I had the honor to be a guest on the Long Live The Legion Podcast, discussing the tiniest Legionaire: the one and only Shrinking Violet.
Well, actually the MANY Shrinking Violets, as discussed in the podcast!
Thank you so much to Jim & Jay for the opportunity, I had an absolute blast!
And so can you, if you listen to the episode and survive my butchering of the English language.
You can also find Jim and Jay, as well as their own Legion reviews, at:
Main podcast site
Spotify
Apple Podcast
Socials
Jim’s reviews
Jay’s reviews
As I mention in the episode, Shrinking Violet is only the THIRD shrinking superhero, surpassed only by Doll Man and Doll Girl… provided that you forget Minimidget, which is always a good idea. But who was Minimidget, or more precisely who WERE they?
Minimidget is an extremely obscure character from the forgotten Centaur Publications, and he debuted all the way back in 1939 on Amazing-Man Comics #5.
Which was actually the first issue published: there are no issues 1 to 4. Which should already tell you something about this publisher’s success.
Minimidget and his girlfriend Ritty… who I guess is also Minimidget?… are regular people shrunken down by a mad scientist.
The mad scientist uses his new “pets” to commit some murders, but they are eventually caught.
And since they were working for the scientist against their will, they are not incriminated.
And with their new size, across many adventures both Minimidgets are able to help the authorities, by… uhm… making phone calls…
…fly toy planes, hoping they won’t be eaten by birds…
…driving toy cars and riding bunnies…
…and messing up wires.
Honestly they spend more time escaping from animals than fighting crime.
Yeah, uhm… maybe calling the Minimidgets shrinking superheroes is a bit of a stretch.
They’re SHRUNKEN superheroes: they never get back to regular size.
Minimidget only lasted on Amazing-Man until issue 25, followed by 6 issues of Stars & Stripes Comics, and ended his short (pun intended) career in 1941.
I’m pretty sure Minimidget is in the public domain, but with that name and that, let’s face it, lackluster career, nobody is in a hurry to bring him back.
Although in 2015 Gallant Comics attempted a revival of some of Centaur’s characters, and sort of based Miniature Man on Minimidget. Honestly, outside the fact that he shrinks and uses a sword, he doesn’t have much in common with Minimidget.
But returning to Shrinking Violet: something we didn’t mention in the episode was the fact that in her first appearance on Action Comics #276 she never uses her powers.
In fact she’s only in ONE panel!
The first time we actually see her use her powers is Adventure Comics #304, which is the issue where *spoiler alert* Lightning Lad dies.
She meets her terrible boyfriend Duplicate Boy in Adventure Comics #324…
…and as mentioned in the episode, in the terrible Adventure Comic #326 she’s the only girl Legionnaire who doesn’t defeat a boy, leaving the task in the hands of Triplicate Girl’s questionable power.
The first time she actually helps save the day is Adventure Comics #347, the second Jim Shooter issue. Channeling her inner Minidget given the earlier panel, isn’t she?
The first time she even hits ANYONE is Adventure Comics #359, and it’s just a regular guy.
Her best Silver Age story is undoubtedly Action Comics #381.
For the first time she actually punches an enemy we have to wait Superboy 212.
Despite being the first Micro Lad story, she punches Phantom Boy there.
With his costume, who WOULDN’T punch him?
We also discussed LSH 298 and how Duplicate Boy would be the worst Legion boyfriend EVER if it wasn’t for Atmos…
…as well as how great the Yera storyline was, something I once analyzed when comparing it to another shapeshifter impostor.
As well as the history of her fashion choice.
Just make her wear violet, people, is it that difficult???
I even had something good to say about the 5YL era!
How often does THAT happen?
Hopefully I should be able to get on the podcast again sometime next year.
Jim and Jay, you both definitely deserve your very own Certificate of Useless Archeology, awarded here for only the second time.
