Legion of Super-Villains
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Legion of Super-Villains | |
 The founding members of The Legion of Super-Villains, by Chris Batista |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Superman Vol. 1 #147 (August 1961) (Adults) Adventure Comics #372 (September 1968) (Teens) |
| In story information | |
| Member(s) | Chameleon Chief Cosmic King Esper Lass Hunter II Lightning Lord Magno Lad Micro Lad Nemesis Kid Ol-Vir Radiation Roy Ron-Karr Saturn Queen Spider Girl Sun Emperor Tyr Zymyr |
The Legion of Super-Villains are a team of comic book supervillains in the DC Comics universe. They are adversaries of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future. They first appeared as adults in Superman Vol. 1 #147 and as teens in Adventure Comics #372.
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[edit] History
The Legion of Super-Villains was founded by Tarik the Mute, who had suffered irreparable damage to his vocal cords during a battle with the Science Police and who subsequently developed a pathological hatred of law and order. He founded a school for supervillains, which served as the headquarters and recruiting grounds for the LSV's first incarnation. He blackmailed Colossal Boy into joining as a teacher.
Several other incarnations of the group formed over the years, led by first Sun Emperor and then Nemesis Kid. In the last incarnation they conquered the low-tech planet of Orando, homeworld of Princess Projectra, and slipped it into another dimension as a base of operations. Each villain was sworn to kill one Legionnaire, but only Nemesis Kid succeeded, fatally wounding Karate Kid.
In Post-Crisis continuity, some of the members of the Legion of Super-Villains attempted to remake the universe by tampering with the origins of Superman and Batman and adopting them as their own "children," eventually transforming them into dictators of Earth. Superman and Batman managed to overcome their brainwashing, however, and restored the timestream to its proper course, but kept the memories of their lives with the villains.
[edit] The Lightning Saga
Mainfestations of the LSV based on the nightmares of Dream Girl appeared at the end of Justice Society of America #4, where they kill the guards of Arkham Asylum.
[edit] Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes
In Action Comics #859, Spider Girl and Radiation Roy are shown to be members of the xenophobic Justice League of Earth, along with other rejected Legion of Super-Heroes applicants Earth-Man (formerly Absorbancy Boy), Eyeful Ethel, Tusker, Golden Boy, and Storm Boy. Spider Girl is now in a relationship with Earth-Man, the League's leader, and traded the Legionnaire White Witch to Mordru, in return for his staying off the planet. Roy now has to wear a red containment suit, since his radioactive powers have caused him to develope tumors over his body, specifically one dominating the right side of his face. Defeated by Superman and the Legion, the Justice Leaguers are sent to the prison planet Takron-Galtos.
[edit] Final Crisis: The Legion of Three Worlds
The Legion of Super-Villians will appear in the Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds limited series which will run from August 2008 to December 2008. This incarnation of the LSV includes Lightning Lord, Saturn Queen, Cosmic King, Sun Emperor, Beauty Blaze, Ol-Vir, Tyr, Silver Slasher, Zymr, Hunter II, and Chameleon Chief, as well as Black Mace, Universo, Dr. Regulus, Grimbor the Chainsman, Mordru, and the Fatal Five (Tharok, Emerald Empress, The Persuader, Mano, and Validus) and is led by Superman-Prime.[1]
[edit] Roster
The members of the Legion included:
- Beauty Blaze: Possesses heat and fire based abilities.
- Chameleon Chief: Powers similar to but not exactly like Chameleon Boy.
- Cosmic King: Transmutation powers similar to Element Lad.
- Echo: Sound and sonic based abilities.
- Esper Lass: Telepathic powers similar to Saturn Girl.
- Hunter II: Son of the original Hunter, he seeks revenge on the Legion for his father's death.
- Lightning Lord: Lightning Lad and Light Lass's brother, with lightning powers.
- Magno Lad: Magnetic abilities similar to Cosmic Boy's.
- Micro Lad: Can shrink in size, like Shrinking Violet.
- Nemesis Kid: Can adapt the power to defeat any enemy.
- Ol-Vir: Daxamite powers similar to Mon-El, lacking the former's immunity to lead.
- Radiation Roy: Living radioactive isotope.
- Ron-Karr: Can become flat.
- Saturn Queen: Time travelling telepath from the future.
- Spider Girl: Has web-like hair.
- Sun Emperor: Has solar powers similar to Sun Boy.
- Terrus: Ground based abilities.
- Tyr: Warrior with a bionic gun in place of his right arm.
- Zymyr: A native of the planet Gil'Dishpan who can create warps.
- The remaining members of the League of Super-Assassins (Silver Slasher, Mist Master, Lazon, Titania and Neutrax)
Magno Lad, Esper Lass and Micro Lad had also appeared before when they, plus Phantom Lad and Calorie Queen attempted to replace Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Phantom Girl, and Matter-Eater Lad respectively in the Legion. They were defeated, but Matter-Eater Lad, since he was leaving the Legion for his home planet, put in a good word for Calorie Queen.
[edit] Appearances in other media
- The Legion of Super-Villains appeared in "Lightning Storm", an episode of Legion of Super Heroes animated series. Claiming their name is the "Light Speed Vanguard," they pretend to be superheroes and attempt to out perform the Legion of Superheroes. However, they are soon revealed to financially motivated protector-extortionists and assassins. The lineup consists of Lightning Lord, Hunter, Esper, Tyr, Wave, and Ron-Karr. This version is primarily led by Lightning Lord. The team, without Lightning Lord, return at the beginning of season two. Now led exclusively by Tyr, they appear as one of several teams of villains released from prison by Imperiex. Brainiac 5 now addresses them by their real name: the Legion of Super-Villains.
Lightning Lord and Ron-Karr both appear later under the employ of Imperiex.
