I was just rereading some of The Best of the Legion Outpost and was intrigued by an article written by Len Rosenberg, in which he speculated on the astrological signs of the Legion membership of the day. He didn't make a definite call on some of these (for instance he speculated that Matter Eater Lad was either Cancer or Capricorn) but I summed up his comments thusly:
Aquarius: Wildfire, Brainiac 5
Pisces: Duo Damsel, Dream Girl
Aries: Ferro Lad, Timber Wolf
Taurus; Cosmic Boy, Tyroc
Gemini: Chemical King, Ultra Boy
Cancer: Bouncing Boy, Matter Eater Lad
Leo: Sun Boy, Princess Projectra
Virgo: Saturn Girl, Dawnstar
Libra: Karate Kid, Phantom Girl
Scorpio: Invisible Kid I, Element Lad, Star Boy, Shadow Lass
Capricorn: Chameleon Boy, Shrinking Violet, Mon-El
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
Interesting idea. I wonder what Rosenberg based his choices on. In other words, what traits does an Aquarius supposedly have the Drake and Brainy share?
I feel obliged to point out, though, that our understanding of astrology is based on how the stars appear in the sky from earth's perspective. Inhabitants of a planet such as Colu or Winath or Daxam would observe a different configuration of stars and thus have different astrological signs, assuming they used them at all.
Back in the '70s, DC published a calendar containing the birthdays of all of their major characters, including the Legionnaires. I think those dates are floating around this site somewhere; if not, I'll see if I can find my calendar and re-post them.
Posted by Future on :
The birthdays published back in the 70s can be found here from the Encyclopedia Galactica board!
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
Thanks, Future.
Posted by Jerry on :
It's worth noting that the world of astrology experienced a major shake up recently when a astronomers pointed out that the traditionally accepted astrological charts didn't take into account one of the major constellations and changes in the Earth's rotation. A new chart has been introduced that includes the sign of Ophiucus. This change means that the majority of us have lived out our lives believing that we were the "wrong" sign. I personally shifted from Gemini to Taurus.
Some traditionalists are claiming that astrologers took all of this into account years ago, and the traditional signs are based more on seasonal changes than constellations.
[ February 12, 2011, 09:47 PM: Message edited by: Jerry ]
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
Wow, I would shift from Libra to Virgo. Personally, I like being "the balance" better than being "the virgin." Posted by Jerry on :
I always felt comfortable as Gemini, but I'm embracing Taurus now. Lots of nice traits that I'm okay with.
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
I think I have about equal personality traits of Virgo and Libra, which may result from my birthday being so close to the (traditional) cusp. Or maybe I don't trust myself (Virgo) and can't make up my mind (Libra). Posted by Set on :
I got bumped from Cancer to Gemini. Huge, huge upgrade, IMO.
'Course, I don't believe in that sort of stuff, but still, I'd rather have twins than crabs. Posted by jimgallagher on :
quote:Originally posted by He Who LSHes: I feel obliged to point out, though, that our understanding of astrology is based on how the stars appear in the sky from earth's perspective. Inhabitants of a planet such as Colu or Winath or Daxam would observe a different configuration of stars and thus have different astrological signs, assuming they used them at all.
Yes, he pointed that out in his article. If it weren't 9 pages long, I'd transcribe it and post it here.
Here's part of what he says about Wildfire:
Aquarius is unconventional, likes to break rules and identifies with the masses and the underdog. Astrophysics and space flight are also Aquarian interests. Unpredictable, rebellious, tactless: all qualities of a negative Aquarian, and of Mr. Burroughs. The sign rules the lower legs—from which Wildfire often chooses to to project his energy. The stars are an Aquarian symbol, distant suns that symbolize hope and friendship, but are not as close or as warm as Leonine Sol. Of course, there's a star on Drake's chest—a star with long legs at that (another Aquarian trait!). A little-used aspect of Drake is his ability to "power" machinery, an example of the Aquarian love of gadgets and inventions.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Brainiac 5:
Brainiac 5 is a repressed Aquarius, like many inventors. He's tops in the intellect department, but has trouble handling his emotions. He saves most of his passion for his formulae and the driving desire to undo the evil of his ancestor. Now that he has destroyed Brainiac/Stargrave, he may find his sex drive rearing its ugly little head again. . . . A fixed air sign, he's impossible to influence unless you impress him with your logic; otherwise, he's very stubborn and old-fashioned in many ways, although basically progressive. Even his force-field belt is an example of "fixed air" —immovable, yet gas-permeable. . . .
Posted by jimgallagher on :
quote:Originally posted by He Who LSHes: Interesting idea. I wonder what Rosenberg based his choices on. In other words, what traits does an Aquarius supposedly have the Drake and Brainy share? Back in the '70s, DC published a calendar containing the birthdays of all of their major characters, including the Legionnaires. I think those dates are floating around this site somewhere; if not, I'll see if I can find my calendar and re-post them.
Rosenberg mentioned the calendar in his article and scoffed at it. He based his speculations on a lot of things, including personality traits, interests, costume designs and colors, skills, interpersonal relationships, symbolic extrapolations of powers, etc.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
I went from Scorpio to Libra in the new calendar. Yuck. My sister is/was a Libra. Now she's a Virgo I guess.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
The new calendar doesn't make sense to me. Pisces is 38 days, but Cancer is only 21? Ophiuchus is only 18 days and Virgo is 44 days? Scorpio is now only SEVEN DAYS????!!!!
I think I'll stick with the old math.
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
quote:Originally posted by jimgallagher: I went from Scorpio to Libra in the new calendar. Yuck. My sister is/was a Libra. Now she's a Virgo I guess.
Hey! Libra's rule! Posted by He Who LSHes on :
Thanks for posting the info on Brainy and Drake, Jim.
