitting on a GOLDMINE imo if they treated the property right it could easily break out in like a movie or something and become their ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ The cartoon was EXCELLENT even though it lasted only two seasons and I know it has a sizeable cult following. Good video overall, Long Live the Legion!

[@Animedad]

I do plan more Legion videos, some on individuals, some on storylines. Great Darkness would definitely be worthy of it's own vid.

[@elmerlopezjr4089]

Seriously, The Great Darkness Saga was genius. When the reveal came out that Darkseid stole one of Saturn Girl babies and turned him into Validus was mind blowing.

[@antoniusbudisetiawan5166]

That clubhouse was actually a legion too

[@Database1990]

My favorite Legionnaire is Green Lantern Rond Vidar, though his tenure as a Green Lantern was completely glanced over by writers as far as I know.

[@Solitaire001]

The reason Rond Vidar kept his being a Green Lantern a secret is because Green Lanterns were forbidden on Earth. It was only during an extreme circumstance that he revealed he was a Green Lantern. Later, it was revealed that he was the last Green Lantern when Superboy-Prime killed him. When Mon-El and Shadow Lass returned Rond's body to Oa that they found Sodam Yat, the last Guardian of the Universe. Due to the loss of Mogo, the rings could not find individuals worthy to be Green Lanterns, so the rings remained on Oa. Due to his own actions, Yat didn't believe he was worthy to choose individuals to be Green Lanterns.

[@sea-envy3137]

I have a digest reprint of the issue that led to the 5 mission/space fatigue rule.

[@redskin6146]

My favorite was WildFire - such a tragic story.

[@glenhill9884]

I grew up in the Silver Age, then went off to HS and college. Years later, I was browsing a comic book shop and saw the artwork for five years later. It was great, but I couldn't find more than one issue. No internet then. Flash forward to now. How can I get the five years later issues?

[@Animedad]

I think it’s on the DC Universe Infinite App, and the Omnibus is available in print on Amazon if you prefer physical over digital

[@tolfan4438]

The late 70s was my favorite for art work style

[@juliusfranklin9780]

Karate kid versus Superboy that was an awesome storyline!!! If I'm not mistaken karate boy was trying to join the League and he had to fight Superboy and at the time super bowl I thought it was a joke because karate kid didn't have any superpowers he just knew karate!!

[@Solitaire001]

Later, Karate Kid's ability was defined as mastery of all martial arts, not just karate. As an example, he would train by shattering a block of titanium steel with his bare hand.

[@jeffreys2086]

no mention of triplicate :( , still loved the video!

[@joebloggs8636]

Sun boy was always my favorite as a kid especially loved the relationship he had with Lightning Lad...he has been killed off and brought back with different story lines that thet destroyed the character...no one knows now if he's alive or dead.. horrible.

[@kcs05]

I would like to see how the honored hero(s) died like Ferro Lad, Invisible Boy, Matter Eater Lad…

[@TheVideoman22]

Reboot Era was my Legion

[@hdofu]

They also appeared in Justice League vs the Fatal Five if I recall correctly

[@bladestar2322]

And we need Action Figures of the complete team! I was able to read Comics in 1964, the only kid who came into my First Grade class who could, mostly, read. Hard words tripped me up. The Legion was one of my early favorites because they were basically kids. Okay, they were teenagers, but closer to my age than most. I even entered a DC contest in 1969 that was about designing a new character. I obviously didn't win. But my idea was based on the Legion tryouts. A What If? a group of really qualified and great heroes got rejected, not because of having useless powers, but because they were in their 20s? I did a kind of Justice League of Earth! A Policeman from the Planet Roxxon, who was half-Kryptonian and half-Daxximite, making him immune from lead or Kryptonite. The Wonder Woman of the 30th Century, the Great-great-great-great Granddaughter of Diana, then a professor who rediscovered the Plastic Man formula, and made it even stretchier with Gingold of the Elongated Man, a Thanagarian Elite who was a rare Winged Helmet and also a throwback who could grow natural wings at will, and his hands and feet could become razor sharp talons capable of slicing through spaceship steel, I then even got diverse with an African American speedster, not quite Flash speed, and a green skinned woman with blonde hair who had inherited a test weapon of the Guardians of the Universe. Called the 'Wand of the Protector'! Not quite as powerful as the later Rings, but without the weakness of Yellow or the Alan Scott weakness to Wood. Fearing the Wand being taken the woman absorbs the power into herself. I thought it was pretty good, a 30th Century Superman, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, Hawkman, Flash, and Green Lantern.

