More Heroclix coming too

Via Gamers Daily News comes word of a new Heroclix expansion set, coming in September:

The DC HeroClix: Superman expansion will feature more than 50 figures in standard five-figure boosters.  Celebrating over 70 years of history, Superman brings all of the action and amazing power that only the Last Son of Krypton can deliver, and where Superman treads his greatest villains and allies cannot be far behind!  Popular sub-themes in the set will include: All-Star Superman, the World of New Krypton, the Legion of Super Heroes, the exciting and pivotal Flashpoint mini-series and more!

Finally - flight rings!

Via Bleeding Cool:

For every 25 copies of Legion: Secret Origin #1 by Paul Levitz and Chris Batista, comic book retailers can order a bag of 50 Legion of Super-Heroes Promotional Flight Rings. 

Wonder if these will come with a warning label similar to the DC Direct one from years ago: "Warning: Does not enable wearer to fly".

SDCC 2011: The New 52

The first of DC's "New 52" panels at SDCC11 has a little bit about the new Legion title. Paul Levitz was on the panel.

Via Comics Alliance:

On the Legion of Super-Heroes: Levitz rather foul-mouthedly noted that while [Demon Knight author Paul] Cornell has the entire medieval world to "f*** around with," he has the entire future.

Via Newsarama:

Next is Legion of Super-Heroes #1
Levitz's "Legion #1 for the third time. They'll keep making me do it until I do it right."
"We'll be gently easing them in with a modest cast at first."
"Cornell may have the medieval dcu to f*ck around with, but I've got the FUTURE" said Levitz to laughs and claps.

Via CBR:

Levitz said that his vision of the Legion's future era changes every chance he has to start fresh

SDCC 2011: Star Trek/Legion crossover

[Note: On June 28, I received an email with a link to the Mike Grell cover of Legion/Star Trek #1 by IDW, which I posted here. Grell told me that it was premature and asked if I could pull it until it was official. That notice came Thursday at San Diego.]

Updated 7/22 with more links at the bottom.

 Via Bleeding Cool:

 “STAR TREK/LEGION OF SUPERHEROES is a galaxy-spanning adventure that draws both teams together to face a menace that includes Khunds, Klingons, Borg, and other threats that aren’t quite as they should be. The egalitarian United Planets in one universe and a United Federation of Planets in another is now the Imperial Planets of Terra, a dark empire focused on war and conquest, and that’s just the beginning for this special series.”

Six issue series, ships in October.

Via CBR:

IDW, which will publish the six-issue miniseries, announced the project during its Thursday panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego and revealed that Chris Roberson will write the series with Jeffrey and Philip Moy on art.

... Roberson will be working with the classic incarnations of each team, with the Legion entering into the story shortly after "The Great Darkness Saga" and the Enterprise crew picking up shortly after the Original Series, at "some point near the end of the original five-year mission," Roberson said. 

The crossover will feature six heroes from each team, Roberson told CBR, for a very logical reason. "The limitation was based on the number of transporter pads on a Constitution-class starship," he said. "There's only six. So unfortunately, Scotty had to remain on the Enterprise." The 12 characters will encounter a changed reality, one that merges aspects of the 31st-century DC Universe and the 23rd-century's Final Frontier to the disadvantage of both. "In the altered universe they find themselves in, what's happened is that both of their histories have been obliterated by a change that's happened somewhere in the past," Roberson explained. "So the bifurcations that would have given rise to both their universes didn't happen. Elements of both their universes exist in this blended one."

... "The cast [of creators] lined up for the covers is incredible." That cast include Phil Jimenez as the regular cover artist and Keith Giffen, Steve Lightle, Mike Grell and "Locke & Key" artist Gabriel Rodriguez providing variants.

Other reporting and commentary via Comics Alliance, Newsarama, Major Spoilers, The Outhousers, io9, the official Star Trek site, and ICV2, which calls it "the most startling and unexpected announcement of Comic-Con so far".

San Diego 2011: Preview

Some actual or potential panels you might be interested in at San Diego 2011. Lots of stuff on the New DCU (aka the DCnU), replacing the normal DC Universe and DC Nation panels, and three DC/Mattel panels in which we might find out more about the Legion figures.

