Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Obscure Legion Stories

Looking at the list of early Legion adventures included in the Archives and Showcase collections, there are a few stories that seem equally worthwhile, but consistently seem to not make the cut. Take Superboy #93, for example. Lana Lang is thwarted in her attempt to prove Clark is Superboy by a timely assist from Chameleon Boy. To me, it seems to be as significant as Lightning Lad’s appearance in Superboy #86 just a few months before, but it’s never included on lists of early Legion appearances. Another one is Superman #152. The Legion throws a surprise party in the Fortress of Solitude in honor of the anniversary of Supergirl arriving on Earth. What other stories are out there, that either feature the Legion or have cameos, that you think should be acknowledged? I’m mostly thinking of early stories (pre-Adventure #300), but I’m equally interested in tracking down obscure stories from any era.

The Legion Checklist on this very board is a great resource for tracking these down!

I also find it weird sometimes that certain stories got canonized in the Archives/Showcase while others didn't. There's several substantial LSV stories that, while they don't technically feature the LSH, really seem like they should have been included.

I keep forgetting about the Legion Checklist. Great resource. I have organised my catalogue/collection by the chronological printing order in the Legion Wiki but the checklist is even more complete.

One of the best recent LSV stories in my opinion was the 2005 Absolute Power tale by Jeph Loeb in Superman/Batman #14-#18. Terrific story of the LSV going back in time to change Superman and Batman's origins and raise them as their own adopted children and have them take over the world.

As an aside, do people still use the Legion Wiki? I have used it myself but it is a bit out of date now. Every so often I think about bringing it up to date but I wonder if it is worth the effort. Any opinions?

I use the Wiki and it has been being updated (by Nightcrawler I think). It is useful but I think he is concentrating on the main publication history and not any parodies, homages etc. It currently goes up through Legion vol 8 #5 I think.

IDLE

You're right! Apparently I'm the one that hasn't been using it for a while.

Great job Nightie

Superboy 93 is quite obscure indeed, but I would argue most of the stories before Adventure Comics 300 qualify. Reviewing the Legion's pre-history, I'm constantly surprised by how little the first stories are referenced.

Take Adventure Comics 267: without looking it up, how many people can remember what the Legion's second story was even about?
On this forum probably more than a few, but I'm guessing not a lot.

Tell me about it! A kid from the future told me to sink my savings into Superboy Planet! One false imprisonment later, and no one ever wanted to hear about it again!

They may not be so many reference, due to the lack of accessibility to the comics. A lot of people may not have read these stories until Archives.

The Legion was still evolving significantly in these stories: Lightning Boy, eye based powers, The Legion of Supergirl being the kids of the ones that Superboy met etc. The later stories, where the concept is more firmly established get referenced.
Also, as the legion were guest stars, there's not always a lot to reference. The time where Cham pretends to be Clark to foil Lana; The hazing of Superboy; The imprisoning of Superboy; The Supergirl invites to join; Star Boy pretending to like Lana to make Superboy jealous. Lots of first appearances, and lovely stories. But perhaps not necessary to revisit.

I think Mon-El's first appereance is probably the most referenced Legion story before Adventure #300. Maybe even more than Adventure #247: aside from "we went to the past to recruit Superboy", I'm not sure anything has been referenced again.
Which is a shame, the Invisible Eagle of Neptune could've been the inspiration for Invisible Kid's origin :-)

Desperate to make an impression on the Try-out committee...

Imra: >sigh< we've got a letter from a guy who accidentally drank some kind of serum....
Garth: Yuck! serums! Let's put him back to next year's try outs.
Lyle: Yikes! Mustn't mention serums...
Rokk: Next!
Cham: Hi! I can transform into any animal with my super disguise powers. Anything...like this Venusian Fire Bird!
Garth: Wow! A bird origin. I like that! super disguise will help us guest star in loads of Superboy stories, where we pretend we're Clark and friends.
Imra: Next!
Lyle: Mustn't mention serums...mustn't mention....
Rokk: Sound Blocker Lad! You're Up!
Garth: What's your origin Kid?
Lyle: Me?....seru...no...um...(looks at Cham)...birds! Yes, Birds!
Imra: You have bird powers?
Lyle: um...no...I was...um...raised by birds....
Rokk : Like Black Condor? (totally giving away he'd been pinching time bubbles since the team started)
Lyle: um...no...mine were Neptunian birds....invisible Neptunian birds...
Garth: That sounds rough.
Lyle: Yeah, we thought we'd been abandoned by our parents all the time, but they were right there in the nest...