Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Visionaries of Tomorrow The Origin of ...

DavidEdwardMartin said:
<< When the Quislet-induced energy vacates, the target automatically reverts to its original state. Unfortunately the now absence of an innate pattern causes the atoms of the target to fall apart as a fine dust that quickly blows away >>

That is an incredibly well thought out theory, David. For my money, your explanation is the best we've got. I'm impressed.

Thanks for sharing that with us.

Steve

Yes, they discontinued the 'old' alternate futures/universes and replaced them with 'hypertime', as I understand it ~ which isn't very well.

Here's a fan site where the current 'hypertime' universes is explained.
http://www.geocities.com/hypertime2000/index2.html

It's a 'cool' site and very interesting.

Shady

Thanks, Shady; that site was a good read, although I admittedly still don't understand hypertime very well. Oh well.

Thanks greatly, Steve.
If you want a free copy of the first book I wrote on superpowers, click here
http://www.rabunda.com/~super/dir.php?loc=resources/articles/index.html

and look for The Ultimate Powers Book.

Oops. Try this--
http://www.rabunda.com/~super/index2.php

Oops again. Skip the last post, go back to the preceding one--
Click on "Rules" in the top bar.
Then "Marvel Super Heroes (classic rules)".
Finally "Ultimate Powers Book" (downloading is automatic)

Comet King said (quite a while ago):
<< Okey dokey - now we can all see what Munchkin would have looked like hows about telling us how you planned for him to join the Legion? Was he intended to join circa Tellus or for the reboot with Allegra? >>

Munchkin, or Neutron as he prefered to be called, was originally going to be the youngest of the new members created for the reboot. I had this notion that this excitable kid with super powers would come in ready to become an overnight sensation. as you can tell, he was a bit geeky looking, but he had big plans of becoming a teen idol. His hero was Sun Boy. Dirk was always attracting girls in droves, and seemed to Munchkin to know what the whole super-hero game was all about.

After Brainy showed him a fragment of a Superman newsreel that had survived from the 21st century , Munchkin changed his whole image. The next day he surprised the other Legionnaires with the news that he was changing his name to SUPERBOY. He insisted on wearing a Superman costume and proclaiming himself the new "man of steel" ... but nobody really went for the idea. Eventually he'd give up the Superboy identity and go on to the next thing. I imagined that Munchkin was the kind of kid who couldn't stay with one thing for long ... He just had a hard time choosing between all the possibilities. The only thing that he didn't change his mind about was the name Munchkin. He hated it. But, since his buddy Dirk gave it to him he'd have to tolerate it ... begrudgingly.

This was all part of my early scripts for the Legionnaires reboot. Quislet was a member too, although with a slightly different personality, and a redesigned ship/life support vessel. He also was back to my original plan for the character ... he had a physical body that stayed inside the vessel at all times. Only his spirit force could exit the ship ... and then only for short periods of time. Karate Kid was also part of the team, as was Dream Girl and Ferro Lad.
It's a pity that those stories weren't printed. I had a lot of fun working on them.

Steve Lightle

Hey, Steve. Did you begin drawing any of these stories? Anything unpublished we can have a look at?

Mike

Um...does that mean I have to change my name to Munchkin now? Throw in the "geeky" and you just described my life

Sounds a little like he had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)!


I've been wondering what your take is on the Legion we have now.
Are you at all familiar with where DnA have taken them this last 3 years?

What do you think of XS?

DnA have just taken Dreamer from ditz to awesome, haunted leader of 'joint worlds' freedom fighters and a Kundian trained martial artist!
(Thank Gawd, I hated her pre-boot.)

Umbra/Shady is an intense fighter, trained from infancy, powered with solid dark forces, when she wants, and an uber b-itchy attitude.

The winged Shikari is from another galaxy or universe and a new member, while Gear is substantially autotronic/bionic and a 'brother'.
The other black member is the new leader, Jazmin, and she has a 'time element' to her powers.
Just to mention a few of the new and old members.

What do you think of this team?

Shady

Shady asks:
<< I've been wondering what your take is on the Legion we have now. >>

I have yet to read a full issue since the last batch of reference copies that were sent to me. That was reference for the LEGENDS of the LEGION covers that I did.

<< What do you think of XS? >>

I think XS is a great character, and I enjoyed taking about a week to pencil and ink an XS story a couple of years ago. It did feel a bit odd to me at first though, because she so completely resembles my character ALLEGRA, who was created in the planning stages of the reboot. But I just embraced the idea of being XS' "grandfather" and had a good time with it.

