The New Kids Earn Their Place

Before I get started with these two issues, I need to note that Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld makes her debut here in a preview comic in the middle of Legion of Super-HeroesA group of intergalactic teenagers that have bonded together to defend the 30th century universe from evil. They recruited Superboy in their earliest adventures. #298.   We will get back to Amethyst later, but just rest assured that there is a connection between this sword and sorcery characterAny sentient entity that appears in a comic book. (Example: Superman, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Krypto the Super Dog are all characters that appear in Superman comics). and the Legion of Super-HeroesA group of intergalactic teenagers that have bonded together to defend the 30th century universe from evil. They recruited Superboy in their earliest adventures., so her debut in this book, does indeed make sense.

As the Legion is on Earth dealing with Cosmic Boy’s familyMeant to denote a group of characters that are all interrelated or share the same origins, methodology, or powers. (Example: All Members of the Green Lantern Corps belong to €œthe Lantern family €) tragedy, Wildfire, Dawnstar, Blok, Invisible Kid II, and the White Witch come upon a mining asteroid very close to where Mon-El and Shadow Lass are vacationing.

Apparently the last UP representative was killed and the Legion has been asked by the UP to determine what happened.   The White Witch casts a spell upon the body and determines that someone had apparently crushed his heart, a murder mystery to be solved.

Back on Earth, an enraged Duplicate Boy has interrupted the vacation of Colossal Boy and ShrinkingA characterAny sentient entity that appears in a comic book. (Example: Superman, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Krypto the Super Dog are all characters that appear in Superman comics). who can reduce their size and mass. Violet and is throwing down in the Himalayas.   Shvaughn Erin alerts the Legion and Element Lad, Phantom Girl, and Ultra Boy respond.     Ultra Boy is reminded that he is Deputy Leader now, since Element Lad resigned his post and he speeds off ahead to help Colossal Boy by tripping up Duplicate Boy.

When Duplicate Boy comes back to consciousness, an interesting thing occurs.

Element Lad and Shvaughn Erin wait behind while the others leave.   They both realize something is up, for Violet did not look like a woman dealing with an ex-boyfriend, she looked relieved.   Something is not right and it must be dealt with, soon.

As the Legion investigates they run across Kharlak the Khund, whose cybernetics have been improved greatly since he battled Chameleon Boy, ShrinkingA characterAny sentient entity that appears in a comic book. (Example: Superman, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Krypto the Super Dog are all characters that appear in Superman comics). who can reduce their size and mass. Violet, and Timber Wolf in the battle domes of KhundiaThe home planet of the warrior like race, the Khunds..   Kharlak recognizes the Legionnaires and considers it his honor to redeem his name.   Since his loss to the Legion, he has been exiled here, this is his chance to get home.

With the White Witch at the cruiser, Wildfire, Dawny, Blok, and Invisible Kid try to take on Kharlak, but their inexperience shows and Kharlak grabs Dawny and renders her unconscious with ease.   Overprotective and not thinking Wildfire charges into the fray only to have his containment suit explode.       Invisible Kid appears to be seeing something with regards to Wildfire’s whereabouts and he tells Blok that he is following Wildfire’s energies.   Blok is able to hold Kharlak off, but is far too slow to be effective in a battle against him.   Kharlak leaves, commenting that the wounded Legionnaires will be able to be picked off with ease now.   Blok picks up the dazed Dawnstar and they head back to the cruiser.   Wondering if they will survive the mission at all.

Invisible Kid II (Jacques) followed Wildfire’s energy to a dream dimension where apparently thought becomes reality to some point.   There Wildfire has resumed his human form and appears as Drake Burroughs again.   While Jacques attempts to persuade Wildfire to go back home with him, both of them are confronted by the spirit of dead Legionnaire, Lyle Norg, the Original Invisible Kid.

A fight ensues.   Jacques prevails as the original Invisible Kid realizes that he is doing the wrong thing and that Jacques should leave before the madness in this world takes him over again.   A sad footnote to what was a happy ending to Lyle’s death.   As Jacques attempts to leave this death dimension, he winds up popping into the middle of a seance on OrandoThe planet that is the home of Princess Projectra of the Legion of Super-Heroes. This planet is a medieval world that shuns most technology and is steeped in tradition of knights, sorcery, and honor..   There Queen Projectra is leading a seance amongst her people, the Orakills.     Jacques’ appearance is the omen that Jeckie needed in order to go through with the wedding to Karate Kid.

Meanwhile back on the Science Asteroid, Kharlak shows up to confront the Legionnaires and makes quick work of Dawnstar and Blok.   Only the White Witch remained, and in true “High Noon” fashion, Mysa takes out Kharlak and doesn’t even move a muscle.

And with that, the White Witch proves herself extremely valuable to the Legionnaires who may have discounted “magicUnlike the real world, in the fictional DCU magic exists and is a viable force in characters lives.” as a super power.   I just have to say, magicUnlike the real world, in the fictional DCU magic exists and is a viable force in characters lives. is just so tricky to use in a story.   If the magician cannot do everything, then you have to impose limits on the characterAny sentient entity that appears in a comic book. (Example: Superman, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Krypto the Super Dog are all characters that appear in Superman comics)..   In the very shiny 30th century, where science reigns, its nice to see that magicUnlike the real world, in the fictional DCU magic exists and is a viable force in characters lives. has to follow its own set of rules.

With Wildfire and Invisible Kid II safely back in United PlanetsThe confederation of planets in the 30th Century that makes up a series of cooperative planets that self govern, similar to the United States. space and Kharlak mostly taken care of, the Legion is forced to deal with a Khund battle fleet.   The White Witch finds herself very unprepared for such an assault, after all preparation is everything. Dawnstar begins to lead the fleet away from the mining colony and senses some familiar sentient life signs.

Dawny gets the Khunds to chase her and they get just in range of five Legionnaires who are coming back from NullportThe name of the drydock supplier of the Legion €™s spacecrafts. with shiny new cruisers.   Dream Girl, Timber Wolf, Sun Boy, Star Boy, and Cosmic Boy.   The Legionnaires attack and take out the Khund cruiser.

Meanwhile, back on Asteroid Archipelago, also apparently called “The Science Asteroid”…Mon-El enjoys the solitude of the observation deck when Shadow.. well,, look for yourself.

Look familiar?   Here.. let me refresh your memory…

Things are NOT looking good for Shadow Woman, are they?

Next Up:   Legion of Super-HeroesA group of intergalactic teenagers that have bonded together to defend the 30th century universe from evil. They recruited Superboy in their earliest adventures. #300, a Tale of Alternate EarthsA general term used to talk about any Earth that isn €™t the main Earth of the DCUAn abbreviation of DC Universe or DC Comics Universe. Meant to denote the comics that are published by DC Comics and the Universe that DC has built for its stories.. Earth-Prime is an example of an Alternate Earth..