Superboy's Legion
Encyclopedia
Superboy's Legion is a two-issue mini-series
, published by DC Comics
in 2001
under the Elseworlds
banner. It was written and inked by Mark Farmer
, with pencils by Alan Davis
.
The series is a tale about if baby Kal-El, the last survivor of the doomed planet Krypton
, had been raised in the 30th Century. The story uses elements from the Silver Age
of comic books, most notably from the original Legion of Super-Heroes
series.
Various other Legion characters seen during the story are Triplicate Girl
, Tellus
, Karate Kid
, Ferro Lad
, Wildfire
, Dream Girl, and the Legion of Substitute Heroes
(composed of Night Girl
, Fire Lad
, Stone Boy
, Chlorophyll Kid
, and Polar Boy
).
. Inside the lifepod lies a baby boy, Kal-El of Krypton
. Kal-El's rocket was set on a course for the planet Earth
in the 20th century moments before Krypton's explosion, but it crashed into an asteroid and has remained there for approximately a thousand years. Fourteen years later, in 3001, Kal-El becomes Kal Brande. R.J. Brande adopted the young boy and raised him as his own child. Kal has gained superpowers due to the effects of the radiation
from Earth's sun. Kal calls himself Superboy, inspired by legends of heroes from the 20th century, and attempts to use his powers to help people.
Every planet in the Milky Way
Galaxy is protected and watched over by the Science Police
, who are guided by the computer Universo
. In the eyes of the science police, Kal is a misfit because he damages public property and makes unregistered flights into space via his powers. The police threaten R.J to control Kal's behavior
or his business will be disconnected from all utility and power sources. After a heated argument between Superboy and R.J, Superboy flies off into space to the former location of Krypton. He witnesses a member of the Green Lantern Corps
fighting against a Khund
space vessel and helps the Lantern, known as Talu-Katu. Talu-Katu reveals that the Green Lantern Corps protects all sectors of space that are not under police protection, but their resources are limited. Superboy forms the idea to form his own group.
Meanwhile, on the luxury space cruiser Lystrata, crew members and a young couple Imra Ardeen
of Saturn
's moon Titan
and Rokk Krinn of the planet Braal
, defend the ship against an energy called a blister
beast. Imra is a psychic
and Rokk has magnetic abilities, and the two are helped by Superboy. The trio form a team called Superboy's Legion. Imra calls herself Saturn
Girl, and Rokk calls himself Cosmic Boy. They hold televised tryouts, covered by young reporter Lois Olsen, for more members on Titan. They induct best friends Dirk Morgna (Sun Boy
) and Gim Allon (Colossal Boy) of Earth, Salu Digby (Shrinking Violet) of Imsk, Chuck Taine (Bouncing Boy
) of Earth, Jan Arrah (Element Lad
) of Trom, and Tasmia Mallor (Shadow Lass
) of Tallok VIII. Superboy meets Lois and a spark seems to form between the two after the tryouts. When news comes of a giant asteroid about to collide with planet Rimbor
, "the planet everyone gave up on", the Legion sets out to save the planet.
On Rimbor, word of the asteroid's collision has caused mass hysteria
. Jo Nah (Ultra Boy
) and his girlfriend, princess
Tinya Wazzo (Phantom Girl
) of the planet Bgztl, plan to destroy the asteroid with a bomb
until discovering Reep Daggle (Chameleon Boy
), a Durlan shape-shifter sent by Tinya's mother, Winema, to watch over Tinya. The two decide to use Reep to help stop the asteroid by turning him into a spaceship
. As the Legion heads for Rimbor, they are contacted by Lyle Norg (Invisible Kid
) of Earth, and Querl Dox (Brainiac 5
) of the planet Colu. They inform the Legion that Superboy's plan to smash the asteroid will fail because the asteroid is too large. They Legion calls in Thom Kallor (Star Boy
), the last survivor of the planet Xanthu
, who uses his gravity powers to increase Superboy's mass
to stop the asteroid. Superboy shatters the asteroid, and the Legion collects the fragments.
The Legion is attacked by the Fatal Five
, five of the most dangerous criminals in the galaxy; and the ones responsible for Xanthu's destruction. Emerald Empress
gains an advantage over Superboy with her powerful talisman
, the Emerald Eye, due to his weakness against magic. Mano
, a mutant born with an anti-matter touch, burns Star Boy's face. Cosmic Boy has his right arm cut off by the Persuader
's atomic axe, and Colossal Boy is killed in battle with the giant Validus
. When the Five leave, they take Brainiac 5 back to their base under orders from their leader, Lex Luthor
.
