Members During the
“Five Year Gap”

After the end of Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3, the series went on a hiatus in preparation for a very different era, that of Legion vol. 4 (also called the "Glorith Reality"). When the Legion's story resumed, their timeline had skipped ahead five years.

As it concerned the "Five Year Gap," readers pieced together some of the events that happened in between. Earthgov had been taken over by the Dominators, who systematically dismantled the Legion. Many longtime members left the group and a plethora of new members were recruited.

This page covers characers who became members during this largely undocumented gap, but did not appear as Legion members in the Legion vol. 4 era. Many of the new members during the Five Year Gap were former Legion rejects.

Atmos

Although Thom Kallor had not been a hero on his home planet, the presence of a super-powered personality somehow made the people of Xanthu feel more secure. Thus, when he left to become Star Boy, the ruling Tribune of Xanthu ordered the planet's top geneticists to develop a super-hero. Marak Russen, a former child actor and amateur athlete, was chosen as the subject for these experiments, which attempted to recreate the comet radiation that gave Kallor his temporary Daxamite-like powers. The experiment gave Russen the powers of flight, super-strength, partial invulnerability, and an ability to tear apart and rebuild objects through manipulation of their molecular bonds. Unknown to most, he also gained the power to subvert other peoples' will. And finally, his appearance is rather odd, with parts of his chest and arms seeming to have become invisible.

Russen was given the name Atmos and the high office of Xanthu's planetary protector. He was housed and supported by the Xanthusian government in style, and provided with great publicity, which got him the immediate adoration of the people of Xanthu. Then he disappeared without a trace. (Legion vol. 3 #28) He had been taken, and sequestered with many other heroes by the villain, Universo. It was there that he met and fell in love with Dream Girl (though it's uncertain whether or not he was under Universo's mental control at the time). (#33)

When the captured Legionnaires freed everyone from the planet and defeated Universo, (#35) Atmos went to Earth to attempt Legion membership and began a relationship with Dream Girl rather than return to Xanthu—where Star Boy had been tapped to replace him.His imperious manner and obvious extraneous reasons for desiring Legion membership led then-leader Polar Boy to reject him. (#43-46) He returned to Xanthu with Dream Girl at his side and worked in apparent competition with Star Boy for the hearts of the people of Xanthu and of Dream Girl herself. (Legion vol. 3 Annual #4) Dream Girl resumed her Legion membership after the Magic Wars, (#63) and Atmos grew restive.

Glorith Reality (Legion vol. 4)

In Glorith Reality continuity, Atmos reapplied and was accepted to the Legion after Earthgov had been infiltrated by the Dominion. He stayed only a short while before growing uncomfortable with Earthgov's anti-Legion stance. He resigned in search of greener pastures and learned about Dirk Morgna's (Sun Boy's) deal with Earthgov. But the Dominators who controlled Earthgov thought Russen had more potential as an experimental subject and a mindwiped stooge than as a spokesperson, and placed him in their underground chambers. They freed him only to use him as a test subject against the hunting abilities of their artificial creature BION. Atmos died at BION's hands. (Legion vol. 4 #21) The Dominators released a fictional story of Atmos's being killed by Khunds.

Legion Reboot

In the universe of Earth-247, which was destroyed in the Infinite Crisis, there was an Atmos who was from Xanthu, a member of the Uncanny Amazers. (Legionnaires #0)

Powers

Atmos has control over matter at the molecular level. His molecular bonding power can take matter apart and rebuild it. He can also generate concussive force.

Some text courtesy of C. Keller's Legion Help File.

Calamity King

E. Davis Ester was a jinx. He caused bad luck wherever he went, creating spontaneous stress fractures (physical and mental) in people and objects. He applied for Legion membership but was rejected on the basis that he'd be as much a danger to his teammates as he would be to the Legion's enemies. (Adventure #342)

In fact, Star Boy's expulsion from the Legion was briefly blamed on the fact that he had shaken Ester's hand, and although this and other superstitious feelings the Legion was having at the time were blamed on the imitation Luck Lords of Thaun, it's certainly possible that Ester's powers were indeed a factor in causing Star Boy's misfortunes. (#343)

Glorith Reality (Legion vol. 4)

After his rejection, Ester drifted from job to job, causing equipment failures and being fired at most. When the Earthgov-besieged Legion became desperate for members, Calamity King saw other former rejects being accepted (and admission requirements slackened). He re-applied and was admitted … for a short time. Ester's luck apparently followed him to the Legion and the group disbanded just two months after he joined.

He, with many other now-unemployed Legionnaires, joined the anti-Earthgov resistance movement run by Jacques Foccart (Invisible Kid). Calamity King served as a double agent, and was sent to work with Earthgov and disrupt it with his power. He was exposed and made a subject for the Dominators' genetic experiments. It is unknown whether or not he survived either the detonation of many underground chambers by Grinn or the Earth's destruction. (2995: The Legion Sourcebook)

 

Echo

The Adult Legion

Echo was first introduced in an alternate future of the Original Legion. He was an obscure member of the Legion of Super-Villains.

