LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
Profiles:
Honorary and False Members
+
Legion Academy
Post-Crisis
Legionnaires • The
Subs • Teen Legionnaires
The Khund Legionnaires • Five
Year Gap Members • Honorary and False Members
This page covers non-Legionnaires who are either Honorary, Legion Academy members, or who joined under false pretenses. To find the others, choose from the Membership List, or the Profile Index.
Text courtesy of C. Keller's Legion Help File. Download the Legion Help File (Windows only) to access the wealth of other Legion info therein!
Alas! Nobody remembers Anti-Lad.
From Superboy #204 (1974). Art by Mike Grell.
FORGOTTEN MEMBER
Anti-Lad
NAME: [Unrevealed] of Earth (75th century)
FIRST APPEARANCE & JOINED: Superboy v.1 #204 (October 1974)
Nobody remembers the bald-headed Legionnaire called Anti-Lad… and that's fine with him. This young man was from the 75th century, and reviewed the Legion's history. He was most concerned with the day that the legendary hero, Superman, joined their ranks. But when he viewed the day with his time-scanner, he found that the Legion had not admitted him to the group after all!
With the help of his father, he deduced that something had gone wrong with the time stream. The lad took drastic measures, stealing his father's "timesmitter" and going back to that day in the 30th century. He appeared just after Superman had been rejected and was admitted as a member, calling himself Anti-Lad. Anti-Lad convinced the others to give Superman another chance. Using his advanced technology, he fought off all the Legionnaires and impressed them.
Brainiac 5 was suspicious of him, though, and discovered that Anti-Lad was using technology to emulate super-powers. Anti-Lad convinced the Legionnaires that it was he who had handicapped Superman with kryptonite during his Legion tryout. Thus, they gave Superman another chance.
When Anti-Lad returned to his future, he erased the Legionnaires' memories of his appearance, but left a strange image of himself on their holo-files. (Superboy #204)
VILLAIN: ADMITTED UNDER FALSE PRETENSES
Command
Kid
NAME: Jeem Rehtu of Pretzor
FIRST APPEARANCE: Adventure Comics #328 (January 1965)
Command Kid takes over.
From Adventure #328 (1965). Art by Jim Mooney.
Jeem Rehtu was flying around in his rocket-craft on his home planet Preztor, when he accidentally crashed on Taboo Isle, and was possessed by a demon. The demon used his body to escape the Isle, and he went to Earth to arrange other such bodies for his fellow demons. While on Earth, he encountered the Legion of Super-Heroes and hit upon the idea of giving his fellows super-powered bodies. He used hallucinatory powers to stop some crooks that the Legion was fighting, and the Legionnaires were so impressed, they offered him membership, which he accepted, calling himself Command Kid.
As a Legionnaire, he proved to be very effective, but also very rude, arrogant and obnoxious, especially around anyone offering him gold, which was anathema to demons of his type. In order to prepare the Legionnaires' bodies for possession, he created an illusion of Valor and Ultra Boy fighting, inciting the others to express jealousy of their greater powers. Command Kid offered them pills that would heighten their power levels, although the operation would require a period of suspended animation, an offer many Legionnaires accepted.
But Saturn Girl found out what he really was and deduced his weakness to gold, and she had Element Lad turn nearby machines into gold to exorcise the demon. The demon, which the Legionnaires had no way of containing, is still at large, and Jeem returned to Preztor, now powerless. (Adventure Comics #328)
Sketch by John Workman from
Amazing World of DC Comics #14 (1977)
ACADEMY MEMBER
Crystal
Kid
NAME: Bobb Kohan of Earth
FIRST APPEARANCE:
Amazing World of DC Comics #14
(March 1977).
In continuity: Legion of Super-Heroes v.1
#272 (February 1981)
Bobb Kohan was a young boy on a family picnic when his power to create crystal or transmute other objects into crystal surfaced... over his grandfather. As soon as he was allowed, he went straight to the Legion Academy to enjoy the camaraderie of other super-powered youths and to have a shot at Legion membership as Crystal Kid. (Legion v.2 #272)
Crystal Kid remains a student at the Legion Academy.
Crystal
Kid was a character created by a Legion fan. His name was originally
Rondo Kane, was created by Robert Cohen of Calgary, Alberta. He first
appeared in Amazing World of DC Comics #14.