THURSDAY

11:30-12:30 DC: Flashpoint— Everything you know will change in a Flash! Flashpoint, the blockbuster comics event of the summer, has turned the DC Universe inside out! Join DC Comics Executive Editor, Eddie Berganza, and some of the amazing talent behind Flashpoint for a panel that's sure to pose new questions about this explosive event even as it answers others! Room 6DE

11:30-12:30 Mattel and WWE: Past, Present, and Future— Hear from some of the top WWE Superstars of all time as they discuss the storied past, exciting present, and promising future of the company and how it's all celebrated in Mattel's action figure toy line! Get a sneak peek at upcoming products and be the first to hear exciting announcements for the 2012 line. Be on hand as WWE Superstars Triple H, Rey Mysterio a surprise WWE Legend, the WWE creative team, Mattel toy designers Bill Miekina and Derek Handy, and Mattel WWE brand manager Enrique Ruvalcaba present an action-packed Q&A! Room 24ABC 

1:00-2:00 DC Direct— DC Direct has long been known as one of the most creative companies that produce collectibles for the direct market, producing your favorite action figures, statues, and busts for over ten years now. DC Direct director of product development Jim Fletcher along with artist Adam Hughes, DC exclusive sculptors, and others discuss their line of current projects, as well as future plans revolving around the new DC Universe. Room 5AB

2:00-3:00 DC Comics - The New 52— DC Comics explodes in September with 52 new number one issues and one panel is not enough to cover it! With a "DC Comics - The New 52" panel each day, there's sure to be something for everyone! Join Dan DiDio, DC Entertainment Co-Publisher, Bob Harras, DC's Editor-in-Chief, and DC Comics Executive Editor, Eddie Berganza, for an up-close look at this unprecedented wave of new series, from the first-ever re-launches of Action Comics and Batman titles to the latest thrills from comics' cutting-edge! Room 6DE

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Paul Levitz— Marv Wolfman (Teen Titans, Superman) and Mark Evanier (Kirby: King of Comics) interview fellow comics fan, writer, and editor -- and Comic-Con special guest -- Paul Levitz about his life, from The Comic Reader to DC Comics president & publisher, and now beyond as he returns to writing Legion of Super-Heroes and makes his debut as a historian with the Eisner-nominated 75 Years Of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Myth-Making. Room 8

 FRIDAY

11:15-12:15 DC Comics - The New 52— DC Comics explodes in September with 52 new number one issues and one panel is not enough to cover it! With a "DC Comics - The New 52" panel each day, there's sure to be something for everyone! Join Dan DiDio, DC Entertainment Co-Publisher, Bob Harras, DC's Editor-in-Chief, and DC Comics Executive Editor, Eddie Berganza, for an up-close look at this unprecedented wave of new series, from the first-ever re-launches of Action Comics and Batman titles to the latest thrills from comics' cutting-edge! Room 6DE

11:30-12:15 Direct Conversation— Join executives from DC Comics for a special chat and Q&A session on September's "The New 52" launch, spotlighting sales incentives, marketing and publicity push, and much more. Room 18

1:00-2:00 Mattel: Mattypalooza 2011: Masters of the Universe Classics, DC Universe, Ghostbusters, Voltron, and More!— Are you a Matty Mattel fan? Head over to this year's Mattypalooza to get all the latest info on your favorite Mattel collector lines and MattyCollector.com. Featuring a special Q&A with Mattel toy designers Bill Benecke and Brandon Sopinsky, Mattel brand managers Scott "Toy Guru" Neitlich, Danielle McLachlan, Rhobyn de Jesus, and Natalie So, and guest starring The Four Horsemen. As a bonus, Matty, the original Mattel collector, may even make a live appearance to reveal secrets for the upcoming Masters of the Universe 30th anniversary! New toys will be shown for the first time! Room 25ABC

3:00-4:00 Mattel and DC Comics: A Heroic Partnership— You've been a fan of Mattel's popular DC toy lines, now find out the latest news, sneak peaks, and behind-the-scenes scoop on your favorite Mattel/DC action figures, including DC Universe Classics, Young Justice, Action League, and more. Plus, get an exciting look at new 2012 products. Join Mattel toy designers Bill Benecke and Mike Guarniere, as well as brand managers Danielle McLachlan and Scott "Toy Guru" Neitlich, along with The Four Horsemen and surprise guests from DC Comics and Warner Brothers for an insightful Q&A. Room 4


3:00-4:00 DC: Superman— How does The Man of Tomorrow fit into the new DC Universe that rises in September? Find out as group editor Matt Idelson joins new Action Comics writer Grant Morrison (All Star Superman, Batman Incorporated) and author of the bestselling Superman: Earth One graphic novel J. Michael Straczynski (Superman, Wonder Woman) to take fans new and old up, up, and away to give them a sneak peak at what's in store for Superman. Room 6DE