Echo debuted as a backup member of the adult Legion of Super-Villains. Along with Beauty Blaze, he fought the adult Legion and Superman. This team of five was quite formidable, but the Legionnaires were rescued by benevolent 30th-century descendants of Lex Luthor and Mr. Mxyzptlk. (Adventure #355)

Whatever the motivation, the Super-Villains from this alternate timeline enacted a desperate and ambitious plan to ensure their survival—and that of their own timeline—in the first Crisis. To this end, the adult LSV made one last trip to the distant past. They concluded that in order for their own timeline to survive, they would need to dramatically alter past events. This time Lightning Lord, Cosmic King and Saturn Queen traveled to the 20th century — to murder the parents of Batman and Superman and raise the heroes as their own. (Superman/Batman #14)

In the midst of this battle, they again called on Echo to help defend against Superman and Batman. (#17) The heroes were victorious and returned the villains to their home time—into custody of the adult Legion of Super-Heroes. Soon the villains' worst fears became reality. Superman and Batman had succeeded in cementing their own timeline — one which did not lead to the LSV's. As a result, the adult Legion of Super-Villains' timeline gave way to the antimatter wave of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and ceased to exist. (#18)

Glorith Reality (Legion vol. 4)

In the Original Legion's "Glorith Reality" continuity, Myke-4 Astor was born in the war-torn Aetian sector, uncomfortably sandwiched in space between the Khundian Empire and the Dominion, constantly changing hands between the two. At the time of his birth, his world, Calish-Aetia, was under Khund control. Their doctors discovered that he possessed special sonic powers and he was turned over to Khund scientists for experimentation. This ultimately left him unable to breathe without an oxygen-mask—which the Khunds attatched to his face. (2995: The Legion Sourcebook)

When the Khunds set him free, Astor ran with youth gangs committing petty vandalism against Khundish authorities. He made his way to Earth after a bounty was placed on him, and came to the attention of the Science Police and the Legion. His concept of "right and wrong" wasn't necessarily as clear-cut as the United Planets' standards. Regardless, Polar Boy saw his value to the team and as Echo, he joined alongside Reflecto and Crystal Kid. He served in the Legion for a short time, but when things got uncomfortable, he resigned and dropped out of sight. (Legion vol. 4 #28)

Retroboot

In post-Infinite Crisis continuity, the events of Legion vol. 4 are not a part of "Retroboot" continuity. Echo had never joined the Legion.

Echo appeared only as a member of Superboy Prime's new Legion of Super-Villains. (Legion of Three Worlds #2) His fate after their defeat is unknown.

Notes

Echo's membership was first mentioned in Legion vol. 4 #28 (Apr. 1992). Additional info provided by the 2995: The Legion of Super-Heroes Sourcebook.

And yep! This is the character that inspired the spelling of my own online handle. I began by using "myke4" for a very long time, and it eventually evolved into "mykey," a nickname some of my friends use anyway.

Reflecto

An Alternate Future

Reflecto is an enigma in Legion lore. Stig Ah never truly appeared in any in-continuity Legion story except as a disguise for other Legionnaires.

Reflecto's very first appearance was part of an alternate timeline (the Adult Legion), one which never came to pass in Original Legion continuity. The character's claim to fame was his appearance as a statue of Reflecto in the Legion's "Hall of Heroes," which honored their dead. The statue was shown both on the cover and inside Adventure Comics #354. This obscure appearance of a mystery Legionnaire inspired a tale that ran through Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #273-282.

Original Legion

When Ultra Boy was seemingly killed by Pulsar Stargrave, (Legion vol. 2 #273) he was actually dislodged from normal time/space and retreated to the 20th century to seek Superboy's help. He possessed Superboy's mind and as a result, both of their minds became incoherent. This identity crisis led to the amnesiac creation of a different identity.

Ultra Boy was left in suspended animation in another dimension while Superboy changed his appearance to become Reflecto. Superboy returned to the 30th century to seek out the Legion. (#282) After meeting Reflecto, suspicions ran wild among the Legionnaires that this was actually Jo Nah in disguise. (#277) They soon discovered that Reflecto was actually Superboy, who was suffering from amnesia. (#279)

Dawnstar's tracking ability eventually led to the recovery of Ultra Boy's body. Afterwards, the Legion changed their statue honoring Ultra Boy in the Hall of Heroes to that of Reflecto. (#282)

Glorith Reality (Legion vol. 4)

During the Legion's "Five Year Gap," a bona fide Reflecto came from Rimbor to apply for Legion membership.

Stig Ah was a normal Rimborian boy when he was injured in an incident involving a fusion powersphere. One day as he passed a construction site, a girder was accidentally dropped on top of him. Miraculously, it appeared to bounce off an invisible wall just above him. It was then that he discovered that the powersphere's null radiation had activated a latent super-power: to reflect any fast-moving object, matter or energy that was directed toward him. He used this power to become Rimbor's first super-hero, Reflecto.

Shortly after the formation of the Legion, Reflecto came to Earth alongside Ultra Boy to try out for membership. Despite high scores, Reflecto lost out to Jo Nah in the tryout. (Legion vol. 4 Annual #1) He returned to Rimbor, where he continued a long career protecting its citizens.Years later, Reflecto was invited unconditionally to join the Legion. At this time, the Legion was being harassed by Earthgov and needed allies.

