"The Adult Legion" is a comic book story arc published by American company DC Comics, presented in Adventure Comics #354-355 (March–April 1967). It was written by Jim Shooter, pencilled by Curt Swan, and inked by George Klein. The story arc features one of Superman's encounters with the Legion of Super-Heroes as adults, and foreshadows several plot twists which occur in the years that follow.
| "The Adult Legion" | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Publication date | March – April 1967 |
| Genre | |
| Title(s) | Adventure Comics #354-355 |
| Main character(s) | Legion of Super-Heroes Superman Legion of Super-Villains |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Jim Shooter |
| Penciller(s) | Curt Swan |
| Inker(s) | George Klein |
| Editor(s) | Mort Weisinger |
The story arc includes the first reference to Brin Londo as Timber Wolf, and the first references to Chemical King, Reflecto and Shadow Lass (who appears as Shadow Woman).[1]
Plot
editSuperman is contacted by the Legion of Super-Heroes, the 30th-century team which he joined years earlier as Superboy. Upon reaching Legion Headquarters, he walks through a hall of statues honoring deceased Legionnaires, including Ferro Lad, Chemical King, Reflecto, and Shadow Woman. In another hall devoted to married Legionnaires, he observes statues of several wedded members: Shrinking Violet and Ord Qelu (the former Duplicate Boy), Saturn Woman and Lightning Man, Light Lady and Timber Wolf, and Night Woman and Cosmic Man. After Brainiac 5 gives Superman a tour of Legion HQ, he becomes reacquainted with Ultra Man, Phantom Woman, Polar Man, and Element Man, as well as the former Colossal Boy, Matter-Eater Lad, Star Boy, Dream Girl, Bouncing Boy, and Duo Damsel.
The team is perplexed when their headquarters is breached and partially destroyed. After capturing the culprit, the Legionnaires learn that he is Douglas Nolan, Ferro Lad's twin brother, who was controlled by Legion of Super-Villains member Saturn Queen.
Superman returns to the 20th century, after which the Super-Villains kidnap the Legion. Unexpectedly, two armored figures arrive, defeating the villains and freeing the Legionnaires. They reveal themselves to be descendants of Lex Luthor and Mr. Mxyzptlk, two of Superman’s greatest enemies, and are unanimously voted into the team.
Aftermath
editFor years, subsequent Legion storylines are consistent with The Adult Legion's depiction of the future. Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel are married,[2] soon followed by Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl.[3] Lone Wolf becomes Timber Wolf and joins the Legion,[4] and Chemical King dies preventing World War VII.[5] It is eventually revealed that the story takes place in an alternate universe,[6] rendering it non-canon.
References
edit- ^ The cover of Adventure Comics #354 (March 1967) contains the first reference to Quantum Queen (of the Wanderers).
- ^ Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #200 (January/February 1974)
- ^ All-New Collectors' Edition #C-55 (1978)
- ^ Adventure Comics #372 (September 1968)
- ^ Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #228 (June 1977)
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #300 (June 1983)