Credits | Characters | Plot Summary | Comments | Reprinted In Superman Chronology | Legion Chronology Editor: Mort Weisinger Writer: Unknown Penciller: Curt Swan Inker: George Klein Feature Characters: The Legion of Super-Heroes Roll Call: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Triplicate Girl Other Characters: Unnamed shocked escort, assorted thugs, angry crooks, outlaws and rogues, various citizens of the 30th century, a winged monster "The Origin and Powers of the Legion of Super-Heroes" (2 pages of art, 1/2 page of text) Not a story, per se, but rather a two-page featurette of art showing the Legionnaires using their powers appeared on pages 64 & 65 of the annual. Click on the pages below to enlarge.
Text detailing the pictures appeared on page 10 of the annual. KEY TO THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 1. PHANTOM GIRL came to Earth from the planet Bgztl in the 4th dimension, which co-exists, unseen, in the same space Earth occupies. 2. TRIPLICATE GIRL comes from the planet Cargg, where a triple sun imbued all the inhabitants with the power of splitting into three bodies. Triplicate Girl sometimes shocks her escorts on Earth who expect to be dating one girl! 3. BRAINIAC5 is the great-great-great-great-grandson of the space villain who was Superman's foulest foe. His force-shield belt can protect him from danger. 4. LIGHTNING LAD gained mastery of lightning when a blast from a lightning monster on the planet Korbal freakishly electrified his body. 5. BOUNCING BOY gained the power of super-bouncing when he drank a scientist's strange potion, mistaking it for soda-pop. Scene shows him bouncing away from angry crooks with imprtant papers. 6. INVISIBLE KID is a young genius who invented a serum which enables him to become invisible, [sic] uses his power to spy on outlaws. 7. SHRINKING VIOLET inherited her super-shrinking powers from her parents who came from the planet Imsk. 8. COSMIC BOY possesses the power of super-magnetism, which he inherited from his parents who migrated from the planet Braal! Evolution has given Braalians the power to magnetically battle metal monsters who roam that world. Scene shows Cosmic Boy preventing a rocket-car collision by magnetically repelling the two metal craft. 9. CHAMELEON BOY inherited his weird power to disguise himself as anything from his parents, natives of the planet Durla. 10. SATURN GIRL comes from Saturn, where all people can perform amazing mental feats. Scene shows her mentally ordering a fierce monster to retreat. 11. COLOSSAL BOY has the power of super-growth gained from the radiation effect of a meteor from outer space. Scene shows him rescuing seamen from a storm. 12. SUN BOY became accidentally locked inside an atomic reactor chamber. The atomic bombardment transformed him into a human beacon of blazing light and heat. Scene depicts him melting a deadly space missile before it can explode. This is the first time we learn the real names and home planets of any Legionnaires (besides the fact that Saturn Girl's super-hero name is based on her home planet; later she is said to be from Titan). The only current members missing a picture and write-up are Superboy, Star Boy and Supergirl. It is natural that Superboy and Supergirl would not be included, as readers were already familiar with their origins and powers. But the fact that Star Boy is also missing is a clue that the comet-induced powers he was shown with in Adventure Comics No. 282 have worn off by this time and his membership status was "on hold" until a time when he could hone the mass-inducing powers he was born with. This is also the first time we learn that Shrinking Violet and Bouncing Boy have joined the Legion. They were last seen as applicants in Action Comics No. 276 (May 1961). Their membership isn't confirmed "in-story" until Adventure Comics No. 300 (Sept. 1962) and Action Comics No. 287 (Apr. 1962), respectively, months after this issue. We know Shrinking Violet joined before Bouncing Boy because she is shown standing with the members of the Legion who are swearing Bouncing Boy in as a member during the flashback in Adventure Comics No. 301. This issue went on sale Thursday November 9, 1961, although in the letter column of Superboy No. 94 Mort Weisinger states otherwise:
The full-page announcement (which is actually on the overleaf) correctly lists Nov. 9th as the release date, which is a Thursday, the usual day of the week for Superman-related titles to hit the stands at this time. Adventure Comics No. 316 (Jan. 1964) with the Legionnaires' real names removed from the art and with two additional pages of art with new Legion members plus additional text. Adventure Comics No. 365 (Feb. 1968) with the Legionnaires' real names removed from the art and with four more additional pages of art (two from the previous Adventure Comics No. 316) with new Legion members plus different text. Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 1 (without text) Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 2 (text and added pages from Adventure Comics No. 316) Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5 (with added pages from Adventure Comics No. 316, plus text and added pages from Adventure Comics No. 365) Showcase Presents: The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 1 Showcase Presents: The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 |
