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'''The Legion of Substitute Heroes''' is a group of [[fictional]] [[character (arts)|characters]] in the future of the [[DC Comics]] [[DC Universe|universe]]. The "Subs", as they are often called, are a group of rejected applicants to the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]] who band together, hoping to prove to the Legion that their powers are not as useless as the Legionnaires claim. They first appeared in ''[[Adventure Comics]]'' #306 (March 1963) and were created by [[Edmond Hamilton]] and [[John Forte]]. They were depicted as reasonably effective superheroes until [[Keith Giffen]], during his tenure as ''Legion'' writer, began depicting the team as something of a joke. The Subs regain some respect when founding member [[Polar Boy]] joins the main Legion and a new Legion of Substitute Heroes is formed. |
'''The Legion of Substitute Heroes''' is a group of [[fictional]] [[character (arts)|characters]] in the future of the [[DC Comics]] [[DC Universe|universe]]. The "Subs", as they are often called, are a group of rejected applicants to the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]] who band together, hoping to prove to the Legion that their powers are not as useless as the Legionnaires claim. They first appeared in ''[[Adventure Comics]]'' #306 (March 1963) and were created by [[Edmond Hamilton]] and [[John Forte]]. They were depicted as reasonably effective superheroes until [[Keith Giffen]], during his tenure as ''Legion'' writer, began depicting the team as something of a joke. The Subs regain some respect when founding member [[Polar Boy]] joins the main Legion and a new Legion of Substitute Heroes is formed. |
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==Publication history== |
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The Legion of Substitute Heroes |
The Legion of Substitute Heroes is founded by Polar Boy, [[Night Girl]], [[Stone Boy]], [[Fire Lad]], and [[Chlorophyll Kid]], five young heroes whose powers are not sufficient to earn them membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes — Stone Boy, for example, is completely immobile when using his power.<ref name="back65">{{cite journal|last=Callahan|first=Timothy |title=The Substitute Heroes in the Spotlight |journal=[[Back Issue!]]|issue=65|pages=69-72 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]| date=July 2013|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> After receiving a Legion flight belt as a consolation prize, the five disconsolate teenagers decide to form a group that can [[pinch hit]] for the Legion. After several failures as a team, the Subs save the Earth from an invasion by Plant Men while the Legion is off planet fighting a decoy armada of robot spaceships. |
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At first operating in secrecy, the Legion of Substitute Heroes |
At first operating in secrecy, the Legion of Substitute Heroes is gradually recognized by the real Legion as a valuable asset, most notably after the assault on the Citadel of Throon when the regular Legionnaires are all defeated and it is left to Polar Boy and Night Girl to lead an effective attack and end the siege.<ref>''Adventure Comics'' #319 (April 1964)</ref> Later recruits to the Legion of Substitute Heroes include Antennae Lad, Color Kid, Double-Header, Infectious Lass, Porcupine Pete, [[Nura Nal|Dream Girl]], and [[Thom Kallor|Star Boy]].{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} The team fell into disuse during the [[Bronze Age of Comic Books]] since their simple, young-readers-oriented concept left them out-of-place in the dark, socially relevant stories of the era.<ref name="back65"/> |
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The Legion of Super-Heroes were first presented as a starring feature in ''[[DC Comics Presents]]'' #59 (July 1983). Writer/artist [[Keith Giffen]] had been asked to do a story featuring the villain [[Ambush Bug]], and decided that the Legion of Super-Heroes would be appropriate heroes to pit against the villain since they were somewhat "goofy" and obscure enough that he could do what he wanted with them without fear of arousing controversy.<ref name="back65"/> Exceptionally good sales on the humor-driven issue led to DC publishing a ''Legion of Substitute Heroes Special'' on [[April Fool's Day]], 1985.<ref name="back65"/> Again written and drawn by Giffen, the ''Legion of Substitute Heroes Special'' became regarded as a seminal work, and Giffen was emboldened to employ the issue's boundary-pushing, often meta-fictional comedy in his later works.<ref name="back65"/> |
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Members of the Legion of Substitute Heroes include:{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} |
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⚫ | After a colorful, if not exactly impressive, career, the Substitute Heroes are disbanded by Polar Boy. Polar Boy goes on to attain full membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes. Many of the remaining members eventually join the Legion as well during the "Five Year Gap". Shortly before the "Five Year Gap", a new Legion of Substitute Heroes is formed.<ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes Annual'' #3 (1987)</ref> It consists of former Legion of Super-Heroes members [[Cosmic Boy]], [[Bouncing Boy]], and [[Luornu Durgo|Duo Damsel]], as well as Night Girl, a new [[Myg (comics)|Karate Kid]] (Myg of Lythyl), and [[Comet Queen]]. |
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*'''Antennae Lad''' (Khfeurb Chee Bez from the planet Grxyor): has the power to tune into any broadcast from any era, but mostly at random. |