Legion 1.5: Post-Crisis
In post-Crisis continuity (no longer valid), Crystal Kid became a full fledged Legionnaire…
He was still a student at the Legion Academy when, due to the Legion's economic woes, it had to shut down. Upset that his home for almost seven years was no longer open to him, he drifted around for a while, not doing anything of importance. He was on Mars when then-deputy leader Polar Boy caught up with him, during leader Sun Boy's drive for new blood to help keep the Legion alive. Bobb was willing to join, but not overly enthusiastic. When Black Dawn resulted in the disappearance of Wildfire, his closest Legion friend, he quit and returned to wandering. He decided that formenting dissatisfaction with Earthgov was a necessary service, and began publishing anti-Earthgov leaflets and newspapers.
Bad move. The Dominators were now running Earth, and were looking for super-powered subjects to experiment with. Crystal Kid was taken and placed in their underground chambers. Fortunately, he was in one adjacent to Danielle Foccart, who was aware of the chambers' impending destruction and saved him, April Dumaka and Xao Jin from going up with them. The foursome linked up with the Legionnaires who were on Earth at the time, including the members of Batch SW6, and stuck with them until the war to liberate Earth was over. He helped with the evacuation efforts when Earth was about to blow up, and hoped to join the re-formed Legion thereafter, but they were, for some reason, uninterested in his talents. He has since joined the former members of the Legion of Substitute Heroes as part of a United Planets security force, and was, with them, called to help transport the pockeet universe's Earth to the real universe. He disappeared due to Zero Hour shortly after this was accomplished.
Dynamo Boy takes over. From Adventure #330 (1965).
Art by
Jim Mooney.
VILLAIN: ADMITTED UNDER FALSE PRETENSES
Dynamo
Boy
NAME: Vorm of Tortuga
FIRST APPEARANCE: Adventure Comics #330 (March 1965)
The Legion of Super-Heroes became a major thorn in the sides of space pirates operating out of New Tartuga. So the top pirates of the Space-Pirate Pack staged a contest to see who would infiltrate the Legion and thereby destroy it. Vorm won the contest, and used a special belt to simulate energy-powers, which he demonstrated in front of Star Boy, impressing him. With Star Boy's help, Dynamo Boy became a Legionnaire, and proceeded to expel all the other members. He did this by causing the Legionnaires to violate clauses from their own constitution. After a month, he was the only Legionnaire in existence.
Dynamo Boy then proceeded to hold tryouts, looking not for good Legionnaires, but for people who would be easily corruptable. After rejecting several honorable applicants, he met three members of the time-traveling Legion of Super-Villains. For a while, the LSV allowed Vorm to believe that they were following his orders, committing good deeds by day and crimes by night. But eventually, they revealed that they had no need for him, and tricked him into a time machine set for the far future. Vorm was stranded there and has not been heard from since. (Adventure #330-331)
PRE-CRISIS ONLY (HONORARY MEMBER)
Elastic
Lad
NAME: Jimmy Olsen of 20th Century Earth
FIRST APPEARANCE: Superman v.1 #13 (November 1941). As Elastic Lad: Jimmy Olsen #31 (September 1958). GRANTED HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: Jimmy Olsen #72 (October 1963)
From Adventure Comics #524 (2011). Art by Phil Jimenez.
Gravity Kid
NAME: Tel Vole of Earth
FIRST APPEARANCE: Legion of Super-Heroes v.6 #6 (December 2010)
Notes
Gravity Kid's co-creator, Phil Jimenez, had this to say about his look (to Newsarama):
"His costume is absolutely a throwback. The character himself is a huge fan of and student of the Legion. So he's really book smart about the Legion. He might know a lot about Wildfire’s powers or Dream Girl’s battle skills, but he might not be able to tell you anything about them personally.
"The sensibility of his costume was inspired by the older, sexier Mike Grell costumes. And so he’s the one that kind of wears the sort of open shirt, skin tight. I wanted something sexy and proud of it, partly because he works out for that body and partly because, well, this is something the Legion would have worn, you know, back in 2487. Think of how, in current day, the ‘80s are coming back in modern fashion, and imagine him wanting to look like that era of the Legion."
Insect Queen infests Smallville. From Superboy #124 (1965).
Art by George Papp.