[@annettemalaski1967]

I did not enjoy the excessive sarcasm! I have been a Legion since before YOU were born. Some fun is okay, but you managed to turn my favorite all-time comic into a big joke.

[@diamonddylanpage7150]

Don't diss the Eye of Akron or the Fatal Five will have ya 😱👁️

[@Solitaire001]

Nice overview. I'm a long-time fan going back to "Superboy Starring The Legion of Super-Heroes" #210 (which featured the origin of Karate Kid and introduced his white costume due to his brown costume being severely damaged). I followed The Legion until sometime during the Threeboot Legion. While I liked some of the changes they made I didn't care for others and it finally caused me to lose interest. One change I liked was that Triplicate Girl was sole survivor of a disaster and discovered that she could split into three bodies, and each of those bodies could split into three bodies, and so on. She eventually repopulated the entire planet herself. Unfortunately, the part of her that left to join The Legion was rejected by the rest of her because she was now different. I didn't care for the Bendis run of the title, although he did introduce some interesting concepts (such as the Gold Lantern) I just couldn't get into it. I hope that someday someone will give us a Legion that is a return to greatness.

[@RLucas3000]

My first issue was a year or two before yours, but 211 or 212 was one of my faves, the one where others from their planets fought them to take their place in the legion!

[@Solitaire001]

@@RLucas3000 I remember that issue. It featured a team named "The Legion of Super-Rejects." When they reprinted it they added in a missing page where Karate Kid speaks with Matter-Eater Lad that if he's not going to fight he should just give up (Matter-Eater Lad had been defeated by Calorie Queen who, in addition to being able to consume all matter, had enhanced strength). The Legionnaires defeated the Rejects by working together as a team. BTW, although I started collecting the Legion with issue #210, my first issue was #204. It featured one of my favorite Legion stories "Brainiac 5's Secret Weakness" where Brainiac 5 quits The Legion to run off with Supergirl.

[@Trilaan]

I am Like #42. Y'know what? Forget 42! Bruce Leslie is the answer to the question of Life, the Universe and Everything Comic Books!

[@markherron1407]

There are 32 members of Legion of Superheroes and it's in the DC Comics Encyclopedia New 🆕 Edition Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@demetriusbrown9028]

They were the first super group to face Darkside

[@alanlinfield8207]

First of all, the villain's name is Darkseid. He was the main villain of the Fourth World series Jack Kirby created for DC in the early 1970s. (His first appearance was in an issue of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen.) He battled the heroes of New Genesis - the Forever People and the New Gods, which included his son, Orion. Later in the 70s he was a behind-the-scenes player in the Secret Society of Super-Villains series. Then in 1980, Darkseid and his minions from Apokolips battled the New Gods, the Justice League of America, and the Justice Society of America. Later still in the 1980s, it was revealed that Darkseid will still be alive in the 30th century to menace the Legion of Super-Heroes. And who could ever forget Darkseid's appearances in the two Super-Powers mini-series?

[@orion6372]

Not even mentioning the original Legion Lost was a choice 😂

[@emsleywyatt3400]

Not familiar with the book depicted at 00:59. Is that just a variant cover?

[@hydrolito]

He was actually inorganic matter eater lad as some organic organism was fatal to people of his planet.

[@williamskatespeare9461]

Why are there two Wildfires in the Legion roster at 4:21 in the video?

