ADVENTURE COMICS 372 (1968)
by Jim Shooter & Curt Swan
cover by Neal Adams
The last issue with Curt Swan as the regular artist, plus many familiar faces return!
Last issue, Colossal Boy was expelled from the Legion for treason. But apparently:
1) they didn’t arrest him
2) they didn’t take away his flight ring
Great job, Legion.
The Legion tries to question Colossal Boy’s parents, figuring out that something’s up.
Oh so NOW you investigate? Couldn’t you do this during Colossal Boy’s trial!?!?
The jewel is attuned to Colossal Boy’s mother, so Brainiac 5 finds a way to send a beam towards it.
Since the beam is too small to track, though, they’ll need the help of Shrinking Violet.
Who turns out can shrink down to the size of an atom!!!
THIS IS AWESOME.
Sure, the Atom typically shrinks down to travel through phone lines. But Shrinking Violet shrinks down to be beamed up to other planets!!!
Sneaking into the enemy base, Shrinking Violet finds Colossal Boy working for the newly created Legion of Super-Villains!
Plus, the second appearance of Nemesis Kid!
Since Tarik has Colossal Boy’s parents hostage, the Legion can’t just crash into his base.
The solution will be to infiltrate two of the trainees: Chemical King and Timber Wolf, who apparently has been training behind the scenes since his first appearance.
Also note that Brainiac 5 is acting as the leader even if formally he has to get Ultra Boy’s approval on everything. Ultra Boy was voted leader by the readers, but I get the feeling that Jim Shooter didn’t like the idea.
Chameleon Boy and Superboy will also be infiltrated. Okay infiltrating a shapeshifter makes perfect sense, but Superboy?
Chemical King demonstrates his superpowers: speeding up chemical reactions and coming up with weird explanations about it.
The four Legionnaires are then recruited into the Legion of Super-Villains, which in addition to Nemesis Kid includes some familiar rejects.
As well as Lightning Lord’s first appearance that doesn’t take place with the Adult Legion.
So… remind me again why it was a good idea to have people Colossal Boy knows infiltrate the place? Couldn’t they send just Chameleon Boy!?
Colossal Boy gives the alarm, and it’s a problem because A) the heroes are outnumbered B) Nemesis Kid is stupidly overpowered.
Superboy does give him a good fight…
…but Nemesis Kid is just unstoppable in a one-on-one fight.
With the heroes captured, Colossal Boy is given the task to kill Superboy by turning him into glass.
THEN THEY KILL SUPERBOY.
Or not.
The rest of the Legion shows up, with Duo Damsel defeating Nemesis Kid!!!
A big round of applause for one of the dumbest supervillains ever!
As for how Superboy survived: that was actually Chameleon Boy, who first changed into a glass statue (!!!) and then into a pile of broken glass (!!!).
Colossal Boy’s parents are cured, and both Timber Wolf and Chemical King join the Legion.
Legion significance: 8/10
The Legion of Super-Villains will be a major thorn in the Legion’s side, and this version has a much bigger impact on future appearances rather then their Adult Legion counterparts. Interestingly, this is Tarik the Mute’s only story. We also have Timber Wolf and Chemical King joining.
Silver Age-ness: 7/10
Shrinking Violet gets as small as an atom to be beamed into another solar system!!!
Does it stand the test of time? 7/10
The Legion’s plan doesn’t make too much sense, but overall this is classic superhero fun.
We are legion
26 Legionnaires
2 reserve members: Kid Psycho, Insect Queen
3 honorary members: Elastic Lad, Pete Ross, Rond Vidar
1 resigned member: Command Kid
1 expelled member: Nemesis Kid
2 deceased members: Dynamo Boy, Ferro Lad
How much Legion is too much?
With Timber Wolf and Chemical King joining, the total number of characters who have been members is 35.