PRE-CRISIS ONLY (HONORARY MEMBER)
Insect Queen
NAME: Lana Lang of 20th Century Earth
FIRST APPEARANCE: Superboy v.1 #10 (10.50).
As
Insect Queen: Superboy v.1 #124 (10.65)
GRANTED HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: Adventure Comics #355 (April 1967)
In current continuity, Lana Lang did not become Insect Queen while Clark Kent was young. This mythos has, however, been reprised with the current adult Lana Lang of Earth-0.
When a true alien "Insect Queen" came to Earth looking for Luthor, she found Lana Lang presiding over Lexcorp instead. The Queen kidnapped Lana and took her form. (Superman #671) Lana escaped and freed other captives while the Queen captured Superman himself using her "midges" to exert control over his mind. (#672) Lana was able to talk him out of his trance and the Queen was rendered into suspended animation. (#673)
Afterwards, Lana became progressively more ill and was admitted to the hospital. (Supergirl #40-41) Lana then "died" in the hospital and was entombed in a cocoon. (#49) She emerged infected, as the Insect Queen herself. With some help from Supergirl, she was apparently freed of it, but their relationship was left strained. (#50)
There is another alien "insect queen" in the DC Universe. This is the Queen Bee, Zazzala of Korll, who has clashed with the Justice League several times. (Justice League of America #23, 60, 132, JLA #34)
HONORARY MEMBER
Kid Psycho's lament. From Superboy #125 (1965).
Art by George Papp.
Kid Psycho
NAME: Gnill Opral of Hajor
FIRST APPEARANCE, BECOMES RESERVIST: Superboy v.1 #125 (December 1965)
DEATH: Crisis on Infinite Earths #3 (June 1985)
After his astronaut parents were irradiated by a space creature, Gnill Opral of Hajor was born with an oversized brain which had the capacity for psychic powers. As soon as he discovered this, he became the hero of his home planet, but he was off-planet on a goodwill tour when a rogue asteroid wiped out Hajor's entire population. After some time mourning, he went to Earth, where he tried out for the Legion of Super-Heroes. The Legionnaires discovered something he didn't know, though: every time he used his powers, he shortened his own life. He was politely rejected, but he couldn't understand why, until he made a personal appeal to Superboy, who found a way to break the news to him. The Legionnaires, to compensate for the bad news, elected to make him an honorary Legionnaire, and promised to call upon his services if they should ever be dire enough to warrant the risk of his life. (Superboy v.1 #125) Kid Psycho was satisfied with this, and he remained on friendly terms with the Legionnaires, being invited to such affairs as the wedding of Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel (#200) and the Legion's anniversary celebration. (Legion v.2 #300)
His only real call to action, however, would be his last. In the first great "Crisis," Kid Psycho was engulfed by an anti-matter wave while defending London with one of his force-fields. (Crisis #3) He was memorialized with a monument on Shanghalla. (Legion v.2 #18)
Legion 1.5: Post-Crisis
In post-Crisis continuity (no longer valid), there was a second Kid Psycho who appeared on New Earth to cause trouble for the SW6 Legionnaires.
Sketch by John Workman from
Amazing World of DC Comics #14 (1977)
Besties: Nightwind and Lamprey.
From Legion v.2 #303 (1983). Art by Keith Giffen.
ACADEMY MEMBER
Lamprey
NAME: Tayla Skott of Earth
FIRST APPEARANCE: Amazing World of DC Comics #14
(March 1977).
In continuity: Legion of Super-Heroes v.1
#272 (February 1981)
Tayla Skott was an ordinary girl until her scientist uncle performed an illegal experiment on her to see if it would be possible to give humans gills with which to breathe underwater. The experimant worked, but it also gave her green skin and the ability to absorb, store and project electricity. As soon as she was old enough, she applied and was accepted to the Legion Academy at the same time as Nightwind, who became one of her best friends. (Legionv.2 #272) She has grown very close with Wildfire, who told his sad origin story to the girls (#283), and has defended the sometimes obnoxious Legionnaire to her less understanding classmates. (#304)
She has participated in many training missions, such as the cleanup of the Dominator base on Kathoon (Legion v.3 Annual #3), and regular training sessions (#47), but has never actually achieved Legion membership. Lamprey remains a student at the Legion Academy.
Lamprey
was a character created by a Legion fan. Lamprey, originally called
Angela Majors, was created by Scott Taylor of Portland, TX. She first
appeared in Amazing World of DC Comics #14.