[@horizonbrave1533]

Lol, love the cheating 'look' you give to get the right date and issue # xD. Yea so I really keep trying to get into LoSH.. but I never make it far in. It always feels like it's too much at once. BTW I love the rules they have... It sounds so much like a cult haha.. love it... Thanks so much for this. Just found the channel and hope to stick around!

[@Animedad]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@briansmith48]

The rules sounded good to me, up until the whole erasing your memories thing. What if you had some information that would have helped a future mission? Oops memory gone. 🤣

[@johanprx7985]

Too bad you don't show any enthusiasm for this team. 😉 Just kidding. Loved the way of presenting and enthusiasm. You've got a new subscriber. 👍

[@Animedad]

Thanks! 😃

[@jessespringer7723]

We need legion of superhero’s ocs

[@foroneanotherwinningtogeth1142]

Intetrsting. I've read a few legion comics over the years but had a hard time knowing who was who. In general, is it fair to say there are dozens of members but 3-5 who are the core?

[@jamesgregg6364]

Awesome

[@Animedad]

Thanks!

[@ArcticPrice]

Is that hulk in the top left at the beginning and thumbnail?!

[@Solitaire001]

No. That's Monstress, a member during the Reboot Legion. Originally she was a very beautiful woman who, due to an accident, became large, green, super strong, and far less attractive. Despite that she remained happy and upbeat, letting nothing get her down. She took the change in stride was just concerned about how to look her best in her new form. Later, due to an accident her skin color changed to purple. Her only reaction was, without missing a beat, to get a new wardrobe to accommodate her new appearance.

[@briankerr2102]

another thing- I call crap on Ultra Boy only being able use one power at time- it makes super strength kinda useless because anytime he picks up something heavy over his head, it should crush him. Then again, there's Matter Eater Lad.

[@Solitaire001]

Ultra Boy's actual superpower is ultra energy. It is by focusing his ultra energy in a direction gives him his super powers. If he focuses his energy on his skin he becomes invulnerable. If he focuses his energy on his eyes he gains flash vision (hotter than heat vision) or penetra vision (which can see through all materials including lead). If he focuses his energy on his muscles and bones he gains super strength. Because he can only focus his energy in one direction is the reason he can only have one power at a time. It's my opinion that each of his powers is greater than Superman's.

[@juliusfrauenglass2411]

@@Solitaire001 In canon they were supposed to be stronger

[@hydrolito]

Titan is a moon of the planet Saturn.

[@moloko912]

Mark waid version is by far my favorite

[@Animedad]

I'm a pretty big fan of Waid on any title.

[@samerantar3338]

first jetpacks then flight belts last flight rings

[@chrisrebar2381]

Actually, first was a sort of flying motorbike, then jet packs

[@StringersLogic]

no mention of Ferro Lad?

[@glenngatlen8179]

I think i have space fatigue also...

[@Animedad]

Lol, we have to stick together!

[@orinprime3282]

The most heart breaking moment was the death of Superboy. The first coic i bought was S/LSH #205. Seeing that character die got to me. After that, it seemed the Legion lost its center, that lynch pin which held it together. I had hopes for the so-called clone legion/batch SW6, but they went on to new costumes and differrent name and the pissazz wasn't there. The new BMB legion is crap!!!

[@MountTheodore72]

Who's the big green girl that looks like Hulk in drag?!

[@Animedad]

I don’t know the answer to that lol

[@Solitaire001]

That is Monstress, who was introduced in the rebooted Legion. She was originally a beautiful girl who was transformed into a monsterous form. She took the change in stride and embraced it. IIRC she was originally purple but due to accident her color was changed to green, again she embraced the change and went out to get herself a new outfit

[@MountTheodore72]

@@Solitaire001 Thank you. Thas some interesting information.

[@fromthegate2171]

Do you have knowledge on legion of superheroes vs Terra Firma

[@ShizuruRavenRobin026]

I always liked brainiac 5

[@405boy4]

I think them having so many members killed this show.. Also some of these guys had stupid powers.my favorites wer Mon-El, Superboy, Supergirl, Cosmic boy, Collosal Boy, and Lightning Lad and Timberwolf. guess it was okay..

