Keep clicking! I have gone through all of the heroes you see below, recently adding Power Girl, the Spectre, the Huntress, and the Sandmen. In addition, this has led me to want to do more robust profiles of the original JSAers, something I feel better able to do now than in the past. But start here, there's lots to see and read. » SEE ALSO: Members
Also... I had to get rid of the Wordpress skin. I can't begin to tell you what a pain it was. I was hoping people would comment more but I got very few and the spam that came in probably drowned out what little WAS commented upon. :^|
28 APRIL 2013
» Magnify!
I finally made a way to enlarge the images you see, mostly in profiles—or any pics that are inside an outlined box. It's my practice to upload good-sized images (750px or larger), but on the page they are usually shrunken. Thanks to Dynamic Drive!
In profiles, click any image to see the enlarged view.
For this job I had to get up to speed with tablet computing and since then I have begun buying most of my new books digitally. This week I bought all of them online (via Comixology). It’s very weird for a habit that’s been in place all my life.
But for a while now I have become increasingly annoyed by the space given over to comic boxes. Add my depression over the entire New 52, and having print copies became relatively meaningless to me. I only care now to have hard copies of the comics that I track/blog—anything JSA, Legion, Wonder Woman, or Quality related.
I’ve found the tablet reading experience rather rewarding. The “guided view” mode takes you panel by panel. In this mode, I find myself lingering much more on the art than before, and I do indeed feel a little more immersed in the story, less likely to breeze through.
My main question is: what happens if Comixology goes out of business? You aren’t allowed to download your own comics to your own computer, and they have a monopoly. There’s other bad things about this situation, too. My tablet is a Kindle Fire, and DC is in some pissing match with Amazon, so you can’t buy DC Comics through the Kindle version app. What I have to do instead is buy them off the web site, then add them via the app. No customer should have to do that.
I’m working at a few things aside from this! Read the Justice Society Intro! I did hella work on this, which is leading to my finally writing full profiles for all JSA members but it’s quite the task. I’ll start getting the New 52 heroes written up, too!
And I’m also sorting out the Grant Morrisson Action Comics run and will be posting those Legion-related events, too. The story was sprawling and jumped in time.
Here’s what’s been happening in issues relative to Cosmic Teams! Read the full chronologies:
Power Girl creates an earthquake near Los Angeles as a cover to raid Holt Industries. Huntress tries to hack their systems and is attacked by T-spheres. She receives a call asking her to come to Gotham; Damian Wayne has been killed. She visits his grave at Wayne Manor. Just as Batman closes on her, Power Girl sweeps her away. Someone pretending to be Michael Holt appears (with aide Aleeka Musgrave).
World’s Finest #10 (May 2013)
In Mali, Huntress finds Reynard, a man implicated in arms connected to the missing Wayne money. Then she breaks into Holt’s mansion In Las Vegas, Karen attends a conference. “Holt” makes his appearance and shows his true colors: he is Desaad. They break into a government database and find no evidence of knowledge of parallel earths.
World’s Finest #11 (June 2013)
Two years prior: Kendra and Khalid are on the run in Egypt. She is transformed, growing wings while he discovers the Helm of Nabu. In the Realm of Nabu, Karel Wotan (Nabu’s ancient enemy) blackmails Flash into retrieving the Helm for him. When Khalid wore the helmet, he was overwhelmed by Nabu’s spirit, thoughts and personality. After removing it, he suffered from insanity. He ordered the helmet to go where no one could get it—the Tower of Fate. Wotan represents a group who wants the powers. He transports the heroes inside where they face the Great Beast. Alan meets Sam Zhao’s father in Wuxi, China. He’s certain that Sam was the target of the attack, not Alan. Alan seeks out Hawkgirl in Louisiana for help.
Earth 2 #10 (May 2013)
In Egypt’s past, Nabu fought Wotan, a female magician in her third lifetime. Her magic allowed for eternal memory between incarnations but she was cursed by Nabu to always bear green skin. Nabu died ten years later. Jay’s blind courage inspires Khalid to take on the Helm of Fate against his better judgment, to save Jay’s mother from Wotan. In St. Draemyre, capital of Dherain, Steppenwolf tells Fury of the “lost son” who escaped from them a year prior—Mr. Miracle and Barda have been hiding in now-devastated Gotham City. He sends her to capture him. Nabu mentions Khalid’s dead guardian, Kent Nelson. He finds the helmet and agrees to be the agent of chaos and order and dubs himself Doctor Fate (he’s a doctor of archaeology). Sanity: “if your will is strong, perhaps not. What you hear now are but echoes of my soul within the helm, to counsel you in your new role. In time my voice will fade and … if the man you are by then is ready alone, the future may surprise you.” When he first encountered the helm, he predicted Jay’s destiny. He transforms and saves Jay from the Beast.