ACADEMY MEMBER + MANHUNTER SPY
Superboy meets his (supposed) descendant.
Superboy & the Legion #217(1976). Art by Mike Grell.
Comet Queen and Laurel Kent.
From Legion v.2 #304 (1983). Art by Keith Giffen.
Laurel
Kent
NAME: Laurel Kent of Earth, aka Manhunter
FIRST APPEARANCE:Superboy & the Legion of Super-Heroes #217 (May 1976)
DESTRUCTION: Legion v.3 #43 (February 1988)
Millions of years ago, the Guardians of the Universe caused a disaster which unleashed evil on the universe. Feeling responsible for this, they created robots to combat evil, called Manhunters. Several centuries later, the Manhunters rebelled and the Guardians stripped them of the green energy that they were supposed to use in their mission and switched to using living beings, a plan which led to the formation of the Green Lantern Corps. They never did destroy the Manhunters, though, and the robots hid, plotting against their hated former masters.
In the late 20th century, after the first great "crisis," the Guardians abandoned the Corps and departed for another plane to figure out how they could once again begin to perpetuate their race. One pair came to Earth, believing they would help to usher in a new stage of cosmic evolution. The Manhunters launched a campaign to prevent these "New Guardians" from being borne. Thanks to Earth's super-heroes, the Manhunters failed. (Millenium #1-8)
But an android has infinite patience. The Manhunters' leaders knew that if the Guardians succeeded, they would need an agent in the future to thwart them anew. They designated one android as a "sleeper" agent, to seek out these immortals a thousand years in the future and destroy them. This Manhunter put itself into position, deciding that the strategy was to ally with the Legion of Super-Heroes. It joined the Legion Academy disguised as a young woman named Laurel Kent. Laurel told everyone that she was a direct descendant of Superman (and that she looked very much like Lois Lane). Laurel made close friendships with many Legionnaires and would-be Legionnaires, rooming with Dawnstar (Superboy v.2 # 217) and trained with Wildfire, Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel. (Superboy & the Legion #240, Legion v.2 #304, 316, 324, Legion v.3 #4, Annual #3)
As part of her disguise, she feigned a vulnerability to kryptonite, allowing herself to be "injured" by a bullet made of the substance. This happened during an attack from Professor Ivo, who targeted descendants of members of the Justice League of America. (Legion v.3 # 8, 9, 12, Annual # 1)
In 2987, Laurel made her move. To get access to Legion Headquarters, she began flirting with and dating Sun Boy. (Legion v.3 #41) She raided Brainiac 5's lab for any information she might be able to get on the immortals spawned by the thousand-year-old event. The Legion tried to stop her, but, since they did not understand the full extent of her power, she broke free. Brainiac 5 put together a sensor to detect the kind of radiation that the Guardians of the Universe used to give off, using it to track Laurel, and Laurel stole it to look for the immortals. The Legion, in order to trap her, located some ruins and artificially permeated them with the Guardian-energy, where they hoped to trap her. They did more than that. When Laurel saw how old and neglected the place was, she decided that the immortals already departed the planet, and that she had failed in her mission. With no further purpose in existence, the being known to the Legion as Laurel Kent self-destructed (#42-43)
ACADEMY MEMBER
Mandalla
NAME: Tari Wahlmunn of Takron-Galtos
FIRST APPEARANCE: Legion v.3 Annual #3 (1987)
From Who's Who in the Legion #4 (1988)
Mandalla is the daughter of female inmate Suni Wahlmunn, of the prison world Takron-Galtos—born while her mother was serving a sentence for embezzlement. Wahlmunn was allowed to keep Tari with her until the child was fourteen years old, at which time she was transferred to a private school on Wahlmunn's homeworld, Earth.
