L.E.G.I.O.N.

Infobox comics organization


imagesize=
caption =They are L.E.G.I.O.N., artist Kevin Maguire
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Invasion!" #1
(December 1988)
creators=Keith Giffen
Bill Mantlo
Todd McFarlane
base=Planet Cairn
members=Vril Dox
Stealth
Lydea Mallor
Strata
The Durlan
Garv
Garryn Bek
Marij'n
Telepath
Amon Hakk
Zena Moonstruck
Davroth Catto
Borb Borbb Lobo
Lady Quark
Captain Comet
Phase
Darius
Bertron Diib
Valor
fullroster=
cat=teams
subcat=DC Comics
hero=y
villain=
sortkey=PAGENAME|

"L.E.G.I.O.N." was a DC Comics science fiction comic book created by Keith Giffen which chronicled the formation and activity of an interplanetary police force founded and led by Vril Dox II whose mission was to act as a peace-keeping force in the galaxy much as the Omega Men and Green Lantern Corps had done before them. They are the 20th century forerunners of the Legion of Super-Heroes, and many of the 30th century Legionnaires are descendants of L.E.G.I.O.N. members. They first appeared in "Invasion!" #1 (Garryn Bek and the Modern-Age Vril Dox) and #2 (Strata, Lyrissa Mallor, and the Durlan).

Publication history

"Invasion!"

The characters who went on to form L.E.G.I.O.N. were first introduced in the three-part miniseries "Invasion!".

Vril Dox, Garryn Bek, Strata, Lyrissa, and the Durlan appeared as prisoners of the Alien Alliance who helped stage a breakout from the Starlag, a prison spacecraft overseen by the alien race known as the Citadel.

"L.E.G.I.O.N."

L.E.G.I.O.N. '89 debuted in 1989 (as indicated by the title) and reached issue #70 (as L.E.G.I.O.N. '94 in 1994). L.E.G.I.O.N. stands for Licensed Extra-Governmental Interstellar Operatives Network.

This series followed the adventures of Vril Dox and his allies after their escape from the Starlag in "Invasion!". Dox takes his companions to Colu, where they overthrow the Computer Tyrants running the planet. They encounter the bounty hunter Lobo, who wishes to maim and kill because Bek had accidentally killed one of Lobo's treasured space dolphins. Dox smoothly and swiftly turns Lobo into a valued ally. With this group, Dox decides to form an interplanetary police force based on the planet Cairn. The origin of this police force is difficult and bloody, as Cairn's ruling power was a powerful drug cartel. Dox ends up forced to outright shoot dead the planet's ruler. The series follows the rise, heyday, and fall of this police force.

"R.E.B.E.L.S."

As a consequence of the Zero Hour event, the original title was replaced by "R.E.B.E.L.S." (Revolutionary Elite Brigade to Eradicate L.E.G.I.O.N. Supremacy) '94 (beginning with issue #0), continuing the same storyline with basically the same characters. R.E.B.E.L.S. '96 #17 was the last issue.

When L.E.G.I.O.N. is usurped by Vril Dox's son Lyrl, Dox and those members who remain loyal to him (Lobo, Phase, Strata, Stealth, and Borb) are forced to flee in a mysterious new ship in order to regroup and regain control of L.E.G.I.O.N. Telepath comes along unwillingly. Garv, Strata's husband, unbalanced by not understanding recent events, becomes involved in a desire to get Strata back. Borb (who is in love with Stealth) sacrifices his life in order to protect his friends from an other-dimensional army of brain-stealing entities; the very ones that had created the ship they had been fleeing in. They soon name the ship the 'Di'ib', after an old L.E.G.I.O.N. hero.

The team has to fight old friends, such as Zena Moonstruck, Gigantus and Davroth. Behind the scenes help comes from old ally Marij'n, who tries and fails to stop a brainwashing broadcast. The group also encounters the demonic entity Neron.

The heroes regain control in the last issue. Dox and Stealth retire to take care of Lyrl, while Captain Comet is placed in charge of L.E.G.I.O.N.

Post-series appearances

In the 2004 Adam Strange (issues #5-8) and the later Rann/Thanagar War series (issues #1–6 and the "Infinite Crisis" special), Vril Dox has resumed control of L.E.G.I.O.N. and is using droids as officers. Former L.E.G.I.O.N. members have been referred to in the subsequent "Infinite Crisis" series, and many make a cameo appearance in one panel of "Infinite Crisis" #1, although the lineup appears to be out of date (in addition to Darius's appearance on one of the screens, Bertron Diib is visible between several of the dialogue balloons). L.E.G.I.O.N. and Vril Dox are mentioned several times, although not shown, in "Mystery in Space" (2006) featuring Captain Comet. Dox plays a major role in the six-part "Omega Men" limited series (2006-2007).

Membership

Current members

*Vril Dox
*Stealth
*Lydea Mallor
*Strata
*Garv
*Garryn Bek
*Marij'n
*Telepath
*Amon Hakk
*Zena Moonstruck
*Borb Borbb
*Davroth Catto

Founding members

*Vril Dox II (genius Coluan, founder and team leader, son of Vril Dox a.k.a. Brainiac)
*The Durlan (nameless shapeshifting alien from the planet Durla, old friend of Dox; later revealed to be Legion of Super-Heroes benefactor R. J. Brande)
*Strata (powerful crystalline female from the planet Dryad)
*Stealth (female alien of unknown origin)
*Garryn Bek (ex-policeman from Cairn)
*Lyrissa Mallor (champion of Talok VIII, ancestor of Shadow Lass)

Later members

*Lobo (Czarnian bounty-hunter)
*Phase (mysterious female from 30th century with power to "phase" through solid objects; originally, she was Phantom Girl of the Legion of Super-Heroes; after Zero Hour, retconned to be Apparition's second self; status unknown in current continuity)
*Lar Gand (Daxamite who later becomes known as Valor)
*Lady Quark (co-ruler and lone survivor of Earth-6, which was destroyed during the Crisis)
*Captain Comet (mutant metahuman with advanced powers)
*Telepath (last survivor of a hive-dwelling race from the planet Zsiglon)
*Marij'n Bek (Cairnian wife of Garryn Bek)
*Garv (powerful male alien, becomes Strata's lover)
*Amon Hakk (Khundian recruit)
*Bertron Diib (impervious alien recruit from Diibworld)
*Borb Borbb (alien recruit with teleportation powers)
*Darius (android recruit created on Acheron)
*Zena Moonstruk (shy alien recruit with the power to absorb light and emit it as energy blasts)
*Ig'nea (female recruit with pyrotechnic powers)
*Davroth Catto (arrogant recruit from the planet Oziman with power of flight)
*Layla (female humanoid who acquires powers in the "Bloodlines" crossover)
*Gigantus (diminutive champion of Motus)
*Lyrl Dox (super-intelligent son of Vril Dox and Stealth)
*Taptree (plantlike alien)

Deceased members

*Lyrissa Mallor
*Bertron Diib
*Ig'nea

External links

* [http://www.mykey3000.com/cosmicteams/legion/index.html Legion @ Cosmic Teams]