The Legion Academy

Original Legion Academy

It was first revealed that the Legion had a secret "training and testing program" when agents of the Legion of Super-Villains hatched a plot to blackmail the Legionnaire called Colossal Boy. LSV agents agents posed as broadcast interviewers at the Legionnaire's home, asking his parents about life as a Legionnaire's parent. Then they turned the Allons into glass and held their lives ransom in exchange for Colossal Boy's cooperation.

Colossal Boy knew that Legionnaires who failed in their duties would be assigned for retraining, so he purposely botched a mission and was ordered by the Legion's leader, Ultra Boy, to the Legion's training quarters. At the Legion Academy, the trainees' regular instructor was Karate Kid, but Bouncing Boy filled in that day. Bouncing Boy discovered that Gim was stealing Legion secrets from them; he was incarcerated, then expelled. (Adventure #371)

Colossal Boy decided to try to redeem himself by infiltrating the LSV. The Legion also discovered the truth behind his actions and sent students Chemical King and Timber Wolf undercover as well. After successfully taking down the Super-Villains, those heroes became the first Academy students to be awarded full Legion membership. (#372)

The Legion Academy was not mentioned as such until awhile later, when Wildfire became an instructor. He supervised the admission of a surprising new recruit: Laurel Kent the (supposed) descendant of and Clark Kent and Lois Lane. (Superboy & the Legion #217) Laurel was an Academy student for years until she was ultimately revealed to be an android Manhunter. (Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 #41-43)

Laurel was joined at the Academy by Dawnstar, a girl from Starhaven who was recruited by the Legion's benefactor, R.J. Brande. They trained with two other friends in the Legion Academy, Jed Rikane (later called Power Boy), and Shadow Lass' cousin, Grev Mallor (aka Shadow Kid). Their enthusiasm helped shape Dawnstar's own attitude towards heroism as an end in itself. (Superboy & the Legion #240) After only a short while, Dawnstar became a full-fledged Legionnaire. (#226)

The next group of long-term students joined the Academy after being rejected for Legion membership. When the Legion accepted Blok, three Earth Natives — Crystal Kid, Lamprey and Nightwind — were left in the cold. (Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #272) Not long afterwards, they were denied a second time, but encouraged to keep studying by their mentor, Wildfire. (#283, 304)

Soon they were joined by Comet Queen and Cosmic Boy's brother, Magnetic Kid. The students were undeterred by rejection, and applied once again to the Legion membership committee. Though some applicants were impressive, the committee remanded all for further training: "better no new Legionnaires than another dead one." (#304)

But membership trials are frequent, and a couple more Academy members were finally successful. A new recruit, Ganglios (Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 #9) became the Legionnaire called Tellus, filling a void after Saturn Girl retired. Similarly, Magnetic Kid was awarded his brother's spot when Cosmic Boy did the same. (#14)

On that same day, another telepath, Mentalla, was rejected (#14) and opted to enter the Legion Academy. She soon mysteriously disappeared, (#24) and turned up as a member of the Emerald Empress' new Fatal Five! (#25) Secretly, Mentalla had hoped to infiltrate the Five and impress the Legion with her bravery. Instead, she was killed by the Empress. (#26)

Beyond Legion tryouts, students at the Legion Academy regularly proved themselves heroes in their own right. They helped rescue Cosmic Boy and the Substitute Heroes (Tales of the Legion #316) and aided in the clean-up after the Dominators attacked Kathoon. By this time, several new recruits had joined, including the new Karate Kid, Visi-Lad, the Westerner, Mandalla, and several others who have not been identified by name. (Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 Annual #3)

Note: There have been many other Academy members who have been depicted (some repeatedly) but never been named. Some (such as Mandalla and the Westerner) were only identified in the pages of Who's Who in the Legion.

Post-Infinite Crisis

Comet Queen and Shadow Kid finally graduated from the Legion Academy, along with Mandalla. Comet Queen accepted an offer from Stone Boy to join the Legion of Substitute Heroes. Shadow Kid returned again to Talok VIII to reclaim the title of Planetary Champion. Mandalla joined the Science Police. (Adventure #527)

After Comet Queen's memories were wiped in an attack by Saturn Queen, (#527) she returned to the Academy and joined an influx of new, promising students. These were taught by Bouncing Boy, Duplicate Girl, and a new instructor, the Legionnaire Night Girl:

• Chemical Kid (Hadru Jamik) came from Phlon, the same planet as the Legionnaire Chemical King.
• Dragonwing (Marya Pai of Earth) breathed fire and could emit acid venom.
• Gravity Kid (Tel Vole of Earth) could alter the gravity of himself or his near vicinity.
• Variable Lad (Oa Tseldor of Jaquaa) was the nephew of the Legion's physician, Dr. Gym'll, and he had the ability to manifest different super-abilities each time. (Legion vol. 6 #6)
• They were soon joined by a teen girl named Glorith, who was recruited from the Sorcerer's World, where she had been watched over by the Black Witch and Blok. (Adventure #523)

