Comic Title: Adventure Comics #309
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: June 1963
On Sale Date: April 25, 1963 Newsstand Date April 25, 1963
Source: House Ad, Action Comics #301, Page 30

Copyright Date April 25, 1963
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1963

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "The Legion of Super-Monsters"
Pages: 17

Feature(s):
Legion of Super-Heroes (of Earth-1)

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Artist: John Forte

Reprinted In:
Adventure Comics #500 (1983)
Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 2 HC (1992)
Showcase Presents:Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 1 TPB (2007)
Legion of Super-Heroes:The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2017)
Legion of Super-Heroes:The Silver Age Vol. 1 TPB (2018)

Feature Character(s)

• Legion of Super-Heroes (last appearance in Adventure Comics #308; next appearance in Adventure Comics #310)
• Saturn Girl (last appearance in Adventure Comics #308; next appearance in Adventure Comics #310)
• Chameleon Boy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #308; next appearance in Adventure Comics #310)
• Sun Boy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #308; next appearance in Adventure Comics #310)
• Bouncing Boy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #308; next appearance in Adventure Comics #310)
• Colossal Boy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #307; next appearance in Adventure Comics #310)
• Brainiac 5 (last appearance in Adventure Comics #308; next appearance in Adventure Comics #309)
• Ultra Boy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #304; next appearance in Adventure Comics #310)
• Mon-El (last appearance in Adventure Comics #308; next appearance in Adventure Comics #310)

Villain(s)

• Jungle King (aka Monster Master; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• The Legion of Super-Monsters: Earthquake Beast, Eye Monster, Mirror Monster, Drill Beast, and Omnibeast (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• An unnamed science professor (no further appearances)
• Rainbow Girl (a rejected Legion applicant; no further appearances)
• Dez-Nu (Jungle King’s father; appears in flashback to Jungle King’s origin; no further appearances)
• Customers, guards, and employees of the Space Bank (no further appearances)
• The citizens of Sky City on Planet Korr, an unnamed Science Police officer, Super-Spinner Beast, Gas Creature, and a Borlat (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Cosmic Boy (on the Mission Monitor Board)
• Invisible Kid (on the Mission Monitor Board)
• Matter-Eater Lad (on the Mission Monitor Board)
• Shrinking Violet (on the Mission Monitor Board)
• Superboy (on the Mission Monitor Board)
• Triplicate Girl (on the Mission Monitor Board)

Comments:
Part 2: "The Legion’s Super-Showdown"

The children of Dez-Nu apparently adopted the family name King at some point, since Jungle King’s brother, who appears in Adventure Comics #324, is named Dr. Marden King.

Following this story, Brainiac 5 travels to the 20th century to help Superboy preserve the secret of his dual identity in the second story of Adventure Comics #309.

Then Element Lad travels to Superman’s time to help him celebrate his 25th anniversary in the third story of Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #70.

Synopsis:
After being rejected for membership, Jungle King, master of animals, vows revenge on the Legion. Travelling to Monster World, a planet legendary for its dangerous animal life, he gathers several super-powered creatures. After loading them aboard his spaceship, he sets out to terrorize the universe with his "Legion of Super-Monsters," which succeeds in overcoming the Legion.

Eventually, the Legion tracks Jungle King back to Monster World, and defeats his super-beasts in combat. Before their foe can escape, he is attacked by a Gas Creature, which he had rejected as too weak for his Legion. Its ability to vaporize anything it grabs destroys him.