The thing about astrology is that you can read into any sign just about any personality trait someone chooses to express. I think its truer to say that ALL people exhibit the personality traits of each sign, depending on the situation they find themselves in, who they hang around/have to impress, and what's bothering them at the moment.
That said, Rosenberg's interpretations are interesting. Hope I get a chance to read the entire article at some point.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Glad you enjoyed it, Maybe I could scan the pages and email them to you if you like. But I highly recommend buying the book. It has lots of cool features and artwork in it and it wasn't too expensive.
Holy crap! I actually started a thread that made it past page 1! Does it count that half the posts are from me?
Posted by Ken Arromdee on :
quote:Originally posted by Jerry: It's worth noting that the world of astrology experienced a major shake up recently when a astronomers pointed out that the traditionally accepted astrological charts didn't take into account one of the major constellations and changes in the Earth's rotation. ... This change means that the majority of us have lived out our lives believing that we were the "wrong" sign.
You'd think that if astrology worked, they would have noticed that astrology hadn't been working for the past decades or centuries.
Gee, it's almost as if it doesn't work at all but people are able to convince themselves that it has--no matter what its actual results are.
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
quote:Originally posted by jimgallagher: Glad you enjoyed it, Maybe I could scan the pages and email them to you if you like. But I highly recommend buying the book. It has lots of cool features and artwork in it and it wasn't too expensive.
Holy crap! I actually started a thread that made it past page 1! Does it count that half the posts are from me?
I appreciate the offer. I'd love to buy it if I could find it at an affordable price (re: cheap!).
Yes, it counts . . . because the other half of the posts aren't from you (or something like that ).
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
quote:Originally posted by Ken Arromdee: Gee, it's almost as if it doesn't work at all but people are able to convince themselves that it has--no matter what its actual results are.
Thing is, Ken, that argument can be made for just about anything -- religion, democracy, civilization, starting a new business, rebooting fictional universes, etc. But that doesn't stop people from trying and hoping for the best.
As a Christian, I'm not *supposed* to believe in astrology. But then, as a Christian, (according to some) I'm not supposed to believe in same-sex marriage and gay rights. If one takes an even more extreme view, one can find arguments that integration or women's lib or progressive liberal Christianity don't work. But one can also find compelling arguments that they do.
If one is going to argue that astrology (or anything else) doesn't work, one should be prepared to back it up with examples. But, of course, people who believe it does work can back up their beliefs with examples of their own. And how would each side "prove" that a belief worked or didn't, anyway?
A better approach, I think, is to respect others' beliefs, even when they differ from one's own.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
I don't believe in astrology, but I find it interesting to speculate on. I also don't believe in the Legion of Super Heroes, but I find them interesting to speculate on too. Posted by Legion Tracker on :
quote:Originally posted by jimgallagher: I also don't believe in the Legion of Super Heroes....
WHAT????!!!!
heresy Posted by jimgallagher on :
I prefer himesy.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
I just scanned Rosenberg's article with a text scanner. Below is the introduction. I'll post what he has to say about each Legionnaire later after I clean up the files a little.
Born Under a Triple Sun:
An Astrological Interpretation of the Legion
(From The Legion Outpost 10)
by Len Rosenberg
Five years ago, DC Comics came out with a super-hero calendar that assigned (rather arbitrarily, I thought) birthdates to the various characters appearing in its magazines. The Legion of Super-Heroes took up a good many days of the year, as was to be expected. I recall skimming past late February or early March (around the time of my own birthday), and grumbling loudly--to the surprise of the shoppers nearby "Humph! No way Sun Boy is a Pisces!"
You may gather from this that I am, in addition to being a comics fan, an astrologer.
I mean to stir no hornets nests by making this statement, but I know instinctively that I have divided you readers into two camps: the believers and the skeptics. Opposition to astrology is strong and vehement, championed by no-nonsense rational scientist types like Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan, who seem to feel that astrology is symptomatic of the fall of civilization and the turning of humanity's brain cells into prune whip. Hitting somewhat closer to the fannish heart, the late Mort Weisinger, ex-Legion editor, once took out ads offering a large fee to anyone who could irrefutably convince him of astrology's validity. I believe the money went unclaimed.
While there are some astrologers who believe that the Sun, Moon, and planets have a direct, causal effect on the Earth's inhabitants--be it by gravitational fields, alteration of the Sun's coronal radiation, or whatever--there are equally large numbers of astrologers who favor psychologist Carl Jung's theory of synchronicity: that the events of a particular time share the qualities of that time, whether they occur in interplanetary space or in interpersonal society, and that one can be inferred from the other without any causal relationship. However it is that astrology works, there are millions who will assert that it does work. While I don't expect to convince the skeptics, I do hope that they will find this article of some interest anyway for its character interpretations.
Returning to that 1976 DC calendar: I was annoyed by the birthdates given to the non-Earthborn characters; if Tenzil Kem's birth occurred on the date called February 8 on Earth, he is unlikely to celebrate his birthday on February 8 again unless Bismoll's sun-cycie is identical with Earth's, which is highly unlikely. The potential problems of interstellar timekeeping are immense; it seemed to me the only dates that weren't meaningless were those of the Earthborn Legionnaires, and as an astrologer, those struck me as being off-base as well.
How does one determine the astrological make-up of a fictional character? Well, first of all, you examine the personality traits exhibited by the character and work backward from there. In a case like the Legion, where a dozen writers have imposed their different interpretations, and where the emphasis has been on action over character development, it isn't easy. One aid is astrology's use of correspondences; colors, metals, parts of the body, etc. are "ruled" by different signs and planets, so a character's costume, skills, powers and origin can indicate an astrological leaning. The result need not necessarily be the individual's "Sunsign"; we all have every sign influencing our personalities, but the sign rising, or the signs containing planets, are emphasized. A Sun in Pisces may have a "Leo-type" personality if there are many planets or the Moon in Leo, perhaps, with Leo rising. So, despite my outcry, maybe Sun Boy is a Pisces ... but a Fish strongly modified by Leonine influences, as you'll see.