Superboy is met on Rimbor by Garth Ranzz (Lightning Lad), his sister Ayla (Light Lass) and their friend Sensor joined the Legion after watching the initial tryouts on Omninet. Superboy is not sure he wants to do any more good after getting Colossal Boy killed. Starboy encourages Superboy to rescue Brainiac 5, not to prove himself or avenge anyone, but because it is the right thing to do.
The rescue party arrive at Colu, but the planet is now visible and is being accessed by the computers in Luthor's ship. Luthor sics the Fatal Five on the heroes to avoid interference. Superboy and the Legion arrive and incapacitate the majority of the villains. Sensor mind controls the Emerald Empress into believing her Eye has been destroyed, Tinya and Reep trick and knock out Mano and the Persuader; and Sun Boy uses his rage at Colossal Boy's death
to stop Validus.
On Earth, Saturn Girl senses a malevolent presence inside the Universo computer and attempts to find it, but Leeto orders the Science Police to gun her down. The Science Police realize Leeto is paranoid and they see that Saturn Girl is their only hope as Universo starts to crash. Saturn Girl discovers the evil presence is diverting Universo's power to Colu. Luthor becomes aware of the interference and snaps the Emerald Empress out of Sensor's illusion to stop Saturn Girl. The Empress blows up Invisible Kid's ship before she leaves as Bouncing Boy prevents his friends crashing into Colu. The Emerald Empress arrives on Earth and traps Saturn Girl and the others, ruining any chance they had of fixing Universo. When Ferro Lad learns the Eye's powers are magical, he uses his power to turn into iron to incapacitate it, while Karate Kid uses his knowledge of pressure points to knock out the Empress. Saturn Girl then befriends the Eye and convinces it to serve as Universo's replacement.
On Colu, Superboy rescues Brainiac 5 from Luthor's ship, but Luthor has transferred his mind into an indestructible robot and continues to hack into Colu. After being rescued from Tharok by the Legion, Superboy engages Luthor, who reveals he has been watching Superboy and planned to transfer his mind into Superboy's body to achieve immortality
. The Legion severs his link to Colu, and Brainiac 5 forces Luthor to face the truth - that Luthor is in a dead body hidden in the depths of the Universo computer and he is a hologram. Luthor decides to blow his robot body up and destroy Colu. Superboy and Jo Nah are able to remove Luthor from the planet before he explodes and save Colu. The Coluans teleport the Legion's friends and RJ Brande to Colu and Superboy makes up with his adoptive father.
The Legion become the official heroes of the newly formed United Planets and Superboy, handing over leadership of the Legion to Ultra Boy, renames himself Kal-El and starts dating Lois Olsen.
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
, published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
in 2001
2001 in comics
-Year overall:* Marvel Comics withdraws from the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system for its publications.- January :* January 23: Fred Ray, Superman's primary cover artist of the 1940s, passes away at age 80.- September :...
under the Elseworlds
Elseworlds
Elseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
banner. It was written and inked by Mark Farmer
Mark Farmer
Mark Farmer is a British comic book artist. He is best known as an inker, often working with Alan Davis.-Biography:Farmer got his start in the UK comics industry before becoming part of the British Invasion, the wave of UK creators that were an integral part of the DC Comics "new look" of the...
, with pencils by Alan Davis
Alan Davis
Alan Davis is an English writer and artist of comic books, known for his work on titles such as Captain Britain, The Uncanny X-Men, ClanDestine, Excalibur, JLA: The Nail and JLA: Another Nail.-UK work:...
.
The series is a tale about if baby Kal-El, the last survivor of the doomed planet Krypton
Krypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
, had been raised in the 30th Century. The story uses elements from the Silver Age
Silver age
A silver age is a name often given to a particular period within a history, typically as a lesser and later successor to a golden age, the metal silver generally being valuable, but less so than gold.-Greek myth:...
of comic books, most notably from the original Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
series.
Characters
- Superboy (Kal-El)Superboy (Kal-El)The original Superboy is a fictional superhero who appears in DC Comics. The name of Superman as a boy, Superboy has adventures that occur in the relative past to those of Superman and take place predominantly in his hometown of Smallville...