Tari's mother never revealed her father's identity, but from the powers that Tari exhibits, he could be Titanian. Tari can project a thought sphere to engulf her target, causing hallucinatory, distorting effects by interfereing with one's bio-electrical system. Ashamed of her mother's past, Tari wanted to free herself from the stigma of being born on a prison world, so she applied to the Legion Academy as soon as she arrrived in Metropolis. She was accepted and her first mission was to help Duo Damsel's group clean up after the Dominators on Kathoon. (Legion v.3 Annual #3)
Mandalla graduated from the Legion Academy and entered the Science Police. (Adventure #527)
ACADEMY MEMBER—DECEASED
Mentalla
NAME: Delya Castil of Titan
FIRST APPEARANCE: Legion v.3 #14 (September 1985)
DEATH: Legion v.3 #26 (September 1986)
After receiving the maximum training available on Titan, young Delya Castil decided to pursue membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes. Her timing was good, as Saturn Girl had resigned, and the Legion was scouting for new members. Her special ability to mentally control or inhibit others' motor systems made her finalist in the selection process. But when she was passed over in favor of Tellus, Delya was dispappointed and a bit angry. (Legion v.3 #14) She half-heartedly joined the Legion Academy but secretly hatched a plan of her own. She was inspired by Bouncing Boy's tale—how he'd gained acceptance into the Legion by sheer determination—and decided to tackle a villain on her own.
Mentalla quickly found herself in over her head after infiltrating the new Fatal Five. She fooled the Emerald Empress long enough, but the Empress killed Mentalla at the first sign of betrayal. Mentalla's last act did allow the Legionnaires to defeat the Fatal Five, however. Her heroism was rewarded with a statue in the Legion's Hall of Heroes. (#24-26)
TRAITOR: ADMITTED UNDER FALSE PRETENSES
Nemesis Kid blows his own cover.
From Adventure #346 (1966). Art by
Sheldon Moldoff.
Nemesis
Kid
NAME: Hart Druiter of Myar
FIRST APPEARANCE & JOINED: Adventure Comics #346 (July 1966)
DEATH: Legion v.3 #5 (December 1984)
Hart Druiter of Myar became a master alchemist at a young age, and created a serum that allowed his body to instantaneously adapt powers necessary to deal with any threat. He used these powers as a mercenary for a year, whereupon he was hired by the Khundish Warlord Garlak to infiltrate the Legion of Super-Heroes and sabotage any of their efforts to halt the upcoming Khundish invasion. Due to the urgency of the impending invasion, the Legion never thought to suspect that one of their new members was a spy, but after Earth's first two electro-towers were destroyed under the Legion's watchful eye, their suspicion was cast upon another new recruit, Karate Kid. Nemesis Kid might have gotten away with framing Val, but Karate Kid uncovered the truth by following Nemesis Kid into the Legion's arsenal (which he intended to destroy). His cover blown, he was attacked by many Legionnaires in unison, and his power, unable to adapt to so many opponents, teleported him to safety instead. (Adventure #346-347)
Nemesis Kid decided he needed more training in order to use his powers against the Legionnaires. He enrolled in Tarik the Mute's school to train a Legion of Super-Villains. After one caper, the Legionnaires built a cell for Nemesis Kid that appeared to be escape-proof, no matter what power he adapted. He escaped by adapting the power to travel through time, before the cell was built, and into the 20th century. He stayed there for a year, parlaying his knowledge of futuristic technology into a corporation caled FutureTech, which sold futuristic weapons. Karate Kid tracked him down in this era, but Nemesis Kid escaped again. He stole Karate Kid's time bubble and left a chronal energy-tracker in its place to lead the Legionnaire into his traps at the FutureTech building. Karate Kid managed to avoid Nemesis Kid's atomic-blasts, knocked Druiter out, and sent him back to the 30th century for incarceration. (Karate Kid #1)
Nemesis Kid returned to lead another incarnation of the Legion of Super-Villains after the "Great Darkness" allowed him to escape from Takron-Galtos. His first new recruit was the teleporter, Zymyr of Gil'Dishpan, who helped him free other members from prison. The Villains took over the planet Orando, which by then was the home of Karate Kid and his new bride, Queen Projectra. Karate Kid broke free of his bonds and faced Druiter directly. Despite his great skill, he was no match for Nemesis Kid's alchemical powers. With his dying breath, Karate Kid destroyed the Villains' machines that were threatening Orando. Nemesis Kid gloated over his victory, but not for long. One look in the bereaved Queen Projectra's eyes left him cowering, and she executed him for his murder of her consort, breaking his neck. (Legion v.3 #1-5)
Other Versions
Nemesis Kid was also a member on TV's Legion of Super-Heroes cartoon. It was hinted that he might be a traitor, but this story never came to pass before the series was canceled.
Sketch by John Workman from
Amazing World of DC Comics #12 (1976)
Besties: Nightwind and Lamprey.
