Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Long Live the Legion! Postboot Universo Theory

Okay, so at the end of Dream Crime, Universo is stuck in a dream where his boss refers to him as "Vidar". Earlier we'd found out that the postboot Universo was an uncle or cousin or something of Saturn Girl.

Here's my theory: At some point Universo previously escaped imprisonment on Titan. During this period, he went under the alias "Vidar". He fathered Rond during this period.

Now, what would be interesting is if Rond realizes that he is Titanian (and perhaps has telepathic abilities), and is off-planet in violation of the treaty that forces Titanians to wear the Saturn symbol (and presumably trying to hide his relation to Universo). We've seen that he can be rather nonchalant in ignoring laws (such as the ban on time travel experiments).

If at some point in the future, there is some sort of rebellion of Titanians against their role in the UP, perhaps Rond could play a major role (along with Nara Minsork and others)?

I'm against the very premise of Universo and Saturn Girl being related in any way. One of several reasons I disliked UNIVERSE ABLAZE and was glad to see it retcon itself out at the end. As far as I'm concerned, Universo's first true post-boot appearance was in DREAM CRIME.

Universo's relative is ROND VIDAR not Saturn Girl and I was elated that DnA used the Vidar name in DREAM CRIME.

Not to slight your theory Eryk, which is well done.

Agreed about disliking the Universo-Saturn Girl connection. Even if we ignore the mini, the postboot Universo is still Titanian, so, assuming he's Rond's father, you still need some explanation for why Rond's walking around without the Saturn symbol.

Maybe half-breeds aren't required to wear the symbol?

I once had a theory that Policy Pam was a half-breed Titanian with low-level powers of suggestion, and she didn't wear the Saturn symbol because she was a half-breed.

I wouldn't mind if Rond had some sort of mental powers.

The problem with the theory is that in UNIVERSE ABLAZE, Universo was only about 30 years old (See Saturn Girl's explanation of his origin), too young to have fathered Rond.

(Unless Titanians start very early.)

I don't think Rond should have mental powers. That would change his character too much. One of his reasons for being was always that he was the non-powered guy who hung out with the Legion. He succeeded by his brains alone (and not super-brains, like Brainiac 5).

Would half-Titanians have mental powers anyway?

Garth and Imra's second set of twins did in the preboot.

And HWW, I've always thought the notion of Rond as the child of a supervillain was as important to the character as anything else, and the relationship to Rond seems an important part of the Universo character. Personally, I detest the rebooting of Universo as a Titanian to begin with, but, now that it's done, the question is what can be done with it to preserve as much of the classic character as possible. The use of the "Vidar" name seems to imply some sort of connection to Rond, anyway...

I figure half-Titanians would (or at least could) have some sort of reduced mental abilities (ala Policy Pam's limited powers of suggestion).

Hmm... Mandalla was another half-Titanian, IIRC, who had limited mental powers.

i believe that in DREAM CRIME, Universo was referred to as "the most dangerous telepath ever produced on Titan". that could be interpreted in many ways. perhaps Uni isn't born on Titan, but came to Titan to study or on a quest to expand his hypno abilities. after all, look at those ears! i always liked to think he was related to the Khunds.

True, but at some point I'd like to see Rond move beyond his the importance of his lineage. In the preboot that happened only once that I can think of: Rond's role in the Infinite Man story (S/LSH # 233ish) didn't even mention his relationship to Universo, as I recall.

In the postboot, that relationship hasn't been mentioned at all. If it is reinstated, I won't mind it, but I don't think it's essential.

What DnA intended to do with "Vidar" we'll probably never know.

Okay, new aspect to the theory, courtesy Ontir from the DCMBs (we have got to lure that guy over here!)!

Time Travel. Universo either fathers Rond at some point in the future, and sends him back to the past to hide him from the Titanian authorities or something, or he himself travels back in time at some point. Either way, this is in some way the source of Rond's fascination with time travel.

I hafta say that I do like the 'Universo as a Titanian' aspect, but agree that his relationship with Rond is critical for Legion storytelling. In a roleplaying game (ahem -- plug below), I have played Rond as having inherited a resistance to telepathic influence. This sets him up as part of the resistance movement which would naturally be needed in any good Universo story... IMO, natch.

As for the connection with Imra... it does open up some new relationship and storyline potentials, but it's not necessary. Again, IMO...

Classically, Rond was supposed to be the only person immune to Universo's hypnosis. Presumably, this was related to the fact that he had inherited his father's incredible willpower (which made him a prime candidate for a Green Lantern).