One of the greatest issues about superhero team-up comics are the unusual and fantastic combos that they permit readers to expertise. Warner Bros. Animation’s latest DC film, Legion of Super-Heroes, takes that to the subsequent degree by teaming up Supergirl and Brainiac 5 with some of the most underrated and oft-forgotten DC heroes at the Legion Academy. Thanks to the sensible Legion of Superheroes animated sequence and extra modern iterations of the workforce, it may be simple to neglect that they started as a comedic tackle superheroics. The new film leans into that, plucking some of the oldest and weirdest Legionnaires and throwing them into the highlight!
If you are questioning who Kara’s youthful deep minimize colleagues are, we have you lined. Let’s head to the future and dive into every thing you might want to find out about Legion of Super-Heroes’ shocking roster.
Bouncing Boy
Bouncing Boy first debuted in Action Comics #276, created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney. As his identify hints, his energy is that he bounces—however first he blows up into a large ball.
Bouncing Boy A.Ok.A. Chuck Taine’s origin is a novel one as he was born with none powers in any respect. But that every one modified in the future when he went to sip upon a scrumptious, refreshing soda and as an alternative picked up a scientific plastic components that gave him the capacity to alter his physique form and bounce like a plastic bouncy ball. Though he won’t be a family identify, he is truly been a recurring determine all through DC historical past after his Supergirl-centric 1961 debut.
Along with being a core member of the futuristic workforce, you might have seen him—in several iterations—in sequence as diverse as Doomsday Clock, Action Comics and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen. Outside of the comics, he is most likely most identified for his position in the widespread Legion of Superheroes animated present. But he additionally confirmed up in episodes of Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited. Bouncing Boy is a daily animation stalwart.
Triplicate Girl
Another younger hero who debuted Action Comics #276—clearly a vital situation for the workforce—is Triplicate Girl, who does precisely what she says on the tin: she will be able to cut up into three actual replicas of herself similar to everybody on Cargg, the planet she hails from.
How have they got this magical ability? Well, that will be due to the three suns that the planet orbits round. It’s an influence that surprises Linda Lee when the Legion comes to go to her with a purpose to assist her really feel much less lonely as a super-powered teen lady. The situation was clearly fairly an affect on the Legion of Super-Heroes animated film too as we see Triplicate Girl and her mates take Supergirl to check out for the Legion alongside different members, together with love curiosity Brainiac 5.
Though her 1961 arrival in the DC Universe was in a lighthearted Supergirl story, all through the years she’s been put by a number of grim and gritty reboots which have seen her lose her mother and father to grief, alcoholism and even left Triplicate Girl as the solely surviving inhabitant of Cargg. During the Final Crisis occasion, it was revealed that she had married Bouncing Boy! It’ll be fascinating to see if that relationship ever involves cross in her new animated iteration.
Phantom Girl
Just like Bouncing Boy and Triplicate Girl, Phantom Girl debuted in Action Comics #276. She was one other of Supergirl’s “Super-Girlfriends” and visited Linda’s time to cheer the heroine up.
As for her powers, Phantom Girl’s identify offers you a great trace. The alien teen can part out and in of being in addition to passing by objects and house. Also often called Apparition, the heroine has carved out an area as one of the most well-known Legionnaires along with her adventures spanning a long time. During her time on the workforce, she’s fought alongside famed DC heroes like Saturn Girl, Mr. Terrific and Plastic Man.
She’s one other of the characters who would turn out to be a key participant in the LoSH animated sequence. She was additionally in Superman: The Animated Series and made an look in the beloved Young Justice present too. She additionally popped up in the eighth season of The Flash!
Dawnstar
Readers first met Dawnstar in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #226, and like many characters from the annals of Bronze Age comics historical past, her origin is ripe for a reimagining. In her first delightfully surreal situation, although, the heroine groups up with the LoSH with a purpose to assist them save the day. Paul Levitz, James Sherman and Jack Abel convey the story to life with Dawnstar’s iconic look designed by Mike Grell. It’s an excellent enjoyable journey that sees Dawnstar and her companion Wildfire lead the Legion into hazard earlier than the former ultimately saves the day.
The alien heroine has powers that embody her iconic wings which give her the capacity to fly at a supersonic velocity, one thing that’s regular for folks on her residence planet. She may use her enhanced senses to trace anybody all through the universe. Thanks to her alien physiology, she will be able to additionally survive in deep house with none want for a go well with or ship!
Invisible Kid
While the authentic Invisible Kid, Lyle Norg, debuted in Adventure Comics #267 and gained his powers from a particular serum of his personal invention, Legion of Super-Heroes’ iteration of the character, Jacques Foccart, debuted a long time later in DC historical past.
In Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1, readers had been launched to the younger human who sought out Brainiac 5 in the hopes that the hyper clever android clone might assist him treatment his youthful sister of a uncommon sickness. Sadly, Brainiac 5 determined to try to assist her by way of implanting a bit of an outdated synthetic intelligence challenge into her mind, which shortly led to the evil Computo possessing the younger lady. It was throughout the epic battle to save lots of her and defeat Computo that Jacques took some of Lyle Norg’s potion, which gave him the energy of invisibility. When he turned a real hero in the wake of the battle, he took on the identify Invisible Kid out of respect to Lyle and his creation.
Hailing from Côte d’Ivoire, the new Invisible Kid was shortly voted onto the workforce and have become a significant new member. He would later go on to work as half of Legion splinter teams, futuristic resistance organizations, and whilst President of Earth all through his profession as a superhero.
Arms-Fall-Off Boy
Though he is referred to as Arm-Fall-Off-Boy in the comics—together with his first look in Secret Origins #46—right here the weirdest of the movie’s LoSH workforce is renamed as Arms-Fall-Off Boy. During a chat with DC.com, director Jeff Wamester revealed that one of the most interesting issues about the new workforce members was how simple it was to elucidate their powers by merely saying their names. Never was that extra true than in the case of this 1989 creation from Superman legend Curt Swan. As we see in the movie, he can take away each arms at will, utilizing them as weapons if and when he wants them. What a ability!
Though it is by no means been confirmed, it was as soon as said by Matter-Eater Lad in the pre-Zero Hour continuity that Arm-Fall-Off Boy gained his powers as a result of an accident whereas messing round with the anti-gravity steel often called Element 152. Though that has since been written out of continuity, we’re hoping that his look right here and in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad—there named T.D.Ok.—means we’ll get some extra AFOB tales sooner relatively than later!
Legion of Super-Heroes, DC’s latest characteristic size animated film, is now out there on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray+Digital and Digital HD.
Rosie Knight is an award-winning journalist and writer who loves Swamp Thing, the DC Cosmic and writing about these and extra right here at DC.com. You can hearken to her waxing lyrical about comics, films and extra every week as she co-hosts Crooked Media’s pop-culture podcast, X-Ray Vision.
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