I'm told that Steve Englehart, who is also an astrologer, searched his ephemeris (a listing of planet's places in the zodiac) when he was writing Dr. Strange, and chose a birthdate astrologically appropriate for the good Mage. Strange happens to be a Scorpio--a sign associated with surgery, sorcery and alcohol consumption. With no ephemerides for the Thirtieth Century, and barring an unexpected grant from a rich fan who will buy computer time to figure the planetary positions for, say, 2960 A.D., I will have to be less specific in my use of dates.
A thousand years hence, the vernal point will have moved (and the siderial astrologers with it) only halfway through the constellation of the Water-carrier. Sort of the noon-day of the Age of Aquarius. (When dealing with stars, you're dealing with slow effects.) The planets, in comparison, will have been whizzing by, even far-out pokey Pluto. And on the third planet from the Sun, the following Legionnaires will have been born:
[ February 22, 2011, 09:20 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Sun Boy: As the Sun is the center of the Solar system, surrounded by dependent planets, Leo--which is Sun-ruled--loves to be the center of attention, and is easy prey to flattery. Sun Boy's name and power are not the only links to Leo that Dirk exhibits; his enemy's name is Regulus--also the name of the brightest star in the constellation Leo, and gold (be it radioactive or not) is the sign's metal. I once asked Jim Shooter if he knew of these correspondences when he wrote the original Dr. Regulus story in Adventure #348; he said he did not. lnteresting coincidence, or Jung's synchronicty?
Dirk can be bossy and patronizing (he told the Substitute Heroes: "Your organization is ridiculous!" in Adventure #311)*. When under pressure, bossiness becomes a power complex; Dirk pulled rank in "Mutiny of the Legion" (Adventure #318). Leo is the showman, and when Sun Boy first joined the Legion, he wore a constant glowing aura; he probably leads the group in some amateur theatrical enterprises. He shows good deductive reasoning (Mercury in Virgo); combined with his friendship with Lightning Lad, this helped him discover Ayla's ruse when she impersonated her brother in Adventure #308--that and a well-placed hand on her chest.
Dirk should be matinee-idol handsome--and more than a little vain. He'd offer unsolicited advice, and cannot admit when he's wrong, but his affection is genuine. He appreciates art, and may design as well as collect sculpture. Like most Leos, he should watch out for back and heart trouble.
*This was actually a Sun Boy impostor--JG.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Bouncing Boy: Despite his much-touted sense of humor, Bouncing Boy is portrayed as something of a worrier. He has pangs of self-doubt--l suspect soda pop and super-plastic serum aren't the only beverages he imbibes. He's also highly protective of his friends (Adventure #380). Cancerians have these qualities. They're also prone to be overweight, since they relate to things through the security of food and family. Most of Chuck's dates with Luornu probably revolved around ice cream shoppes.
Note that Jupiter, which works especially well in Cancer, typifies expansive (inflatable?) energy, and if well-aspected gives a jovial sense of humor. Also the Moon, ruler of Cancer, symbolizes fluctuating influences--like changing moods or on-again-off-again powers--and affects the stomach. If he's a typical Cancer, Chuck married Duo Damsel because she reminds him of Mom, or at least the way Mom cooks. Sentimental, he moons over his old Legion mementos, half loony with regrets and memories. Good thing one of Luornu can soothe ruffled feathers while the other of her putters around in the kitchen.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Wildfire: In many ways, he's a kind of inverted Sun Boy.
Where Dirk's body serves to project energy, Drake's acts to contain it. Unexpected bursts of energy are associated with Aquarius. Leo is often conventional, and protects the status quo that keeps him "kingly" and special. Aquarius is unconventional, likes to break rules (at least in his youth) and identifies with the masses and the underdog. Astrophysics ahd space' flight are also Aquarian interests.
Unpredictable, rebellious, tactless: all qualities of a negative Aquarian, and of Mr. Burroughs. The sign rules the lower legs--from which Wildfire often chooses to project his energy. The stars are an Aquarian symbol, distant suns that symbolize hope and friendship, but are not as close or as warm as Leonine Sol. Of course, theres a star on Drake's chest--a star with long legs at that (another Aquarian trait!). A little-used aspect of Drake is his ability to "power" machinery, an example of the Aquarian love of gadgets and inventions.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Invisible Kid: Despite his Aquarius-like inventiveness he was more of a researcher than a creator. Scorpio likes to research and investigate; natural detectives, they seek out the unknown. Often fascinated by death, they may have occult experiences dealing with the afterlife (remember Myla in Superboy #203?). Although Lyle probably had some strong earth-sign influences (his taste for brownish tones, his workout gym in his home), there's not a Scorpio on this planet who wouldn't give his eyeteeth to be invisible.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Ferro Lad: Iron is the metal of Mars, planet of physical strength and energy, which rules two signs--Aries and Scorpio. Aries concerns the face; Scorpio concerns things that are hidden. Andy Nolan's face was so malformed that he hid it behind a solid mask. Scorp is a fixed sign, indicating the native stands firm. Aries, however, has the impulsiveness to rush out and sacrifice himself for his friends. Both signs must have been strong in his makeup.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Colossal Boy: He displays Jupiter expansion again in height instead of width. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter; the Archer is traditionally frank and breezy, liking travel and outdoor work (Gim worked for his uncle on Mars), although accident-prone (Whoops! Watch out for that falling meteor, Gim!). His insistence on walking around as a giant might be an expression of insecurity (this way people will "look up" to him). His old Texas Ranger suit was just the sort of comfortable, outdoorsy outfit a Saj' would prefer; I can't imagine who could have induced him to bind himself up in that Buck Rogers headpiece and those criss-cross chest straps (unless, in accordance with his recent ethnicization, these are futuristic versions of a yarmulke and tefillin). At least the suit as it was originally drawn bared his Sagittarian thighs,* and the chest-symbol was Zeus's eagle. It might be noted that Gim's parents figure prominently in his Legion career, as hostages (Adventure #371-72) when the Legion of Super-Villains forced Gim to instruct their comrades (Saj' is the teacher), and now, with Mrs. Allon as president of Earth. A strong Fourth House influence is in his chart.
