| "The Adult Legion" | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Publication date | March – April1967 |
| Genre | |
| Title(s) | Adventure Comics #354-355 |
| Main character(s) | Legion of Super-Heroes Superman Legion of Super-Villains |
| Creative team | |
| Writer | Jim Shooter |
| Penciller | Curt Swan |
| Inker | George Klein |
| Editor | Mort Weisinger |
"The Adult Legion" is a comic bookstory arc published by American companyDC Comics, presented inAdventure Comics #354-355 (March–April 1967). It was written byJim Shooter, pencilled byCurt Swan, and inked byGeorge Klein. The story arc features one ofSuperman's encounters with theLegion of Super-Heroes as adults, and foreshadows several plot twists which occur in the years that follow.
The story arc includes the first reference to Brin Londo asTimber Wolf, and the first references toChemical King, Reflecto andShadow Lass (who appears as Shadow Woman).[1]
Superman is contacted by theLegion of Super-Heroes, the 30th-century team which he joined years earlier asSuperboy. Upon reaching Legion Headquarters, he walks through a hall of statues honoring deceased Legionnaires, includingFerro Lad,Chemical King, Reflecto, andShadow Woman. In another hall devoted to married Legionnaires, he observes statues of several wedded members:Shrinking Violet and Ord Qelu (the former Duplicate Boy),Saturn Woman andLightning Man,Light Lady andTimber Wolf, andNight Woman andCosmic Man. AfterBrainiac 5 gives Superman a tour of Legion HQ, he becomes reacquainted withUltra Man,Phantom Woman,Polar Man, andElement Man, as well as the formerColossal Boy,Matter-Eater Lad,Star Boy,Dream Girl,Bouncing Boy, andDuo Damsel.
The team is perplexed when their headquarters is breached and partially destroyed. After capturing the culprit, the Legionnaires learn that he is Douglas Nolan, Ferro Lad's twin brother, who was controlled byLegion of Super-Villains member Saturn Queen.
Superman returns to the 20th century, after which the Super-Villains kidnap the Legion. Unexpectedly, two armored figures arrive, defeating the villains and freeing the Legionnaires. They reveal themselves to be descendants ofLex Luthor andMr. Mxyzptlk, two of Superman’s greatest enemies, and are unanimously voted into the team.
For years, subsequent Legion storylines are consistent withThe Adult Legion's depiction of the future. Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel are married,[2] soon followed by Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl.[3] Lone Wolf becomes Timber Wolf and joins the Legion,[4] and Chemical King dies preventing World War VII.[5] It is eventually revealed that the story takes place in an alternate universe,[6] rendering it non-canon.
