Every now and then, a super-team needs some help. Sometimes that help comes in the form of other heroes, but sometimes that help comes in the form of supporting characters. In the case of the futuristic world of the Legion of Super-Heroes, they typically are one and the same.
The far flung world of Lallor is home to a group of five heroes known simplistically enough as The Heroes of Lallor.
From L to R: Life Lass, Duplicate Boy, Beast Boy (bust statue), Gas Girl, and Evolvo Lad
Ilshu Nor was their leader and as Beast Boy possessed the ability to transform into any animal.
Sev Tcheru is Evolvo Lad and is able to evolve his humanoid form to an advanced race possessing super-intelligence or devolve into a super-strong neanderthal.
Tal Nahii is Gas Girl who is able to transmute her body into any element or compound that occurs naturally in gaseous form.
Somi Gan as Life Lass is able to imbue any inanimate object with a semblance of life and direct that object to do her bidding.
Ord Quelu as Duplicate Boy is able to duplicate the power of any super-hero, mostly relying on the powers of the stronger heroes like Superboy and Mon-El.
Beast Boy went insane soon after the Lallorians encountered the Legion and was killed as a result of his beastial side becoming too strong. Evolvo Lad took over as their leader and they assist the Legion occasionally, most notably Duplicate Boy has a romantic relationship with Legionnaire Shrinking Violet.
From L to R: Aviax, Elvo, Psyche, Immorto, Quantum Queen, and Dartalg
The Wanderers are a group of wandering heroes looking for their home. After encountering the Legion and befriending them, the Wanderers became staunch allies of the Legion arriving to assist when times became too tough.
Quantum Queen was foretold to join the Legion and die in service in the Legion in the first Adult Legion story, but this has not yet occurred. Celebrand was the team leader, however he died and the rest of the team was transformed into more extreme versions of their previous selves.
Dartalg uses a blowdart weapon while Elvo possesses a blade, both are masters with these weapons, after the transformation Dartalg found himself covered in spines that he could use as projectile weapons. Immorto cannot be killed and became their new leader, while Ornitho had a pair of wings that enable him to fly, now he transforms into a bird like creature. Psyche is a broadcast empath who can influence the emotions of others while Quantum Queen can project and transform herself into any form of energy
The Science Police Officers typically have no powers but are often close collaborators to the Legion of Super-Heroes as the beat cops of the 30th Century, however some officers would share the abilities of some Legionnaires if all members of that race possessed them like Phantom Girl’s phasing or Triplicate Girl’s duplication powers. Its most notable members include Chief Zendak, Legion Liaison Officer Shvaughn Erin, Officer Gigi Cusimano, and Officer Dvron. Officer Erin begins a romantic relationship with Element Lad, while Officer Cusimano had a romantic relationship with Colossal Boy when they were both at the Science Police Academy on Mars.
Dev-Em is the scoundrel of Krypton. Another survivor of the explosion, Dev-Em came to Earth and sought to take over Clark’s place in Smallville. After a few run-ins Dev-Em eventually saw the error of his ways and managed to get to the 30th Century, where he became an agent for Interstellar Counter-Intelligence Corps. Brash and a bit rebellious, Dev-Em has never demonstrated his ability to work well with a team, resulting in the Legion not offering him a spot on the roster.
The Legion Academy is located on Montauk Point and is where the Legion trains heroes interesting in joining the Legion. Here heroes learn about combat, piloting a starship, using Legion equipment, and go on small field missions to test their abilities. Most of the tests are focused on the student’s ability to function as a team, which is the real strength of the Legion. Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel watch over their students and guide them in hopes that they will one day become Legionnaires. Graduates of Legion Academy who went on to become Legionnaires include Chemical King, Timber Wolf, Dawnstar, and Blok.
Students at the Legion Academy include
- Comet Queen – Grava of Extal who flies at super-speed and can project an choking gas.
- Crystal Kid – Bobb Kohan who possesses the ability to produce crystalline structures.
- Lamprey -Tayla Scott has the ability to survive underwater and project electrical attacks.
- Laurel Kent – a 30th century descendant of Superman who possesses invulnerability.
- Magnetic Kid – Pol Krinn, Cosmic Boy’s younger brother, who possesses magnetic control.
- Nightwind – Berta Haris possesses the ability to control air.
- Power Boy – Jed Rikane issuper strong and invulnerable.
- Shadow Kid – Grev Mallor, Shadow Lass’ cousin who is training to protect Talok VIII or to take the place of his cousin.
- Tellus – Ganglious of the watery world Hykraius who possesses telepathy and telekinesis powers.
The Legion of Super-Pets is one of those odd ideas of n animal auxillary that actually worked in a few issues of the Legion featuring the pets of the Legion, mostly those animals that had appeared in Superboy and Supergirl stories along with Chameleon Boy’s pet Proty. Comet the Super-Horse, Streaky the Super Cat, Krypto the Super Dog, Beppo the Super Monkey, and Proty. Proty sacrificed his life to bring Lighting Lad back to life by taking Saturn Girl’s place during the Legion’s resurrection pact for Lightning Lad.
And we should acknowledge the contributions of five Honorary Legionnaires as well…
In Smallville, Clark’s two peers best friend Pete Ross and Lana Lang both became Honorary Legionnaires.
Pete Ross had discovered Clark’s secret and kept it secret, even from Clark that he knew. Pete would frequently run “interference” for Clark, assisting him in maintaining his secret identity, mostly with regard to Lana Lang’s almost obsessive and correct theory that Clark and Superboy were one and the same. Pete earned his Honorary membership by keeping Clark’s secret and he carries a coin that can summon the Legion of Super-Heroes.
For Lana, she saved an alien who had come to Smallville and as a reward the alien gave Lana a bio-ring that allowed her to assume a human-hybrid insect form. Sewing a costume and calling herself Insect Queen, Lana assisted the Legion versus Mordru the Merciless, but was unable to join the Legion as the source of her powers is her ring, however she was awarded Honorary status with the Legion.
Rond Vidar is the son of Legion villain Universo and is immune to his father’s hypnotic powers enabling him to help the Legion many times in defeating him. Rond also invented the Time Cube and helped modify the Time Bubble for the Legion’s time traveling adventures.
Kid Psycho is Gnill Opral and was born with an abnormally large head which foretold of his great psychic abilities. Taking the heroic name Kid Psycho Gnill attempted to join the Legion. However, despite passing all the tests he was rejected, but did not understand why. When the Legionnaires revealed that their medical tests had revealed that every time Gnill uses his powers he shortens his life span, they explained that they could not have him as a full-time member knowing he would be killing himself every time he went on a mission. Gnill understood, being the first time he had heard this news, and became an Honorary Legionnaire called in only extreme emergencies.
Cub Photographer Jimmy Olsen went through a lot of crazy and wacky Silver Age transformations, but perhaps one of the most famous is his transformation into Honorary Legionnaire Elastic Lad. Drinking a formula that I theorize must be similar to the Elongated Man’s gingold extract Jimmy gains stretching powers for a time.
Next Up: We spend time discussing one of the greatest groups of heroes ever.. The Green Lantern Corps!!!