<< DnA have just taken Dreamer from ditz to awesome, haunted leader of 'joint worlds' freedom fighters and a Kundian trained martial artist! >>

It sounds like she's been treated respectfully, although I'd have to disagree with your defining the preboot Nura as a "ditz." I know that she had been interpreted poorly after the 5 year gap, but I don't blame the character for the fact that she seemed to be mishandled by the creative team. The Nura that I remember was very intelligent, a resourceful fighter (one of the Legion's best hand to hand combatants)... and incredibly manipulative. Dreamy always used her carefully sculptured image to her advantage. Brainiac 5 appreciated her intelligence, Karate Kid considered her one of his most accomplished students ... and the female Legionnaires despised her use of sexuality to get what she wanted ... especially because it almost always worked.

<< Umbra/Shady is an intense fighter, trained from infancy, powered with solid dark forces, when she wants, and an uber b-itchy attitude. >>

I've always had a fondness for Shadow Lass, while wondering if the character ever had been written to her full potential. I look forward to seeing this current incarnation. She may just have arrived.

<< The winged Shikari is from another galaxy or universe and a new member >>

I've seen drawings of the character, but that is somewhat like seeing someone from across a room. I don't really feel I know her yet.

I've loved the Legion characters and concepts for a long time, and my attraction to the series has never depended solely on how they were being treated by their creative team. I look at a series and I see its potential, and the Legion has always had great potential, even when it was being mishandled. There have been many periods in Legion publishing history where the book seemed to flounder creatively, either due to lack of commitment from the creators, or because of misunderstanding of the core concepts. From what I have heard, this doesn't appear to be one of those times.

When I was on the Legion, I was involved in every aspect of the series. I contributed to the personalities and the story content and designs. As I've said before, Paul Levitz was a very generous collaborator, and he allowed me to be deeply involved in all areas. That isn't always the case with writers. Some guard "their" characters very jealously. I can understand this because, on some level I still think of these characters as my characters. It's almost like they are your friends, or your children. You get to know them intimately, because you have to imagine yourself in their heads. You want them to be as real to you as possible so that you can , in turn, make them real to your readers.

I suppose I'm guarding myself a little bit, concerning the latest version of the Legion. You see, I've only been offered a fill-in issue at this point. Even I couldn't tell you how involved I am going to be allowed to be.

LLL!

Steve Lightle

....and the female Legionnaires despised her use of sexuality to get what she wanted ... especially because it almost always worked.

Steve there's an expression out today that fits what Nura could have said to them all
"You're Just Jealous" lol.

^^^
I don't think it was 'just' jealousy.

When a woman uses those tactics when she doesn't have to, she cheapens women's abilities to make a difference on their own merits, without a man's covering of power.

The only time a woman should legitmately use her sexuality for manipulation is when the 'rules' of society don't allow her any other choice but impotence.
IMO.

As has been stated by Steve, already, Nura was brilliant and a good fighter.
Her sexual manipulations and her mental self-involvement were insults to women, and to beautiful women, especially.

Shady

Dream Girl is my favorite, and has been since I first started picking up LSH recent (at the time) back issues in 10- and 25-cent bins around 1984. I thought she was a hoot!

I'm going to start a thread for Nura like the "describe the character" threads that we had several months ago. If you'd like to discuss Miss Nal there too, I'll appreciate your thoughts and opinions.

Steve,

It's great to hear about your fill-in. Let's hope it leads somewhere.

BTW, when Shady mentioned Nura being a "ditz," she was referring to her post-boot appearances starting with LEGIONNAIRES #43 (Dec 96).
The same issue that gave us a snake called Sensor and Shadow Lass as Umbra! She was called a narcoleptic fortune-teller with the real "last name of Schnappin." She appeared on and off after that as Star Boy's weird, flower-child like girlfriend.

Lucky for us, DnA gave her a personality closer to her roots in LEGION WORLDS #4 (Sept 01).

Hmmm, I'm beginning to understand Shady's objection to a particular version of Nura. It sounds like the current Nura has a lot to offer.

Steve

Quislet said:
<< I am anxiously awaiting the continuation of my origin >>

Sorry to keep you waiting, dude.

Here's an excerpt from last nights live Legion chat. We did touch on the subject.

