The Adult Legion

Introduction

The Adult Legion series of stories were a part of the legacy of Silver Age "Imaginary Stories" that appeared often in the Superman family of titles. These stories might easily be explained as events in parallel universes.

As the Legion became more popular, creators invented a way for not just Superboy to have fun with them, but Superman as well. The Adult Legion appeared in sync with Superman and first appeared in Superman #147 (Aug. 1961) and sporadically through 1967. Since these adventures all happened about a decade after Superboy's time, the Legionnaires had grown up as well.

Adult Legion tales were always questionable to mainstream continuity because they depicted events in the Legion's future that never came to pass, or seemed unlikely to occur as Legion history unfolded. For example, Adult Legion stories predicted that Light Lass and Timber Wolf would marry, and that Quantum Queen would become a Legionnaire; and that the Legionnaires would all change their names to "Man" or "Woman." Some Adult Legion prophesies did come true: the deaths of Ferro Lad and Chemical King.

For these reasons, it's safe to assume that these events took place in a parallel universe of the original DC multiverse. Of these characters, Saturn Queen was one of a handful of survivors to slip through the first Crisis and collapse of the multiverse (like Superman and Power Girl from Earth-2, Dark Angel of Earth-7, Alexander Luthor and Ultraman of Earth-3 and Superboy of Earth-Prime).

Members

This page profiles unique members who were revealed during the various "Adult Legion" tales. Already-known Legionnaires who appeared as adult members included:

Active members:

Retired/resigned (some before changing their names):

Deceased:

Batman

In an "Imaginary Story" from World's Finest Comics #172 (Dec. 1967) Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent were raised as brothers, both adopted by the Kents. When the Kents died at the hands of Lex Luthor, Batman was traumatized by the loss of a second set of parents and vowed to abandon Gotham City forever. Superman gave him another idea: relocate to the 30th century and join the Adult Legion! The first Legionnaires that Batman met were Cosmic Man and Sun Man. (World's Finest #172)

Color King

Color King (the adult version of Color Kid; debut Adventure Comics #342, Mar. 1966) was one of a number of Adult Legionnaires mentioned but never depicted. His mention was not in a story, but rather in the letter column of Adventure #358 (July 1967):

Lex Luthor

The Canonical Luthor

First appearance, historical: Action #23 (Apr. 1940)
Teen version: Adventure #271 (Apr. 1960)

Lex Luthor is one of Superman's oldest foes so it's logical that he'd worm his way into Legion lore as well. In 1960, Luthor's history was expanded to include days as Superboy's foil as well as Superman's. This is when it was explained that he'd lost his hair as a result of an experiment and blamed it on Superboy. Lex's 30th century descendant (like Brainiac's) was benevolent, but before we get to that, there were several exchanges between the original Lex and Legion...

Lex Luthor's first encounter with the original Legion was in the 20th century, when Lightning Lad saved Superboy from Luthor's living Kryptonite Men. After his defeat, Luthor speculated that "if a Legion of Super-Heroes will exist centuries from now...then a Legion of Super-Villains probably exists in the future, too!" (the first reference to the LSV). He vowed to one day contact them to help him destroy Superboy. (Superboy vol. 1 #86, Jan. 1961) He succeeded several years later. Lex and the original Brainiac allied with Adult Legion of Super-Villains and tried to brainwash Jimmy Olsen into killing Superman. (Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #87, Sept. 1965)

Luthor then tried to ruin them from afar, sending a menacing masked android called Urthlo. It was handily destroyed by Mon-El. (Adventure #300) The young Lex Luthor finally made his way to the 30th century personally, and tried to destroy the Legion. At first, the Legion believed that he was "good" because he hadn't yet lost his hair. But that was a ruse; he wore a wig and cast the Legionnaires into the Phantom Zone. The heroes won by using mental telepathy from inside the Zone and commanding Lex to release them. (Adventure #325)

That was it for "canonical" Luthor apperances with the Legion, but they did once briefly take refuge in one of his former headquarters, Luthor's Lair (first appearance, Action #277, 1961). (Adventure #360)

Imaginary Luthors

First appearance: Adventure #355 (Apr. 1967)

In one "Imaginary Story," Lex Luthor succeeded in killing Superman, and the three founding Legionnaires attended his funeral. (Superman vol. 1 #149) Superman, Supergirl, and the adult Brainiac 5 later tricked Lex Luthor into freeing Superman from a trap set for him by Mordru. (Superman vol. 1 #213)

In another, the Adult Legion met a descendants of the 20th century Lex Luthor and Mr. Mxyzptlk, who helped them defeat the Legion of Super-Villains. This relative was also named Lex Luthor, and he possessed the same genius. The pair attacked the LSV when the Legion was down. (Lex had also given himself the powers of Star Boy and Light Lass.) In thanks for their aid, Lex and Mxyzptlk were rewarded with membership in the Legion. (Adventure #355)

In current Legion continuity, it is likely that none of these adventures remains in continuity.

