Editing Legion of Super-Villains

{{short description|DC comics supervillain team}}
{{Infobox comics organization <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->

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|publisher=[[DC Comics]]
|debut='''(as adults)'''<br>''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' #147 (August [[1961 in comics|1961]])<br>'''(as teens)'''<br>''[[Adventure Comics]]'' #372 (September [[1968 in comics|1968]])
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|members=Akka<br>Chameleon Chief<br>Cosmic King<br>[[Esper Lass]]<br>[[Hunter (comics)|Hunter]]<br>Immortus<br>Lazon<br>Lightning Lord<br>Magno Lad<br>Micro Lad<br>[[Nemesis Kid]]<br>Ol-Vir<br>Questor<br>Radiation Roy<br>Ron-Karr<br>Saturn Queen<br>[[Spider Girl]]<br>Sun Emperor<br>Sun Killer<br>Titania<br>Tyr<br>Zymyr
|subcat=DC Comics
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'''The Legion of Super-Villains''' is a team of <!--Do not add "fictional" as it is tautological; supervillains (and characters in general) are by definition implied to be fictionalized to some extent.-->[[supervillain]]s who appear in [[comic book]]s published by [[DC Comics]], primarily as enemies of the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]].<ref>{{cite book |last =Rovin |first =Jeff |title =The Encyclopedia of Supervillains |publisher =Facts on File |date =1987 |location =New York |isbn = 0-8160-1356-X |page=396}}</ref> They first appeared in ''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' #147 (Aug 1961).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |pages=203–204}}</ref>

The team originated at a time when ''Superman'' editor [[Mort Weisinger]] was consciously adding new elements to the "Superman mythos" over a period of years, building an extended cast of supporting characters who could provide new story opportunities. The creation of the Legion of Super-Heroes was part of that plan, and in the Legion's fourth appearance ("The Army of Living Kryptonite Men" in ''[[Superboy (comic book)|Superboy]]'' #86, Jan 1961), it was suggested that [[Lex Luthor]] would someday lead a group of super-villains.<ref name=Krypton>{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |page=33}}</ref> This would come to fruition seven months later, in ''Superman'' #147's story "The Legion of Super-Villains".<ref name=Krypton/>

==Fictional team history==
In pre-''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' continuity, the Legion of Super-Villains was founded by Tarik the Mute, who had suffered irreparable damage to his vocal cords during a battle with the [[Science Police]] and developed a hatred of law and order.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fleisher |first1=Michael L. |title=The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman |date=2007 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-4012-1389-3 |page=46}}</ref><ref>''[[Adventure Comics]]'' #372 (September 1968)</ref> The Legion of Super-Villains include Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, and Saturn Queen, who are evil counterparts of [[Cosmic Boy]], [[Garth Ranzz|Lightning Lad]], and [[Saturn Girl]], the founding members of the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Several other incarnations of the group form over the years, led first by Sun Emperor and then by [[Nemesis Kid]].<ref>''Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes'' #208 (April 1975)</ref><ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 3) #3 (October 1984)</ref> During the fourth volume of ''Legion of Super-Heroes'', the Legion of Super-Villains disbands and some of its members - Lightning Lord, Spider Girl, Ron-Karr, and Saturn Queen - reform.<ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #3 (January 1990)</ref><ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #16 (March 1991)</ref><ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #28 (April 1992)</ref><ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #50 (November 1993)</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #54 (February 1994)</ref><ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4) #62 (November 1994)</ref>