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*'''[[Chlorophyll Kid]]''' (Ral Benem from the planet Mardru): has the power to make plants grow extremely fast. He gained this power after falling into a vat of super plant growth formula as a small child. He claims that he can only accelerate plant growth, not control plants, although some of his actions seem to contradict this.{{Issue|date=February 2010}} |
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*'''Color Kid''' (Ulu Vakk from the planet Lupra): can change the color of objects or people. Gained his power after being struck by a ray from another dimension. In the 1985 ''Legion of Substitute Heroes'' one-shot, he was temporarily known as Color Queen after being exposed to Granderian Gender-Reversal Germs by Infectious Lass. |
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*'''Double-Header''' (Frenk and Dyvud Retzun from the planet Janus): has two heads as a result of gradual [[mitosis]]. |
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*'''[[Fire Lad]]''' (Staq Mavlen from the planet Schwar): gained the power to breathe fire (often accidentally, as he suffers from allergies) after inhaling vapors from a [[meteorite]]. |
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*'''Infectious Lass''' (Drura Sehpt from the planet Somahtur): spontaneously generates infectious diseases. Her aim and control are haphazard, though. |
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*'''[[Night Girl]]''' (Lydda Jath from the sunless planet Kathoon): has super strength and invulnerability which were engineered for her by her father, but they are only effective in darkness. |
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*'''[[Polar Boy]]''' (Brek Bannin from the planet Tharr): had the ability to project cold and ice. When introduced he had difficulties controlling the powers, but became proficient after training for several years. After the Substitute Heroes disbanded, he was admitted to the Legion proper, and later elected its leader. |
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*'''Porcupine Pete''' (Peter Dursin from Earth): has quills he can inaccurately shoot from his body. |
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*'''[[Stone Boy]]''' (Dag Wentim from the planet Zwen): has the power to turn into stone for hibernating on a planet with a six-month-long night. In the beginning Stone Boy could only transform into an inanimate stone statue and was often used in humorous ways (e.g., being dropped on a villain), or as a distraction while the other "Subs" carried out some mission. Stone Boy won a Legion test and was offered full membership but he declined and stayed with the Subs. During the "[[Legion of Super-Heroes#"Five Years Later"|Five Year Gap]]", he underwent [[hypnotherapy]] and gained the ability to stay conscious during his transformation and, eventually, even to move in his stone state. |
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*Legionnaires [[Nura Nal|Dream Girl]] and [[Thom Kallor|Star Boy]] also served with the Substitute Heroes, Star Boy after being expelled from the Legion for killing Dream Girl's ex-boyfriend, which was later ruled self-defense. Dream Girl served with the Subs after joining the Legion under false pretenses. Both later rejoined the main Legion under the disguises of "Miss Terious" and "Sir Prize". |
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⚫ | During the events of ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4), the "Subs" come into their own as an insurgent group that helps the Terran resistance to the [[Dominators]]. Here, old Subs Fire Lad, Stone Boy, Chlorophyl Kid, Color Kid, and Porcupine Pete, are joined by new allies such as [[Ron-Karr]] and Grinn. |
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After a colorful, if not exactly impressive, career, the Substitute Heroes were disbanded by Polar Boy, after assisting Senator Tenzil Kem in averting an attempt by an army of replicas of Computo the Conqueror to take over Bismoll in a particularly inept, yet successful manner. Brek went on to attain full membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes. Many of the remaining members would eventually join the Legion as well during the "Five Year Gap". |
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⚫ | Shortly before the "Five Year Gap", a new Legion of Substitute Heroes |
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⚫ | During the events of ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (vol. 4), the "Subs" |
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⚫ | In the Legion series launched in [[Legion of Super-Heroes (2004 team)|2004]], Polar Boy and Chlorophyll Kid (renamed '''Plant Lad''') appear as a part of the new [[Wanderers (comics)|Wanderers]] led by [[Lightning Lord|Mekt Ranzz]]. This version of Polar Boy can only slow molecular movement. Night Girl applies for membership in the Legion but is rejected and made a reserve member (as part of the "Legion Reserve"), along with Sizzle, an energy manipulator, and Turtle, a strong and durable alien.<ref>''Legion of Super-Heroes'' vol. 5, #48 (February 2009)</ref> |
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==Post-Zero Hour== |
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⚫ | Following the [[Zero Hour (comics)|Zero Hour]] reboot, the Subs |
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⚫ | Versions of Infectious Lass, Polar Boy, Night Girl, Stone Boy, Fire Lad, and Chlorophyll Kid similar in appearance to their pre-''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' counterparts appear in the ''[[Tales of the Unexpected (comics)|Tales of the Unexpected]]'' limited series and the ''[[Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes]]'' storyarc in ''[[Action Comics]]''. |