- Saturn GirlSaturn GirlSaturn Girl is a fictional character appearing in DC comic books. A talented telepath from the 30th century, Imra first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 as a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
- Cosmic BoyCosmic BoyCosmic Boy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 . He is a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, and was the original leader in all incarnations of the Legion...
- Sun BoySun BoySun Boy is a fictional character, a superhero in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Comics universe. Sun Boy is a Legion of Super-Heroes member with the ability to unleash internal solar energy to whatever degree he wishes, from enough to light a single candle to enough to melt nearly any...
: Dirk Morgna is the son of industrialist Derek Morgna, and has the ability to generate heat. He is best friends with Gim Allon. - Colossal Boy: Gim Allon gained the ability to grow the size of a giant when he came in contact with a radioactive meteor. He is best friends with Dirk Morgna.
- Element LadElement LadElement Lad is a fictional character in the 30th and 31st centuries of the , a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. A native of the planet Trom, he has the power to transmute chemical elements.-Pre-Zero Hour:...
: Jan Arrah of the planet Trom can transmute any substance. An acolyte of the Krilli religion, Jan only uses his powers in a passive way, although he will use them aggressively if the situation calls for it. - Shrinking Violet: Salu Digby of the planet Imsk can shrink down to any size while still retaining her original mass.
- Bouncing BoyBouncing Boy-Fictional character biography:Bouncing Boy is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century. He is Chuck Taine of Earth, and he has the power to inflate like a ball and bounce. He received his powers when he accidentally drank a super...
: Chuck Taine of the planet Earth can inflate his body like a balloon. Chuck tried out with his friends Val Armorr (Karate KidKarate Kid (comics)Karate Kid is a fictional character, a superhero in the future of the DC Comics universe, and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. He is a master of every form of martial arts to have been developed by the 31st century...
), and Andrew Nolan (Ferro LadFerro LadFerro Lad is a fictional character, a comic book superhero and member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century of the . He is Andrew Nolan of Earth...
), but only Chuck made the cut. - Shadow LassShadow LassShadow Lass is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Adventure Comics vol. 1 #365 , and was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan.-Fictional character biography:...
: Tasmia Mallor, a native of Tallok VIII, she has the ability to manipulate and create darkness. - Star BoyStar BoyThom Kallor is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, spanning many incarnations, all connected to the various incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
: Thom Kallor is the last survivor of the planet Xanthu. He draws his power from the stars and can increase mass and gravity. - Ultra BoyUltra BoyUltra Boy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in DC Comics. He is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. Ultra Boy gained these powers when the space-speedster he was flying was swallowed by an ultra-energy beast , exposing him to...
: Jo Nah of Rimbor has multiple powers, but he can only use one of them at a time. - Phantom GirlPhantom GirlPhantom Girl is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in books published by DC Comics. In the Post-Zero Hour continuity, she is known as Apparition, and is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries...
: Tinya Wazzo is the princess of Bgztl and can make herself intangible. - Chameleon BoyChameleon BoyChameleon Boy , also known as Chameleon, is a DC Comics superhero, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He first appeared in Action Comics #267 .-Silver Age:...
: Reep Daggle is a member of the shape-shifting Durlan race and can transform into anyone or anything. - The Fatal FiveFatal FiveThe Fatal Five are fictional characters, a supervillain team of the 30th century in the DC Comics universe. They were created by Jim Shooter and first appeared in Adventure Comics #352 as enemies of the Legion of Super-Heroes....
: Emerald EmpressEmerald EmpressThe Emerald Empress is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain that is an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes and a member of the Fatal Five...
, ValidusValidusValidus is a fictional DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes and a member of the Fatal Five.-Fictional character biography:...
, ManoMano (comics)Mano is a fictional character that is a DC Comics supervillain living in the 30th century and, as a member of the Fatal Five, a foe of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
, PersuaderPersuaderPersuader is a Swedish power metal band from Umeå in the Swedish lappland Norrland. The band was formed in 1997, and they have since released three full length albums: The Hunter, Evolution Purgatory, and When Eden Burns...
, and TharokTharokTharok is a DC Comics supervillain and an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes. He is the leader of the Fatal Five. Tharok and the Fatal Five were introduced in Adventure Comics #352 , and were created by Jim Shooter....
. - R.J. Brande
- Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
Various other Legion characters seen during the story are Triplicate Girl
Triplicate Girl
Triplicate Girl is a fictional character, a superhero in the 30th and 31st centuries of the and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. She has also used the aliases Duo Damsel, Triad, Una and Duplicate Damsel....