Following ''[[Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!]]'', which rebooted the Legion of Super-Heroes' continuity, the Legion of Super-Villains appears in ''[[Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds]]'', a tie-in to the ''[[Final Crisis]]'' event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2008 |title=''Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds'' #5 (of 5) |url=http://dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=11273 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226075019/http://dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=11273 |archive-date=December 26, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |work=DC Comics.com}}</ref> This incarnation of the Legion is led by [[Superboy-Prime]] and includes Lightning Lord, [[Saturn Queen]], [[Cosmic King]], Sun Emperor, Beauty Blaze, Ol-Vir, Tyr, Zymyr, [[Hunter (comics)|Hunter]], and Chameleon Chief as well as other Legion of Super-Heroes villains Black Mace, [[Universo]], Dr. Regulus, [[Grimbor the Chainsman]], [[Mordru]], [[Esper Lass]], Magno Lad, Micro Lad, Echo, Terrus, the League of Super-Assassins (Silver Slasher, Lazon, Neutrax, Mist Master, and Titania), the [[Fatal Five]] ([[Tharok]], [[Emerald Empress]], [[Persuader (comics)|Persuader]], [[Mano (comics)|Mano]], and [[Validus]]), and the [[Justice League of Earth]] (Radiation Roy, Tusker, [[Spider Girl]], Golden Boy, [[List of Legion of Super-Heroes members#Joined during the "Five Year Gap"|Storm Boy]], and [[Kirt Niedrigh|Earth-Man]]).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rogers |first=Vaneta |url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=152225 |title=Geoff Johns: Legion of 3 Worlds, I |work=[[Newsarama]] |date=April 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216122348/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=152225 |archive-date=December 16, 2008}}</ref>

==Roster==
The members of the Legion included:<!--either needs to be deleted or merged with the villain roster shown in the Infobox-->
* '''Akka''' - Expert martial artist from the planet Sklar, killed by Saturn Queen in issue #14.
* '''Beauty Blaze''' - Possesses heat and fire-based abilities.
* '''Chameleon Chief''' (Jall Tannuz) - Powers similar to, but not exactly like, [[Chameleon Boy]].
* '''Cosmic King''' (Laevar Bolto) - Transmutation powers similar to [[Element Lad]].
* '''Echo''' (Myke-4 Astor) - Sound and sonic-based abilities.
* '''[[Esper Lass]]''' (Meta Ulnoor) - Telepathic powers similar to Saturn Girl.
* '''[[Hunter (comics)|Hunter]]''' (Adam Orion) - Son of the original Hunter, he seeks revenge on the Legion for his father's death.
* '''Immortus''' - A living brain implanted in a powerful android body.
* '''Lightning Lord''' (Mekt Ranzz) - A Winathian with lightning powers who is Lightning Lad and Light Lass' brother.
* '''Magno Lad''' (Kort Grezz) - Magnetic abilities similar to Cosmic Boy.
* '''Micro Lad''' (Lalo Muldron) - Can shrink in size like [[Salu Digby|Shrinking Violet]]. Killed by Akka.
* '''[[Nemesis Kid]]''' (Hart Druiter) - Can adapt the power to defeat any single enemy. Killed by [[Projectra]].
* '''[[Ol-Vir]]''' - He is a [[Daxamite]] who possesses similar abilities to [[Mon-El]], but lacks his immunity to lead.
* '''Questor''' (Xart Prax) - Technologically amplified super-genius.
* '''Radiation Roy''' (Roy Travich) - He emits radiation.
* '''Ron-Karr''' - A [[Neptune (planet)|Neptunian]] who can become flat.
* '''Saturn Queen''' (Eve Aries) - A time-travelling telepath from the future.
* '''[[Spider Girl]]''' (Sussa Paka) - Has super-strong prehensile hair.
* '''Sun Emperor''' (Nigal Douglous) - Has solar powers similar to [[Sun Boy]].
* '''Sun Killer''' (Kodama) - Possesses the powers of a star.
* '''Terrus''' - Ground-based abilities. Body made up of a swarm of insects.<ref name="ReferenceA">''Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds'' #5 (September 2009)</ref>
* '''Tyr''' - A warrior from the planet Tyrraz with a bionic gun in place of his right arm.
* '''Zymyr''' - A native of the planet Gil'Dishpan who can create warps. Killed by Superboy-Prime.

