ADVENTURE COMICS 334 (1965)
by Edmond Hamilton & John Forte
A statue that’s wearing a lead mask. I’d call it weird, but in the Silver Age, this is nothing.
We begin in Antares, where the Legion runs into the cover. Points for getting that out of the way quickly!
Superboy recalls a time where they had to capture an escaped criminal. Supergirl is cut off this mission because she has to travel through time and apparently she can’t wait.
Interestingly, this the first formal acknowledgment of why Superman was surprised to meet Supergirl when he should’ve recalled her from his Superboy days.
Note that we’re told that Supergirl is responsible for this “post-hypnotic suggestion”. Future stories will make this Saturn Girl’s work, which makes far more sense.
Back to the present (by which I mean the future), the reason why Superboy is thinking about this is that the criminal ended up being on Antares, which is… *sigh*… Proty’s planet.
“Dr. Eldor” is using shapeshifting henchmen, so Brainiac 5 develops a gas that makes Chameleon Boy even more useless than usual.
The Legion splits to look for Dr. Eldor, with the gas helping to distinguish between real Legionnaires and shapeshifters.
It’s not as simple as that, though, because the Proteans can change into anything.
Phantom Girl and Cosmic Boy are saved by a mysterious figure.
The unknown boy doesn’t want to give his name, so they call him Unknown Boy.
The first idea is that this is a shapeshifting Protean, but that’s tossed aside quickly.
He’s also not Mon-El because he can see through lead, and he’s not Ultra Boy because he’s using more than one power at once.
We are re-told the origin story of the Proteans, which makes them more interesting that their looks would lead you to believe.
They are helping Dr. Eldor because he’s a descendant of the people who gave them their powers.
Superboy helps the rescue of a few Legionnaires that have been taken prisoner, and he does a simple thing that makes the story make some sense: ask Saturn Girl to read Unknown Boy’s mind.
Shockingly, the reason she can’t makes perfect sense this time!
Unknown Boy is kind of a badass, causing the entire cave to collapse to stop Dr. Eldor from obtaining a doomsday weapon.
Dr. Eldor is captured, and Unknown Boy turns out to be Supergirl.
Wait, what!?
But that makes no sense! Unknown Boy could see through lead!
Oh come on, this is cheap!
Honoring Unknown Boy as “one of the greatest Legionnaires” is a bit of a stretch after all this.
Legion significance: 2/10
We get a little more information about the origin of the Proteans, plus the nifty details about Superboy’s hypnotic suggestion.
Silver Age-ness: 8/10
If the ending didn’t involve Red Kryptonite and a convoluted explanation, this would’ve been a 4/10 at best.
Does it stand the test of time? 6/10
The ending does a real disservice to the story. Up to that point there was some interesting intrigue and some competent use of the Legionnaires and their powers (with the glaring exception of Chameleon Boy who once again does absolutely nothing).
It’s such a strong start when compared to the average of this era that it almost makes up for the stupid ending… ALMOST.
We are legion
9 Legionnaires active in this story: Superboy, Supergirl, Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Phantom Girl, Sun Boy, Mon-El, Chameleon Boy
10 not shown but officially members: everyone else, including Light Lass who is on the cover but not in the story
1 reserve member: Bouncing Boy
2 resigned member: Dream Girl, Command Kid
1 honorary member: Elastic Lad
1 deceased member: Dynamo Boy
How much Legion is too much?
The Legion has 19 active members. The total number of characters who have been members is 24.
Time travel doesn’t work that way
Supergirl: “I have to get back to the 20th century so that people won’t suspect my identity, but maybe I can help you first”.
Brainiac 5: “No you can’t wait to get back, you have to go right now”.
Sounds legit.
Interesting that this story predates the concept that Durlans are totally alien things with tentacles coming out of their faces.
Supergirl has to leave because, you know. But they redeem the time travel thing at the end.
Oh, and I guess he could have been “Nameless Lad” or maybe “Strange Guy” or possibly “John Doe Boy”…. When I first read this story (when it came out… I’m old) my young self wondered how Supergirl’s super boobs could stand being mashed in that costume (same as with Ayla many issues prior when she posed as Garth).