Earth 2 #11 (June 2013)
Harmonia (newly elected deputy leader) and Dragonwing stave off protestors who blame the Legion for the power failures. Above Earth, Mon-El barely muscles a cruiser out of a gravity well. Glorith reveals that to teleport, she must be unrestrained, and only to her homeworld; she opens a portal to to it. Brainiac 5 directs the Legionnaires to scramble together pre-quark technology to build a cruiser. Gravity suspension fails and Legion HQ is destroyed just as they take off. Star Boy is left behind. Tharok controls the Promethean giants.
Legion v.7 #18 (May 2012)
3030 AD, Nugothrotropolis: The Legion works undercover in a world run by Universo. Cosmic Man, Saturn Woman, Lightning Man, Umbra, Shrinking Violet, Chameleon and Sensor (a snake, Wildfire also mentioned) break into their old headquarters after a Time Bubble. They are able to activate it for a one way trip. In the 21st century, Superman battles the Kryptonite men and Xa-Du who says “the little man blames you for everying.” Krypto comes to his aid. Jimmy and Lois save Mr. Triple X from an assassin (in hat), the Legion arrive to help. The little man unleashes Super-Doomsday. Backup: 2013: People gather in Metrpolis to welcome President Hiroshi Takaneda, who negotiated the end of the Antares War; he is Universo in disguise. They stop an assassin, Dolo Rol of Naltor who warns Takaneda will ruin everything, before he commits suicide. 7 years later Earth is under martial law. 2 years after that worlds secede from the U.P. NOTE: Pencils by Chris Sprouse. Costumes do not match those from Legion: Secret Origin.
Action Comics #16 (Mar. 2013)
The Legionnaires say their future happened because Superman died. They seek to prevent the Age of Universo by rewriting the past. They visit Mrs. Nyxly looking for him then go into the past too late to save the Kents. Forward to current day they take him back to when the kryptonite was stolen, then they urge him to head to Mars. They also visit Triple X in the hospital. Vyndktvx found that he needed help to bring down Superman so recruited his army. Ma and Pa Kent are killed in a car crash caused by Vyndktvx.
Action Comics #17 (Apr. 2013)
Ferlin Nyxly is a “damaged edge” of Vyndktvx, son of Myxyzptlk (aka/Triple X), who had five children with Nyxlygsptlnz (Mrs. Nyxly on Earth) and she died in labor. The only daughter was loved above the others. His wife escaped to the 2nd dimension iusinger her blood, connected to the color red in Superman’s “S”. Susie returns with Captain Comet and the Wanderers, neo sapien superwarriors from half a dozen worlds (and based on the post-Crisis Legion era team): Photine (Quantum Queen) channels energies, Elvith of Assassin’s World (Elvar), Quiller with spikes (Dartalon), [birdman] (Aviax). Comet is also a teacher to these people. He helps Superman to make the whole world say their names backwards simultaneously, which banishes him, because 5-D words are like thunder. He promised Mrs. Nyxly to grant her a wish involving the color red so he goes to Mars.
For your pleasure, I have digitized the following three articles from The Amazing World of DC Comics #16 (Dec. 1977)! These are real gems, some fun and some revelation here, especially in the one by Paul Levitz, from a time when he was writing All-Star Comics (and creating the Huntress).
Then the aforementioned Levitz-penned “Aging the All-Stars.” ln it he gives behind-the-scenes insight as to how he characterized the JSA members, in light of their advancing ages.
Finally, the regular feature, “The Legion Outpost,” by Jack C. Harris. This one is all about the Time Trapper!
I just acquired both of these posters from Ebay too! They were too large to scan nicely so I did my best with the camera and Photoshop. I’ve been looking for the second one for a long time, and TWO of them have been for sale recently on ebay.
