Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Personalities of Legionnaires

My take on Mon-El, my favorite Legionaire:

Mon-El and Superboy are as far apart as omni-powered guys can be. Mon-El is a lot more like Jor-El than he is Superboy, and that similarity to his father is why Superboy instantly looked up to him as an older brother. Mon-El respects Superboy and admires the way he wears the hero mantle so easily, but it is not something Mon-El is seeking for himself.

Mon-El is a scientist and explorer, not a never ending battle type. That is his heroic nature. A thousand years in the Phantom Zone devoid of intimate human contact or any battles to fight would have driven Superman insane. Mon-El OTOH simply waited for the PZ criminals to lose their mind and found it easy to occupy himself. The solitude didn't bother him that much and he liked being able to watch history unfold to an extent, especially since he was watching it unfold in a way few people had ever seen. What really scares Mon-El about the Phatom Zone is not that being in the Zone bothered him, what scares him is that it didn't bother him enough. He could see himself easily getting lost in there forever.

Mon-El is a traditional hero because at his power level, his sense of duty requires him to be one. He is smart enough to do it and he knows he really has to. Just as he knows that at times he has to lead and set an example. But it's not his first love, no matter how well he does it. It's not what he truly wants to do. If Superboy lost his powers, he would truly feel like he has lost a part of himself. If Mon-El lost his, a part of him would feel liberated. The best part about the powers for him is that he can basically go where ever he wants at the drop of a hat.

Mon-El is not envious of Superboy at all. If there's any Legionaires he would like to be more like it would be Bouncing Boy or ME Lad and their way of immediatley connecting with everyone, or Brainiac 5 for his brilliant scientific mind.

The thing he loves about the Legion is that it provides him with the Adventure and journeys into the unknown that he truly loves. You tell Mon the Legion is going to a planet no one has ever been to before and he is genuinely excited, you tell Mon it's time to go round up some criminals around Metropolis, and he is meh.

If there was some dark hole in the ground, no one wantd to go into, Superboy would volunteer first because it's what heroes do. Mon-El would volunteer first because he wants to know what's in there and be the first one go inside.

Mon-El is fiercely in love with Shadowlass as she is the person he has connected with the most in his life and he knows when/if she is gone, he will likely never connect with anyone again. He feels similarly about the Legion, this is really the only family he has ever had and he knows when it's gone it will likely be the last.

Mon-El doesn't struggle with being detatched, he struggles with remaining attatched.

IF someone tried to stick a name like Valor on Mon-El he would immedaitely tell them no thanks, Columbus or Magellan-El, yes, Valor? No. And if he were the seeder of planets, he would do everything in his power to erase his role in doing it. Mon-El doesn't want attention or to be in the spotlight, to him that sort of thing is a chore.

Interesting take on Mon-El, Set, but . . .

. . . is this from an actual story or is it your interpretation of events?

Same issue where Quislet, Polar Boy, Magnetic Kid and Sensor join the team. He runs into Dev-Em saving a chunk of coastline from sinking and Dev-Em says that if they are looking for new recruits, maybe he should sign up and Mon-El, with a fairly sour expression says, 'Maybe that offer isn't open anymore.' or something. (It sounded like Dev-Em already had an open invitation, and wasn't just any old schmoe.) Back at the headquarters, either Cosmic Boy or Element Lad (I don't recall which) noted that the team had run into Dev-Em, and that they really could use someone with his power. Mon-El's sitting with his arms crossed and pipes up saying that 'He's happy where he is.' and the one who asked him made 'Aw, too bad' type noises and Mon-El conceded that he didn't 'try too hard' to recruit him. (As opposed to what really happened, where he actively discouraged someone who asked about joining...)

I thought it was a neat character moment, because it was too easy to see Mon-El as some monolithic figure that never thinks at all, a clone of Superboy or 'the strong, silent type.' The notion that there was something going on under there intrigued me.

PG, sorry about my absence here... I was writing these at work but that is not an option currently. I'll just do 'em from home now.

Cobie, thanks for that, it made my day. I'd love to see Eryk participate here, he writes AWESOME character bios.

Continuing the Shooter/Bierbaums format...