SATURDAY

11:15-12:30 DC Comics - The New 52— DC Comics explodes in September with 52 new number one issues and one panel is not enough to cover it! With a "DC Comics - The New 52" panel each day, there's sure to be something for everyone! Join Dan DiDio, DC Entertainment Co-Publisher, Bob Harras, DC's Editor-in-Chief, and DC Comics Executive Editor, Eddie Berganza, for an up-close look at this unprecedented wave of new series, from the first-ever re-launches of Action Comics and Batman titles to the latest thrills from comics' cutting-edge! Room 6DE

SUNDAY

1:45-2:45 Designing the New 52— What does it take to remake a universe? There are new stories, new characters, and especially new designs! DC's Co-Publisher Jim Lee, VP - Art and Design Mark Chiarello, exclusive artist Cully Hamner, and others discuss their visual approach to reshaping the DC Universe! Room 6DE 


3:00-4:00 DC Comics - The New 52— DC Comics explodes in September with 52 new number one issues and one panel is not enough to cover it! With a "DC Comics - The New 52" panel each day, there's sure to be something for everyone! Join DC Comics Group Editors Matt Idelson and Mike Marts for an up-close look at this unprecedented wave of new series, from the first-ever re-launches of Action Comics and Batman titles to the latest thrills from comics' cutting-edge! Join Matt, Mike and some of the industry's top writers and artists as we make history together. Room 6DE

Bits of Legionnaire Business

OK, since I haven't been around here much lately, here's some important stuff that you have probably read elsewhere already:

• Former Legion writer Mindy Newell is back writing, this time for ComicMix.

• Paul Levitz will be writing a new DCnU miniseries (that makes THREE series at once, for 6 months!) on the secret origin of the Legion, with art by returning veteran Chris Batista and inker Rich Perotta.

...This large-scale sci-fi odyssey delves into the secrets behind the scenes, including explaining how the organization known as the United Planets originally formed.

• The DCU Source had an interview with Levitz and Francis Portela on the new Legion series.

• If you didn't see it, Jim Shooter last month had a story on "Super Lad", a new Superboy-like character intended to be introduced during his run.

• Surprisingly, Legion Archives vol 13 has been solicited for next March:

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES ARCHIVES VOL. 13 HC
Written by JIM SHOOTER, PAUL LEVITZ and GERRY CONWAY
Art by MIKE GRELL, MICHAEL NETZER, JOE STATON, JIM SHERMAN and others • Cover by MIKE GRELL
ADVANCE SOLICITED • On sale MARCH 21 • 240 pg, FC, $59.99 US
In these stories, collected from SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #224-233, the 30th century teens battle Stargrave, The Fatal Five and the intergalactic conspiracy known as The Dark Circle.

• And as Tom just pointed out to me:

THE STEVE DITKO OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC
On sale DECEMBER 14 • 384 pg, FC, $59.99 US
Collecting tales by artist Steve Ditko from SHOWCASE #75, THE HAWK AND THE DOVE #1-2, MAN-BAT #1, DETECTIVE COMICS #483-485 and 487, ADVENTURE COMICS #467-468, LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #267, 268, 274, 276 and 281, OUTSIDERS #13, LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE 80-PAGE GIANT #1 and the TALES OF THE NEW GODS TP.

Yep, that's right. The Dr. Mayavale story's getting reprinted in hardcover format.

Legion Trek? Say what?

[Note: On June 28, I posted this entry, then sent an email to Mike Grell asking for clarification. Mike told me that oops, Catskill wasn't supposed to post the cover until the official announcement was made, and asked if I could pull this post. At his request, I did. The miniseries was announced on July 21 at San Diego, so I'm reposting this as it was at the time I wrote it. See the July 21 entry for the full story.]

Got an email today from Catskill Comics, who represents writer/artist Mike Grell (among many others). One thing caught my eye - Grell's cover featuring Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad - and Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock of "Star Trek"! Yes, it sounds like some weird fanfic mashup, but the page says it's a mini-series from IDW.

I couldn't find anything on this miniseries (though I did find a homemade video of the Legion's theme song mashed up with the recent Trek movie as if it were the new Trek TV series opening credits, and a whole page of weird Legion crossover fanfic featuring Star Trek, Pokemon, and Dr. Who).

I've got an email out to Iron Mike to see what he says - is this a real miniseries or just a commission?

More updates

Updates on io9 from an interview with Dan DiDio:

Paul Levitz is synonymous with the Legion of Superheroes, but DC's published many different iterations of the Legion. Can you give us some hints about what Paul has planned?

DD: The good news on this is that we've had a lot of positive reactions to what's going on with Paul on Legion of Superheroes, and he's got a very distinctive style that is really something that plays to long-time Legion fans. I'm happy to say we're going to be continuing with a lot of the direction and tone he's set currently on the run. That's probably one of the books you'll see the least amount of change taking place, other than the subtraction of the characters in Legion Lost.