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Polar Boy and Night Girl appear in one panel of ''Legionnaires'' #49, concluding that their unseen team is not ready to aid the Legion against [[Mordru]] (Night Girl calls them a "poor substitute"). |
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⚫ | In part five of the ''Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' story-arc in ''Action Comics'', Fire Lad, Stone Boy, Chlorophyll Kid, and Rainbow Girl are called in to help battle the [[Justice League]] of Earth, a tyrannical, alien-hating association formed out of super-powered beings also rejected by the Legion.<ref>''Action Comics'' #862 (February 2008)</ref> After the villainous group is defeated, the Subs claim their satellite base as their own.<ref>''Action Comics'' #863 (March 2008)</ref> |
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Infectious Lass also reappeared as a student in the Legion Cadet Program just before the Legion's continuity was rebooted again. |
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==Threeboot== |
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⚫ | In the Legion series launched in [[Legion of Super-Heroes (2004 team)|2004]], Polar Boy and Chlorophyll Kid (renamed '''Plant Lad''') |
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==Post-Infinite Crisis== |
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⚫ | Versions of Infectious Lass, Polar Boy, Night Girl, Stone Boy, Fire Lad, and Chlorophyll Kid similar in appearance to their pre-''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' counterparts |
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*'''Infectious Lass''': Drura Sehpt of the planet Somahtur. Was tossed into the time stream by [[Earth-Man]], and has appeared as part of a group of forgotten comic book characters, including [[Doctor Thirteen]], and battled against the Architects in the ''[[Tales of the Unexpected (comics)|Tales of the Unexpected]]'' limited series. She's fallen in love with the deceased pirate Captain Fear. |
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*'''Color Kid''': Ulu Vakk of the planet Lupra. Was blinded by Earth-Man. |
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*'''Double-Header''': Was murdered by Earth-Man. |
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*'''[[Night Girl]]''': Lydda Jath of the planet Kathoon. Now a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. |
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*'''[[Polar Boy]]''': Brek Brannin of the planet Tharr. Now a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Had his arm ripped off by Tusker, but has since replaced it with one made of ice. |
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*'''[[Stone Boy]]''': Dag Wentim of the planet Zwen. No longer has the ability to move in stone-mode. |
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*'''[[Fire Lad]]''': Staq Mavlen of the planet Schwar. Has moderate control over his fire-breathing abilities, and can actually turn his hair to flames when powered-up. |
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*'''[[Chlorophyll Kid]]''': Ral Benam of Mardru. Claims he can talk to plants. |
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*'''[[Rainbow Girl]]''': Dori Aandraison of the planet Xolnar. Possesses the ability to wield the power of the [[emotional spectrum]], causing unpredictable mood swings from [[Red Lantern Corps|angry]] (red), to [[Blue Lantern Corps|hopeful]] (blue), to [[Green Lantern Corps|confident]] (green), and others. She only appeared once, as a rejected Legion applicant in pre-''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' continuity, and originally had the power to separate into four different-colored versions of herself. Red was heat, Blue was cold, Yellow was brightness, and Green was [[Kryptonite]]. She was rejected because her Green Kryptonite self posed a threat to Superboy and Supergirl.<ref>''Adventure Comics'' #309 (June 1963)</ref> |
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⚫ | In part five of the ''Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' story-arc in ''Action Comics'', Fire Lad, Stone Boy, Chlorophyll Kid, and Rainbow Girl are called in to help battle the [[Justice League]] of Earth, a tyrannical, alien-hating association formed out of super-powered beings also rejected by the Legion.<ref>''Action Comics'' #862 (February 2008)</ref> After the villainous group is defeated, the Subs |
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==In other media== |
==In other media== |
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Legion of Substitute Heroes | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Adventure Comics #306 (March 1963) |
Created by | Edmond Hamilton (script) John Forte (art) |
In-story information | |
Base(s) | Metropolis (31st century) |
Member(s) | Antennae Lad Chlorophyll Kid Color Kid Double Header Dream Girl Fire Lad Infectious Lass Night Girl Polar Boy Porcupine Pete Rainbow Girl Star Boy Stone Boy |
The Legion of Substitute Heroes is a group of fictional characters in the future of the DC Comics universe. The "Subs", as they are often called, are a group of rejected applicants to the Legion of Super-Heroes who band together, hoping to prove to the Legion that their powers are not as useless as the Legionnaires claim. They first appeared in Adventure Comics #306 (March 1963) and were created by Edmond Hamilton and John Forte. They were depicted as reasonably effective superheroes until Keith Giffen, during his tenure as Legion writer, began depicting the team as something of a joke. The Subs regain some respect when founding member Polar Boy joins the main Legion and a new Legion of Substitute Heroes is formed.