BRAINIAC 5


Massively, nearly incalcuably intelligent, Brainiac 5 may have in fact moved beyond his last recorded intelligence level of 12. Though seemingly unflappable, Brainy is rather easily prone to mortification, though his "cold, computer mind" actually hides this from his teammates well. When he reached the point that he was comfortable with himself for being the decendant of evil 20th-century villain Brainiac, his invention of the deadly Computo matrix threatened to unravel him. Secret therapy with Saturn Girl helped him deal with the disastrous outcome of creating Computo, and Brainiac 5 trusts only her with the knowledge that he is more emotional than he lets on. A friendship/rivalry with Invisible Kid has unearthed a hidden though very dry sense of humour in Brainiac 5. Though his heart will always belong to the mysteries of science, his finds himself attracted to his intelligent peers such as Dream Girl and Invisible Kid (even though it seems unlikely he would ever admit to these attractions).

Great job everyone. I'll give Dream Girl a try.


DREAM GIRL - Her powers are as much a burden as a blessing. Frequently her visions of the future are tragic. Sometimes they are vividly detailed. Other times they are fuzzy and hard to inerpret. She probably knows the details of how those she loves most will suffer and die. Most of the time she dares not tell them. The visions sometimes come suddenly while she is awake, but come most clearly while she sleeps. This makes resting difficult. We all know how important rest is for mental health. The visions sometimes pack both a physical and emotional punch causing fainting spells which make her appear weak. Actually she is anything but weak. She withstands these emotional blows much better than most people could.

Nura has developed a fun and flirty personality to balance out the seriousness of weight she carries. She loves to tease the boys and be the center of attention. Brief and fun interludes into the here and now mean a lot to her. She wants to enjoy her time in the present. She isn't nearly as promiscuious as her flirting makes some assume, but she isn't going to care too much what others think or hold back too much if she sees an opportunity she may enjoy.

Nura has also learned the importance of pampereing herself. She loves spas, beauty treatments and the finer things. Again representing her need to get the most out of the present because she knows what the future holds. She feels no guilt and makes no apologies for her indulgances.

She is also quite smart and deeply caring. She challanges herself contstanly. She is always learning and growing. Whether that means dabbling in science, magic, battle strategy or exploring a new freindship. Her complex nature makes it difficult for her to maintain many close friendships, however.

Many think she takes her relationship with Star Boy for granted. She doesn't. He is as simple as she is complex. He loves her unconditionally and she knows it. He is always there. He helps keep her grounded and does so in a way that doesn't further complicate her life. She appreciates that and knows how important it is. Some of the other team members think that Thom would be totally justified in stepping out on her, because of Nura's flirting and high maintenance personality. They think it would serve her right. In actuality, she pretty much agrees with that assessment and would be the last to judge him if he did, and also the first to forgive him. She admires his loyalty and considers herself lucky to have a man like Thom in her life.

Good one Jerry.

I'd only add that Nura has an inner strength and toughness that is hidden by her flirty, fun-loving, and pampering manner. This causes opponents to underestimate her.

Insightful interpretation of that issue (LSH v. 3 # 14), Set, and I don't completely disagree with it. (In fact, I agree: the notion of Mon wanting to protect his status as Big Man on Campus adds a lot of depth to him!) But here's a bit of context for those scenes.

Dev-Em was extended an offer to join the Legion back in ADVENTURE COMICS # 320. Previously, Dev was a bully from Krypton and an enemy of Superboy's. Although Dev had reformed, Mon may have still held a grudge because of the former's previous behavior. It would be perfectly natural for Mon to remain wary of someone who had once bullied his "little brother."

In any case, Dev turned down the Legion to join the Interstellar Counter-intelligence Corps (ICC).

Flash forward to LSH # 14. When the Legion arrives on the scene, Dev insults applicant Comet Queen ("And who or what is that?"), and is reprimanded by Mon-El. Dev apologizes, but then says, "Sheesh, if you're desperate, maybe I ought to reconsider your offer to join"--not only insulting her again but sounding downright arrogant in the process.

And Dev doesn't stop there with the insults. When Tellus later appears on the scene, a startled Dev responds by calling him a "lump"! Tolerant toward other species he is not.

So, Mon may have responded as he did because the Legion simply doesn't need an arrogant and insulting SOB, no matter his power level. The exchange on page 21 supports this:

Element Lad: Dev-Em wasn't interested, I assume?

Mon-El: He's happy with the Counter-intelligence Corps, Element Lad.

Wildfire: No loss--I think lots of our applicants would make better Legionnaires.

Shadow Lass: Wildfire's right. I never liked Dev-Em's attitude, no matter how terrific his super-powers might be.

Mon-El: I can't say I tried very hard to persuade him.

But is Mon-El really lying here, or is he just being ironic? I suggest the latter, since any lie he told would have surely been noticed by Brainiac 5, who was privy to the earlier exchange.