From Legion v.2 #303 (1983). Art by Keith Giffen.
ACADEMY MEMBER
Nightwind
NAME: Berta Skye Haris of Earth
FIRST APPEARANCE: Amazing World of DC
Comics #12 (July 1976).
In
continuity: Legion
of Super-Heroes v.1
#272 (February 1981)
Berta Skye Haris is the benificiary of a recessive gene in her family that gives its females the power to create and control winds. As soon as she was old enough, she tried out for the Legion as Nightwind, only to be rejected. Upon the suggestion of Wildfire, whom she greatly admired, she enrolled in the Legion Academy along with fellow rejects, Lamprey and Crystal Kid, where she remains.
Nightwind
was created by a Legion fans. Originally called
"Nightwing," she appeared in Amazing World of DC Comics #12;
she originally was called Lara Londo, but was renamed Berta Harris
after her creator, Robert Harris of Allentown, PA.
Legion 1.5: Post-Crisis
Berta Skye Haris is the benificiary of a recessive gene in her family that gives its females the power to create and control winds. As soon as she was old enough, she tried out for the Legion as Nightwind, only to be rejected. Upon the suggestion of Wildfire, whom she greatly admired, she enrolled in the Legion Academy, along with her fellow rejectees, Lamprey and Crystal Kid. During her long stay in the Academy, she learned to control her cockiness, which was more the cause of her rejection than lack of adequate powers, and develop a more serious attitude toward fighting crime. She was finally deemed ready to join the Legion in 2990, the last actual "graduate" of the Academy (all other former students who joined later did so after the Academy's shutdown). She served a solid, if undistinguished, tour of duty until the Legion was forced to disband in 2992.
When the Legion disbanded, she was contacted by her former Academy teachers, Luornu Durgo and Chuck Taine, and offered a teaching position at the United Planets Militia Academy on Xolnar. She accepted, and soon became the toughest, and consequently, the most successful trainer there. When the Khunds started overrunning United Planets worlds in early 2995, Berta was chosen to lead a squad on a reconnaisance mission. Unfortunately, the Khunds had their sights set on Xolnar, and, on March 14, slaughtered her and her entire squad. The Legion eventually beat back the Khunds, and Berta was buried with full military honors on Xolnar. (Legion v.4 #15)
PRE-CRISIS ONLY (HONORARY MEMBER)
Pete
Ross
NAME: Pete Ross of 20th Century Earth
FIRST APPEARANCE: Superboy v.1 #86 (1.61)
GRANTED HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: Superboy v.1 #98 (July 1962)
ACADEMY MEMBER
Who is Power Boy?
From Adventure #354 (1967). Art by Curt Swan.
Power Boy does his level best.
Legion v.3 #14 (). Art by Steve Lightle.
Power
Boy
NAME: Jedidiah Rikane of Earth
FIRST APPEARANCE: Superboy & the Legion #240 (June 1978)
Jed Rikaine was born with control over his body's density, an ability that gives him super-strength, partial invulnerability, and purple skin. Hoping to join the Legion, he entered the Legion Academy, where he remained for years, going on many training missions (Superboy & the Legion #240, Legion v.2 #304), and even standing ready to back up the Legion when necessary (Legion v.3 #4), helping friends in need (#9), and pestering whomever necessary to get a tryout with the Legion. (#12) He finally got his shot in 2986, but he was rejected, and though he stayed at the Academy, he lost any hope of being a Legionnaire at that time. (#14) He decided to stay at the Academy anyway, participating in many more training missions (Annual #3) and sessions. (#47)
Jed remains a student at the Legion Academy.
Legion 1.5 (Post-Crisis)
In post-Crisis continuity (no longer valid), Jed Rikane went on to fulfill the ominous destiny of Power Boy. When the Legion Academy became the United Planets Militia Academy, Rikane joined Chuck and Luornu Taine on Xolnar. Jed died on that planet during a Khund attack. (Legion v.4 #17)
Proty II
ACADEMY MEMBER
Shadow
Kid II
NAME: Grev Mallor of Talok VIII
FIRST APPEARANCE: Adventure Comics #344 (May 1966)
Grev Mallor is a descended from a long line of heroes of the planet Talok VIII. He was raised by his grandfather — Sarven Mallor, the Planetary Champion of Talok — after his father's death near a cave on the outskirts of Talok City. His grandfather's work kept him in the city, but Grev preferred to remain with the rest of his family near the site of an ancient cave, sacred to their ancestors.
