The Legion of Super-Villains were created at a time whenSuperman editorMort Weisinger was consciously adding new elements to the "Superman mythos" over a period of years, building an extended cast of supporting characters who could provide new story opportunities. The creation of the Legion of Super-Heroes was part of that plan, and in the Legion's fourth appearance ("The Army of Living Kryptonite Men" inSuperboy #86, January 1961), it was suggested thatLex Luthor would someday lead a group of super-villains. This would come to fruition seven months later, inSuperman #147's story "The Legion of Super-Villains".[3]
In pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity, the Legion of Super-Villains was founded by Benno Tarik, who suffered irreparable damage to his vocal cords during a battle with theScience Police and developed a pathological hatred of law and order. Tarik founded a school for supervillains, which served as the headquarters and recruiting grounds for the Legion's first incarnation, and blackmailedColossal Boy into joining as a teacher.[4][5]
The Legion first appears whenLex Luthor creates a radio to contact the future, feeling there must be an evil counterpart to the Legion of Super-Heroes.[4] He is broken out of jail by a gun, flying belt, and force-field helmet being sent into his cell. Luthor meets the trio of villains - Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, and Saturn Queen - who tell him of their origins. They cause trouble for Superman and lure him to a planetoid where he is captured in aKryptonite field. Superman is sentenced to death beforethe adult Legion of Super-Heroes appears and rescues him. Luthor threatens to kill Superman, butSaturn Woman offers herself in his place. Superman asks for a tribute and is released after promising not to rescue Saturn Woman. Saturn Queen is given a fragment ofSaturn's rings, which influence her into reforming, and the other villains are jailed. However, they would battle Superman at other points.
Several other incarnations of the group form over the years, led first by Sun Emperor and then byNemesis Kid.[6][7] In the last incarnation, they conquerOrando, the homeworld ofPrincess Projectra, and transport it to another dimension as a base of operations. Each villain is assigned to kill one Legionnaire, but only Nemesis Kid succeeds, fatally woundingKarate Kid.[8]
In the fourth volume ofLegion of Super-Heroes, the Legion of Super-Villains disbands and several of its members reform. Echo joins the Legion during theFive Year Gap, but resigns after the events of Black Dawn.[9] Lightning Lord returns to his home planet ofWinath to work on his family's farm.[10] Ron-Karr joins theLegion of Substitute Heroes and Spider Girl joins the Legion, changing her codename to Wave.[11][12] Saturn Queen marriesMatter-Eater Lad and becomes the queen of her homeworldTitan.[13] These events were erased from continuity following theZero Hour: Crisis in Time! event, which rebooted the Legion's continuity.[14]
The Legion of Super-Villains also appears inSuperman/Batman, where its members attempt to remake the universe by tampering with the origins ofSuperman andBatman and adopting them as their "children", transforming them into the dictators of Earth and eliminating other members of theJustice League. Superman and Batman overcome their brainwashing due to theDarkseid of another reality telling them what had happened. They restore the timestream to its proper course and take the villains to the 31st century to be imprisoned, but retain their memories of the altered timeline.[17]
Akka - Expert martial artist from the planet Sklar. She was killed by Saturn Queen.[18][19]
Beauty Blaze - Possesses heat and fire-based abilities.[20]
Chameleon Chief (Jall Tannuz) - ADurlan who can shapeshift and transmute matter.[21]
Cosmic King (Laevar Bolto) - He possesses transmutation powers similar toElement Lad.[22]
Echo (Myke-4 Astor) - Sound and sonic-based abilities.[20]
Esper Lass (Meta Ulnoor) - She possesses telepathic powers similar to Saturn Girl.[23]
Hunter (Adam Orion) - The son of the original Hunter (Otto Orion), he seeks revenge on the Legion for his father's death.[24]
Immortus - A living brain implanted in a powerful android body.[18]
Lightning Lord (Mekt Ranzz) - AWinathian who is the brother ofGarth Ranzz andAyla Ranzz and shares their ability to generatebioelectricity.[22] Having been born anonly child on a planet where twin births are the norm, Lightning Lord developed an anti-social personality in response to being ostracized.
Magno Lad (Kort Grezz) - He possesses magnetic abilities similar to Cosmic Boy.[23]
Questor (Xart Prax) - A technologically amplifiedColuan with heightened intelligence.[18]
Radiation Roy (Roy Travich) - A former applicant to the Legion of Super-Heroes who can emit radiation from his body. After trying out as Radiation Roy, he was rejected for not having enough control over his powers, as the radiation could potentially harm the Legion and civilians. Roy is not immune to his own powers and wears a containment suit to protect himself.[28]
Justice League of Earth - A group of Legion of Super-Heroes rejects who attempt to save Earth by turning it into a xenophobic society.
Earth-Man (Kirt Niedrigh) - He can absorb and duplicate superpowers.
Golden Boy (Klint Stewirt) - He can change the structure of any element into gold via touch.
Storm Boy (Myke Chypurz) - He can control the weather.
Tusker (Horace Lafeaugh) - He has ivory-like tusks that can grow to certain sizes, and possesses a healing factor and enhanced strength, durability, and agility.
The Legion of Super-Villains appear inLegion of Super Heroes, consisting of Lightning Lord (voiced byJames Arnold Taylor), Hunter, Tyr (both voiced byKhary Payton),Esper Lass (Tara Strong), Ron-Karr (Shawn Harrison), and Wave, who has no dialogue. This version of the group areextortionists and assassins led by Lightning Lord in the first season and Tyr in the second season. Additionally, Ron-Karr possesses shapeshifting abilities and Lightning Lord sports white hair and glowing blue eyes, both of which he acquired during the incident that gave him his powers. First appearing in the first season episode "Lightning Storm", the group masquerades as a superhero team called the Light Speed Vanguard to outperform the Legion of Super-Heroes before their true intentions are exposed. In the second season, the Legion of Super-Villains ally withImperiex before Lightning Lord and Ron-Karr reform and leave the group.
^abWilliams, Stephanie (November 7, 2023).Strange and Unsung All-Stars of the DC Multiverse: A Visual Encyclopedia.Running Press. p. 34.ISBN978-0-7624-8345-7.
^Waid, Mark; McCraw, Tom (w), Moder, Lee (p), Boyd, Ron (i). "Forced Friends, Deadly Consequences" Legion of Super-Heroes, vol. 4, no. 62 (November 1994). DC Comics.
^abcdLevitz, Paul (w), Portela, Francis (p), Portela, Francis (i), Mena, Javier (col). "When Evil Calls" Legion of Super-Villains, vol. 1, no. 1 (May 2011). DC Comics.
^Levitz, Paul;Giffen, Keith (w), Lightle, Steve (p), Mahlstedt, Larry (i). "An Eye for an Eye, A Villain for a Hero" Legion of Super-Heroes, vol. 3, no. 5 (December 1984). DC Comics.
^Bates, Cary (w), Cockrum, Dave (p), Cockrum, Dave (i). "Timber Wolf: Dead Hero, Live Executioner!" Superboy, vol. 1, no. 197 (September 1973). DC Comics.
