Legion of Super-Heroes (2004 team)

Legion of Super-Heroes

Cover art for Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 5) #37.
Art by Francis Manapul and John Livesay.
Group publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Teen Titans/Legion Special (November 2004)
Created by Mark Waid
Barry Kitson
In-story information
Base(s) Legion Clubhouse
Roster
See: List of Legion of Super-Heroes members
Legion of Super-Heroes
Cover of Legion of Super-Heroes, vol. 5, #1. Art by Barry Kitson (2005).
Series publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule Monthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre Superhero
Publication date (Legion of Super-Heroes, vol. 5)
April 2005 – May 2006
(Supergirl and The Legion of Super-Heroes)
May 2006 – February 2008
(Legion of Super-Heroes, vol. 5)
March 2008 – March 2009
Number of issues Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 5
28
Supergirl and The Legion of Super-Heroes
22
Creative team
Writer(s) Mark Waid
Jim Shooter
Penciller(s) Barry Kitson
Francis Manapul
Inker(s) Art Thibert
Livesay
Colorist(s) Jonathan Smith
Creator(s) Mark Waid
Barry Kitson

The 2004 version of the Legion of Super-Heroes (often referred to as the "Threeboot" Legion) is a fictional superhero team in the 31st century of the DC Comics Universe. The team is the third major incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes after the 1958 and 1994 versions. It first appears in Teen Titans/Legion Special (November 2004) and was created by Mark Waid and Barry Kitson.

Publication history

The cover of The Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 5) #6 (July 2005), featuring the "Threeboot" Legionnaires. Art by Barry Kitson.

Following a crossover with the Teen Titans in Teen Titans (vol. 3) #16 and the Teen Titans/Legion Special, a new Legion of Super-Heroes series was launched; written by Mark Waid (who had previously rebooted the title following the events of Zero Hour) and penciled by Barry Kitson.[1] This new series recreated the team from the beginning and used the Boy/Lad/Girl/Lass/Kid codenames which the end of the original continuity and the prior reboot continuity had moved away from using.

Initial issues of this series reintroduced the characters and provided new and divergent origins for them. Most characters resemble their previous counterparts in costume and powers, with the most notable exceptions including Chameleon Boy, now called simply Chameleon and depicted as an androgynous creature, Star Boy, who in this version of the Legion is black, Colossal Boy, who is now a giant who shrinks to human size, and Phantom Girl, who exists in two universes at once and has conversations with people in her own dimension while talking to Legionnaires at the same time.

The future universe of this Legion is an emotionally and mentally repressive society which involves human sexuality and contact being kept at arms' length as well as Orwellian surveillance of minors. The Legion's main goal is social reform as well as protecting people and inspiring them with the legends of superheroes of old, even though the team isn't appreciated by various government authorities.

The Legion is worshiped by thousands of young people on various different worlds who worship the group in a cult-like manner, collectively known as the "Legionnaires". The Legionnaires based on Earth keep a constant vigil outside Legion headquarters.

Beginning with issue #16, The Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 5) was retitled Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes with Supergirl traveling to the future and joining the Legion. With issue #31, Tony Bedard replaced Waid as writer. The title reverted to The Legion of Super-Heroes with issue #37 and Jim Shooter became writer. The series ended with issue #50, in which the script was credited to "Justin Thyme", a pseudonym previously used by uncredited comic book artists.[2]

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds

This version of the Legion also appeared in the 2008–2009 Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds limited series, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by George Pérez. The mini-series features this version of the Legion teaming up with the 1994 and post-Infinite Crisis incarnations of the Legion and Superman to fight the Time Trapper and a new incarnation of the Legion of Super-Villains (led by Superboy-Prime).[3] It is revealed at the end of the mini-series that this version of the team inhabits Earth-Prime, the home of Superboy-Prime.[4]

Members

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 318: "Top writer Mark Waid and artist Barry Kitson joined forces to relaunch one of DC's best-loved teams."
  2. ↑ Cronin, Brian (June 12, 2008). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #159". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5 (July 2009)

External links