The one statement in which Mon may be stretching the truth is in saying that Dev is happy with the ICC. Nothing in their conversation suggests this, although the fact that Dev is still there after all these years might.

I agree that Dev-Em was a jerk, and yet, it wasn't Mon-El's place to tell him that the offer of Legion membership might no longer be open, nor to tell his teammates that Dev-Em was happy where he was. He made that decision for the entire team, and even if every single teammate might have agreed with his reasons, he didn't bother to take a vote and made the decision for them.

Like pretty much every other Legionnaire, he's got some depth, and a thousand years of watching over mankind from an ethereal state didn't make him an angel. He's one of the select few Legionnaires that Brainiac Five recognized as having the practical streak and willingness to do what had to be done needed to join a mission team that would end in the death of Jaxon Rugarth.

Dirk is suave and slick and the universally accepted Legion's ladies' man. He is quite knowledgeable and scientifically minded. Though he works hard enough, he comes across as lazy because of his hobbies and his cocky nature that rubs people the wrong way. Unlike good ol Thom who everyone gives a free pass to, Dirk gets called on every short cut he takes or when his work is not up to snuff.

Though he outwardly has lots of friends his relationships are a mile wide and an inch deep. His outward brashness hides a touch of insecurity and lonliness.

The nicest guy on the team. Also the most easy going and overall easiest to get along with. He is no dummy but lacks the curiosity to ferret out facts for himself preferring to let them present themselves usually through the work of others. This is the one thing that irritates others about him, though since Thom never makes any demands of them they let it slide and accept it as the way he is.

Quiet and shy by nature his personality echoes his power. He is a great observer of empirical fact in science like Brainy but unlike Brainy, Lyle is a great observer of human behavior and emotional cues. He is also a great creative mind as well as an efficient organizer like Lu. His multifaceted abilities make him a capable if not always willing (because of his less than outgoing personality) leader.

Brainy is contrary to what we may think is not socially awkward and difficult to get along with. In his youth, he was actually what his culture values as an ideal young man. And on Colu his behavior is par for the course. In every iteration, Brainy's intellectual curiosity and relationships with Legionnnaires leads him to reject aspects of his people's way of life. Given that he is the equivalent Rokk in his own culture, and the general UP culture is quite different than Colu, he has a hard time adjusting to his new team.

He's closest to the thinkers and those who rely on guile as opposed to brute power. In the various boots his emotional growth has always been spurred by a friendships with his teamates, mainly Imra, Lyle, Nura, Ayla. He openly admires Mon-El as a fellow seeker of knowledge. Strangely, he secretly idolizes someone like Dirk because Sun Boy has a good scientific mind but is so natural in social settings (like with the ladies).

Easily the most outwardly emotional of all the Legion Lasses, Ayla finds herself conflicted emotionally by the relationships that are staples of Legions past and present. She is uncomfortable around Saturn Girl because she (wrongly) thinks Imra a cold unemotional witch. She thinks Garth is in over his head with that Shameless Hussy. But in a contradiction she's also drawn into friendship with Brainy because he has control of his emotion in the same way Imra is. Ayla's interactions with him teach him to express emotion while she learns more self control.

Ayla's emotional load comes from being glue that maintained any relationship her two brothers had growing up. Growing up with two brothers she's a guys' girl. Even if not overtly tomboyish she naturally understands and feels comfortable with the way guy's think and act. During times when her emotional stress is out of control, she's been known to try to escape via romantic trysts which ultimately lead to more torment.

Good points. I'll agree that Mon spoke out of turn in both cases. I'm not so sure, however, that doing so qualifies as "making a decision" for the team. From the context of the dialogue, it doesn't sound as if Dev really wanted to join the Legion. He was just engaging in a game of oneupmanship: "Hey, if you're desperate, I'll join the Legion and solve all your problems."

Had he really been interested in joining the Legion, he would surely have known (as did the rest of the UP) that the matter would be put to a vote. Mon certainly recognizes this, hence his qualifying words, "might not be open anymore."

The Legion, I will concede, was less likely to pursue the matter once they learned from Mon's mouth that Dev wasn't interested. But, knowing that the other Legionnaires felt about Dev-Em as he did, Mon may have been saving the team valuable time and resources (maybe even an try-out) by not putting it to a vote.

I do agree that Mon is no angel (and neither are any of the Legionnaires). That's why I'm intrigued by your interpretation, even though I find the evidence in these scenes subjective.

