Among the best issues about superhero team-up comics are the unusual and fantastic combos that they permit readers to expertise. Warner Bros. Animation’s latest DC film, Legion of Tremendous-Heroes, takes that to the subsequent degree by teaming up Supergirl and Brainiac 5 with a number of the most underrated and oft-forgotten DC heroes on the Legion Academy. Due to the good Legion of Superheroes animated sequence and extra up to date iterations of the staff, it may be simple to neglect that they started as a comedic tackle superheroics. The brand new film leans into that, plucking a number of the oldest and weirdest Legionnaires and throwing them into the highlight!
If you happen to’re questioning who Kara’s youthful deep reduce colleagues are, we have got you coated. Let’s head to the long run and dive into the whole lot it’s worthwhile to learn about Legion of Tremendous-Heroes’ shocking roster.
Bouncing Boy
Bouncing Boy first debuted in Motion Comics #276, created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney. As his identify hints, his energy is that he bounces—however first he blows up into a large ball.
Bouncing Boy A.Ok.A. Chuck Taine’s origin is a novel one as he was born with none powers in any respect. However that each one modified someday when he went to sip upon a scrumptious, refreshing soda and as a substitute picked up a scientific plastic system that gave him the power to alter his physique form and bounce like a plastic bouncy ball. Although he may not be a family identify, he is truly been a recurring determine all through DC historical past after his Supergirl-centric 1961 debut.
Together with being a core member of the futuristic staff, you will have seen him—in several iterations—in sequence as diversified as Doomsday Clock, Motion Comics and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen. Exterior of the comics, he is in all probability most recognized for his function within the well-liked Legion of Superheroes animated present. However he additionally confirmed up in episodes of Superman: The Animated Collection and Justice League Limitless. Bouncing Boy is a daily animation stalwart.
Triplicate Lady
One other younger hero who debuted Motion Comics #276—clearly a vital concern for the staff—is Triplicate Lady, who does precisely what she says on the tin: she will break up into three actual replicas of herself identical to everybody on Cargg, the planet she hails from.
How have they got this magical ability? Properly, that will be due to the three suns that the planet orbits round. It is a energy that surprises Linda Lee when the Legion comes to go to her with a purpose to assist her really feel much less lonely as a super-powered teen lady. The problem was clearly fairly an affect on the Legion of Tremendous-Heroes animated film too as we see Triplicate Lady and her mates take Supergirl to check out for the Legion alongside different members, together with love curiosity Brainiac 5.
Although her 1961 arrival within the DC Universe was in a lighthearted Supergirl story, all through the years she’s been put via a number of grim and gritty reboots which have seen her lose her dad and mom to grief, alcoholism and even left Triplicate Lady as the one surviving inhabitant of Cargg. Throughout the Closing Disaster occasion, it was revealed that she had married Bouncing Boy! It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see if that relationship ever involves move in her new animated iteration.
Phantom Lady
Identical to Bouncing Boy and Triplicate Lady, Phantom Lady debuted in Motion Comics #276. She was one other of Supergirl’s “Tremendous-Girlfriends” and visited Linda’s time to cheer the heroine up.
As for her powers, Phantom Lady’s identify offers you trace. The alien teen can part out and in of being in addition to passing via objects and area. Also called Apparition, the heroine has carved out an area as probably the most well-known Legionnaires together with her adventures spanning many years. Throughout her time on the staff, she’s fought alongside famed DC heroes like Saturn Lady, Mr. Terrific and Plastic Man.
She’s one other of the characters who would grow to be a key participant within the LoSH animated sequence. She was additionally in Superman: The Animated Collection and made an look within the beloved Younger Justice present too. She additionally popped up within the eighth season of The Flash!
Dawnstar
Readers first met Dawnstar in Superboy and the Legion of Tremendous-Heroes #226, and like many characters from the annals of Bronze Age comics historical past, her origin is ripe for a reimagining. In her first delightfully surreal concern, although, the heroine groups up with the LoSH with a purpose to assist them save the day. Paul Levitz, James Sherman and Jack Abel carry the story to life with Dawnstar’s iconic look designed by Mike Grell. It is a tremendous enjoyable journey that sees Dawnstar and her accomplice Wildfire lead the Legion into hazard earlier than the previous ultimately saves the day.
The alien heroine has powers that embody her iconic wings which give her the power to fly at a supersonic velocity, one thing that’s regular for folks on her residence planet. She will additionally use her enhanced senses to trace anybody all through the universe. Due to her alien physiology, she will additionally survive in deep area with none want for a swimsuit or ship!
Invisible Child
Whereas the unique Invisible Child, Lyle Norg, debuted in Journey Comics #267 and gained his powers from a particular serum of his personal invention, Legion of Tremendous-Heroes’ iteration of the character, Jacques Foccart, debuted many years later in DC historical past.
In Legion of Tremendous-Heroes Annual #1, readers have been launched to the younger human who sought out Brainiac 5 within the hopes that the hyper clever android clone might assist him remedy his youthful sister of a uncommon sickness. Sadly, Brainiac 5 determined to try to assist her through implanting a bit of an previous synthetic intelligence mission into her mind, which shortly led to the evil Computo possessing the younger lady. It was through the epic battle to save lots of her and defeat Computo that Jacques took a few of Lyle Norg’s potion, which gave him the facility of invisibility. When he turned a real hero within the wake of the battle, he took on the identify Invisible Child out of respect to Lyle and his creation.
Hailing from Côte d’Ivoire, the brand new Invisible Child was shortly voted onto the staff and have become a significant new member. He would later go on to work as a part of Legion splinter teams, futuristic resistance organizations, and at the same time as President of Earth all through his profession as a superhero.
Arms-Fall-Off Boy
Although he is referred to as Arm-Fall-Off-Boy within the comics—together with his first look in Secret Origins #46—right here the weirdest of the movie’s LoSH staff is renamed as Arms-Fall-Off Boy. Throughout a chat with DC.com, director Jeff Wamester revealed that probably the most interesting issues in regards to the new staff members was how simple it was to elucidate their powers by merely saying their names. By no means was that extra true than within the case of this 1989 creation from Superman legend Curt Swan. As we see within the movie, he can take away each arms at will, utilizing them as weapons if and when he wants them. What a ability!
Although it is by no means been confirmed, it was as soon as acknowledged by Matter-Eater Lad within the pre-Zero Hour continuity that Arm-Fall-Off Boy gained his powers as a result of an accident whereas messing round with the anti-gravity metallic referred to as Aspect 152. Although that has since been written out of continuity, we’re hoping that his look right here and in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad—there named T.D.Ok.—means we’ll get some extra AFOB tales sooner moderately than later!
Legion of Tremendous-Heroes, DC’s latest function size animated film, is now out there on 4K Extremely HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray+Digital and Digital HD.
Rosie Knight is an award-winning journalist and writer who loves Swamp Factor, the DC Cosmic and writing about these and extra right here at DC.com. You may hearken to her waxing lyrical about comics, films and extra every week as she co-hosts Crooked Media’s pop-culture podcast, X-Ray Imaginative and prescient.
