"Legends" | |||
---|---|---|---|
Publisher | DC Comics | ||
Publication date | November 1986 –May 1987 | ||
Genre | |||
| |||
Main character(s) | Justice League Captain Marvel Teen Titans Suicide Squad Darkseid | ||
Creative team | |||
Writer(s) | John Ostrander Len Wein | ||
Penciller(s) | John Byrne | ||
Inker(s) | Karl Kesel | ||
Colorist(s) | Tom Ziuko | ||
The Collection | ISBN 1-56389-095-X |
"Legends" is a comic book crossover story line that ran through a six-issue, self-titled limited series and various other titles published by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987. Each of the individual crossover/tie-in issues had a Legends Chapter # header added to their trade dress.
The series was plotted by John Ostrander, scripted by Len Wein, pencilled by John Byrne, and inked by Karl Kesel.
The six issues of the Legends series could be read as an abbreviated story by themselves, or all 22 chapters could be read as a longer story that included the Legends issues as well as issues from other titles including Batman , Superman , and Secret Origins . It was also the first major DC Universe crossover after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths . [1]
Legends served mainly as a launching pad for several new comic series, including the latter-day Flash title, Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis' comedy/action take on the Justice League , and the villain-based black ops Suicide Squad . [1] The series also saw the post-Crisis introduction into the DC Universe of Captain Marvel (who was spun off in the miniseries Shazam!: The New Beginning ) as well as Wonder Woman, who had been rebooted by DC Comics at the same time Legends was being published.
Darkseid makes a wager with the mysterious Phantom Stranger that he can turn humanity against its heroes. To win the bet, Darkseid sends his minion Glorious Godfrey to Earth, [2] where Godfrey uses the sound of his voice to control people's minds and turn them against Earth's heroes. To further his scheme, Darkseid sends a fire elemental called Brimstone to Earth [3] to defeat the Detroit-based Justice League along with Firestorm and a time-traveling Cosmic Boy. [4] Darkseid also arranges for the cyborg villain Macro-Man to be killed by the mystic lightning that Captain Marvel uses to change into Billy Batson, [5] and Captain Marvel is blamed by the media for Macro-Man's death. Batman suffers his own loss when Robin (Jason Todd) is trampled by a crazed mob. [6] Fearing widespread panic, President Ronald Reagan (the U.S. Commander-in-Chief at the time of publication) declares martial law and bans all superheroic activities in America. [7] This angers several members of Reagan's department of defense, who - at the behest of Amanda Waller - activate "Project: Task Force X", a.k.a. the Suicide Squad. [8] Recruiting a team of expendable imprisoned supervillains, Amanda Waller has the Suicide Squad destroy Brimstone. [9]
Doctor Fate is forced to intervene when Godfrey uses his army of followers to invade Washington, DC. [10] Dr. Fate organizes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Guy Gardner, Black Canary, Changeling, The Flash, and the Blue Beetle to oppose Godfrey. They are joined by the Martian Manhunter, who responds to a JLA distress call from the President. They manage to defeat Godfrey's forces, including Darkseid's cyborg Hounds of War. The masses are subsequently freed from Godfrey's power when Robin gathers an army of children untouched by his powers to serve as a human shield between the heroes and Godfrey. Godfrey strikes one of the children, and the shock frees the mob from his power. Godfrey is defeated when he steals Dr. Fate's helmet and puts it on, rendering him mindless. In the aftermath, the Martian Manhunter, Batman, Blue Beetle, Guy Gardner, Black Canary, Captain Marvel and Dr. Fate form a new Justice League. Superman and the Flash decline membership, stating that they will assist if needed, Wonder Woman quietly exits and Changeling opts to remain with the Teen Titans.
The official reading order was announced as follows by DC Comics:
A trade paperback Legends: The Collection ( ISBN 1-56389-095-X) was published in 1993 collecting the entire 6-issue limited series.
The three Superman issues have been collected in Volume 2 of the Superman: The Man of Steel trade paperback series and Volume 1 of "Superman: The Man of Steel" hardcover collection.