1993 Legion v.4, retail (22″ x 34″); By Stuart Immonen.
1997, retail (22″ x 34″). By Stuart Immonen and Mark Farmer.
Enjoy these scans from The Amazing World of DC Comics #16 (Dec. 1977)—The Golden Age Issue! They are large enough to function as wallpaper, too. I can’t believe I didn’t buy this before now. I got a lovely copy on ebay and it contains not only great JSA and DC Golden Age stuff, but two articles about Quality Comics. Also, the regular Legion feature details the history of the Time Trapper. The centerfold is this black-and-white JSA illustration by Joe Staton (which reminds me, I have super page of original art by this team from All-Star Comics #68!).
I might digitize some of the contents, there’s some gems in here…
Cover of Amazing World #16
Centerfold by Joe Staton and Bob Layton
Contents:
“Roots of the Golden Age.” Skip Kirkland. 2–5.
“The Freedom Fighters.” Roger Klorese. 6–9.
“In the Beginning.” Thomas Tuna. 10–17.
“That Rough ‘n Ready, Redclad, Rubberband Man… Plastic Man.” Larry Herndon. 18–21.
“Dating the All-Stars.” Paul Levitz. 22–23.
“Centerspread.” Black-and-white illustration by Joe Staton and Bob Layton (see above).
“The Silver Age of Comcis.” Mike Gold. 29–34.
“A Small Meeting of the JSA.” Fred Schneider. 35–37.
“Speculations on the Spectre.” Cary Burkett. 38–41.
Huntress is shot upon a bounty ordered by Ibn Hassan in New York then rescued by Power Girl en route to the hospital, and taken to Starr Island. She then finds Hassan. Batman suspects something from Robin’s recent adventure with the ladies.
World’s Finest #8 (Mar. 2012)
Starr Island is raided by people aiming to reclaim Michael holt’s technology. One has a gun that stuns Power Girl. 44 mo ago: Helena visits her friend, Sade, in New York for her new uniform, and a crossbow. A month later in Prague she rescues some trafficked women. Karen helps her but still refuses to go costumed.
World’s Finest #9 (Apr. 2012
Steppenwolf has been sheltered by King Marov of Dherain, who aided him in the past. He’s unable to create a Boom Tube home. Steppenwolf unleashes his secret weapon: Fury, the daughter of Wonder Woman whom he kidnapped and raised from a young age. She wields a whip and resembles New Gods Barda and Lashina of the Female Furies. They kill Marov and assume control.
Earth 2 #8 (Mar. 2013)
Kendra visits Khalid Ben-Hassin in New Orleans. The ancient Egyptian mage, Nabu, is in his head warning of coming evil. She was there when he was chosen to receive the Helm of Nabu. She got her wings at the same time. He has sent the Helm away and teleporting causes temporary insanity. Jay returns to his mother’s in Lansing, watched by Khalid. Dodds has visited her and is watching as well, attacking with the Atom to take in the Flash. Major Sonia Sato leads the arrest. Khalid saves them at the last minute, teleporting into Nabu’s black realm where they meet Wotan at witness the impenetrable tower housing the Helm.
Earth 2 #9 (Apr. 2013)
Glorith is summoned to Barcelona where she causes a timestorm. Harmonia encourages her to sheild the world from herself, and things retgurn to normal. Chameleon Boy investigates their failures to stop the Fatal Five.
Legion v.7 #15 (Feb. 2012)
The Legion elects Phantom Girl as their next leader—to her surprise. Cham goes to check Validus on Takron Galtos, finding like others, only a hologram remains in custody. Star Boy returns to duty. Brainy and Harmonia continue to study Glorith. Far away in space, a quark relay is disabled, hobbling legions of ships.
Legion v.7 #16 (Mar. 2012)
Adym and Harvest discuss their shared goal and Adym receives somthing that will help him in the future. Adym goes an hour back in time. Harvest uses Leash to breach the force field and retrieve the object he’d just given Adym then returns to Mongolia. Also inside the field, Gates meets his past self from just after their arrival, after Alastor. They work together to open a gate to a black hole, sucking Daggor away. The younger is blasted by Daggor, disfiguring half of his body. Adym arrives and the singularity bomb is set. He discovers his artifact from Harvest creates a null field. He cannot go forward in time, so he goes backwards just as the bomb ignites inside Gates’s portal and everything and everyone inside the field are sucked away. Superboy regains his senses. Psykill returns Wildfire’s original containment suit and he’s restored. Gates returns. Tellus reveals that Daggor’s device wasn’t a bomb but a communicator to summon his master. Final issue.