Publication history
The Legion of Substitute Heroes is founded by Polar Boy, Night Girl, Stone Boy, Fire Lad, and Chlorophyll Kid, five young heroes whose powers are not sufficient to earn them membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes — Stone Boy, for example, is completely immobile when using his power.[1] After receiving a Legion flight belt as a consolation prize, the five disconsolate teenagers decide to form a group that can pinch hit for the Legion. After several failures as a team, the Subs save the Earth from an invasion by Plant Men while the Legion is off planet fighting a decoy armada of robot spaceships.
At first operating in secrecy, the Legion of Substitute Heroes is gradually recognized by the real Legion as a valuable asset, most notably after the assault on the Citadel of Throon when the regular Legionnaires are all defeated and it is left to Polar Boy and Night Girl to lead an effective attack and end the siege.[2] Later recruits to the Legion of Substitute Heroes include Antennae Lad, Color Kid, Double-Header, Infectious Lass, Porcupine Pete, Dream Girl, and Star Boy.[citation needed] The team fell into disuse during the Bronze Age of Comic Books since their simple, young-readers-oriented concept left them out-of-place in the dark, socially relevant stories of the era.[1]
The Legion of Super-Heroes were first presented as a starring feature in DC Comics Presents #59 (July 1983). Writer/artist Keith Giffen had been asked to do a story featuring the villain Ambush Bug, and decided that the Legion of Super-Heroes would be appropriate heroes to pit against the villain since they were somewhat "goofy" and obscure enough that he could do what he wanted with them without fear of arousing controversy.[1] Exceptionally good sales on the humor-driven issue led to DC publishing a Legion of Substitute Heroes Special on April Fool's Day, 1985.[1] Again written and drawn by Giffen, the Legion of Substitute Heroes Special became regarded as a seminal work, and Giffen was emboldened to employ the issue's boundary-pushing, often meta-fictional comedy in his later works.[1]
After a colorful, if not exactly impressive, career, the Substitute Heroes are disbanded by Polar Boy. Polar Boy goes on to attain full membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes. Many of the remaining members eventually join the Legion as well during the "Five Year Gap". Shortly before the "Five Year Gap", a new Legion of Substitute Heroes is formed.[3] It consists of former Legion of Super-Heroes members Cosmic Boy, Bouncing Boy, and Duo Damsel, as well as Night Girl, a new Karate Kid (Myg of Lythyl), and Comet Queen.
During the events of Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4), the "Subs" come into their own as an insurgent group that helps the Terran resistance to the Dominators. Here, old Subs Fire Lad, Stone Boy, Chlorophyl Kid, Color Kid, and Porcupine Pete, are joined by new allies such as Ron-Karr and Grinn.
Following the Zero Hour reboot, the Subs appear in Legionnaires #43 during Legion tryouts. Infectious Lass, Fire Lad, and Color Kid are on the cover, while Stone Boy, Chlorophyll Kid, Night Girl, and Polar Boy all try out.
In the Legion Worlds one-shot focusing on Braal, Cosmic Boy along with Invisible Kid, Leviathan, and Chuck Taine call themselves the "Legion of Subs"; the word 'Subs' is short for subterfuge.