DC Comics published Legends 30th Anniversary Edition ( ISBN 978-1401263164) in June 2016. It includes Legends #1-6. The crossover/tie-in issues are not included. This edition was made available for purchase in both print and digital formats.
The Batman issue was collected neither in the Batman: Second Chances trade paperback nor in Volume 1 of the Batman: The Caped Crusader trade paperback series.
The Detective Comics issue has been collected in Volume 2 of the Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told (focusing on Catwoman and the Penguin) and Volume 1 of the Batman: The Dark Knight Detective trade paperback series.
The "Green Lantern Corps" issue has been collected in Volume 1 of "Green Lantern Corps: Beware Their Power" hardcover.
Darkseid is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby, and debuted in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134.
The New Gods are a fictional extraterrestrial race appearing in the eponymous comic book series published by DC Comics, as well as selected other DC titles. Created and designed by Jack Kirby, they first appeared in February 1971 in New Gods #1.
Leonard Norman Wein was an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men. Additionally, he was the editor for writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons' influential DC miniseries Watchmen.
Gerard Francis Conway is an American comic book writer, comic book editor, screenwriter, television writer, and television producer. He is known for co-creating the Marvel Comics vigilante antihero the Punisher as well as the Scarlet Spider, and the first Ms. Marvel, and also writing the death of the character Gwen Stacy during his long run on The Amazing Spider-Man in the story arc, "The Night Gwen Stacy Died".
Apokolips is a fictional planet that appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The planet is ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series, and is integral to many stories in the DC Universe. Apokolips is considered the opposite of the planet New Genesis.
John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books, including Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy.
DC Comics Presents is a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1978 to 1986 which ran for 97 issues and four Annuals. It featured team-ups between Superman and a wide variety of other characters in the DC Universe. A recurring back-up feature "Whatever Happened to...?" had stories revealing the status of various minor and little-used characters.
Earth-One is a name given to two fictional universes that have appeared in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. The first Earth-One was given its name in Justice League of America #21, after The Flash #123 explained how Golden Age (Earth-Two) versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Silver Age counterparts. This Earth-One continuity included the DC Silver Age heroes, including the Justice League of America.
Superman/Batman is a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular superheroes: Superman and Batman. Superman/Batman premiered in August 2003, an update of the previous series, World's Finest Comics (1941–1986), in which Superman and Batman regularly joined forces.
Karl Kesel is an American comics writer and inker whose works have primarily been under contract for DC Comics. He is a member of Periscope Studio and is best known for his collaborations with fellow artist Tom Grummett on The Adventures of Superman, Superboy, and Section Zero, as well as the first Harley Quinn comic title.
Secret Origins is the title of several comic book series published by DC Comics which featured the origin stories of the publisher's various characters.
Bloodsport is the name of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. All of these versions exist in DC's main shared universe, known as the DC Universe.
Lashina is a supervillainess and Goddess warrior appearing in comics published by DC Comics.
Richard Allen Dillin was an American comics artist best known for a 12-year run as the penciler of the DC Comics superhero-team series Justice League of America. He drew 115 issues from 1968 until his death in 1980.
Barbara Randall Kesel is an American writer and editor of comic books. Her bibliography includes work for Crossgen, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, and Marvel Comics.
DC Comics has produced many crossover stories combining characters from different series of comics. Some of these are set in the fictional DC Universe, or any number of settings within the DC Multiverse.
Notable events of 1986 in comics.
DC Universe: Legacies is a 2010–2011 ten-issue comic book limited series written by Len Wein and published by DC Comics. It details the perspective of an admirer of superheroes in the DC Universe from the Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Modern eras of comic books.
Brimstone is an alias used by several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.
DC's next big crossover showcased John Byrne's pencils on all six of the miniseries' issues. Entitled Legends, this new limited series was plotted by writer John Ostrander and scripted by Len Wein...By the series' end, the stage was set for several new ongoing titles, including...the Suicide Squad, as well as the Justice League.
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