The Legion of Super-Heroes on Film
The Teen Team of the Future Fights Crime in the Thirty-First Century
Dec 5, 2008
Springing from the same minds that would later create Supergirl, the Legion of Superheroes was originally a team of teen-aged superheroes who traveled back in time to enlist the aid of Superboy in their adventures. Most Legion stories are set in the Thirtieth or Thirty-First Centuries, giving writers the freedom to imagine virtually any technological advancement they could envision, including easy access to time-travel technology that allowed the Legion to include contemporary Twentieth and Twenty-First Century heroes in the stories.
Animated Debut
In the Superman - The Animated Series episode "New Kids on the Block", three Legionnaires, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl travel back to the time of Superman's youth to prevent the living computer Brainiac from destroying the hero before he becomes powerful enough to be a threat to the villain. This template of three Legionnaires traveling back to Superman's boyhood repeats in subsequent Legion appearances.
Justice League Unlimited
In the third season of Justice League Unlimited, the three time travelers theme repeats, except in reverse. The Legion, led by Brainiac 5 (an organic, heroic descendant of the original Brainiac) uses a device to transport Green Lantern, Green Arrow and Supergirl to the future to assist them in defeating the Fatal Five, their mortal enemies. At the end of the adventure, Supergirl opts to stay in the Thirty-First Century with the Legion, having fallen in love with Brainiac 5.
By uniting Supergirl and the Legion, this episode is meant as an homage to two great comic book creators, tying together the two greatest creations of Otto Binder and Al Plastino.
Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes
Following the finale of Justice League Unlimited, it was decided that another superhero team should fill the void. Based on the fan reaction to the Supergirl/Legion story line, an animated version of the Legion was tapped to fill the void.
Again, three Legionnaires, Saturn Girl, Bouncing Boy and Brainiac 5 travel to the past, this time to enlist the aid of a young Superman in battling their nemesis, the Fatal Five. The first season focuses on Superman's journey from youth to manhood as he follows the heroic example of the Legionnaires, who ironically shaped themselves in the image of his adult self.
In the second season, a more adult Superman returns to the future to assist the Legion and a clone from a thousand years in the future, Superman X, also becomes part of the team.
Live Action Debut
On January 15, 2009, the Legion of Super-Heroes will appear in live action for the first time. Saturn Girl (Alexz Johnson), Lightning Lad (Calum Worthy) and Cosmic Boy (Ryan Kennedy) will arrive in Smallville, likely to aid Clark Kent in his battle with Brainiac. Sound Familiar?
 |
 |
