Tag: James Gunn

Welcome back to our ad interim series where we go off the beaten path and explore the happenings that occurred alongside our beloved title, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes! In this installment we have DC Super-Stars #17, which gives us a bit more insight into the beginnings of the Legion of Super-Heroes and how they were first founded.

You may not have heard of DC Super-Stars #17, but it is quite noteworthy in that it makes the very first appearance of The Huntress and the tragic death of her mother, Selina Kyle, Catwoman, of Earth-2. Also to make this an even more meta issue, Mike Grell contributes the pencils for the fantastic Green Arrow story that also delves more into his origin, written up by Denny O’Neil as well. This was more than likely alongside the relaunch of the Green Lantern / Green Arrow title so DC Super-Stars #17 is really a must-have for any DC Fan or a fan of Mike Grell in this writer’s humble opinion.

Also what is interesting is that this is Juan Ortiz’s first issue, who would actually go on to pencil the Karate Kid series, taking over from Ric Estrada and Joe Staton. Welcome to Legion HQ Juan!

But for our purposes we will only focus on the Legion story, a telling of one of their first missions after saving R.J. Brande. It gives a good insight into not only how the Legion were granted such special privileges within the United Planets but also a glimpse of how they worked together from the very beginning. Join me as we unravel the…

Secret of the Quintile Crystal!

Honored by a thousand worlds, feared by countless interplanetary criminals, a mighty group of stalwart youths stands ready to defend the cause of justice in the far-flung 30th century! Each possessing a mighty power, they have banded together as…

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES!

But how did such a thing come to pass? How could mere teens acquire the right to seek out those who break the laws of a galaxy? Come, learn the answers to these questions and more!

A member of the Science Police points to a crystal that has been supplying the Metropolis Powersphere for a decade and now it about to be replaced. Superboy is confused because it seems that this is simply a routine procedure. Why call in the LSH? Saturn Girl is amused but then she remembers Superboy does not know the story of the crystals. As the Science Police agent starts transferring the crystal, Lightning Lad confirms that she is right, because the story of the crystal was actually their first case. Superboy is intrigued because he does not recall a crystal from all the files in the casebook he studied. Lightning Lad answers that is because they never recorded the complete details, for reasons I expect they will tell us now.

Accompanied by the sound of quiet mechanical hums, the gem is removed from its housing and transferred to the protected hand of the Science policeman. Saturn Girl asks that Cosmic Boy tells the story, and he recounts that fateful journey, when he, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl were traveling together to Earth for the very first time. But of course they had no code names then. They were just Rokk Krinn of Brawl, Garth Ranzz of Winath, and Irma Ardeen of Titan. We then flashback to the three sitting together as they noticed R.J. Brande, the richest man in the universe walking by. 

It was not until they landed that Irma Ardeen used her telepathic powers and sensed that someone was about to assassinate Mr. Brande. Rokk and Garth then used their powers together to take out the would be assassins, saving R.J. Brande’s life. Thankful, and seeing that he had an idea, he asked the three teenagers to meet him in his office the next morning. When they arrived, he told them of his plans. He wants them to use their talents to right crime and injustice and he would use his mass wealth to fund the whole operation. And with that he gave them colorful costumes and code names: Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad!

Shortly thereafter they were called for their first mission as Legionnaires. R.J. Brande brought up an image of a crystal on a vise-screen and began:

“Legionnaires, this is the Quintile Crystal, recently discovered by Floyd Marr, the Famous Star Explorer. The crystal is the one power source strong enough to activate the new power sphere, but it’s been stolen! Earth officials suspect who took it, but the situation is a tricky one for complicated diplomatic reasons.

“I’ve learned through my organization’s contacts that someone, I don’t know who, will be smuggling the crystal through the space customs station today! I think you three just might be able to recover it, before it’s sold to an enemy power!”

Flabbergasted, they asked how they can possibly get into the space station’s orbit? Brande smiled and asked them to follow him, because they obviously forgot the vast wealth he has at his command. They soon found themselves on a launching platform, looking at a massive spaceship, a structure Brande called the Legion Cruiser! Soon they were in docking at Space Station Z-7 and quickly found themselves observing all different types of aliens going through customs. Cosmic Boy asked Saturn Girl to use her telepathic powers and soon she discovered someone that was thinking about the quintile crystal, and she pointed to a figure in a heavy, purple robe. Cosmic Boy switched off the gravity machine causing the whole structure to become weightless, and Lightning Lad hit the figure with some electricity while Cosmic Boy snatched the box that contained the crystal. However, a Science Police Agent observed the incident and quickly commanded them to halt their activities. 