*I'm guessing Grell's version of the costume was the first one the author saw. --JG.
[ February 21, 2011, 07:26 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Karate Kid: He probably has a powerful Ninth House--his life is so tied up with experiences in foreign places, and long-distance travel through both time and space. He seems forever the stranger, the voyager far from home. His oriental philosophy helps give him the balance he needs in the midst of such change, and the martial arts of the east are concerned with careful judgement, defense rather than offense, equilibrium rather than force. Mars, at least, and perhaps his Sun, are in Libra. Contemplative states may be mistaken for laziness, and while diplomacy should be his forte, he may appear argumentative simply because he wants to test both sides of a question. Saturn, which works best in Libra, lends him discipline, and he will frequently do something the hard way, or accept ridiculous challenges (such as King Voxv's in the Karate Kid solo book) to test himself. His inability to choose which time period he prefers (or, to Proiectra's chagrin, which woman) is typically Libran.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Tyroc: To say Tyroc was born on Earth is only a convenience. With Marzal hopscotching from era to era, spending most of the time in a sunless dimension, it's impossible to estimate when Tyroc was born, or what his chart would look like. His power is related to the voice (Taurus-ruled), and he certainly was stubborn enough to be a Bull. Taurus is often body-proud, but his costume seems more likely dictated by Marzal's tropical climate, or Mike Grell's penchant for half-naked heroes. The gold metallic gee-gaws on the costume are typical of a certain flashy Leo taste. It's unfortunate that Tyroc's personality never developed beyond the stereotype stage, and now that he's gone, we'll never know for sure.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Phantom Girl: If the fourth-dimensional planet of Bgztl is always in the exact same area as Earth, it stands to reason that its sun must be placed where our Sun is, and that there ought to be fourth-dimensional versions of all the planets circling it. (Not to mention fourth-dimensional Neptunians who can "flatten" themselves into solid 3-D people.) If Tinya is truly 4-D, and not just a 3-D being from a 4-D world, when is she going to show us the other parts of her body aside from the humanoid cross-section she allows us to glimpse? Indeed, why can't she slip through time as easily as she does through the other dimensions? (And if you've always been puzzled by extra-dimensional worlds, pick up E. Abbott's fantasy, Flatland. I wish a lot of comics writers had copies. But I digress ... )
Tinya much reminds me of the traditional Southern belle. (Note her belle-bottoms?) She's helpless when her man is around, but left to herself will manage to haul luggage, paint the house, slug super-villains and generally thrive. In short, a Libra woman, cast-iron and frail. Ultra Boy loves her manners and ladylike ways; she is the touch of class he never had himself. There are literally no obstacles for her; she can always get her way. Yet she thinks her power peculiar; weird and creepy, and definitely not ladylike. A woman of etiquette knocks before entering a room. She exposes her Libra-ruled navel through bellybuttonlike holes in her costume (typically indecisive, she can't decide whether to be clothed or exposed) and emphasizes her Libra tush with tight pants and a low-slung belt. If typical, she'll get hippy when older, and ought to watch her kidneys (if she has any).
[ February 21, 2011, 10:33 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Cosmic Boy: Although of Braalian heritage, Rokk was born on Earth. It took me a while to determine his predominant sign; magnetism is a quality associated with Earth and Water signs; the so-called "feminine" half of the zodiac. Venus is the planet of pastels. No one is more solid than Rokk, more dependable, sure enough of himself to wear a pink costume. He's a little square; he came back to Earth to make money--he probably would make an excellent treasurer for the Legion--and could work with his hands. Who else but earthy, practical Taurus? He probably sings, or composes music. And under Grell's brush, sensuous Taurus exposes his Bull-ruled neck and shoulders. (Better watch that Venus sweet-tooth, though, or he'll be unable to fit behind those oversize pasties).
[ February 22, 2011, 09:34 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Those are the Terrans. Only one Legionnaire was born within the confines of our solar system, besides these; she is:
Saturn Girl: This blonde Siren of Titan has all the planets we are accustomed to in her chart, plus the Earth. Yet from Saturn's orbit, none of the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth), which deal with mental and emotional aspects of the self, are ever seen more than a few degrees from the Sun. This situation, a planet "combust" with the Sun, indicates that these personality aspects are strongly associated with ego, creating a person (or a race of Titanides) who cannot accept criticism and cannot distance their emotional relationships ("love me, love my dog ... "). Saturn looms enormous in Titan's sky, dominating the subconscious of its people. Saturn is traditionally the planet of restriction, control, discipline and law--and interestingly, the comics have established that there is no crime on Titan! The natives all have their bad thoughts inhibited by the nearby planet of Law and Order. Could Imra be anything but studious, serious, reserved and a bit inhibited! These appear to be racial traits.