<< Lightles: Tellus and Quislet were my attempt to create truly alien Legionnaires
Lightles: Lots of people resisted the idea of non humanoids
Lightles: They believed that readers wouldn't be capable of relating
Mxy2001: the comic book biz should adopt theatre logic ... never underestimate the intelligence your audience!.
BungleHex: Well... its not so wrong, in general sci-fi fans are conditioned to dislike non humanoids
Lightles: One thing that bothered me was that after I left the book ...
Lightles: they did a story revealing Quislet to be an energy being
Lightles: That was never my intention when I created him
Mxy2001: what was he Steve?
Mxy2001: was he a little bitty teen in a sentient ship?
Lightles: He was a boneless jellyfish like alien
Lightles: ugly as hell
Lightles: with organs visible through his skin
BungleHex: Quislet was a TV executive?
Lightles: I was never really certain that Tellus was male
Lightles: He/she may have been more of an it
KWinDC: that would have been interesting
Mxy2001: asexual reproduction?
KWinDC: oh was Tellus going to be more...i dont know bent as it were
Lightles: So unlike us that sexual identity needn't apply
Lightles: I lost all interest in Quislet when they told that bogus origin
KWinDC: why didnt they go w/ your idea?
Lightles: it made no sense to have him a sentient spark
Lightles: it was redundant ... they already had Wildfire
Lightles: And it just wasn't logical that an energy being would build a technological ship
Lightles: with a visual symbol on it
Lightles: Sparks don't have eyes. >>

There's a little bit more on the subject over on that thread. I did neglect to mention that Quislet's physical form also included prominent sensory organs (such as eyes)and reproductive organs. His society was very hedonistic by nature. Everything revolved around the physical senses. You can sort of see why he wasn't seen outside his ship/life support vessel. But, dang it, it's not Quislet's fault that he doesn't appeal to the human ladies! : )

Steve Lightle

When did Nura actually manipulate anyone, using her sexaul prowess? I claim that all she really did was flirt with the boys. She wasn't trying to get anything out of it. She was just having fun. Even when she first met the Legion, she didn't do anything particularly sexual to get the guys to vote her in. All she did was look good. The girls voted her out just because she looked good. Granted, the writing for the girls back in the 60s was abominable, especially by today's standards, but I say Dreamy was innocent. She didn't promise any of the boys any favors or anything like that. Also, I don't think Nura was ever rude to any of the other girl Legionnaires. Even the catty Phantom Girl and Shadow Lass. Maybe all this belongs on the new Nura thread, but I really would like someone to point out exactly what Nura did to earn this reputation.

Too bad we'll never know now -- it's not like he ever had a chance. For all we know, the enlightened ladies of the 30th century might've been able to see beyond his squishy form (and if not, I'm sure there were inflatable boy-toys he could've inhabited ;))

------------------
"GL : Animated" and others
Hal Jordan - Green Lantern (artwork)

Hey you -- Go read "The Legion" (starring WILDFIRE!)
--- Some Legion art

Hey, Shady....let's not let it go without comment that STEVE LIGHTLE called you "Shady"! I'm so jealous!

^^^
Yes, I had to reread that comment a couple of times before I figured out what he was saying. I kept associating Tasmia with his 'Shady' and couldn't make the sentence make any sense.

Then, I blushed and beamed!


Shady

Maybe someday Steve'll call me "Lardy"...

Sorry but did Steve decide on a name for "Tiger girl" yet?

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Jenny:"Okay, so this Master guy tried to open the Hellmouth, but he got stuck in it. And now all the signs are reading that he's going to get out, which opens the Hellmouth, which ends the world."

Giles:"Yes. That about sums it up, yes."

Jenny:"The part that gets me, though, is where Buffy is the Vampire Slayer. She's so little."

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 1, "Prophecy Girl"

No name for "Tiger Girl" yet.

I know that a few suggestions were made, but none has struck me as THE name. We may have to wait on this one ...

Anyone got some other ideas they'd like to chuck into the ol' hat?

As Silver Age as it sounds, if we don't get some inspiration going, I think she's just going to have to be "that cute, red skinned Tiger Girl."

Steve

Eryk Davis Ester writes:

<< when you do your fill-in issue(s), could you work the "Skreaks" into the background somewhere? >>

I don't see any opportunity to fit them into my first issue ... but maybe in my second one, if the script permits.

Steve