Legion: Lost v.2 #16 (Mar. 2013)
3030 AD, Nugothrotropolis: The Legion works undercover in a world run by Universo. Cosmic Man, Saturn Woman, Lightning Man, Umbra, Shrinking Violet, Chameleon and Sensor (a snake, Wildfire also mentioned) break into their old headquarters after a Time Bubble. They are able to activate it for a one way trip. In the 21st century, Superman battles the Kryptonite men and Xa-Du who says “the little man blames you for everying.” Krypto comes to his aid. Jimmy and Lois save Mr. Triple X from an assassin (in hat), the Legion arrive to help. The little man unleashes Super-Doomsday. Backup: 2013: People gather in Metrpolis to welcome President Hiroshi Takaneda, who negotiated the end of the Antares War; he is Universo in disguise. They stop an assassin, Dolo Rol of Naltor who warns Takaneda will ruin everything, before he commits suicide. 7 years later Earth is under martial law. 2 years after that worlds secede from the U.P. NOTE: Pencils by Chris Sprouse. Costumes do not match those from Legion: Secret Origin.
CORRECTION: Greg Augustin, who used to run another Justice League site, has taken on the characters of the new 52 and created the DC Universe Power Profiles (site location has changed!).
You’ll find most major Justice Leaguers and other major DC heroes with a DCnU history and power summary.
Investigating two leads to the stolen Wayne money, Power Girl finds children militants in Africa guarding a satellite relay station. They have Apokoliptian weaponry that flattens her. A Boom Tube opens and spirits the children and the hut away but she retains the gun. Huntress and Robin encounter a pack of giant wolves and then an even larger man-wolf. After they defeat it, Robin promises not to tell Batman about her.
World’s Finest #7 (Feb. 2012)
It’s announced that Alan Scott survived the train crash, explaining he’d been delayed. Hawkgirl visits him, giving her full name: Kendra Munoz-Saunders, a treasure hunter who signed on for a mission with the World Army. It led to her getting her wings, which are apparently biological. She fled from them. She challenges him to team with her again, bullseyeing his ring into a photo of he and Sam. Before he can don the ring, she’s gone. Amar Khan learns that the World Army is allowing Sloan to stay on. Khan has already assigned the Sandmen to find Sloan’s hidden bases. They teleport in using a mist and find Michael Holt waiting for them: brainwashed into defending Sloan’s lair. Sloan takes the android Red Tornado from their Tokyo facility, to Portland in America. Mentions GBC’s Lee Travis and her cameraman, James Wing. In original continuity, Travis was a man, the Crimson Avenger, and his sidekick was a boy named only Wing; 1st app. Detective Comics #20 (1938). Dodds mentions Emperor Lux and his Lone Star Secessionists, and Neo-Prussians. Dodds is Canadian, others are Mexican, Italian, and Greek. Captain Steel “was the work of his own late father.”
Earth 2 #7 (Feb. 2013)
Element Lad and Chemical Kid go after the Braalian pirates. When Jan is knocked out, Hadru is on his own. He successfully influences Element Lad’s biochemistry. Night Girl, Shadow Lass and Lightning Lass join in time to clean up. Dr. Gym’ll remarks that there are no ambient magnetic energies around Cosmic Boy. Brainiac 5 theorizes that Comet Queen meant to kill not the Legion, but him specifically. At a storage facility, M’wim shows the Persuader’s axe to Phantom Girl and Sun Boy; they discover it has been replaced by a hologram.
Legion v.7 #14 (Jan. 2012)
Wildfire heads to confront Daggor and his suit is destroyed. Captain Nathaniel Adym makes a comment that mirrors one made later by Harvest. To get inside the force field, Adym plans to take his Time Bubble back in time to that space, but he’s willing to kill half the continent. Tyroc and Yera both defy his orders.
I finally scored these 1980s Legion posters for a reasonable price! I haven’t really seen any high res good quality scans of these, so I took the liberty of doing so, and even cleaned up the creases. Available here for your new wallpaper, just download the images…
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