Saturn's year is about 29 Earth-years long, so the Sun stays in one sign for almost 2.5 years. Compare this to Oriental astrology, where the people of the same birthyear all have the same sign. I suspect Imra's Sun sign is the equivalent of Virgo; she sees herself as prim, efficient, detail-minded; her old costume's pants were always creased, her high collar secured. But the costume was red, and Imra has hidden fires: an impulsive, somewhat selfish inner nature. Some strong influence (Saturn, maybe?) as in Aries. When Garth was killed, her businesslike Virgo mind allowed her to take off on a mission, But Aries impulsiveness came forth when she decided to sacrifice herself to revive Garth. She may be bitchy and domineering, but she is very much the dynamo that keeps the Legion going. Though she's tried to lighten up with her new bikini costume (which suits her like earrings suit a sow!), Virgo does rule the midsection and sides, which are suddenly visible to the public, and like most Virgos, she takes good care of her body, obviously.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
All the other Legionnaires come from worlds outside our solar system, and this poses major problems to an astrologer. In a region of different stars, there are different constellations, If the siderialists are correct, are there different signs? More or less than the usual twelve? What planets are there, and how do they function astrologically?
We have learned surprisingly little about the configurations of Legionnaire worlds, Rimbor has three moons, and is on the "outskirts of civilization." Cargg and Zoon both have three suns. Winath orbits near Korbal. The Talok system has at least eight planets.
I'm working on the assumption that if astrology is valid in other star systems (and Orlando does have astrologers), there would be the same interplay of twelve signs based on the planet's orbit around its sun. The problems of multiple suns and moons, strange orbits and unknown planets can only be guessed at. I warn you that these interpretations are iffy and speculative, and if it should turn out that Colu has 42 signs in its zodiac, well, I guess it's back to the intergalactic ephemeris for some more figuring...
Several Legionnaires have powers they share racially with all their planet's inhabitants. It would be unfair to use these abilities to typify these heroes' personalities, so we have to dig deeper. For instance:
[ February 22, 2011, 09:39 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Cargg has a triple-sun system; apparently all three suns are at the hub of the system, which is not always the case (see Zoon). Astrologically, the sun symbolizes the self, the ego, the personality, the conscious mind. Carggites have three discrete selves, three somatic bodies contained in one. Does each body relate to a different sun? If the suns are spaced far enough apart to occupy parts of the sky ruled by different signs, would some of the bodies have different egos from the others of its trio?
As far as Duo Damsel is concerned, one is tempted to shout "Gemini!"--but of course, she is simply one-third dead. Perhaps she is considered a cripple on her world. Does her dead self haunt her? Multiplicity is a Jupiter trait, and Jupiter's number in numerology is three; is Cargg perhaps a Jovian planet? There are four bi-corporal signs in the zodiac. One that is sometimes called a triple sign (and is co-ruled by Jupiter) is Pisces. Luornu is something of a dreamer; she developed a crush on Superboy, knowing him impossible to get, and like many emotionally torn Pisceans, she considered herself unlucky in love. On the positive side, she seems to be more practical than Dream Girl--after all, she did prepare that rabbit for the stranded Legionnaires (Adventure #380)--and her basic "I can cope" attitude seems to be a Capricorn influence. She and Chuck are both water signs, emotional and sympathetic. It's interesting that most mythologies see the feminine principles in threes: an innocent virgin, a nurturing mother and a terrifying crone. I wonder which third Luornu lost.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
All Durlans are shape shifters, a Neptunian ability (the planet rules illusion), and how they do it without a Neptune in their star-system amazes me. Chameleon Boy originally wore a plain, dark purple and black costume with bone-like accoutrements. All he needed was a stovepipe hat and buckles on his shoes to look like an interstellar Puritan. He desired respect and prestige for his people. Not fond of parties, shy, and often trying to "pass" as an Earth-human in early stories, he has become one of the Legion's clowns (in lieu of Bouncing Boy), and the new red costume, in keeping with this change, emphasizes his devilish appearance. Neptune in his Tenth House would indicate fame through illusion, possible orphaning at an early age, or a father who is not what he seems. Somber colors, bone, search for status (Reep could've fallen for anyone, but he waited for a rich princess in Adventure #376), image as the goat-foot Satan, and most recently a powerful father figure: it all spells Big Daddy Capricorn, despite the recent Leo varnishing.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Naltorians are all precognitive, but Dream Girl is their best. Dream prophecies and such are associated with Pisces and the Twelfth House, and Nura embodies many personal qualities of the sign. Platinum is its metal; glamour (and, on the negative side, promiscuity) are associated with the fishes. Her self-fears and insecurities are her undoing, and her earliest change of costume was her shoes (Pisces rules the feet). Her dimples and beauty mark suggest a Venus-type planet or Libra rising, with its attendant laziness and vanity.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Element lad, last of the Trommites, transmutes one element to another. He began his career as Mystery Lad (Adventure #30[7])--and secrecy is a Scorpio obsession. So is vengeance, which he nursed against Roxxas, who ordered the extermination of Jan's people. Pluto, ruler of the Scorpion, is associated with transformation, rebirth and radioactivity. And typical of Scorpio, notice how Jan brings to the fannish mind considerations of his sexuality, whether they be speculations on his sexual propensities, or wonder at what he really did with Imra that lead her to remark that "his power is impressive indeed." The phallic arrow on his new costume is appropriate enough, but the color of Scorpio should be dark red, not green.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:44 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Matter-Eater Lad comes from Bismoll, where the natives developed an ability to eat anything after their food became poisonous. It's an example of careful Virgoan discrimination and digestion on the part of Bismollians. Tenzil's personality combines the polar opposites of Cancer (stomach and digestion, strong ties to home) with Capricorn (teeth and bones, interest in politics and manipulation of power). Both signs deal with parental influences (he was upset by his father's gambling debts in Action #381) and it's likely that both the Fourth and Tenth Houses are occupied with planets in opposition, causing some tension in these areas, but leading to eventual fame. Simply stated, he is Joe Kem, AII-Bismollian Boy, salt of the Earth; I am confident he will end his "cosmic stupor," caused (in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #251) by eating the Miracle Machine, with an enormous belch and get back to business.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Shrinking Violet has an afflicted Saturn, or its equivalent planet in Imsk's solar system. Shy and gloomy as an afflicted Capricorn in the early issues, with eyebrows steepled into permanent worry lines, she doesn't go out much, seeks comfort in material objects, impulse shops for clothes, and seems to have one date a year with her boyfriend at the other side of the galaxy. She has lots of fears--about monsters, for instance which is only natural to a girl who can become prey to aphids and paramecium, and whose people are attacked by bigoted human monsters as well (Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #232). Her prim, light green miniskirt with the shoulder bib and the dog collar emphasized Taurean parts of the anatomy. Her new costume, with its dark green hip-boots and tendril-like midsection decoration, is more like a laid-back Virgo's farm suit. And as Jupiter rules expansion, Saturn rules shrinking. She's been losing her temper more under Conway's scripting, which is the best way to rid yourself of depression, I guess. Whatever her sign, it's an earth sign for sure. She likes rock formations, doesn't she?