[@briansmith48]

Witch Superboy??? 😅😂 The cloned Superboy got a less than warm/ enthusiastic reception.🤣

[@BladeStar-uq6xe]

I grew up in the 1960s. Legion of Super Heroes was my favorite Comic even with Marvel stealing me away. I could read by 1964 and I was exposed to Legion early. I was a loyal reader and was upset when they were taken out of Adventure Comics, and I was happy when they got their own Comic. I bought every issue, until the 5 Year Time Jump! I hated Keith Giffens art, the storyline confused me. Note, Giffens art and storytelling greatly improved later on, but it was painful at the time. After about 4 issues of the time jump I was out. I didn't like any of the reboots, only thing I liked was the mini series with Superman.

[@rock51279]

Question, so I just recently read the Superboy/Legion story from Superman 8, legion 37 why is it that the legion is totally aware of the pre-crisis universe? Did they not reboot after crisis like everyone else did? If so which issue? If not, how come?

[@Animedad]

Was that recent? Maybe written by Bendes? I know in Doomsday clock some Legionaires (and JSA members) were pulled from pre-Crisis into “current “ continuity.

[@Solitaire001]

From what I understand, the version of the Legion that followed the Threeboot was the original Legion as it would have been if "Crisis on Infinite Earths" never happened. Thus they would remember the original continuity because it didn't change.

[@alanlinfield8207]

The Pre-Crisis universe in those stories was actually a pocket universe created by the Time Trapper. It featured a Superboy who was a teen-aged Clark Kent - ostensibly the same Superboy who appeared in the Legion's very first appearance and in countless pivotal Legion stories after that. In the post-Crisis DC Universe, Clark Kent became Superman as an adult but was never Superboy. Paul Levitz and the editors at DC came up with the pocket universe Superboy to explain how the "Teen of Steel" played such a major role in Legion history. Many fans were dissatisfied with this storyline. And so was Keith Giffen: he revised this part of continuity during his "Five Years Later" run. For what it's worth, Levitz was not a big fan of the pocket universe plot device either.

[@Solitaire001]

@@alanlinfield8207 From what I understand the reason for the three-issue sidestep in the first issues of the "Five Years Later" Legion was due to an editorial mandate. The Pocket Universe allowed the Legion to have a Superboy that matched their history without contradicting the current version of Superman. It wasn't perfect, but I thought it worked. However, right after "Five Years Later" began the Legion Creative Team was mandated to completely eliminate Superboy. Thus, you had the three-issue-sidestep. Simply put: - Mon-El confronts The Time Trapper and eliminates him, despite The Trapper's warning that it would undo everything he had done. - History is revised and Earth is ruled by Mordru. There was never a Legion. However, Mordru appears to have some knowledge of the previous history and over the years lets out little tidbits about it. - A group (including the former Brainiac 5) pieces together that history from what Mordru has said and casts a spell to restore it. Part of the spell involved the sacrifice of Glorith. - A new history is established. Superboy was replaced by Valor. Supergirl was replaced by Laurel Gand. Glorith death was undone and she took the place of The Time Trapper.

[@alanlinfield8207]