Let's talk Legion Lost — is there connection to Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning's miniseries of the same name from a few years back?

DD: The [new book's] title is Legion Lost, but that's where the similarities end with the Legion Lost that came before. What you're going to find out is that this Legion is lost in present time with no way to get back to the future — this is a team of Legionnaires who are trapped on Earth with a very specific mission to accomplish. They're not sure how to do it given the parameters of how the world exists right now.

So, about that new DC reboot.....

In case you've been hiding under a rock lately, you've probably heard about the upcoming DC reboot coming in September. The TWO new Legion titles were announced today on io9:


Seven heroes from the 31st century have traveled back to the present day. Their mission: Save their future from total annihilation. When the future tech they brought with them fails, they find themselves trapped in a nightmarish world and an ultimate struggle to survive. LEGION LOST #1 will be written by Fabian Nicieza and illustrated by Pete Woods, fresh off an acclaimed run of Action Comics.

In the 31st century, the Legion of Superheroes is reeling from the loss of seven of their finest — and trying desperately to keep their youngest recruits alive against a series of terrible new threats. LEGION OF SUPERHEROES #1 will be written by fan-favorite Legion writer Paul Levitz and illustrated by Francis Portela.






Commentary from io9, iFanboy, Bleeding Cool, the DC Source blog, and the DC Universe message boards.

Meanwhile, Inside Pulse wonders if that's a miscolored Cosmic Boy on the Legion Lost cover at top, or if they're changing his ethnicity like the L3 Star Boy.

That Damned Reprint

Bleeding Cool is reporting that copies of the mis-printed and recalled Legion reprint of "Legion of the Damned" are being sold on eBay for $30.

Technically titled "DC Comics Presents: Legion Of Superheroes: Legion Of The Damned 100 Page Spectacular" #1, the new version will have a white logo instead of a yellow one.

Legion of the Damned Reprints

So we finally get a reprint trade paperback of "Legion of the Damned" - the four-part arc that closed out LSH v4/Legionnaires, by Abnett/Lanning/Coipiel - and it turns out that it's printed in the wrong order! Oops.

According to posters at the DC Message Boards and LegionWorld.net, the volume was recalled the day it came out.

The chapters were supposed to be printed as
1. Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #122
2. Legionnaires #79
3. Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #123
4. Legionnaires #80

But instead, they were printed as chapters 2, 4, 1, and 3 in that order. Way to go, reprint editor!

Things that make you go "huh?"

From the Home Office in Webster, Texas, here are the Top Ten Legion moments that make you go "Huh?"

10. Steve Ditko Archives: The Legion Years
9. The Omen & Prophet Saga
8. I Dream of Sneckie
7. Sure, Keith, go ahead and use those thick black markers, they're better than fine lined inking
6. A five-year gap? That could work...
5. Reboot? I guess so, that couldn't make things any more confusing
4. Reboot? Sure, why not, we've already had one, what's one more?
3. We don't need no stinking Superboy! We can write around that.
2. If we take Superboy & the Legion out of "Adventure Comics" and make them a backup strip in "Action Comics", they'll totally love Supergirl instead.
1. Despite having one of the universe's richest men as their benefactor, the Legion lets Superboy leave over a tax issue, because if Supergirl left then the Legion of Super-Pets would leave too.

Sorry, no good April Fools joke this year. But go back and read my earlier ones from when I was funny.

C2E2 10

This year's C2E2 in Chicago has ended. Here's what you missed from a Legion-centric perspective:

Via Newsarama:

DC Icons panel

Is Linda Danvers/Matrix Supergirl ever going to come back? DiDio: "Don't look at me, I just work here." DiDio says we will not be seeing her again.

The fan then asks about the multiple Legion of Superheroes, and why we can't have multiple Supergirls. DiDio says the current forward direction is Supergirl as Superman's cousin.

Is there a chance for an ongoing Lex Luthor or the Legion of Supervillains series? Berganza: "There's always possibilities." DiDio says the book where the villains are the lead are tough to sustain: They either fight villains and become kind of heroes, fight heroes and lose, or fight heroes and win and start killing off your stable.

DC Nation panel

DiDio says that Adventure Comics might be more of a showcase book, moving ahead, but he hopes Brightest Day will help other characters support their own series.

I don't think CBR covered the DC Icons panel, but here's what came out of their coverage of the DC Nation panel:

DiDio said "Adventure Comics" will likely become a "Showcase"-style book, responding to a question about the "Brightest Day" characters unlikely to support their own series at this point.