[ February 22, 2011, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Brainiac 5 is a repressed Aquarius, like many inventors. He's tops in the intellect department, but has trouble handling his emotions. He saves most of his passion for his formulae and the driving desire to undo the evil of his ancestor. Now that he has destroyed Brainiac/Stargrave, he may find his sex drive rearing its ugly little head again. A few cups of Kono juice and I'll bet he gets rowdy. A fixed air sign, he's impossible to influence unless you impress him with your logic; otherwise, he's very stubborn and old-fashioned in many ways, although basically progressive. Even his force-field belt is an example of "fixed air"--immovable, yet gas-permeable. Identify with the underdog? He's hanging around with us sixth level retards, isn't he? An electric blue or silver jumpsuit would be more in keeping with his Aquarian image, but Waterbearers don't usually bother with their clothes anyway, preferring to spend money on gimmicks and thingamjigs. His recent insanity indicates a hidden dark side, a Scorpio vengeance or Mercury/mind aspect (Mercury rules the Fifth House) triggered by a Pluto/obsessional transit. Which brings up an interesting question: When an extrastellar being is on Earth, how do our transiting planets affect the alien planets of his natal chart?
[ February 22, 2011, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Princess Projectra could probably answer that question, being an hereditary mystic, medium and astrologer. Neptune is associated with illusion, mediumship and things that go bump in the night, so there's probably a Neptune like-planet near Orando that's strong in her chart. She also has a Uranian influence, having broken old traditions and left her home planet; the curse of her leaving may be her dubious distinction as "most likely to have a nervous breakdown or otherwise go crazy in times of stress" (Action #392). These highstrung pure-breds, y'know. Neptune is strongest in Leo, which signifies royalty, and she is no doubt a Lioness, with a love of pride, pomp, and ceremony--but kept under Daddy's thumb, she's as misty and vague as a night on the moors.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Timber Wolf: Have pity on poor Brin; he was afraid he was an android, not fit for human company. When he discovered he was human, he went out and had himself made up to look non-human. No wonder he's so confused. Zoon has a triple sun, three personality influences, but unlike the Carrgites, natives of Zoon have none of the security of three separate bodies to place them in. Two suns are apparently nearby and together; a third, green sun comes out at night, indicating it's probably a lesser companion orbiting the other two suns from outside Zoon's orbit. It may be so far off that it doesn't even lend much light and heat, but it seems to have locked Zoon into synchronous orbit. Zoonian roosters crow at sunrise and sunset, because something is always lighting the sky, and the poor Zoonians can't get any sleep, which would make anyone want to take on an animal appearance.
Aries rules the face, and since Ferro Lad's death there's hardly an odder one in the Legion than Brin's (although no one's drawn his hair correctly since Dave Cockrum left). When the Ram can't lead, he turns his considerable energies inward to sulking and selfishness. Mars-energy makes them great at making new starts, and exhibiting childlike enthusiasm; but they also seldom finish things, and can be childishly impatient. A nasty temper, but a quick one, and not one to hold a grudge. It has been shown that Brin has an addictive personality; once, he was hooked on Lotus-fruit (Action #378). He seems the most likely Legionnaire to use hard drugs, and to be one of the most self-destructive. Ayla's undying devotion is what he needs, and I think he would "test" friends, by ignoring them or being cruel, to see if they'd stay with him.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:51 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Chemical King: This character is a puzzle to me. An elusive personality, rather superficial. Jim Shooter believed Condo was very rich, spoiled rotten, and making a game of being a Legionnaire until surprised by World War VII. He used to show off his expensive new sky-car. He spent almost no time with Element Lad despite the similarity of their powers. He might have been a Gemini, a sign that sometimes seems superficial and that likes cars and games. Maybe he played practical jokes and wrote short stories, and was a secret juggler or a pickpocket. But mostly, he's dead. He played an Eighth House fugue and was gone.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Dawnstar: She's an incarnation of Astraea, the Greek star goddess who is the constellation Virgo, in American Indian dress. Complete control of body functions, with good business sense and an analytical mind that cuts through illusions, she joined the Legion for money. Virgo, Virgo, Virgo. Boring. At least real Virgos show a sense of humor. A dawnstar is a planet, usually Mercury or Venus, that rises before the sun, seemingly to guide it on its course, much as Dawny guides her clients, or the Legionnaires. It's a good name. Greeks called such a planet Lucifer, the light-bringer. Christians noted that Lucifer rises proudly before the Sun, but falls and sets while the Sun is still shining, and associated the name with the proud angel who falls before God. I wish this proud angel of the Legion would show a little of the devil in her. Interestingly, some astrologers associate Virgo with the asteroid belt, a typical environment for Dawny to thread her way through.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Mon-EI is more mature, yet less self-assured, than Superboy. They both came from similar civilizations; Aquarian-futuristic, huge, Jovianly expansive planets. Yet Superboy is obviously a classical sun-hero; Mon-EI is his dark side, the hero who must suffer to find redemption. It's obvious that he has afflictions to planets in the Sixth House of health and Twelfth House of secrets, sorrows, and restrictions. He symbolically died by entering the Phantom Zone, in pain and taunted by his fellow exiles; was able to watch the foibles of mankind for a millennium, unable to warn or teach them--an experience that would make anyone tolerant, if cynical. After a couple of false starts, he was reborn in the Thirtieth Century, with a physical dependence on a rare serum. It is often forgotten that Mon-EI is obsessed with the life-sciences. He will aid another before performing his duties. With Capricorn forethought he planned to revive Lightning Lad with his own life before Saturn Girl impetuously planned to take his place. Fond of physical objects and sensuality, his phobia is probably a desire never to be insubstantial again (does Phantom Girl make him uneasy?). Lead (ruled by Saturn) almost killed him; his lesson was to overcome lead/Saturn (i.e.: inhibition, coldness) and turn it to order and discipline. His girlfriend is fated to die. His whole life is a hard-luck case, and yet he survives. Mon-EI is a very highly evolved Capricorn, with a great deal of Pisces Christ-imagery thrown in. As Superboy would agree, the Goat is, in more than one sense, the "Big Brother."