His tenure was short; he was killed after a battle with the Molecule Master. Reflecto's powers his power repelled the android's physical attack, but he couldn't escape the release of a deadly poisonous gas. Reflecto died and was buried on Shanghalla. (2995: The Legion Sourcebook)

After this, the teen Legionnaire Deviln O'Ryan manifested powers similar to Stig Ah's. He briefly went by the name Reflecto as well. (Legion vol. 4 #6, 20)

Notes

Reflecto's membership was first mentioned in Legion vol. 4 in #44 (May 1993). Additional info provided by the 2995: The Legion of Super-Heroes Sourcebook.

Reflecto was also included in a proposal for a Legion off-shoot group called the Outsiders. The proposal was made by artist Dave Cockrum but never adopted.

Storm Boy

It started as a fraternity stunt. Myke Chypurz never had any super-powers, and never truly considered joining the Legion of Super-Heroes. But when he wanted to join a prestigious fraternity, he was given that as an initiation assignment. Using the scientific knowledge that got him into college as a teenager, he was able to successfully miniaturize a weather-control device so that it could be hidden in his pocket. When he, as Storm Boy, went to try out for the Legion, though, he wasn't able to fool Cosmic Boy, and, in sending Myke away, the Legion publicized its rule that an applicant's powers must be inherent, and not created by external devices. (Adventure #301) Myke's rejection from the Legion meant he was also rejected from the fraternity. But he maintained his interest in weather-control systems, and after he graduated college, he went to work as an engineer for Earthgov in that field. (Who's Who in the Legion #6)

Glorith Reality (Legion vol. 4)

Myke was good at his job, and he was very familiar with the environmental conditions that dictated a region's weather. But when Tayla Wellington was elected president of Earth—with the behind-the-scenes backing of the Dominion—he began receiving orders for harmful weather in certain regions. He discovered that his superiors were targeting critics of Earthgov. Appalled at these repressive tactics, he tried reporting them to the authorities, and was fired for his efforts. Looking for a way to strike back, he noticed a newspaper headline that read, "Legion Admits Former Rejects." Re-making and improving his old device, he offered the Legion his services, and the Legion waived their old rule and allowed him in.

Storm Boy stayed with the Legion until it disbanded, and then, like most former Legionnaires, joined the underground movement formed by Jacques Foccart, the former Invisible Kid. His expertise in matters of climate was valuable, especially after the moon was destroyed. When the Dominators were driven from Earth, Jacques, who became Earth's president, appointed Myke to the top weather-control post. (2995: The Legion Sourcebook)

Legion Retroboot

In post-Infinite Crisis continuity, Original Legion continuity was mostly restored — minus the events of Legion vol. 4. In "Retroboot" continuity, Storm Boy had never joined the Legion.

Years later, Earth-Man rose to power amid a newly fomented culture of xenophobia on Earth. Earth-Man, who was also a Legion reject from Earth, formed the Justice League of Earth, adding other Earth natives who'd been scorned by the Legion. Storm Boy was eager to join. Since his rejection, he'd developed a psychotic obsession with surgeries that internalized his weather powers. With the technology implanted inside him, he could now he could control these forces innately. (Action #859-863)

After this, he joined forces briefly with Superboy Prime's Legion of Super-Villains. (Legion of Three Worlds #2-5) When the JLE was defeated, he was imprisoned on Takron-Galtos, where he hopes for the chance at revenge. (Adventure vol. 2 #2)

Notes

Additional information provided by Who's Who in the Legion #6 (1988) and the 2995: The Legion of Super-Heroes Sourcebook.

 

Visi-Lad

Visi-Lad's origins are a complete mystery. He was found as an infant with four eyes, left outside an orphanage. He was adopted and given the name Rhent Ustin, but since then, no amount of investigation has yielded any clues about the origins of his powers or past. The Ustins raised Rhent as their own and helped him develop control over his eyes' super-powers—telescopic, microscopic, X-ray, heat and hypnotic vision. (Who's Who in the Legion #7)

With their guidance, he found his way to the Legion Academy, where, as Visi-Lad, he became a student and shared one adventure with several Legionnaires. (Legion vol. 3 Annual #3)

Glorith Reality (Legion vol. 4)

In a relatively short time, Visi-Lad got the call to join the Legion itself. When the Legion's numbers were decimated by departures following Black Dawn, Polar Boy recruited as many super-powered bodies as he could find, regardless of power level, and Visi-Lad was accepted with open arms. He participated in few missions before the Legion was disbanded.

As the Dominators took over Earthgov, Rhent was captured and placed in experimentation chambers. Dominion notes indicated that he was still in the chambers when the Triple Strike program caused fusion powerspheres the world over to explode, releasing null radiation that caused him to grow a third pair of eyes. He was among Dominator prisoners who survive the war without being mind-wiped, (Legion vol. 4 #27) and he returned to serve with former Legionnaires Luornu and Chuck Taine to run the United Planets Militia Academy. (#57)