Mxyzptlk V

First appearance and joined the Subs: Adventure Comics #310 (July 1963)

Mr. Mxyzptlk II

First appearance: Adventure Comics #355 (Apr. 1967)

Mxyzptlk V and Mr. Mxyzptlk II were brothers, pranksters from the 5th Dimension of the 30th century. The original Mr. Mxyzptlk was introduced to the Superman mythos in Superman #30 (Sept. 1944), and reinvented for the Silver Age in Action Comics #208 (1955).

The Legion first met Mxyzptlk V, a descendant of the original (the name was in the manner of the Legion's own Brainiac 5). In the 30th century, he appeared to them as the Mask Man and apparently succeeded in slaying the entire Legion, except Superboy. As usual, Superboy tricked the imp into going back to the 5th Dimension, by spelling his own name backwards, and restored the Legion to life with no memory of what happened. (Adventure #310)

A second 30th century Mxyzptlk appeared later, in a Adult Legion tale. In it, Superman and the Adult Legion fought the Legion of Super-Villains, and were rescued by the benevolent descendants of Lex Luthor and Mr. Mxyzptlk. This second Mxyzptlk mentioned that his brother had once tried to take down the Legion (and an editor's note erroneously transposed the issue number, citing "Adventure #130"). As thanks, Luthor and Mxyzptlk were rewarded with membership in the Legion. (Adventure #355)

Polar Man

Formerly Polar Boy (first appearance Adventure Comics #306, Mar. 1963), Polar Man was a featured member and character in the Adult Legion story spanning Adventure #354–355. This "prophesy" did come true — nearly 20 years later — when Polar Boy finally earned his membership. (Legion vol. 3 #14, 1985)

» SEE: Polar Boy

Power Boy

The name "Power Boy" appeared on a memorial statue in the Hall of Heroes in Adventure #354. Nothing more is known about the hero, except that he would die in action.

A character named Jed Rikane first appeared in Superboy & the Legion #240 (June 1978) and he later took the codename "Power Boy," when he applied (unsuccessfully) for Legion membership. (Legion vol. 3 #14)

In Legion vol. 4/Glorith Reality continuity, Jed did die, but he had never become a full Legion member. (Legion vol. 4 #17)

» SEE: Academy Members > Power Boy

Reflecto

Reflecto (seen on the cover at the top of the page and inside the issue) is a strange character whose secrets were later (quite creatively) explored in Legion vol. 2 #273–282. In that story, the mysterious hero was revealed to be an amnesiac Superboy. At the conclusion of that tale, a statue of Reflecto was erected in the Legion's Hall of Heroes.

» SEE: Five Year Gap > Reflecto

Quantum Queen

Quantum Queen (seen on the cover at the top of the page and inside the issue) was a mysterious character in the "Adult Legion" story from Adventure #354 who soon turned up in regular continuity as a member of the group called the Wanderers. (Adventure #375-376)

Shadow Woman

Shadow Woman was the precursor to Shadow Lass, who soon appeared in the mainstream Legion tales. Shadow Lass debuted wearing the same costume as that in Adventure #354, but her skin was colored blue.

Years later, in Legion vol. 2 #299–300 (1983), she temporarily changed her name to "Shadow Woman" and applied a Caucasian-colored body makeup, ostensibly to see if her lover, Mon-El, would like her any better. After that story, she reverted to her regular name and skin color.

» SEE: Shadow Lass

The White Witch

Like others, the White Witch was never shown as a member of the Adult Legion, but she was mentioned by Brainiac 5 in relation to a battle with Mordru, in Superman vol. 1 #213 (Jan. 1969). The Witch had appeared in mainstream continuity several years before that, first as "the Hag" in Adventure #350 (Nov. 1966), then as White Witch in Adventure #351 (Dec. 1966). She didn't actually join the Legion until much later, in Legion vol. 2 #294 (Dec. 1982).

» SEE: White Witch

Adult Legion Appearances

These are listed by publication date. All of the following stories are considered "Imaginary" or otherwise outside of the continuity of the original DC universe.