Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Earthman does not belong in the Legion

It should be interesting to see Earthman interact with Tyroc.Tyroc initially refused to join the Legion because he thought they were racists. Earthman is being forced to join them even though he hates them for NOT being racist. Could be some good irony there.

^ Plus, didn't Earth-Man (as Absorbancy Boy) try to frame Tyroc for something or other back in the day? Tyroc and Earth-Man are natural enemies I think.

Also Tyroc defeated Absorbancy Boy during his induction when he forgot to turn down his Super Hearing.

What I would like to see it Kirt taking both rings and somehow they manage to keep from being too evil. Then he can disappear for awhile and only turn up on special occasions. Sort of like a more powerful/less good Dev-Em.

Paul Levitz has still got it.

Who else could be so controversial in his writing that he could make us react and debate so fiercely about a topic (Earthman)?
Way to go Paul ... talk about making a "hit the ground running" comeback ... the man is an inspiration I tell you.

That was way back in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #218.
Absorbancy Boy tried to elliminated Tyroc by showing him up and hopefully being the person the Legion voted in, but Tyroc did his only-dogs-can-hear scream and made the foolish AB tune in, which made him whine and beg to stop. Tyroc finished him off with a Karate chop to the throat (how 70s btw). Tyroc is shown being sworn in as a Legionnaire on the last panel of the book.

I bet this is why Paul is bringing Tyroc back ... so he can bust up "EarthMan" real good!

wow, I hadn't read that story in so long, I'd forgotten! That makes sense, though... and provides Paul Levitz an opportunity to make Tyroc work, in a way he didn't want to broach way back when.

wow, now I really want to see where this goes!

Yes. I'm sure it's no coincidence that Tyroc is coming back just when his old enemy Absorbancy Boy gets offered a place on his team. I can't wait to see them bust heads!

especially if Tyroc still has his 'reality warping' screams. (even though everyone thinks they're dorky) weather manipulation, pyrokinesis, telekinesis, explosions, etc. could make him a hefty enough hero to take absorbancy boy down a peg.

maybe levitz could do it well enough it made sense or just made him such a kick butt banshee/siryn character he can keep up with earth man, super boy as he could do in his debut story.

wasn't gloss from the new guardians of the late 80s able to control light and sound in cool energy manipulation ways beyond the sonic scream.

will Tyroc get a new codename though? 'Sound Lad'? 'Screaming Boy'? 'Shout Out Kid'?

someone probably already said this but TMK Matter Eater Lad alluded to the fact that Tyroc's powers used to be weird, and Tyroc didn't wanna talk about it. Maybe Tyroc's powers were just very amplified in Marzel (sp?) and/or on Earth, due to technology or magic related to Marzel (which disappeared when the Dominators destroyed Marzel (sp)) ..... and otherwise he just screams. but there's probably evidence of it outside of these situations. anyways ... just some sort of quick explanation for his wacky powers would be sufficient if he's just gonna be a screamer now.

or like all the powers Wildfire had in 195, they'll just be left in the past, shrugged off.

all he really needs is a consistent set of powers, an avenue to step beyond his Blaxploitation stereotype beginnings and a new codename.

well...if a ringtone can beat hay fever surely Tyroc can cause explosions, or at least turn off the tv.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7061696.ece

I think Matthew and Rhino have it right exactly. Paul absolutely realizes a murderer like Earth Man doesn't deserve redemption and that is what makes the conflict so dynamic. I understand if people don't like that as a storyline, but I think it makes for great comics and doesn't attack the integrity of the Legion or any Legionnaires.

Lot of good comments on this thread, showing Paul's decision to keep using Earth Man in this way was a good one to awaken some feelings in Legion fandom.

I kind of hope he doesn't die a heroic, sacrificial death either (to echo Kent). Bringing him on was a new, dynamic step and I'd like to see more of his storyline stay cliche-free.

I'm rooting for his redemption for that reason CK, not because he 'deserves it,' but because I'd tired of the cliche that evil always is evil, and no matter how many times the Legion 'wins,' they never truly win, because every single person they fight will just come back, as evil as ever (or even worse), no matter what.

(Nobody 'deserves' forgiveness, after all. They have to grant it to themselves. When we forgive someone, we aren't doing crap for them, we are only bettering ourselves.)

I don't think Tyroc's powers really need any work to be honest....I don't get how his power is any more wacky than Kryptonians coming up with new abilities at the drop of a hat, or Durlans being able to effortlessly shift shape (and remain perfectly functional) from something microscopic to a behemoth. Matter-Eater Lad and Bouncing Boy both have way sillier powers than Tyroc, but they are fan favourites.

I think there's some work that needs to be done with him, but I think his power is fine just the way it is personally...

On another note, I agree that it would be awesome and really organic to set him up as Earth-Man's big nemesis on the team..

I believe in redemption. I really do. However, for some actions such as murder or child sexual assault, it comes at a great cost and over a long period of time, and sometimes the cost is your own life. And redemption always requires that the person comes to a full understanding and awareness that what he/she has done is wrong and wants to atone for it. So for Earthman to find redemption I think he will have to die for his crimes.

well, BB, the writer's job is to entertain us - including surprise us and make us ponder things differently. Any writer who gives us exactly what we insist upon, and nothing more, has failed.

I'm still firmly in the no-more-deaths column.

I just want to see where the story goes. At least it ties into former events without requiring that the reader know all the details down to the last crumb.

are there any absorbancy boy fans that are bummed he's now a villain?

Well, he was always a villain, kind of.

Unless Absorbancy Boy absorbs Tyrocs powers, which, I'm told, is something he likes to do.

Am I happy about Earth Man being in the Legion?

No. But neither are the Legionnaires. One could argue about Blok being admitted so soon after he was part of a group that tried to kill the Legion.

I'm not saying I want EM around for the long haul, but I won't mind if the entirety of the story makes it entertaining.