The remaining villains are members of the League of Super-Assassins:

* '''Lazon''' - He can turn into light.
* '''Mist Master''' - He can turn into any vapor or gas.
* '''Neutrax''' - In addition to neutralizing the powers of anyone for a short time, he rides in a flying chair that is similar to the one used by [[Metron (character)|Metron]].
* '''Silver Slasher''' - She has a metallic-enhanced body and sharp nails.
* '''Titania''' - A super-strong female who is Silver Slasher's cousin.

The following joined the group during the ''Final Crisis'' storyline:

* '''Black Mace''' (Mick Yardreigh) - A highly trained and super-strong mercenary.
* '''Doctor Regulus''' (Zaxton Regulus) - A mad scientist.
* '''[[Fatal Five]]''' - A group consisting of five of the greatest criminals in the universe.
** '''[[Emerald Empress]]''' - Possesses various abilities derived from the Emerald Eye of Ekron.
** '''[[Mano (comics)|Mano]]''' - Possesses a disintegrating anti-matter touch.
** '''[[Persuader (comics)|Persuader]]''' - Wields an atomic axe that can cut through anything.
** '''[[Tharok]]''' - A man who was transformed into a cyborg after losing the left side of his body in an accident.
** '''[[Validus]]''' - An alien monster with super-strength, enhanced durability, energy projection, and immunity to telepathy.
* '''Grimbor the Chainsman''' - A master craftsman and expert trap master.
* '''[[Justice League of Earth]]''' - A group of Legion of Super-Heroes rejects that tried to save Earth by turning it into a xenophobic society.
** '''[[Kirt Niedrigh|Earth-Man]]''' - He can absorb and duplicate superpowers.
** '''Golden Boy''' (Klint Stewirt) - He can change the structure of any element into gold just by touching them.
** '''Storm Boy''' (Myke Chypurz) - He can control the weather.
** '''Tusker''' (Horace Lafeaugh) - He has ivory-like tusks that can grow to certain sizes, and possesses a healing factor and enhanced strength, durability, and agility.
* '''[[Mordru]]''' - A powerful wizard.
* '''[[Superboy-Prime]]''' - A version of Superboy from Earth-Prime.
* '''[[Universo]]''' - An ex-Green Lantern Corps member with hypnotic abilities.

==In other media==
The Legion of Super-Villains appear in ''[[Legion of Super Heroes (TV series)|Legion of Super Heroes]]'', consisting of Lightning Lord (voiced by [[James Arnold Taylor]]), Hunter, Tyr (both voiced by [[Khary Payton]]), [[Esper Lass]] ([[Tara Strong]]), Ron-Karr ([[Shawn Harrison (actor)|Shawn Harrison]]), and Wave, who has no dialogue. This version of the group are [[Extortion|extortionists]] and assassins led by Lightning Lord in the first season and Tyr in the second season. Additionally, Ron-Karr possesses shapeshifting abilities and Lightning Lord sports white hair and glowing blue eyes, both of which he acquired during the incident that gave him his powers. First appearing in the episode "Lightning Storm", the group masquerades as a superhero team called the "Light Speed Vanguard" to outperform the Legion of Super-Heroes before their true intentions are exposed. In the second season, the Legion of Super-Villains ally with [[Imperiex]] before Lightning Lord and Ron-Karr reform and leave the group.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.cosmicteams.com/legion/docs/lsv.htm Cosmic Teams profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123223815/http://cosmicteams.com/legion/docs/lsv.htm |date=2010-11-23 }}
* [http://www.dragonhero.com/lsh/villains.html Dragon Hero.com profile]
* [http://www.readersadvice.com/lsh/lshaltb4.html#B.4.00. Incarnations of the Legion of Super-Villains]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155105/http://supermanthrutheages.com/tales4/lsv/?page=1 ''Superman'' #147 (debut of Legion of Super-Villains)]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=legionofsupervillains Unofficial Legion of Super-Villains biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909013112/http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=legionofsupervillains |date=2006-09-09 }}

{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}
{{Superman characters}}
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1961]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1968]]
[[Category:DC Comics supervillain teams]]
[[Category:Legion of Super-Heroes]]