In the Legion series launched in 2004, Polar Boy and Chlorophyll Kid (renamed Plant Lad) appear as a part of the new Wanderers led by Mekt Ranzz. This version of Polar Boy can only slow molecular movement. Night Girl applies for membership in the Legion but is rejected and made a reserve member (as part of the "Legion Reserve"), along with Sizzle, an energy manipulator, and Turtle, a strong and durable alien.[4]
Versions of Infectious Lass, Polar Boy, Night Girl, Stone Boy, Fire Lad, and Chlorophyll Kid similar in appearance to their pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths counterparts appear in the Tales of the Unexpected limited series and the Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes storyarc in Action Comics.
In part five of the Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes story-arc in Action Comics, Fire Lad, Stone Boy, Chlorophyll Kid, and Rainbow Girl are called in to help battle the Justice League of Earth, a tyrannical, alien-hating association formed out of super-powered beings also rejected by the Legion.[5] After the villainous group is defeated, the Subs claim their satellite base as their own.[6]
At an early point in their timeline, the Substitutes team up with the Inferior Five in a failed attempt to steal the Legion's thunder and destroy a primeval black hole.[7]
In other media
Legion of Super Heroes
Characters from the Legion of Substitute Heroes first appeared in the Legion of Super-Heroes episode entitled "Lightning Storm", and then again in the episode "The Substitutes", which focused completely on them. They are portrayed as a mix of sympathetic and comedic characters who are determined to be heroes but not entirely aware of their limits.
The Legion of Substitute Heroes in the animated series consists of:
- Porcupine Pete – portrayed as something of a "mother's boy" who is not always good with his powers, but is determined to be a hero and has a definite sense of responsibility. Pete easily forgets that his quills can hurt others. He is the unofficial leader of the team. Voiced by James Arnold Taylor.
- Chlorophyll Kid – portrayed as a classic nebbish, but clever at using his limited powers, such as creating cacti to distract an enemy with human-like silhouettes. When pushed, he'll take risks to protect others. Voiced by Alexander Polinsky.
- Stone Boy – portrayed as highly intelligent. He once uses a fall in his stone form to strike an enemy, yet speaks little. In fact, his companions actually were surprised when he did speak up, suggesting they thought he was mute. His ability to use his stone form ranges from ineffectual to clever, perhaps because he doesn't have the sense of humor to realize when he is doing something silly. He also at times seems to forget to change back to flesh. He seems to have some small knowledge of science, which he shares with the team, giving an excellent insight on Starfinger's Ionosphere-gobbling space-worms and how to stop them. Voiced by Yuri Lowenthal.
- Color Kid – portrayed as energetic, enthusiastic, often ignorant of danger, and a bit flamboyant and campy. He has an excellent eye for color, but hasn't caught on entirely how limited his powers are. His most noteworthy use of his abilities is to conceal an obstacle to trip a villain and conceal his fellow heroes. Voiced by James Arnold Taylor.
- Infectious Lass – portrayed as withdrawn and seems to suffer from a mild asthma-like condition and sounds permanently congested, often sniffling during speech. Her powers involve creating an infectious slime, but it seems limited to creating a quick, mild cold. Voiced by Kari Wahlgren.
In addition, Antennae Lad, Polar Boy, Fire Lad, Double-Header, and Night Girl all appeared in cameos in both episodes as prospective members of the Legion.
The Substitute Heroes were seen briefly in a battalion during "Sundown" Part 2, although never actually participating in the fight against the Sun-Eater.
In the second-season (and series) finale, "Dark Victory", The Substitute Heroes and other previously rejected auditions from the first season are shown among the Legion during Cosmic Boy's speech in part one. Polar Boy is briefly seen in part two.
Smallville
In the Smallville episode "Legion", Cosmic Boy tells Lightning Lad that he is acting like a Sub when he asks Clark to autograph the first baseball Clark had ever hit; claiming it was for his sister.
References
- ^ a b c d e Callahan, Timothy (July 2013). "The Substitute Heroes in the Spotlight". Back Issue! (65). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 69–72.
- ^ Adventure Comics #319 (April 1964)
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #3 (1987)
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 5, #48 (February 2009)
- ^ Action Comics #862 (February 2008)
- ^ Action Comics #863 (March 2008)
- ^ The Brave and the Bold #35 (July 2010)