[ February 22, 2011, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Shadow Lass is gifted with the dark mystery of Scorpio and Pluto--see the batwings on her boots, the serpenty bracelets? She is gutsy, takes initiative, can be passionately jealous; yet she hides her depths under a Gemini exterior, seemingly chatty, flirty and flighty. With this combination, she could work well as a double agent or spy, talking a great deal, but giving out no secrets while pumping the enemy for his. Her self-image needs improving; if she is pink-skinned when she dies (as the cover of Adventure #354 suggests), it may be because she had her complexion changed in hopes of pleasing Mon by becoming more like him--not unlike the misled Japanese women who had their eyes altered in the hope of keeping American lovers. She feels everything too deeply, is quick to take offense and is an implacable enemy.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:56 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Star Boy was born on Xanthu, apparently a colony world of Earth's future. Or rather, he was born around Xanthu, in a space observatory. Quite a problem for an astrologer. I don't think he would have any houses in his birthchart, there being no horizon or midheaven from which to derive them. Astronomy, like astrology, is ruled by Aquarius, and there are all those Aquarian stars on his costume. But look at Thom's career: Secret powers gained in deep space, the ability to induce mass into objects; away for some time on secret missions; expelled for accidental murder. These, plus Shooter's assertion that Thom is endowed like a Jovian camelephant, lead me to suspect his primary influence is Scorpio.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Ultra Boy: An awful lot of fans are fond of this character, and it isn't only because of his nifty costume. There is a shady, underworld side to Jo; he's streetwise and cynical, the first of the Legionnaires who didn't shave behind his ears. His love of space speedsters corresponds to a Twentieth Century Gemini preoccupation with fast cars, with some Aries death-defying thrown in. The Legion greasemonkey, he's good with machines, vehicles, robots; he prefers to work with his hands. He likes tricks and undercover work--he was expelled from the Legion as a hoax, but I'll bet he has a juvenile offense record. Rimbor has three purple moons, giving its inhabitants three sets of instincts, habits, subconscious minds. A planet of cosmic schizophrenia. Just compare Jo's tough-guy attitude with the way he treats Tinya. Like Mon-EI, there's a Twelfth House affliction here, involving imprisonment (in an energy beast's tummy), and a secret fear. There was a fair exchange with the energy beast that almost devoured him; he took the powers given by the beast's life energy, but he left a piece of his soul in deep space, frightened and alone. Despite all his Legion fame, deep down Jo is still a street punk, not far from the days of petty theft and glib Gemini excuses.
[ February 22, 2011, 09:12 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Lightning Lad and Light Lass: Born within a few hours of each other, twins usually have similar horoscopes. Only the fastest moving planets, influencing mental abilities, and the ascendant, ruling the social persona, are likely to have changed. Born to be human thunder-bolt-hurlers, I assume their sun signs are Sagittarius, ruled on Earth by Jupiter the wielder of lightning (and in Winath's system, ruled by planet Korbal). Archers love to travel, and Saj' women are frequently boyishly athletic-looking. Garth has an obvious strong Leo influence in his chart--the romantic hero and lover, impatient to make a swashbuckling entrance. Note how his old costume drew attention to his Saj'-ruled thighs by painting them orange; how his new costume does the same thing by coloring them white. How could Imra ever pass up those legs? The semiformal effect of the new costume plays toward Leo's love of "dressing up" for an occasion; all he needs is a short opera cape to emphasize his Leonine back. Saj' is notoriously accident-prone, and Garth has gone through death and coming back from the dead, only to lose an arm.
Ayla's secondary influence is Libran. Her emphasis on teamwork and partnership, the feather emblem (symbolizing Saturnine truth and justice to the Egyptians), her androgeny, the artfully designed new costume, even the ridiculous old uniform with the clinched waist and cup of cloth around her Libra buns--all point to the Balance. Ayla cries a lot--over her brother's death, over Brin's problems--but she picks herself up and carries on in the Libra tradition. Her gentle strength is a complement to Timber Wolf's brash moodiness.
[ February 22, 2011, 10:01 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by jimgallagher on :
What is Night Girl's persona like, with no sun/ego to relate to in her chart? Stone Boy's people must be limited to births under half the zodiac-- they are immobile (and, one assumes, non-childbearing) for half the year. The extrapolations can go on forever, but this article can't. If there are any fans out there who have their own astrological observations about the Legion, I'd like to hear them; you can contact me through the Legion Outpost editors [Note: This offer has long since expired -Ed.]. I hope you've been as surprised and entertained by the correspondence as I have.
