Comic Title: Secret Origins #47
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: February 1990
On Sale Date: December 19, 1989 Shipping Date December 19, 1989
Source: Amazing Heroes, #174

Shipping Date December 19, 1989
Source: Previews, #10

Shipping Date December 21, 1989
Source: Advance Comics, #12

Direct Market Date December 21, 1989
Source: Comic Shop News, #128, #129, #130

Copyright Date December 19, 1989
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1989

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $1.75
Page Count: 48
Editor: Mark Waid

Title: "The Thorned Path"
Pages: 12

Feature(s):
Legion of Super-Heroes (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Tom Bierbaum
Writer: Mary Bierbaum
Penciller: Mike Parobeck
Inker: Paul Fricke
Letterer: John E. Workman, Jr.
Colorist: Tom J. McCraw

Feature Character(s)

• Legion of Super-Heroes (last appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #59; next appearance in Secret Origins #47)
• Karate Kid (last appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #31; next appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #61)
• Bouncing Boy (last appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #31; next appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #38)
• Matter-Eater Lad (last appearance in Secret Origins #42; next appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #38)
• Duo Damsel (last appearance in Secret Origins #42; next appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #38)

Villain(s)

• Several assassins (in flashback; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Toshiaki (Karate Kid's sensei; no further appearances)
• Black Dragon (Karate Kid's father; dies in flashback; no further appearances)
• Valentina Armorr (Karate Kid's mother; dies in flashback; no further appearances)
• Kashikoi Kashu (in flashback; Karate Kid's former boss; no further appearances)
• Hideo and Noriko (in flashback; a brother and sister; no further appearances)
• Several samurai (in flashback; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Karate Kid (prior to joining the Legion; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Secret Origins #47)

Comments:
This story takes place during Karate Kid's term as Legion leader. It features a flashback to his origin.

Synopsis:
Karate Kid challenges some of the weaker members of the Legion with challenging tasks. His goal is to either make them better or to make them quit. His sensei reminds him of his own past when Karate Kid served as security chief to a samurai. He found the samurai's methods to be demanding and eventually left. Val then realizes that he has been forcing the other Legionnaires to walk his path instead of finding their own.