Newsboy Legion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Newsboy Legion is the name of a kid gang in the DC Comics Universe. Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, they appeared in their own self-titled feature which ran from Star Spangled Comics #7 (April 1942) to Star Spangled Comics #64 (January 1947).
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[edit] Pre-Crisis version
A group of orphans, living on the streets of Suicide Slum, they were so named because they sold newspapers to make a living. They were also frequently in trouble with the law, although local policeman Jim Harper had a soft spot for them. In their first appearance Harper, shortly after becoming the Guardian also becomes the Newsboys' legal guardian. A recurring theme in their stories was that the boys suspected Harper was the Guardian, but were unsure.
The Newsboy Legion consisted of Tommy Tompkins (the leader); Big Words (the team genius); Gabby (an excitable kid who never stopped talking); and Scrapper (the tough guy).
The Newsboy Legion were reintroduced in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #133 (October 1970) as part of Jack Kirby's Fourth World story arc. The Legion in that story were the sons of the originals, who were now working at a government genetics project. A new addition to the team was Walter "Flipper Dipper" (or "Flippa Dippa") Johnson Jr., an Afro-American boy, and the son of another member of the Project. His nickname was later shortened to "Flip".
[edit] Post-Crisis Version
Post-Crisis, the Newsboy Legion's 1940s history was unchanged, as was their later involvement with the DNA Project (now called Project Cadmus). Instead of having identical sons, however, the new Newsboy Legion were now said to be clones, created by the same technology that recreated the Guardian, as part of an Apokolips plot that went wrong. Like the Guardian clone, they shared their "fathers'" memories, at least up to their current age, meaning that they were sometimes unfamiliar with the modern world (the new Flip's memories dated from the fifties, rather than the forties). They first appeared in this form in Superman Annual #2 (1988), written by Roger Stern, and were extensively featured in Karl Kesel's run on Adventures of Superman, including breaking Kon-El out of Cadmus.
The post-Crisis Newsboys were also given real names: Big Words was Anthony Rodriguez; Gabby was Johnny Gabrielli; Scrapper was Patrick MacGuire and Flip was Walter Johnson.
They were briefly joined by the Guardian's niece "Famous" Bobby Harper, but she subsequently went to stay with another relative.
In Superboy #56, significant changes in Project Cadmus meant the Newsboys, original and clones, left the Project. It was briefly suggested that the clones were investigating what was really behind these changes, but this was not followed up on.
[edit] Seven Soldiers of Victory Version
In Grant Morrison's new take on the Guardian in Seven Soldiers (see Manhattan Guardian), the Manhattan Guardian newspaper has a citywide network of volunteer reporters called the "Newsboy Army".
Later in that same series it was revealed that a group called the Newsboy Army was active during the forties in an area of New York called Nowhere Street. This group consisted of Captain 7 (an Afro-American boy in a football uniform), Ali Ka-Zoom (a young stage magician), Vincenzo 'Kid Scarface' Baldi (an Italian boy in an impeccable suit) Chop Suzi (an Asian girl, the team's mechanic), Edward 'Baby Brain' Stargard (an infant prodigy), Little Miss Hollywood (an impressionist, the daughter of Irish immigrants) and Millions (the world's richest dog). In their final mission as a team, they are cursed by the Terrible Time Tailor to be given horrible fates to prevent them from stopping his plans for the Harrowing.
Millions "dies" shortly thereafter. Cap impregnates Suzi, who dies in childbirth. Cap is subsequently killed by the others. Hollywood becomes an alcoholic 'super-impressionist'. Ali Ka-Zoom masters genuine magic, goes mad, and dies, and Kid Scarface became Vincenzo the Undying Don, the leader of the L.A. underworld and is killed by the Sheeda. Baby Brain survives to found the Manhattan Guardian newspaper. Strangely, Ali Ka-Zoom has shown up alive in 52. In Seven Soldiers #1, it is revealed that Kid Scarface/Don Vincenzo actually bathed Millions in the Cauldron of Rebirth, and Millions inherited all of Vincenzo's property after his death, becoming the "Dogfather"
The name "Newsboys of Nowhere Street" suggests both the Newsboy Legion and Kirby's later kid gang, the Dingbats of Danger Street.
[edit] Other media
The Newsboy Legion makes a cameo appearance in the third season Justice League Unlimited episode, "Patriot Act". (They were not named as such in this episode).
[edit] Trivia
Big Words favorite expression of surprise is "I'll be superamalgamated!" This phrase was originally used by the similarly polysyllabic William Harper Littlejohn in Doc Savage.
[edit] External links
- Supermanica: Newsboy Legion Supermanica entry on the Pre-Crisis Newsboy Legion