Special thanks go to E. Nelson Bridwell, whose calendar instigated this article; to Jim Shooter, for sitting in a hotel room four years ago and engaging a group of fans with his reflections on Legion personalities; to Harry Broertjes, for encouraging me to put this mindnumbing exercise on paper and especially to Janet Holwell--astrologer, teacher, friend--who took a curious fumbler and made a planet juggler out of him.
[Note: Special thanks go out to Michael Leib for providing the majority of artwork for this article. Check out his website for more great pieces from his collection. -Ed.]
[ February 22, 2011, 10:03 PM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Wow! I never thought about Zwennian reproduction, but I'm wondering how it works now.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Maybe they rely on moss or lichens to fertilize each other!
Posted by Set on :
This stuff is fascinating. I'm not into astrology, but he's clearly put a lot of thought into the characterization, and that's what interests me.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Agreed, Set. These are probably rife with typos due to the imperfection of text scanners. I'll have to proofread them later.
[ February 22, 2011, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: jimgallagher ]
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
Thanks for posting these, Jim. They are indeed fascinating.
I'd never thought of Mon-El as a "darker" version of Superboy, but Rosenberg's rationale makes sense.
Rosenberg has also pegged Sun Boy (which makes the latter's TMK fate all the more ironic, I think).
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
It's ironic that today (Feb. 24) is Sun Boy's birthday. Here in the Midwest, at least, we are blanketed by what may yet be another blizzard!
One wonders if memories of chilly birthdays prompted wishful thinking in Dirk Morgna, as he lay beaten by Dr. Regulus's robot minions in the atomic reactor, and that his wishes (or the power of positive thinking, maybe) somehow enabled his body to adapt the atomic radiation into Dirk's dream power.
Of course, if Dirk turns out to be a Leo, as Rosenberg asserts, my theory goes out the window.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Where are you in the midwest? I'm in central IL and we're due to get 6 inches of snow tonight.
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
Kansas City area. We're getting 3-4 inches today. The area to my immediate north may get 5-8 inches.
Posted by jimgallagher on :
You ever been to the Midwest Men's Festival just outside of KC? I was there several years ago. Would like to go again some time.
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
Nope. Never heard of it until now.
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
Since I'm snowed in and have free time on my hands, I thought I'd revisit Rosenberg's list and speculate on new birthdays for the Legionnaires.
For the days, I've used the issue numbers of first appearances or another comic of particular significance to each character. (There are wide open to interpretation, of course.)
Capricorn: Shrinking Violet: Dec. 27 (Action 276) Chameleon Boy: Jan. 1 (LSH 2nd series 301) Mon-El: Jan. 9 (Superboy 89)
Posted by He Who LSHes on :
A Musicology Interpretation of Legion Birthdays Many years ago, someone came up with the theory that whatever song was Number One on Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 Singles Chart the week of your birth had some influence on your life. With that in mind, and because I’m bored, I decided to check my archives and see which songs could possibly have been Number One when each Legionnaire was born.
Of course, I completely ignored such logic as the thousand-year differential or the fact that these songs all hit Number One during various years between January 1955 (when the Rock Era began) and May 1990 (when I stopped following the charts). But, hey, if Legionnaires born on various worlds could have birthdays corresponding to an earth calendar, I figure the same cosmic force must be at work to ensure musicological birthdays.
Just for fun, I included a few non-Legionnaires (including a couple of Reboot versions). Otherwise, these are all Pre-Boot versions of Legionnaires:
January 12 Shrinking Violet (Go Away, Little Girl)
February 5 Stone Boy (Hearts of Stone) 8 Fire Lad (Fire) 18 Chameleon Boy (The Great Pretender) 19 Lightning Lad and Light Lass (Lightning Strikes)
March 10 Element Lad (I Will Survive) 23 Shadow Lass (Dark Lady) 26 Phantom Girl (Rich Girl) 26 Magnetic Kid (Man In the Mirror) 30 Sun Boy (Sunshine On My Shoulder)
April 6 Bouncing Boy (Round and Round) 15 Ferro Lad (The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face)
May 12 Dream Girl (All I Have to Do Is Dream) 22 Winema Wazzo (Mother-In-Law) 29 Mon-El (Travelin’ Man)
June 3 Blok (Rock On) 10 Dawnstar (The Wind Beneath My Wings) 14 Saturn Girl (Sister Golden Hair) 29 Night Girl (Sun Down)
July 19 R.J. Brande (Listen to What the Man Said) 20 Invisible Kid II (Invisible Touch) 20 Chlorophyll Kid (Grazing In the Grass) 28 Brainiac 5 (I Almost Lost My Mind) 30 Wildfire (Wild Thing) 30 Polar Boy (I Just Want to Be Your Everything)
August 2 White Witch (Magic) 4 Tyroc (Shout) 12 Triplicate Girl (Three Times a Lady)
September 19 Colossal Boy (Ain’t No Mountain High Enough) 24 Quislet (Don’t Worry, Be Happy)
October 4 Chemical King (Another One Bites the Dust) 8 Matter-Eater Lad (Love Bites) 11 Lightning Lord (Bad Blood) 26 Color Kid (True Colors)
November 3 Ultra Boy (He’s a Rebel) 10 Princess Projectra (It’s Only Make Believe) 26 Star Boy (Sixteen Tons) 28 Timber Wolf (Leader of the Pack)
December 7 Karate Kid (Kung Fu Fighting) 10 Cosmic Boy (Good Vibrations) 12 Invisible Kid I (Mr. Lonely) 12 Andromeda [reboot version] (Faith) 22 Tellus (Telstar)
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