ADVENTURE COMICS 346 (1966)
Written by Jim Shooter
Pencils by Jim Shooter
Cover by Curt Swan
This is the big one: the beginning of the Jim Shooter run.
There is SO much to talk about this issue.
This was written AND penciled by Jim Shooter when he was just 13 years old (he was 14 by the time it hit the stand).
Having the same person both write and draw a comic was definitely not the standard at the time; Shooter, not knowing this (or perhaps wanting to impress the editor), submitted the entire story.
There are all sorts of stories and legends surrounding how this story came to be and how Jim Shooter was hired at such a young age, not to mention the harsh treatment he received from editor Mort Weisinger… Jim Shooter has a fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking story.
But what about Adventure Comics #346 itself?
We begin with Cosmic Boy being late for a Legion meeting, saving a guy’s life.
We’re just at page 2 and he’s already done more than in half of the entire Hamilton run!
Even at 13, Shooter’s page composition shines. This is the entirety of page 3: you never see a panel occupying 2/3 of the page in this era.
Note the perspective of Cosmic Boy, giving the reader an idea of how imposing the Legion must feel to the applicants.
Also, this where the Council Room gets established for the auditions. While its name is not always consistent, it will become an iconic place for all kinds of situations.
Yes, I did mention auditions!
The fact that it’s been a while since the last successful one is acknowledged, as is the fact that Superboy is presiding.
First up: Princess Projectra and her hairdo!
She definitely gets the most spectacular demonstration.
As her codename implies, she has the power to create illusions.
She’s immediately accepted into the Legion without any questions.
Next up is Nemesis Kid, with the vaguely defined power of defeating any opponent.
While EXTREMELY overpowered, he does have one drawback: it only works with one adversary at a time.
He’s immediately accepted into the Legion without any questions.
Next up: Ferro Lad!
He can turn into an invulnerable and super-strong metal form, kind of like Colossus from the X-Men (but predating him by 11 years).
Interestingly, they are both mutants!
He’s immediately accepted into the Legion without any questions.
Next is Karate Kid, who has the power of… well actually he doesn’t have powers, he’s just really good at martial arts.
Well, unless you consider a super-power being able to smash a steel beam and having the balls to challenge Superboy to a fight!
Karate Kid doesn’t actually WIN, mind you, but just the fact that he manages to throw around Superboy and give him a serious challenge definitely makes up for the lack of actual powers!
After this demonstration, Karate Kid is also accepted into the Legion.
With 4 new members and no rejects, this has to be the most successful audition ever!
To be fair, they do mention that these four have passed “the qualifying tests”, so mercifully the Legion doesn’t rely only on the final audition anymore.
In case you’re wondering: not only Karate Kid predates the 70s kung-fu craze and was around 18 years before the Karate Kid movie… but the movie actually had to pay DC Comics to use the name. Look it up in the movie’s credits!
But now that the auditions are over, it’s time for an actual mission. It’s the introduction of the Khund, an alien warrior race that will be a thorn in the Legion’s side for the rest of its history (and of the rest of the DC Universe, eventually).
They are more than a little reminiscent of the Klingons from Star Trek, not just in concept but also in the fact that in later years they will be shown as much more alien-looking.
Earth is counting on 3 defense towers recently installed by Superboy, so the Legion is dispatched to protect them.
And already we get far more characterization than during the entire previous era: Karate Kid is eager to help, while Phantom Girl doesn’t want the newbie to boss her around.
Phantom Girl investigates the ship by turning intangible, and she’s still inside when it blows up.
Once again I have to break my self-imposed rule to avoid showing the entire page to highlight the panel composition: check out page 19!
Again: Jim Shooter was freaking 13.
While this was going on, someone took Karate Kid by surprise and managed to sabotage one of the towers.
Things are looking quite suspicious for Karate Kid.
For a guy without powers, Karate Kid does have the superhuman ability to be at the wrong place at the wrong time!
Is Karate Kid secretly working for the Khund? What are the other Legionnaires up to?
Has any Legion fan not read this one a hundred times already?
Find out next issue!
Legion significance: 10/10
Every Legion superfan pretty much knows this story by heart. Four new Legionnaires, most of which will be hugely important, the introduction of the Khund, plus the start of a legendary run? It doesn’t get higher than this!
Silver Age-ness: 2/10
Definitely less than contemporary stories. Nemesis Kid’s power definitely wouldn’t be treated so casually today.
Does it stand the test of time? 8/10
It’s a really simple story; a bit clunky at times, and among the new recruits only Karate Kid is given some space. The art sometimes looks a bit amateurish, but other times it’s really ahead of its time. But the good parts far outweigh any nitpicking I could possibly bring up.
We are legion
10 Legionnaires active in this story
12 not shown but officially members
2 reserve members: Bouncing Boy and Kid Psycho
2 resigned members: Dream Girl, Command Kid
1 honorary member: Elastic Lad
1 expelled member: Star Boy
1 deceased member: Dynamo Boy
How much Legion is too much?
Adding the four new members, the Legion currently has 22 active members and the total number of characters who have been members is now 29.
Interesting letters: the reaction to the trial of Star Boy takes central stage, with most readers apparently against the Legion’s decision.
Also: the suggestion to use the position of Legion leader to a character that doesn’t get the spotlight will definitely be taken seriously!
