Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Long Live the Legion! 52/The Legion/Mon-El/Mark Waid theories

OK, we all know Mark is co-plotting/writing 52. We all read the Dominators say 'fiffffffteee-tuuuu'. While some of you may say that can't possibly be a connection, I just think you're all a little tipsy from the weekend still and need to sober up. There has to be a connection. Besides, we already know the number 52 means more than the number of weeks in a year and has some importance to the overall series (per Didio, Morrison, Waid & Johns at a con). We also know Waid is writing the Enlongated Man parts of 52 (and we also know Ralph will have a major part). The rumors now persist that Mon-El may be showing up in 52.

Here's my thoughts:

(1) There is a 'Mystery in Space' ongoing story that will involve Adam Strange and most likely Captain Comet. Right away, we know an alien enemy could exist, which could be the Dominators.

(2) We know Enlonganated Man's entire 'schtick' is that he is a detective and has a 'nose for mysteries'. While I know the main jist of his story will be over-coming Sue's death and possibly returning to be a hero, I think the other main point will be his being brought in on the mystery (as DC's #2 detective--even Batman agrees) and returning to being a detective first and foremost, rather than super-hero. I, of course, think the mystery Ralph will need to solve will be the mystery in space.

(3) So, my potential Dominators/Enlongated Man/Adam Strange theory is the where it begins. The Dominators ongoing hate for Earth (after Invasion) continues here and will one day continue in the 31st Century. There's the Legion connection.

(4) But is there more? I hope so. Perhaps Mon-El comes to Earth to help the heroes? Perhaps Mon-El is used by the Dominators against Earth? Perhaps Mon-El is actually Supernova, brain-washed by the Dominators to infiltrate the Superman-less Earth? Well, issue #1 isn't even out yet, so who really knows?

(5) We know this about Supernova: "he and Booster Gold have it out for one another" and "two people want to learn his identity: Booster and Clark Kent". If its Mon, it makes it hard to explain the Booster thing. However, we must remember this is comics and editors can 'reveal' things to us later that we don't know of now. We must also consider the history of DC comics outside of continuity. Soooo, on a potential long-shot, the connection to Booster and Mon is that traditionally Mon travels 1,000 years into the future to become part of the Legion, and traditionally Booster travels over 1,000 years into the past to become part of the DCU cadre of modern day heroes. Clark looking to find out Supernova's identity? Well, an interesting twist is that this is how Clark and Mon meet. Maybe they even met when he was *gasp* a teenager, and Clark remembers him? All too early to say. But it works (for me at least) as a potential theory. And I like speculation being rampant.

(6) Supergirl flung into the far future? I wonder if this will happen in 52 and then she returns during 52? This could be interesting and timed in such a way that it makes sense as it comes schedule wise but makes no sense to us right now.

Space, Dominators, mysteries (in space), super-strong Metropolitan super-heroes...it could be connected. Of course, any single issue (or panel) could prove any theory wrong! But, if you happen to be right, you do gain the right to repeatedly rub that in for the duration of your online existance!

Booster also traditionally receives his powers from Legion era technology, though I don't think this has ever really been explained how this occurred post-Zero Hour. Maybe Mon-El's appearance could account for the new explanation of this?

I agree that there's a connection between the Dominators and 52. I agree that Adam Strange is the one of the 52 spotlight characters who will probably be the one involved in whatever the Dominators are up to.

But part of what 52 is about is giving us a grand tour of the new DC Universe. And most of what's interesting in the DC Universe is on Earth, in the United States. If there's stuff going on in space, the Adam Strange story can show us. If there's time travel involved, maybe the Booster Gold story can show us. If there's stuff going on outside the United States, the Black Adam story can show us. But there'll be a lot going on in the U.S. and I think that's where Renee Montoya and Elongated Man and Steel and the Question come in.

(By the way, has anybody thought that it's weird how none of the main 52 characters will be available during the second year after Infinite Crisis? They'll be really busy for the first year, and then take the next year off?)

I don't think Mon-El is involved in 52. No proof; I just don't happen to think so. As quoted in the other thread, Mon-El is supposed to appear somewhere fairly soon (one would presume in some Superman title or other) but not with the Legion. However, I also saw (somewhere) an interview with Mark Waid in which he said that the Legion would get Mon-El eventually, but not soon.

The problem with all this speculation is that we have so little to go on. Infinite Crisis isn't even over yet. It's like trying to solve the Murder on the Orient Express before you've even bought your ticket.

But thats what makes it so amusing

Your 'grand tour' split makes sense though Matthew.

One thing to be noted though is the 52 characters aren't unavailable during DC's second year, just DC's second year (in real time) worth of stories. Which could mean a few weeks, a few months, etc. We know 52 takes place in one year, but all the comics from May 2006 - May 2007 might take place in one month. Maybe those heroes all needed a couple weeks vacation?

I like six cobie. That makes a alot of sense. Remember, not all the covers to 52 have been shown. Maybe one of those mystery covers will have Mon-el on them.

That or maybe the reason we don't see Booster is that he really is Mon-el back back from the future!

I think that the Dominators have some connection with the upcoming 52 comic. I like Cobalt Kid's 5th point. Mon-El as Supernova is a very intriguing choice. I think that it would explain the relationship with Booster and Clark Kent. And I know that Mon-El is expecting to make his return to the DC universe.

My only question would be if Mon-El would be a big enough pay-off for most readers once the mystery of Supernova's identity is revealed. Maybe DC would rather go with a more widely known character?

I think that the 52 connection with Mon will be that 52 it´s the numbers of worlds he seeds (this fullfilling the old Valor Seeder of Worlds prophecy) with dominion prisoners. How he leaves the stasis zone it´s anyones guess at the moment.

From today's Crisis Counseling at Newsarama :

See, I was right! It does feel good to say I told you all so!

Go to BITS! Mon Month!