Flight rings on eBay

I am not associated with this ebay auction in any way, shape, or form. That said, someone is selling replica Legion flight rings on ebay if you're interested.

This isn't the original gold-plated DC Direct version but a homemade version that, from the ad, is available in all sizes from 4-15 (US). Cost is $55 ($40 for the ring, $15 for shipping from Israel).

If you do get one, let me know how it works out!

Emerald City Comic Con 2011

Seattle's Emerald City Comic Con was last weekend. Couldn't find much in the news, but here's what I did find:

DC Universe panel, via CBR:

A reader dissatisfied with the gaps left in Paul Levitz's "Legion of Superheroes" history was promised that "Paul has major plans for the book and will be filling those gaps" beginning in late summer/fall.

But seriously, unnamed fan, the book hasn't even been out a year, did you want the new book to pick up from the end of the Magic Wars right away?  


CBR's coverage of the DC Nation panel didn't say anything, and couldn't find anything from Newsarama.


Next weekend: C2E2 in Chicago.

Trivia Quiz #53

Trivia Quiz #53. Today's topic: random questions!

1. Which members of the Legion of Super-Pets debuted in a Legion story?

2. Speaking of the Super-Pets, several members of the LSP are also members of the Super-Pets team in DC's (non-canonical) kids line. Looking at both groups, which of the members are only in one group?

3. In one story, Cosmic Boy pressed a button, "activating the Selector Machine - round and round spin figures of our members, mounted on a wheel! Let's see who is chosen by sheer chance to.... " do what?

4. Glorith returned (sort of) at the Legion Academy. Back when she was the Time Trapper's assistant, what was the main reason that she was turned into a blob, yet the de-aged Legionnaires weren't, in ADVENTURE 338 (November 1965)?

5. In Dave Cockrum's original concept of the character we currently know as Wildfire, what was his code name?

6. Which two Legionnaires had this conversation:

Legionnaire 1: We're going to have to put on a "lovey-dovey" act to fool everyone, but don't overdo it, buster, or... POW!
Legionnaire 2: {chuckle} I promise... "Sweetheart!" Ha, Ha!

7. What does C.O.M.P.U.T.O. stand for?

Toyfair 2011 Update

The annual ToyFair in NYC was this past weekend, and among the highlights (for us, at least) were the release of some more of the Legion figures from the upcoming 12-pack. The new ones are Wildfire, Chameleon Boy, Timber Wolf, and Brainiac 5; in San Diego last year, we saw Superboy, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, and Matter-Eater Lad. Unseen so far are Karate Kid, Ultra Boy, and Colossal Boy. At San Diego they said the pack was supposed to also include Proty II. In the bottom picture you can see the Legion flight ring replica (warning: does not enable the user to fly) that also comes with the set. The pack will retail for $180 from MattyCollector only.

(H/T to Tom for the IMWAN link)

Via MattyCollector.com:

We revealed four additional figures from the Legion of Super Heroes 12-pack! Fortifying the Legion are Timber Wolf, Wildfire, Brainiac 5, and Chameleon Boy. The rest of the figures will be revealed at conventions throughout the year.

Via IMWAN:

First up: there's been a rumour going around that DC Direct is not going to be making action figures anymore, and that Mattel will now be handling all toys, while DC Direct does statues, busts, etc. Higher end stuff, really. It co-incides with Georg Brewer's leaving, after 9? years in charge of DC Direct.

Photos of the figures via ToyNews and ToyArk, (both of which have lots of closeups).

Trivia Answers #52

Special (late) Legion election trivia edition, with late-breaking results!

1. Chronologically from the founding of the L1 Legion to the Magic Wars, three leaders were not elected leader by the rest of the members. Which ones, and what were the circumstances?

Cosmic Boy was chosen by computer to be the first leader; Saturn Girl became leader after winning Proty II's contest; and Element Lad (who was Deputy) became leader after the resignation of Lightning Lad

2. Who won the first Legion leader election that was based on a reader vote?

The announcement for the first reader vote appeared in the Legion Outpost letters page of Adventure 364.

Dear Editor:
In the Legion Constitution, it says a new leader must be elected every year. In ADVENTURE No. 323, Saturn Girl was elected. 14 months later, in No. 332 [sic], Brainiac 5 was put in command. Again, just 11 months after this, Invisible Kid took over the position of honor. The time is coming when a new leader should be elected. This time, before saying who the new top man (or girl) will be, why not hold an election in which the readers can vote, too? This wouldn't be like the popularity contest you held a couple of years back, for it would be based on ability, not mere popularity. Superboy and Supergirl should be excluded, because they live in the 20th century and couldn't devote their full time to the post. The former leaders (including Cosmic Boy, the first leader) should be left out of the running, too.