Grev did as his grandfather asked, and never entered the cave. That is, until the day he met his cousin, Tasmia Mallor. Tasmia arrived one day with sad news: Sarven had died. Tasmia was sent from the city to discover the secret to her family's shadow-casting abilities, ultimately to succeed her grandfather as Champion. She bore an artifact that led her to him, and to the sacred Cave of Shadows. Together they entered the cave and were greeted by the spirits of their ancestors, including their recently-deceased grandfather. The cave unlocked their shadow powers and they emerged as Shadow Kid and Shadow Lass. (Secret Origins v.2 #8)
Since she was older, Tasmia was selected as the new Champion and Grev took to the stars to find his own place as a hero. What the inexperienced youngster found instead was Nardo, an evil being who captured heroes from many worlds in his Super-Stalag of Space. Grev remained there for several months before being freed by several members of the Legion of Super-Heroes. (Adventure #344-345)
As fate would have it, Tasmia was eventually invited to join the Legion as well. Grev was then offered the title of Champion, but declined, feeling that he needed further training. With Tasmia's help, he enrolled in the Legion Academy, training in real-life assignments such as recapturing loose dangerous animals. (Superboy and the Legion #240, Legion v.2 #304)
After several years of training, he chose to leave the Academy and serve as protector of Talok VIII. But while discussing the subject with Bouncing Boy, he was kidnapped by a group of sorcerers who wanted to use his and Tasmia's darkness powers to revive Mordru. (Legion v.2 Annual #3) After this case, he remained on call with his fellow students to assist the Legion against the Legion of Super-Villains. (Legion v.3 #4)
Back on Talok VIII, he discovered that the Yakka-Mahor mountain men were massing for an attack, being led by the beautiful Lady Memory. He was about to disrupt her sorcerous rites when he was captured by her hired enforcer, the Persuader. Fortunately for Grev, Tasmia began to worry when she stopped receiving his regular transmissions. She and several Legionnaires returned to Talok VIII to investigate and rescued him. (Tales of the Legion #318-319) Because he was unable to stop the Persuader, he returned to the Legion Academy. (Legion v.3 Annual #3)
Grev graduated from the Legion Academy and returned to Talok. He assumed the planetary champion's role from his cousin, Tasmia. (Adventure #527)
...
Variable Lad
NAME: Oaa Tseldor of Jaquaa (deceased)
KNOWN RELATIVES: Dr. Gym'll (uncle)
FIRST APPEARANCE: Legion of Super-Heroes v.6 #6 (December 2010)
Notes
Variable Lad's co-creator, Phil Jimenez, had this to say about his look (to Newsarama):
"Yeah. Variable Lad is my throwback to a supporting character from the Legion. His name was Dr. Gym’ll. And when we were designing these characters, I wanted someone that was not just totally new. I always liked Dr. Gym’ll. I thought he was kind of funny, and I thought, oh, what if this Variable Lad was just, you know, is a favorite of the Legion doctor because he’s a good kid and he has this power. And so in designing him, I made him kind of like a taller, leaner version of that character, and knowing that his color is purple, I wanted to use colors that would really play off of that, which is why he’s in white and yellow.
"Further, he’s probably the most insecure on the team, at least in my head. And so I wanted the colors to reflect that. And so that led to the white and yellow, just because it generally subconsciously suggests a certain amount of fear. He’s not a fighting character. He’s not a wuss, but he definitely is the most – what would I say? He’s the least confident of them, and I wanted the costume on some level to represent that."
ACADEMY MEMBER
The
Westerner
NAME: Timthy Santoza of Earth
FIRST APPEARANCE: Legion v.3 Annual #3 (1987)
From Who's Who in the Legion #7 (1988)
Santoza's power is the ability to absorb strength and endurance from others for his own use. This power runs in his family's bloodline, but never to the level found in Timthy, who studied under an off-planet tribal shaman. After applying to the Legion Academy, he learned more about using his power. Being one of the few mystics in the Academy, the Westerner strives to keep his temper in check and achieve true inner peace. His ambition is not to become a Legionnaire, but rather a teacher out in the frontier colony schools.
The Westerner remains a student at the Legion Academy.