@@Solitaire001 As I recall, the introduction of the pocket universe and the subsequent killing off of Clark-Superboy occurred while Levitz was writing the Baxter paper Legion series. A quartet of Legionnaires who had special ties to the faux boy of steel plotted to kill the Time Trapper. The concept was awkward. For years, whenever the Legion travelled to the past to visit Superboy or whenever Superboy travelled to the 30th century, the Time Trapper's machinations saw to it that the time travellers' switched dimensions (even though there was no multiverse in the post-Crisis universe) and that they were completely oblivious to the shift every time. Post-Crisis continuity had a number of kinks that had to be worked out. No more Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman in the Golden Age era All Star Squadron. Green Arrow and Speedy were never in the Seven Soldiers of Victory (that group's membership was retrofitted more than once). Power Girl was a descendant of Arion, Lord of Atlantis. And Supergirl was Matrix, who imprinted on Linda Danvers ... but I digress. Oddly enough, I think Levitz and the editors entertained the idea of Mon-El/Valor replacing Superboy in Legion history. But they quickly realized that wouldn't work because Mon-El appeared alongside Superboy in so many of those classic adventures. Also, I think Giffen, by editorial decree, needed to revise history more than once during his Five Years Later run on the Legion. I believe he got about 8 or 9 issues into the new series when he had to revise his own revisions. And I think the first character Keith used as a substitute for Superboy was Kent Shakespeare. But, as you say, it was followed and supplanted by the Valor/Mordru/Glorith history. I actually thought Valor's millennium-long exile at the hands of Glorith made more sense than Mon-El waiting in the Phantom Zone for 1,000 years for Brainiac 5 to develop a cure for his vulnerability to lead. Why couldn't Superboy have simply taken the cure from the 30th century to the 20th century, release Mon-El from the zone, and inject him with the cure? If I were Lar Gand I'd sure be upset if I had to wait in the Phantom Zone for 1,000 years while all my super-powered buddies travelled up and down the time stream at will. But was the Phantom Zone that Mon-El entered from the pocket universe in the 20th century the same Phantom Zone that he exited from in the 30th century to appear on the "real" earth? Okay, I've got to stop now. I'm getting a headache. Cheers!

[@jonathansoko1085]

I hated legion most of my life, i just listened to the jokes about lads and boy and girls. Wow was i wrong, once you understand why the legion is the way it is, it all makes sense. The darkness saga is classic and a TOP TEN all time comic book run, period! So much good stuff

[@andreworr4307]

Better l8 than never man !

[@jonathansoko1085]

@@andreworr4307 For sure. I also realized how many later books and series were inspired by legion. So many top writers clearly were influenced by reading legion books early on, i never realized how import they were

[@andreworr4307]

@@jonathansoko1085 i know,its strange just how much of an effect they have had on the industry,and many writers and artists have said they love doing the legion and its addictive almost ,lol ?i did enjoy this overview as well,thanks for answering back

[@jonathansoko1085]

@@andreworr4307 Many marvel fans are oblivious and ignorant and in denail (very typical of marvel onlyfans) but there would be no xmen, avengers or FF without Legion and Jsa. I cant read xmen today without drawing so many liknesses to legion

[@andreworr4307]

@@jonathansoko1085 yeah,im more of a dc guy,but i like marvel too,dont understand how it seems you can only like one ? I read both and valiant,image ,dark horse,dynamite ,boom and anything else i see . If its good its good imo ? Theres room for everyone ? I do agree with your point though,cheers

[@Kilroy_5150]

1:35 - Yes, LEAD. Because, in that era, lead was extremely "rare" and hard to find which is why so few issues showed it being used. Why you said it so questioningly is beyond me. Yeah, the Legion's been recycled a few times.

[@Solitaire001]

One factor about a Daxamite's weakness to lead is that, unlike kryptonite for Superman, its effect is both permanent and cumulative. If a daxamite is exposed to lead and weakened by 5% before the lead is removed, the weakness remains for life. If he/she is exposed to lead again and is weakened by another 5%, there will be a total loss of 10% for life.

[@sspaay]

I thought the Legion show that was on the kids WB stunk. Why two superboys? Why a cyborg Braniac 5?

[@Solitaire001]

I think a reason they went with a cyborg Brainiac 5 is because the original would a been a bit confusing for young viewers, and it also would link him to the Brainiac from "Superman - The Animation Series" (who was different from the comic book version). The original Brainiac 5 was the descendant of a boy that the original Brainiac adopted to aid him in his human disguise.

[@tomiwaaina5499]

Wait, why did they all have to be below 18? That's a weird rule

[@kevinwright4837]

to ensure it was a "teen" book not an adult book. and below 18 was for joining not for continual membership