-Tredgar Waller, Rosemount, Minn.

(How about it, fans? Who would you like to see holding the Legion's reins? Phantom Girl? Ultra Boy? Lightning Lad? Duo Damsel? You tell us and we'll announce the results in this department. Make sure all votes are postmarked before Dec. 26 - the date the next issue of ADVENTURE hits the stands. -Ed.)

Here's the announcement from Adventure 368:

Dear Editor:
In a recent issue, a reader suggested having an election for a new leader of the Super-Heroes. So I am going to cast my vote for Ultra Boy, even though I'm not old enough to vote.

-James Garner, Jersey City, N.J.

(You're old enough to vote in this election, Jim - and you were one of 7,810 readers who did just that. We have the final tallies; but before we announce them, let's see who some of the other readers picked, and why . -Ed.)

"I vote for Mon-El because he is older. He was in the Phantom Zone from the 20th century to the 30th and has 1,000 years of knowledge behind him" -Jeffery Martin, Rock Creek, Ohio . . . "I would like to see Karate Kid as the Legion Leader because he has a unique ability. I SAID ABILITY - not power. K Kid didn't drink a potion or get changed by rays. He had to practice long hours to attain his famed skill." -Robert Gold, Jackson Heights, N.Y. . . . "I cast my vote for Element Lad. He could defeat the whole Legion - or almost - with his element-changing power. He could even turn rock to Kryptonite to beat Superboy." -Lonnie Herzog, Bronx, N.Y. . . . "I vote for Dream Girl because she is Dreamy, Remarkable, Eager, Amazing, Marvelous, Groovy, Irresistable, Reliable, Law-Abiding. She could also see into the future and see what crimes will be committed and who she should assign to them." -Dan Patnode, Menomonee Falls, Wis. . . . "I vote for Lightning Lad because he is the only one of the original three members who has not yet been Leader. Besides, he has the most 'battle scars' of any living Legionnaire." -Unsigned, Freehold, N.J.

(And now - the big announcement! The Legionnaire you readers have elected as the next Leader is . . . ULTRA BOY! He racked up 1,262 votes. Coming in a close second was Mon-El, with 1,160 votes - so he'll be the new Deputy Leader. Every Legionnaire got several votes (except Shadow Lass, who hadn't joined yet). Even former Leaders got some - and Timber Wolf, who hasn't joined yet, officially, racked up a few. Here's the way the other Super-Heroes did in the final tally: Element Lad - 893; Karate Kid - 879; Lightning Lad - 615; Phantom Girl - 525; Chameleon Boy - 420; Sun Boy - 388; Superboy - 316; Matter-Eater Lad - 300; Supergirl - 267; Duo Damsel - 144; Princess Projectra - 139; Colossal Boy - 111; Brainiac 5 - 96; Star Boy - 84; Bouncing Boy - 73; Dream Girl - 68; Light Lass, Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl - 32 each; Timber Wolf - 23; Shrinking Violet and Invisible Kid - who are obviously the hardest to see - 15 each. That's it! Watch for Ultra Boy and Mon-El to take over their new duties in an early issue of ADVENTURE. -Ed.)

Ultra Boy's term began in Adventure 371. Incidentally, this appeared the following year, in Adventure 378, which said that former leaders were NOT eligible:

Now to some serious business. Paul Williams, Cataula, Ga., points out that "The current Legion Leader, Ultra Boy, and the Deputy Leader, Mon-El, were elected by the readers. I believe you should have a similar election every year. That way, the Leader will be the one the readers want." We agree - so, since it's about that time, we'll give you all one month to send in your votes. All ballots much reach us by February 27, the date when our next issue hits the stands. Remember, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, Invisible Kid and Ultra Boy have already held the post. That leaves the following members eligible: Bouncing Boy, Chameleon Boy, Chemical King, Colossal Boy, Dream Girl, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Shadow Lass, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Superboy, Supergirl and Timber Wolf. Vote for your favorite. The winner will be the next leader; the runner-up will be the Deputy.

(Via the Silver Age Legion page)

3. Which Legion leader was disqualified after the readers voted, and why? Who became the leader instead?

Superboy won the 1976 election, but was disqualified at the inauguration (Superboy 225, 3/77) since he was not a regular inhabitant of the 30th century. Wildfire became leader. (You'd think that the Legion election rules would have been known to the Legionnaires...)