, Tellus
Tellus (comics)
Tellus is a fictional DC Comics superhero and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes featured in the 30th century. Tellus was co-created by writer Paul Levitz and artist Steve Lightle.-Fictional character biography:...
, Karate Kid
Karate Kid (comics)
Karate Kid is a fictional character, a superhero in the future of the DC Comics universe, and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. He is a master of every form of martial arts to have been developed by the 31st century...
, Ferro Lad
Ferro Lad
Ferro Lad is a fictional character, a comic book superhero and member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century of the . He is Andrew Nolan of Earth...
, Wildfire
Wildfire (comics)
Wildfire is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero in that universe's 30th and 31st centuries. Created by Cary Bates and Dave Cockrum, the character debuted in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #195 .-Publication history:...
, Dream Girl, and the Legion of Substitute Heroes
Legion of Substitute Heroes
The Legion of Substitute Heroes is a group of fictional characters in the future of the DC Comics universe. The "Subs", as they are often called, are a group of rejected applicants to the Legion of Super-Heroes who banded together, hoping to prove to the Legion that their powers were not as useless...
(composed of Night Girl
Night Girl
Night Girl is a fictional character in the 30th century of the DC Universe. She is a member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, and of the most recent incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
, Fire Lad
Fire Lad
Fire Lad is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe.-Fictional character biography:Fire Lad was born Staq Mavlen on the planet Shwar. As a young man, he inhaled vapors from a crashing meteor and gained the ability to breathe fire. He can set any combustible item on fire, melt thin...
, Stone Boy
Stone Boy
Stone Boy is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe.-Fictional character biography:Stone Boy was born Dag Wentim on the planet Zwen. All people on the planet Zwen can petrify their bodies into stone. They developed this ability to put themselves into suspended animation for their...
, Chlorophyll Kid
Chlorophyll Kid
Chlorophyll Kid is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe.-Fictional character biography:Chlorophyll Kid was born Ral Benem on the planet Mardru. As a young man, he accidentally fell into a tank of hydroponic serum which gave him the power to stimulate plant growth. He can grow...
, and Polar Boy
Polar Boy
Polar Boy is a fictional character, a superhero from the 30th century of the DC Universe, initially suggested by reader Buddy Lavigne of Northbrook, Illinois in the letters page of Adventure Comics #304, January, 1963.-Fictional character biography:...
).
Plot
In the year 2987, R.J. Brande, the galaxies' richest man and head of Brande Industries, discovers a lifepod in the asteroid beltAsteroid belt
The asteroid belt is the region of the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. It is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets...
. Inside the lifepod lies a baby boy, Kal-El of Krypton
Krypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
. Kal-El's rocket was set on a course for the planet Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
in the 20th century moments before Krypton's explosion, but it crashed into an asteroid and has remained there for approximately a thousand years. Fourteen years later, in 3001, Kal-El becomes Kal Brande. R.J. Brande adopted the young boy and raised him as his own child. Kal has gained superpowers due to the effects of the radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
from Earth's sun. Kal calls himself Superboy, inspired by legends of heroes from the 20th century, and attempts to use his powers to help people.
Every planet in the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
Galaxy is protected and watched over by the Science Police
Science Police
Science Police is a fictional law enforcement agency in the . They were referred to as "World-Wide Police" in their first appearance in the 30th century. They were featured in a four issue limited series titled Legion Science Police. In the 30th and 31st centuries, the Science Police serves the...
, who are guided by the computer Universo
Universo
Universo is the name of a fictional Legion of Super-Heroes supervillain in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Comics universe.-Pre-Zero Hour:...
. In the eyes of the science police, Kal is a misfit because he damages public property and makes unregistered flights into space via his powers. The police threaten R.J to control Kal's behavior
Behavior
Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with its environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment...
or his business will be disconnected from all utility and power sources. After a heated argument between Superboy and R.J, Superboy flies off into space to the former location of Krypton. He witnesses a member of the Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern Corps
The Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa...
fighting against a Khund
Khund
The Khunds are a fictional alien race in the DC Universe, notable for extreme violence. They first appeared in Adventure Comics #346 , as enemies of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century.-Fictional history:...
space vessel and helps the Lantern, known as Talu-Katu. Talu-Katu reveals that the Green Lantern Corps protects all sectors of space that are not under police protection, but their resources are limited. Superboy forms the idea to form his own group.