As for Brainy selecting Mon to participate in the Legion Conspiracy, again, your point is well taken. But it should not be forgotten that part of Mon's motive was revenge against the Time Trapper, who was responsible for the death of Superboy, Mon's "little brother."

DAWNSTAR - She takes her responsibilites as a Legionnaire seriously. Dawnstar is sometimes dismayed by the lack of the seriousness of some of the other members. This attitude comes partially from her cultural upbringing but even more from her time at the Legion Acadamy. She worked in an official training institution to earn her place in the Legion. She views the Legion as a serious organization with a serious mission. Earning a place on the team is her proudest accomplishment. She has little patience for those who gained membership by being in the right place at the right time or who view the Legion as some sort of super-hero club.

Dawnstar is drawn to Wildfire because he made her work hard in the acadamy and brought the best out in her. He also supported her when others didn't. She shares his vision on the Legion and respects him.

Dawnstar is proud. She equates performance with personal success. If someone fails on a mission they have failed as a person. She is as hard on herself as she is on others. Personal failure brings great shame to her. It's a manner of honor.

Dawnstar has a softer emotional side. She rarely shows it so many think it doesn't exist. It does, though.

SHRINKING VIOLET

Salu was more commonly known as "Shy Vi" during her early LSH career, but no one could deny there was also a 'tiger' within this lady. While her accomplished fighting skills and wits were key in the defeats of the so-called 'Legion of Super-Rejects' and the kidnapper-extortionists Charma and Grimbor, as well as multiple Espionaige Squad missions, she herself would likely have denied her own skill and importance. The "Shy Vi" moniker fell out of favor upon Salu's recovery from a months-long stay in a sens-tank. She returned as a brash, opinionated force to be reckoned with who was well aware of her own self-worth due to months of physical and mental therapy upon her release from the sens-tank. Violet also emerged from the sens-tank with trust issues and tends to keep to herself, though no one dares now to call her "shy".

SUN BOY


Rich, handsome, a little bratty and fun-loving, Dirk is the "go-to" man for a night on the town. While forming a bond with Lightning Lad early in his career, Dirk found that Garth's "family-man" sensibilities were grating to him. Ultra Boy was too much competition, so Dirk ultimately became pals with Colossal Boy. In Gim, Dirk found his perfect wing-man: someone handsome enough to attract the ladies, yet full of self-doubts enough to fade into the background once Dirk turned on his charming personality. Though Dirk might be thought of as vapid by many outsiders, his teammates know him to be completely dedicated. Upon taking on so many missions in a row that he was in danger of a total breakdown both physically and mentally, the LSH instigated limits on the amount of missions a member could take without rest. Sadly, it all comes down to a desperate urge to prove himself, wether it be by the amount of good he can do as a Legionnaire or the amount of metaphorical notches he can place on his bedpost.

BOUNCING BOY


Quick of wit, always in a good mood, Chuck is a favorite among his teammates, especially on long missions. Many consider him less irritating and "cornball" than his good friend Matter-Eater Lad. As a Legionnaire, the very nature of Chuck's power tends to make him look ridiculous.... unti the enemy sees the giant flight-ring powered battering ram that is Bouncing Boy hurtling their way. Also accomplished at building design, Chuck maintains a relationship with Brainiac 5, whose less-successful experiments have often resulted in the need for Chuck's skills in that area. Chuck, along with Triad and Matter-Eater Lad, form the nucleus of the Legion's unofficial "party posse" and are often approached by Legionnaires who want to plan gatherings or celebrations.

ULTRA BOY


Jo Nah: Gangbanger thespian. Hailing from a generally roughneck world like Rimbor, Jo learned early on how to fit in and survive, and had both the looks and wits to do so. However, unlike many of his peers, his heart was never as hardened as he would have had one to believe. In his true heart was an actor, someone who liked being somone else. Even if this made him an exceptional con artist on Rimbor (which made him a favorite of his gang), Jo took the first chance he got to better his lot. Upon joining the LSH, he became a quick "UP Idol", as billions of sentients fell in love... with his roughneck swashbuckler appearance, he was the irresitable bad boy that wasn't too dangerous because of his Legionnaire status.

I'm enjoying this thread, and I'd say that it could be helpful to include notes about the Legionnaire's families and homewrolds.

For example, Nura. Naltor is a matriarchal society, so that would certainly influence Nura's perspective on men. We don't know anything about her father. Also, her mother was the High Seer, so Nura was raised almost like royalty. She felt very protective of her "handicapped" little sister. Later, Nura became an orphan. I think all of those factors would contribute to her ways.

