Adventure Comics #500
Adventure Comics #500
Cover Credits
Penciller: Keith Giffen
Inker: Larry Mahlstedt

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Title: "The Return of Lightning Lad"
Pages: 11

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

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Artist: John Forte

Reprinted From:
Adventure Comics #308 (1963)

Feature Character(s)

Supporting Character(s)

  • Proty (a Protean, a sentient shape-changing creature from a planet of the star Antares; becomes Chameleon Boy’s pet in this story; next appearance in Adventure Comics #312)

Villain(s)

  • Three-headed criminals from the Hydra World (no further appearances)
  • The unnamed master of Thieves’ World (no further appearances)
  • Pyramid Men of planet Altair, Ant-Men of planet Canopus, and Autom Guard robots (denizens of Thieves’ World; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

  • Jon Arkol (a 30th century scientist; no further appearances)
  • An unnamed Science Police officer, an unnamed prison guard on Thieves’ World, a Vegan Living Top, and a Sirian Phantom Beast (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

  • Lightning Lad (origin retold; as a corpse and in flashback)
  • Lightning-monsters of planet Korbal (in flashback)

Comments:
The Legion pennant first appears in this story.

The letters page in this issue reveals that Star Boy is on detached service.

Synopsis:
While visiting the tomb of Lightning Lad, the Legionnaires watch as their deceased comrade rises from his death-like coma. However, they are concerned that, during this coma, the electrical charge that originally gave him his abilities may have drained away and that, powerless, he will have to resign from the team. The Legionnaires test him during their next mission, but Sun Boy secretly uses his power to cover for his friend.

Before a second test can be done, the team is ordered by the Chief of the Science Police to find the Thieves’ Planet, a refuge for the universe’s criminals. After capturing a pirate ship, in which Chameleon Boy finds and adopts a pet Protean, the team arrives on Thieves’ World. They are captured by its evil master, a being of pure electrical energy. With the help of "Proty", they escape, and with the help of Lightning Lad, who has his powers after all, they defeat this evil master.

No one is more surprised to see Lightning Lad in action than Sun Boy, who explains that he had suspected from the start that the resurrected Legionnaire was not Garth Ranzz at all, but his twin sister. Exposed, "Lightning Lad" confesses, telling the team that she, too, was present years ago when her brother originally received his powers on Korbal. Laterm a vote is taken, and Ayla Ranzz, rechristened Lightning Lass, joins the Legion.

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