Meanwhile, on the luxury space cruiser Lystrata, crew members and a young couple Imra Ardeen
Saturn Girl
Saturn Girl is a fictional character appearing in DC comic books. A talented telepath from the 30th century, Imra first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 as a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
of Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
's moon Titan
Titan (DC Comics)
Titan is a moon in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The moon is inhabited by a colony of telepaths.It is the fictional home world of Saturn Girl, Imra Ardeen. She is one of the most powerful telepaths in the history of Titan...
and Rokk Krinn of the planet Braal
Braal (planet)
Braal is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe. It is the homeworld of a race of magnetism manipulators. Its most famous resident is Cosmic Boy, a DC Comics' superhero and founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
, defend the ship against an energy called a blister
Blister
A blister is a small pocket of fluid within the upper layers of the skin, typically caused by forceful rubbing , burning, freezing, chemical exposure or infection. Most blisters are filled with a clear fluid called serum or plasma...
beast. Imra is a psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
and Rokk has magnetic abilities, and the two are helped by Superboy. The trio form a team called Superboy's Legion. Imra calls herself Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
Girl, and Rokk calls himself Cosmic Boy. They hold televised tryouts, covered by young reporter Lois Olsen, for more members on Titan. They induct best friends Dirk Morgna (Sun Boy
Sun Boy
Sun Boy is a fictional character, a superhero in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Comics universe. Sun Boy is a Legion of Super-Heroes member with the ability to unleash internal solar energy to whatever degree he wishes, from enough to light a single candle to enough to melt nearly any...
) and Gim Allon (Colossal Boy) of Earth, Salu Digby (Shrinking Violet) of Imsk, Chuck Taine (Bouncing Boy
Bouncing Boy
-Fictional character biography:Bouncing Boy is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century. He is Chuck Taine of Earth, and he has the power to inflate like a ball and bounce. He received his powers when he accidentally drank a super...
) of Earth, Jan Arrah (Element Lad
Element Lad
Element Lad is a fictional character in the 30th and 31st centuries of the , a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. A native of the planet Trom, he has the power to transmute chemical elements.-Pre-Zero Hour:...
) of Trom, and Tasmia Mallor (Shadow Lass
Shadow Lass
Shadow Lass is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Adventure Comics vol. 1 #365 , and was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan.-Fictional character biography:...
) of Tallok VIII. Superboy meets Lois and a spark seems to form between the two after the tryouts. When news comes of a giant asteroid about to collide with planet Rimbor
Rimbor
Rimbor is a fictional planet in the 30th century DC Universe, best known as the home planet for Legion of Super-Heroes member Ultra Boy.Rimbor has a reputation as a rough, tough planet where crime runs rampant....
, "the planet everyone gave up on", the Legion sets out to save the planet.
On Rimbor, word of the asteroid's collision has caused mass hysteria
Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by multiple events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict; the fear can be centered on a body part, or,...
. Jo Nah (Ultra Boy
Ultra Boy
Ultra Boy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in DC Comics. He is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. Ultra Boy gained these powers when the space-speedster he was flying was swallowed by an ultra-energy beast , exposing him to...
) and his girlfriend, princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Tinya Wazzo (Phantom Girl
Phantom Girl
Phantom Girl is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in books published by DC Comics. In the Post-Zero Hour continuity, she is known as Apparition, and is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries...
) of the planet Bgztl, plan to destroy the asteroid with a bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
until discovering Reep Daggle (Chameleon Boy
Chameleon Boy
Chameleon Boy , also known as Chameleon, is a DC Comics superhero, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He first appeared in Action Comics #267 .-Silver Age:...
), a Durlan shape-shifter sent by Tinya's mother, Winema, to watch over Tinya. The two decide to use Reep to help stop the asteroid by turning him into a spaceship
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
. As the Legion heads for Rimbor, they are contacted by Lyle Norg (Invisible Kid
Invisible Kid
Lyle Norg is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe, and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He was the first to assume the name Invisible Kid.-Lyle Norg:...
) of Earth, and Querl Dox (Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a fictional character who exists in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. He is a long standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brainiac 5 is from the planet Colu...