Agreed, Sketchy (Hi!!).


MON-EL


Mon-El is the Legion's much-admired older brother. The team as a whole almost has an obsessive need to please him, for reasons ranging from sorrow at his 1000-year confinement in the Phantom Zone to respect for his relationship with Legion-inspiring legend Superman to awe at his incredible Daxamite powers. Mon himself probably stays with the team out of gratitude for his salvation from the Zone, because most Daxamites seem to have a general inbred desire to remain on Daxam (plus that pesky vulnerability to lead). Therefore, Mon-El is rather unique among his people because of his desire to travel the galaxy. Mon also has what could be called a saintlike patience, likely due to his time in the zone and the scoundrels he had to deal with there. Mon also learned how to deal with people of all types after being able to observe them in all kinds of situations from the zone over his inprisonment.

More spot on descriptions from MLLASH.

I almost want to tag family relations on the end of Lash's posts.

Dirk- mother-less, father was kind of a cad, a business man with enemies. Not the most sensitive way to grow up.

Jo's parents seemed to be quite proud of him, but they also seemed a bit unaware of what he was up to.

Tinya- preboot she was orphaned but had an older brother in the background. Reboot, she has the stong mother issue and the rogue-ish father issue. Threeboot--- I don't think we know her family.

Quis...


MATTER-EATER LAD


Comedian and prankster supreme, Tenzil also has an ability to talk you into ANYthing... he has often pulled the likes of Shrinking Violet, Brainiac 5 and Princess Projectra into his pranks when they are needed... no small feat. His ability to come up with absurd solutions to problems have often come in useful, but his teammates tend to deal with him better in smaller doses. Despite having matinee-idol looks, a general perceived "Ewww, gross!" attitude about Bismollians has prevented Tenzil from attaining "Idol" status. That is not the case on Bismoll, however, where Tenzil has turned down repeated holo roles and offers for his own reality vids. An astute observer might see Tenzil's "Good-Time Charlie" ways and repeated attempts to suggest replacements for himself whenever he has to take an extended leave as a mask for his low self-esteem. Tenzil would counter with the idea that Bismollian representation is too important for the LSH to go long without and then probably de-pants the observer.

Dawnstar's mother used to hire her out for space tracking jobs when she was just a child. Pretty tough on her. Her parents also seemed to want her to follow Starhaven's traditions, yet they knew she was part of a bigger universe. They love her, yet I got the impression that they expected a high level of independence from her, at a very young age. She stepped up to that, but ultimately, it made her come across as arrogant. She did seem to miss out on the joys and freedom of childhood.

Tenzil doesn't have very good role models for parents. His father has a gambling addiction and a generally negative outlook on life. His mother considers herself too "nervous" to do anything but hang around home. Tenzil doesn't care to be around them too much, but like many comedians, his family is a goldmine for material. Because Tenz doesn't visit the folks much, his little brother Renkil seems to be paying the price for that.

Family would likely have everything to do with making people the way they are, Sketchy... I'm a believer in family ties (and STILL furious about the loss of the Nura/Mysa dynamic). I'd love to read your Legionnaires' families bios!


EDIT: You've already done some! And they rock! More, please!

ELEMENT LAD


This sole survivor of the decimation of Trom can thank his spiritual upbringing for saving him from a case of survivor's guilt that would destroy anyone else. Incredibly sweet by nature, Jan does his best to please his friends and often finds himself voted into leadership or deputy leadership positions because of this. A bond formed with Saturn Girl early on continues today, and Jan frequently shares his innermost thoughts with Imra, as she does with him. His sweetness is sometimes mistakenly perceived as weakness by enemies, a mistake they soon regret. Adept with his tranmutation ability, Element Lad's addition to the LSH elevated them astronomically powers-wise. With age, Jan's spirituality evolved into a general "live and let live" easygoing-ness that tends to make others happy. His "surfer-boy" looks have made him a favorite of teenaged girls and more sensitive sentients UP-wide.

Thanks Lash! This is great fun.

Preboot and postboot Imra have similar parent dynamics, but in postboot, there's a precocious little sister living in the shadow. It's generally understood that Imra was taken from her loving parents by the Titan Institute (I might have gotten that name wrong) because of her stronger-than-ever recorded abilities. This would have altered her outlook drastically. It's actually very Brainiac-ish.

Threeboot Imra has the powerful mother dynamic going. We're just now getting to know her.