Showcase Presents Superman Vol. 3 TPB
Showcase Presents Superman Vol. 3 TPB
Cover Credits
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: George Klein

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Title: "The Legion of Super-Villains"
Pages: 11

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Sheldon Moldoff

Reprinted From:
Superman #147 (1961)

Feature Character(s)

Guest Star(s)

Villain(s)

Other Character(s)

  • The warden of Metropolis Prison, the children of Orphan City, and the people of 30th century Venus (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

Comments:
As theorized for years and finally shown in Legion of Super-Heroes #300, the Adult Legion of Super-Heroes actually comes from a future time-line different from that of the standard Legion of Super-Heroes, thus making this appearance both the first real and first chronological appearance for the Adult Legionnaires, who will continue to make appearances in the Superman Family books throughout the 1960s. In this appearance, the Adult Legionnaires wear costumes different from those of their teenage counterparts, and Saturn Woman has brown hair.

The same can be said for the Adult Legion of Super-Villains. This Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, and Saturn Queen also come from a different time-line and will appear only once more, in Adventure Comics #354 and the first story of Adventure Comics #355.

Though there is no definitvie evidence proving them to be different individuals than their teenage counterparts who have fought the Legion numerous times, their entries in Who’s Who cast serious aspersions on their claims to be exactly who they say they are.

To cast further confusion on the matter, the "real" Adult Legion of Super-Villains (Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, Chameleon Chief, and Sun Emporer introduced in the first story of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #63; Saturn Queen introduced in the first story of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #87) may not truly be, as they claim, the adult versions of their teenage counterparts. Because their Who’s Who entries dispute that claim, the Adult Super-Villains will be considered to be completely distinct from their teenage counterparts.

Synopsis:
Lex Luthor, who has known of the existence of the Legion of Super-Heroes for years, theorizes that there should also be a Legion of Super-Villains, and, working from prison, he constructs a device that allows him to contact them. The Super-Villains break him out of jail, and, with him, lure Superman to a remote planetoid and capture him.

However, before these criminals can execute Superman, the adult Legion of Super-Heroes intervenes, and fights the Super-Villains to a standstill. Unable to defeat them, the Legionnaires listen as Luthor challenges them to sacrifice one of their number for Superman. Saturn Woman volunteers, and the villains allow the Man of Steel time to perform one last deed in her honor. With a giant shovel, he gathers some material from the rings of Saturn, and creates a similar ring around the planetoid. When he does, Saturn Queen surprises everyone by suddenly using her powers to defeat her partners.

Superman then explains that he had theorized that radiations from the rings of Saturn would cancel out the evil tendencies of inhabitants of that world. He gives the reformed Saturn Queen a small chunk from the rings that will prevent her from returning to evil, then takes Luthor back to his prison on Earth as the Legionnaires likewise take the Super-Villains to jail.

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