4. Considering what we know of the all of the various "regular" Legions - the L1 Legion (founding through Magic Wars), the v4-era Legion (post-Magic Wars til Zero Hour) and the SW6 Legion, the L2 Legion post-Zero Hour reboot, the L3 Legion Waid/Kitson reboot, the current retroboot, the DC Animated Universe (including Justice League Unlimited and Superman The Animated Series), and the Legion animated series - which Legionnaire has been the leader the most number of times? For this question, for counting purposes we'll consider different versions of the same character (Lightning Lad and Livewire, for example) to be the same.

For this question, consecutive terms only count as being leader one time.
L1: Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, Invisible Kid, Ultra Boy, Mon-El, Wildfire, Lightning Lad, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Polar Boy, Sensor Girl
L1v4: Sun Boy, Polar Boy, unknown after Legion reformation
L2: Cosmic Boy, Leviathan, Cosmic Boy, Leviathan, Shrinking Violet, Livewire, Invisible Kid, Saturn Girl, Livewire, Cosmic Boy, Kid Quantum
L3: unknown
Current: Cosmic Boy, Mon-El
DCAU: unknown
LSHAn: Cosmic Boy, Bouncing Boy, Cosmic Boy
I'm pretty sure I'm missing a couple in here, bu it looks like Cosmic Boy has been leader the most times across the various continuities, at least six. Nobody else even comes close.

5. In his two previous writing stints on the Legion, how many elections has Paul Levitz overseen and which leaders were chosen?

Levitz 1:  Wildfire (Superboy 225), Lightning Lad (Superboy and the LSH 247)
Levitz 2: Dream Girl (LSH v2 291), Element Lad (LSH v2 306), Element Lad (LSH v3 12), Polar Boy x2, Sensor Girl (LSH v4 60)
Incidentally, there were no leader elections between Lightning Lad and Dream Girl. Levitz wrote all the elections from 1977 to 1989.

6. What happens if the Leader resigns, is expelled, dies, becomes incapacitated, or otherwise can't fulfill his/her duties as leader? What about the Deputy? What if they both are?

From the Legion Constitution:

6.3 In the event of the resignation, expulsion, leave, death or incapacity of:
(i) the Leader, the Deputy Leader shall become Leader and shall appoint a new Deputy Leader;
(ii) the Deputy Leader, the Leader shall appoint a new Deputy Leader; or
(iii) both the Leader and the Deputy Leader, the senior active member shall serve as temporary Leader, with a new Leader and Deputy Leader to be selected at the first opportunity in a manner conforming to the requirements of Sections 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 hereunder.
(Note that section 8 of the Constitution deals with voting)

7. In this election, which eligible Legionnaires have NOT been leader before (that we know of)?

Of the 25 people on the ballot, the following had been leader at least once in the L1 continuity: Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Mon-El, Polar Boy, Sensor Girl, Ultra Boy, and Wildfire.

That leaves the following: Chameleon Boy, Chameleon Girl, Colossal Boy, Dawnstar, Earth Man, Gates, Lightning Lass, Phantom Girl, Quislet, Shadow Lass, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Tellus, Timber Wolf, and Tyroc.

RIP Wizard Magazine

Updated 1/25 with link in last paragraph
-------------------------
So after nearly 20 years, Wizard Magazine (and sister magazine Toyfare) have ceased publication, basically falling victim to the internet. Though Wizard never - as far as I can remember - cover-featured the Legion, they have been featured from time to time. My Wizard collection is sadly lacking, so I don't even own any of the issues on my checklist (which is also incomplete - damn this procrastination!). I've got issues 19, 59, 67, and 208 on the list. What else am I missing?


In 1993, when the "Legionnaires" title was starting up, there was a trading card promotion with it for the new Cosmic Teams set. The #00 Catspaw was bagged with the March/April issue of Comics Buyers' Guide Price Guide, while the #000 card, Dragonmage, was bagged with Wizard #19. The Computo card, promo #0000, was bagged with "Legionnaires" #1. A fourth card, P1 with Apparition, was given out at conventions that year. No, there doesn't seem to have been a #0 card, go figure.

My old checklist shows that there was some sort of appearances in issue 59, but I have no idea what was in there (and I haven't been able to find a copy for download).

Issue 67 had a Reboot Legion casting call. Some of the young TV and movie actors from this 1993 casting call turned out to have pretty good careers, such as Leonardo di Caprio (their choice for Livewire), Claire Danes (Spark), and Natalie Portman (Shrinking Violet). Even Wil Wheaton got a nomination, as Chameleon.

A couple years ago, in preparation for the Legion episode of "Smallville", Wizard interviewed Geoff Johns (who wrote the episode).

