posted
I was recalling some of the Adventure stories and a couple 1960s references in them got me to wondering about what other cultural (and now historical) influences have become a part of Legion Lore.
The two that prompted my wondering were The Time Trapper's "Iron Curtain of Time," a reference to the coldwar description of Soviet control of Eastern Europe, and the naming of Starfinger as a play on the popular James Bond movie of the time Goldfinger.
What other such non-comic cultural/historical influences have their been on the Legion?
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
The famous Damn Tabloid (All-New Collectors' Edition C-55) that had Garth and Imra's wedding -- in an alternate, militarized 30th Century -- had an interesting departure point from the "real Legion timeline," I always thought. It was, they said, the disbanding of the United Nations in the late 1970s.
I never decided whether it meant that the timeline was ultra-malleable, or that a pious faith still existed in the U.N.'s worth -- as a Sixties hangover -- when Paul Levitz wrote the story. Probably the latter.
Although I was taken in by its own publicity mill as a Sixties kid (like Levitz), I soon saw that those in, around, and touting the U.N. continued to "cry 'peace, peace,' but there is no peace." (Patrick Henry saw through such illusions, including the ulterior motives for the Constitution -- or for a U.N. Charter.) The U.N. has almost never stopped a war as such, large or small, but has merely bolstered or excused the bigger powers' manipulations.
It was strange, after two decades of my well-honed cynicism about the United Nations, to encounter the story in C-55 as a 30something adult. And to see how the lack of the U.N. seemed -- to a 20something Paul Levitz, anyway, and his DC colleagues --to have made all the difference to the unfolding of the Legion's "future history."
The story was still exciting and well-told .. but it left an esthetic aftertaste, in alluding to an all too real-current-world, hopelessly flawed institution.
From: Starhaven Consulate, City of Angels | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
The Space Circus issue made overt reference to the cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Soviet Union - and declared them illogical, useless or something like that. (Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!)
There was also the baseball game in the 5YL story in which Starfinger tried to fix the game. Not a specific reference but evoked a number of sports fixing scandals of our time.
posted
Just to hop in here again... it's funny but I don't think we ever saw any reference to the hippies and protests of the 60s in the Legion - or did we? That seemed to pop up in other comics and Star Trek had an episode using that theme also. It seems it would be a natural with a group of clean-cut, law-abiding teenagers - to have them in conflict with anti-system or alternative lifestyle kids.
quote:Originally posted by Fat Cramer: Just to hop in here again... it's funny but I don't think we ever saw any reference to the hippies and protests of the 60s in the Legion - or did we? ... It seems it would be a natural with a group of clean-cut, law-abiding teenagers - to have them in conflict with anti-system or alternative lifestyle kids.
There was a story in the Action Comics series, in the late '60s, in which Timber Wolf fell prey to a pusher and became addicted to some futuristic drug. A clear allagory to the "refer madness" of the period.
From: Sumner, ME | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
One interesting reference was in Adventure Comics #301 (cover dated Oct. 62) when Antenna Boy applies for membership. In demonstrating his powers, to pick up radio signals from across time and space, he plays a newsflash announcing the re-election of JFK.
Obviously, AB could pick up broadcasts from completely different timelines as well.
From: Sumner, ME | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Actually, PB, IIRC, it said just "Kennedy re-elected," so I always thought afterwards, well, there's a lot of Kennedys, so it may yet still come true!
posted
I believe some of the boys played some futuristic version of D&D in the rec room
Tyroc was certainly influenced by our culture and current political climate -- maybe that's why he didn't last?
From: New York, NY | Registered: Jul 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Reep is right!
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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I mean, sure Reep gives the Mighty Marvel No-Prize answer, but which Kennedy do you think Ed Hamilton was referring to? Or was it Siegel? Either Way.
Of course, by corrupting the orignal post (even if it was your own), which dealt with real world influences on the Legion, with fictional hypothetical answers, you have defiled the sanctity of the thread.
Therefore, I file a formal protest and call upon the founders to take away 100 of your posts and add them to my total.
From: Sumner, ME | Registered: Jul 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Actually, I think it was Weisinger's influence that led to the insertion of the "Kennedy" line. IIRC, he was a big supporter of the Democratic party, and inserted subtle political messages periodically throughout the Superman family of titles...
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
IIRC, the TMK Khund war storyline began shortly after the Gulf War started. Orando was kinda like Kuwait (sp?), the little nation invaded by bigger one. And the Legion was kinda like US and UK coming in for the rescue.
A bit of a stretch I know. It was probably just a coinceidence. (geez I cant spell tonight)
Registered: Jul 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Certainly the use of the "Red Terror" was influenced by real world concerns about chemical and biological warfare, so I think that's a good one, braalian.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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