Meanwhile, Lamprey, Nightwind, Crystal Kid and Power Boy prepared for their exit exam. (Adventure #524-525) They soon graduated but their powers were not deemed distinct enough for Legion membership; Lamprey went into the Science Police, and the others to Takron-Galtos. (#528)

Dragonwing and Chemical Kid had a penchant for mischief, which got all of the new members grounded. Chemical Kid doubled down and instead took his friends on a mission to his homeworld. The students were surprised and overwhelmed by the nefarious Black Mace and his ally, Alchemical Girl. (#524) Glorith defeated Alchemical Girl, thanks in part to an infusion of power from the Black Witch (who sensed her peril from the Sorcerer's World). (#526)

These new students were called upon to face a dangerous Legion foe, Cosmic King, when the main team was away. The Academy instructors responded first (#528), but when they fell, the Academy students rushed to Legion headquarters. The first group were also defeated, which left Gravity Kid, Variable Lad and Glorith to back them up. When Cosmic King threatened to turn them all to gas, Variable Lad leapt in front of everyone to confront him directly. He turned Cosmic King's power back on the villain and they both died. Afterwards, Gravity Kid left the Academy to join his boyfriend (Power Boy) on Takron-Galtos. (#529)

Very soon after this, when a group of Legionnaires became lost in time, (Legion Lost vol. 2 #1) the Legion recruited all the remaining students to become Legion members. (Legion vol. 7 #1) Chuck and Luornu reviewed new Academy candidates. (#5)

List of Legion Academy Students

The United Planets Militia Academy (Legion vol. 4)

In July 2990, after the dissolution of the Legion, Chuck and Luornu Taine took their Legion Academy under the wing of the United Planets, forming the United Planets Militia Academy on the icy planet Xolnar. Its courses included physical conditioning, combat techniques and military tactics. Its mandate was similar:

"... To train officers and other elite soldiers to support the army then forming to halt the expansion of the Khundish Empire into U.P. space. The Academy is funded by the U.P. and supervised by King Jonn of Pasnic, Supreme Commander of the Militia. " —Handbook of the U.P.M.A. (Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #16)

Luornu remained active despite losing the second of her third bodies (Legion vol. 3 #50), but she was somewhat withdrawn.

Just as the Legion was reforming, the alien Khunds (goaded to action by Glorith) began to attack United Planets worlds across the galaxy (especially the outer worlds nearer to Khundish space, including Xolnar, Orando and Talok VIII). The Legion agreed to fight alongside the U.P. forces. Jed Rikane (Power Boy) was one of their commanders. The Khunds attacked the Militia's home base, and commander Berta Haris (Nightwind) was killed. (Legion vol. 4 #15)

Legionnaires Mysa Nal (the White Witch) and Kent Shakespeare were sent to Xolnar to help. (#16) Jed died in this same fight, just as Glorith and the Khunds were defeated. (#17) He and Berta were laid to rest with honors. (#18)

On Earth, that planet had been stealthfully overtaken by the Dominators. After the Legion and the U.P. Militia cleansed the planet of the aliens' influence, many of the Legion's former Substitute Heroes (who had become a formidable band of resistance fighters) hung out with the Legion for awhile, then chose to relocate to Xolnar and enlist with the Militia. (#35, 42)

The Militia flourished with peace in the galaxy. Chuck and Luornu greeted old friends from the Academy and the S.U.B.S. (who took up their codenames again) while continuing to train new recruits like Quake, R327 Stun, (#54) Dragonfly, Jagged, Mara Williams and Ringtoss. A few familiar faces joined them as well: Yera Allon (Shift), Tiger Girl, and Xera. These young heroes faced another Khund attack, but were unable to prevent the assassination of Starfinger III. (#57)

Note: Events from Legion volume 4 (sometimes called the "Five Years Later" era) are no longer part of any extant Legion continuity.

» FEATURED APPEARANCES:

• S.U.B.S.: Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #15-18, 35, 41, 42
• Militia Academy: Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #54, 57

Members and Trainees

The Legion Academy (Earth-247)

There was also a Legion Academy in Universe-247, which was destroyed during Alexander Luthor's machinations in the Infinite Crisis.

This Academy was established not by the Legion, but by their governing authority: the United Planets. As such, any world could send candidates for training. Their ranks were first populated by a weak trio of misfits: Tomb, Cannus (Cahvey Cannus) and Brawler. They were escorted to the Academy's headquarters Warnabros by Legionnaires Apparition and Andromeda. (Showcase '95 #6)

When Legion membership was made voluntary, and Legionnaires were no longer appointed by their home worlds, the United Planets closed the Academy. This made recruitment a challenge, and several Legionnaires mentioned perhaps they should begin their own Academy. Cannus returned to apply for Legion membership but didn't make the cut. (Legionnaires #43)

Quite a while later, they made good and established the Legion Cadet Program. Among these cadets were Polar Boy, Comet Queen, Babbage, Retro and Amp Girl. (The Legion #25)

When the Legion was largely out of commission, Chuck Taine called in the Legion Cadets for help. Nightwind and Infectious Lass were among those who impressed him that day. (#36)