SUPERBOY 176 (1971)
by E.Nelson Bridwell & George Tuska
This is the last Bridwell story for the era.
We jump straight into the action: someone steals the money used to pay for the first commercial time travel. At least I THINK that’s money?
Unfortunately for Chemical King, the “Invisible Invader” turns… well, invisible.
Nice to see the Science Police at least attempting to be useful.
The thief is clever enough to use the time machine to escape, though.
This leads to Invisible Kid revealing his origin story. Technically speaking it’s also Chemical King’s origin… a throwaway sentence telling us that he’s a mutant.
And you wonder why Chemical King never made an impression.
Invisible Kid, unlike the vast majority of the Legionnaires, actually had to work hard to get powers.
That’s a pretty cool way to differentiate him from the rest of the team!
It also means that Invisible Kid is the best choice to help the Legion figure out how to spot an invisible foe.
Invisible Kid does come up with a plan, but the reader isn’t told what that is just yet.
Instead we go straight to the place where the Legion is sure that the Invisible Invader will strike next.
Considering that it could’ve been almost anything else, that was a pretty lucky guess!
The villain does steal the loot, but when he tries to escape he can’t turn invisible anymore.
Who could’ve guessed that Chemical King would do something useful?
Just a reminder: the Invisible Invader briefly had access to all of space and time and did absolutely nothing with it.
Historical significance: 4/10
Future stories in flashback (including what is by far the best Chemical King story ever told) will treat Invisible Kid and Chemical King as best friends, and this story is probably why.
Silver Age-ness: 8/10
“Commercially available time travel” is a delightfully Silver Age idea that goes nowhere.
Does it stand the test of time? 6/10
Harmless fluff, but you should really lose the time travel part because it just raises too many questions.
We are legion
25 Legionnaires
3 reserve members: Kid Psycho, Insect Queen, Superboy
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?
The total number of characters who have been members is 35.
“Just a reminder: the Invisible Invader briefly had access to all of space and time and did absolutely nothing with it.” 😆