Since Cosmic Boy’s blast only temporarily upset the gravity, it quickly returned to normal. Lightning Lad was about to inform the officer on why they apprehended this suspect, when the officer interrupted him and told them all they are under arrest. Shocked, they quickly told him that their captive is holding the Stolen Quintile. The officer however disagreed and informed them that their captive is actually His Lordship Lorval, Ambassador of Planet Oianus, and he has diplomatic immunity. In fact, he informed them that they have no right nor authority to conduct any investigation or make any arrest. Lorval smiled as he calmly informed the officer that he will not press any charges. As they watched him leave, Saturn Girl told the officer that she has mental powers and that she knows he has the stolen crystal. The officer knew it too, but the government of Earth is actually planning on buying it back. And the actions of the three Legionnaires almost had cost them the mission. The three were discouraged but Cosmic Boy had a plan and told them that it is now time to return to Earth and to act on it. 

Later, Lord Lorval was sneaking through the shadows on the lowest levels of Metropolis, thinking how foolish those three kids were. He arrived at a secret location, said a few choice phrases, and the door was opened to him. He moved into the room, finding other hooded individuals already seated at a table. He calmly informed them that the bidding will begin immediately. However, Lorval is not satisfied with the amounts suggested and reminded the group the awesome energy that the crystal has and how much it could power. He sneered and suggested that perhaps the Khunds would show more interest. And as he began to leave, three hooded figures removed their robes and sure enough, it was Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad. Lorval was astounded and asserted that there will be war because Earth does not have any authority to restrain or arrest him. 

Cosmic Boy agreed but luckily there was no one to witness their action and Lightning Lad calmly told His Lordship that they will take the crystal but allow him to leave. Saturn Girl finished the coup because since the crystal was stolen in the first place, Lorval cannot accuse anyone of stealing what was already stolen. The three raced off to deliver the Crystal to Brande that put the case to bed.

The full story never did come out, but Mr. Brande leaked the basic details a few weeks later. The recognition was great, but Brande had planned something for them that was even more memorable. He invited the three to the Science Police Headquarters and of course they were a bit concerned on getting arrested again. But it proved to be the contrary for the Legionnaires were informed that from now on they would have honorary membership on all the member worlds and they were deputized as full-fledged officers of the Science Police, with authority to make arrests. 

We return to the ‘present’ when Cosmic Boy wraps it up and concludes that is why they were allowed to come collect the spent crystal. With the crystal now cooled enough, the Science Police agent happily hands it over to them and mentions that this act will redeem him as well. The Legionnaires are obviously confused and the agent takes off his helmet and smiles. By handing over this crystal, it will finally end all the teasing that he has gotten over the years, since he was the policeman who tried to arrest the Legion of Super-Heroes on their very first case!

Creative Team

The Legion of Super-Heroes were sure making quite a few appearances in DC titles in the summer of ’77. With the JLA crossover finished, we also got a nice little ten-page origin story and it, more or less, did the trick. It is a nice retelling and refresher for old and new Legion fans alike, and I also found the angle of them being arrested very interesting, and a solid reasoning for their receiving a special status in the United Planets. Also the little twist at the end where the Science Police agent ended up being the same person as the arresting officer was a nice touch. It was a neat little self-contained story and there really are not any real complaints from my end on this one.

The art was solid, this time pencilled by Juan Ortiz. This must have been Ortiz’s first crack at the Legion and he handled the classic look quite well. He did a great job of instilling that classic feel of the Legionnaires whilst ensuring that the ‘style’ of the story was modern for the time. Again nothing too much to complain about there and everything was handled quite well. Also, it is a nice little bookend to another entry in our ad interim series, DC Special #28, which also included the Powersphere and Metropolis. This helps keep the world contained and this issue fits in nicely with the Superboy series.

But the real meta reason for buying this one is Mike Grell. He is also in the book and his and Denny O’Neil’s great (albeit quick) retelling of Green Arrow’s origin is definitely worth the hefty price. A hefty price because this is also the book that contains the first appearance of Huntress. So make me rich James Gunn! 

Legion Medallion of Merit

With ten pages it is impossible to give out the Medallion to just one member. But you know? For one time only we are going to split this thing in three. Wait, scratch that. I do live in the Netherlands but that does not mean I am cheap. Each Legionnaire will receive their own medal and not have to share! Even from the beginning they really gelled as a team and they worked together to figure out how to bring this rogue diplomat to justice and also to ensure the safe return of a great power-source. It is no wonder R.J. Brande brought them under his influence to ensure that they had the financial means to continue doing good in the universe. 

Congratulations Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl! May you wear your medallions proudly, as a reminder that you are the three OGs!

And that is it for this little stroll down a sideway street. Join us already on Thursday when we reach probably the best and fantastical issue from Levitz and Sherman at this point, and dare I say, the whole series? But if there is just too much excitement as you anticipate the epic write-up that will occur in only two and a half days time, you can always redirect that energy and make the ever-lasting call the whole universe is familiar with…

LONG LIVE THE LEGION!