) of the planet Colu. They inform the Legion that Superboy's plan to smash the asteroid will fail because the asteroid is too large. They Legion calls in Thom Kallor (Star Boy
Star Boy
Thom Kallor is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, spanning many incarnations, all connected to the various incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
), the last survivor of the planet Xanthu
Xanthu
Xanthu is a fictional planet in the 30th century .Xanthu is a modern world with full membership in the United Planets.Xanthu is the homeworld of Legionnaire Thom Kallor aka "Star Boy" and later aka Justice Society of America member "Starman"...
, who uses his gravity powers to increase Superboy's mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
to stop the asteroid. Superboy shatters the asteroid, and the Legion collects the fragments.
The Legion is attacked by the Fatal Five
Fatal Five
The Fatal Five are fictional characters, a supervillain team of the 30th century in the DC Comics universe. They were created by Jim Shooter and first appeared in Adventure Comics #352 as enemies of the Legion of Super-Heroes....
, five of the most dangerous criminals in the galaxy; and the ones responsible for Xanthu's destruction. Emerald Empress
Emerald Empress
The Emerald Empress is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain that is an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes and a member of the Fatal Five...
gains an advantage over Superboy with her powerful talisman
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
, the Emerald Eye, due to his weakness against magic. Mano
Mano (comics)
Mano is a fictional character that is a DC Comics supervillain living in the 30th century and, as a member of the Fatal Five, a foe of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
, a mutant born with an anti-matter touch, burns Star Boy's face. Cosmic Boy has his right arm cut off by the Persuader
Persuader
Persuader is a Swedish power metal band from Umeå in the Swedish lappland Norrland. The band was formed in 1997, and they have since released three full length albums: The Hunter, Evolution Purgatory, and When Eden Burns...
's atomic axe, and Colossal Boy is killed in battle with the giant Validus
Validus
Validus is a fictional DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes and a member of the Fatal Five.-Fictional character biography:...
. When the Five leave, they take Brainiac 5 back to their base under orders from their leader, Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
.
Superboy is met on Rimbor by Garth Ranzz (Lightning Lad), his sister Ayla (Light Lass) and their friend Sensor joined the Legion after watching the initial tryouts on Omninet. Superboy is not sure he wants to do any more good after getting Colossal Boy killed. Starboy encourages Superboy to rescue Brainiac 5, not to prove himself or avenge anyone, but because it is the right thing to do.
The rescue party arrive at Colu, but the planet is now visible and is being accessed by the computers in Luthor's ship. Luthor sics the Fatal Five on the heroes to avoid interference. Superboy and the Legion arrive and incapacitate the majority of the villains. Sensor mind controls the Emerald Empress into believing her Eye has been destroyed, Tinya and Reep trick and knock out Mano and the Persuader; and Sun Boy uses his rage at Colossal Boy's death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
to stop Validus.
On Earth, Saturn Girl senses a malevolent presence inside the Universo computer and attempts to find it, but Leeto orders the Science Police to gun her down. The Science Police realize Leeto is paranoid and they see that Saturn Girl is their only hope as Universo starts to crash. Saturn Girl discovers the evil presence is diverting Universo's power to Colu. Luthor becomes aware of the interference and snaps the Emerald Empress out of Sensor's illusion to stop Saturn Girl. The Empress blows up Invisible Kid's ship before she leaves as Bouncing Boy prevents his friends crashing into Colu. The Emerald Empress arrives on Earth and traps Saturn Girl and the others, ruining any chance they had of fixing Universo. When Ferro Lad learns the Eye's powers are magical, he uses his power to turn into iron to incapacitate it, while Karate Kid uses his knowledge of pressure points to knock out the Empress. Saturn Girl then befriends the Eye and convinces it to serve as Universo's replacement.
On Colu, Superboy rescues Brainiac 5 from Luthor's ship, but Luthor has transferred his mind into an indestructible robot and continues to hack into Colu. After being rescued from Tharok by the Legion, Superboy engages Luthor, who reveals he has been watching Superboy and planned to transfer his mind into Superboy's body to achieve immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
. The Legion severs his link to Colu, and Brainiac 5 forces Luthor to face the truth - that Luthor is in a dead body hidden in the depths of the Universo computer and he is a hologram. Luthor decides to blow his robot body up and destroy Colu. Superboy and Jo Nah are able to remove Luthor from the planet before he explodes and save Colu. The Coluans teleport the Legion's friends and RJ Brande to Colu and Superboy makes up with his adoptive father.
The Legion become the official heroes of the newly formed United Planets and Superboy, handing over leadership of the Legion to Ultra Boy, renames himself Kal-El and starts dating Lois Olsen.