Here we are again, ready for the next ones? I hope so, because here they are.

These would be Superboy, Ultra Boy is the large “T” or very stylized bird, Star Boy, and Shrinking Violet.

Superboy is the junior high-high school version of Clark Kent prior to his leaving Smallville and going off to Metropolis. The Legion became a plot device to get Clark out of the rather boring Smallville scene and into the future for some sci-fi stories, and the Legion has existed ever since. Clark is an outcast in Smallville due to his powers and the Legion comes back in time to be his friends. The Legion winds up teaching Clark what it means to be a hero, which they learned by watching historical records of what Superman did. You have to love time travel loops, huh?

(the awkward implications of X-Ray vision.. and why are the guys checking each other out? Poor Lana never had a chance.)

Ultra Boy is Jo Nah from the planet Rimbor. While piloting a space cruiser, Jo Nah was swallowed by a space whale (Jo Nah and the whale? easy to remember huh?) While in the space whale he became imbued with Ultra Energy which he can use to duplicate most of Superboy’s powers, the problem is Ultra Boy can only use one of those powers at a time, making him much more vulnerable than Superboy. Also, Ultra Boy’s version of X-Ray Vision known as Penetra Vision can see through lead, unlike Superboy’s. Jo has a long standing romance with Phantom Girl/Tinya Wazzo. Jo does things his way, which makes him the rebel of the Legion, and Phantom Girl’s practicality helps to serve as a foil for Jo’s impetuous nature.

Star Boy is Thom Kallor of the planet of Xanthu. Thom got his powers from being in the wrong place at the wrong time as he passed through a comet which imbued him with cosmic powers, at first able to do everything Superboy could do, that was later scaled back to the power to increase the gravitational pull on objects making them “super-heavy” Thom is in ga-ga love with Dream Girl of the Legion. Thom is frequently called the unluckiest Legionnaire as he has lost his most impressive powers, killed a man when there was a way to capture him without killing him, was kicked out of the Legion, and recently it’s been revealed that Thom is a little touched in the head. It is during the era that I started reading that Star Boy acquired his facial hair and that star field costume is inspired.

Shrinking Violet is Salu Digby of the planet Imsk. This is a planet where all the inhabitants developed the power to shrink their natural size. Violet is of course a wallflower in the Legion’s early adventures. Only later on does Violet come out of her shell and she plays an important part in missions. Violet goes through some serious challenges and emerges a strong female character. She is frequently shown carrying tools and weaponry that shrinks with her and she eventually takes martial arts training from fellow Legionnaire Karate Kid to improve her combat skills in hand-to-hand. She proves that you do not have to be a man in order to kick arse. Due to Violet’s abilities she is a permanent member of the Legion Espionage Squad.

Next time: The Bright One, The Bouncy One, The Older Brother One, and the .. well fine.. Matter-Eater Lad.