 

A former Wizard writer recounted an interview (mentioned in the comments below) with Paul Levitz and the resulting 6-page article, but I'm not 100% sure which issue it appeared in:

Maybe you never noticed the change in tone, but others did – after not doing any form of interview with the magazine in 224 issues and countless specials, Paul Levitz sat down with me for almost an hour to talk about the Legion of Super-Heroes, and the magazine ended up running a six-page spread on the Levitz Era of Legion, something that would have never happened in the past, both in regards to the subjects the magazine covered as well as the subject interviewed.

Legion collected editions on Amazon

Merry Christmas y'all! Who's waking up with some shiny new Amazon gift cards under the tree? May I suggest a trade paperback or two? Maybe a DVD, some video on demand, or even some toys?

(full disclosure: I get a small kickback if you order something after clicking one of these links).

Note: a few of these (marked with an asterisk) are currently for pre-order only. Let me know if I'm missing any reprint volumes, as I'm going to try to keep this updated on my sidebar to the left (below all the other stuff).

Video on Demand

• Superman: The Animated Series 03x03 ("New Kids in Town")
  
• Justice League Unlimited 02x10 (HD) ("Far From Home")
  
• Animated Season 1 (full season)
  
• Smallville episode 08x11 (HD) "Legion"
  
• Smallville episode 08x11 (SD) "Legion"
  

L1 Legion

• Showcase Presents: The Legion (vol. 1)
  
• Showcase Presents: The Legion (vol. 2)
  
• Showcase Presents: The Legion (vol. 3)
  
• Showcase Presents: The Legion (vol. 4)
  
• Legion Archives vol. 1
  
• Legion Archives vol. 2
  
• Legion Archives vol. 3
  
• Legion Archives vol. 4
  
• Legion Archives vol. 5
  
• Legion Archives vol. 6
  
• Legion Archives vol. 7
  
• Legion Archives vol. 8
  
• Legion Archives vol. 9
  
• Legion Archives vol. 10
  
• Legion Archives vol. 11
  
• Legion Archives vol. 12
  
• The Life & Death of Ferro Lad
  
• The Great Darkness Saga (Original, HC), (Original, TPB)
  
• The Great Darkness Saga (Deluxe)
  
• V3 vol. 1: An Eye for an Eye
  
• V3 vol. 2: The More Things Change
  

L2 Legion [Post-Zero Hour]

• Vol 1: The Beginning of Tomorrow
  
• Vol 2: Foundations
  
• Legion Lost *
  

L3 Legion

• V5 Vol 1: Teenage Revolution
  
• V5 Vol 2: Death of a Dream
  
• V5 Vol 3: Strange Visitor
  
• V5 Vol 4: Adult Education
  
• V5 Vol 5: The Dominator War
  
• V5 Vol 6: The Quest for Cosmic Boy
  
• V5 Vol 7: Enemy Rising
  
• V5 Vol 8: Enemy Manifest (HC)
  
• V5 Vol 8: Enemy Manifest (TPB)
  

Retroboot

• JLA/JSA: The Lightning Saga
  
• Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes (HC), (TPB)
  
• Legion of Three Worlds (HC), (TPB)
  
• Superman: Mon-El (vol. 1) (HC), (TPB)
  
• Superman: Mon-El – Man of Valor (vol. 2) (HC)
  
• The Early Years *
  
• V6 Vol. 1: The Choice (HC) *
  
• V6 Vol. 2: The Curse (HC) *
  

Other TPBs

• Legion: 1050 Years of the Future
  
• Superman/Batman Vol. 3: Absolute Power
  
• Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century: Tomorrow's Heroes - Vol 1
  

Animated Series on DVD

• Season 1 DVD 1
  
• Season 1 DVD 2
  
• Season 1 DVD 3
  
• Season 1 box set
  

Toys

• Justice League Unlimited (set of 4)
  
• Legion Heroclix Starter Set (set of 7)
  
• DC Direct Legion Clubhouse PVC Set (set of 7)
  
• VS System Trading Card Game Legion booster box
  

DC Heroes RPG (Mayfair)

• Legion Sourcebook vol. I (#213)
  
• Legon Sourcebook vol. II: The Worlds (#216)
  
• Pawns of Time (#223)
  
• Knight to Planet 3 (#224)
  
• Mad Rook's Gambit (#225)
  
• King for All Time (#226)
  
• Hardware Handbook (#232)
  
• Atlas of the DC Universe (#247)
  
• Legion 2995 Sourcebook (#263)
  

Miscellaneous

• The Legion Companion
  
• Best of the Legion Outpost
  
• Teenagers from the Future: Essays on the Legion of Super-Heroes