Dear Mattel, the Legion Should Be ... Part 2

[JQ]

The Five Year Gap

In 1989, the fourth volume of The Legion of Super-Heroes began by jumping five years forward in time. Gradually it was revealed that several members had joined the Legion during the Five Year Gap. The first was ...

Possessing a familial genetic trait allowing her to generate and control winds, Earth-born Berta Skye Harris' power was activated in an unknown manner at a young age by her grandmother. Taking the name Nightwind, she was a longtime student at the Legion Academy, finally becoming a Legionnaire early in the unchronicled period known as the "Five Year Gap" -- however because of numberous timeline alterations this period never occured, and Nightwind remains a member of the Academy in the current timeline.

Not as bright and flashy as her original, traditional purple super-hero costume, Nightwind's dark robes hide her blue hair and most of her yellow skin, and along with her adopted somber demeanor are more befitting her codename.

Like many Legionnaires, Nightwind was created by a reader -- though in the original submission, which appeared in Amazing World of DC Comics #12, she was Lara Londo of Zoon, a relative of Timber Wolf, and called Nightwing. In her first comics appearance her name was changed in honor of the reader who created her, Robert Harris.

Definitely not a Legionnaire that needs to be made ... but I think with a combination of Raven and Desaad figures, along with paint and some spare time, I could have a Nightwind figure stand with my Legion.

Next: What's in a name? This Legionnaire has three interesting ones, and by any other name would be as Super ...

[Marv-El]

Laurel Gand/Kent/Andromeda?

[Chooch]

Good luck with the interview KC!

[kcekada]

The one thing that really stood out about Nightwind's 80s outfit -- was the zipatone (varied black dot pattern). I loved that stuff in comics. The effect can be done digitially in Photoshop, but I don't see it being used. I though  most of the 80s Academy members were visually appealing -- one of the traits of most of my favorite Legionnaires. I think that's largely missing from the current Legion comics.

Thanks for the good wish, Chooch. The job is a pretty big deal, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up.

[Marv-El]

Good luck with the interview KC!

Ditto. Sorry I missed the previous page. And even though we've reached and passed my ideal cutoff, I'd love to have Brek. So I guess I'd pick and choose a little too. Andromeda, XS, Shvaughn, maybe Kent.

[Gardner Grayle]

Good luck KC. 

[JQ]

Let me add my best wishes, KC. Have a great interview!

Laurel Gand/Kent/Andromeda?

Close 

Hopefully I'll be posting tonight ... waiting on some information ...

[JQ]

The Five Year Gap

Kent Shakespeare of Earth had no super powers -- but became seriously ill after being exposed to an strange virus while in medical school. The virus gradually took over and improved Kent's body, giving him powers and abilities far beyond those of ordinary humans. With his enhanced strength, speed, resiliency and recuperation, he joined the Legion for a short time as Impulse during the Five Year Gap, though he went only by his given name upon rejoining.

What didn't appear in print because of editorial policies at the time is that it was an ancient Kryptonian virus that rebuilt Kent, and the reason he was the only one affected is that he is a descendant of Superman -- he in fact takes on the mantle in one timeline.

Much like the bio above -- which draws from flashbacks in the Legion comic, the Mayfair Games "2995: The Legion of Super-Heroes Sourcebook", online resources and a personal conversation with Kent's creator Al Gordon -- I had to "put together" the Impulse pic a bit. Though Kent usually wore a jacket post-5YG, in his one depiction during his "Impulse" years only a black shirt with starfield pattern in a shape reminiscent of the Superman emblem is seen (he sometimes wears this shirt under his jacket "later"). I liked the above pic so I added the starfield, and replaced the name "Kent Shakespeare" with "Impulse". I do like his costume as the 31st century's Superman, but it's a lot different and I wouldn't want it in a Legion display.

Next: An unpleasant ally at least, a short term Legionnaire At most ...

[Hyperion]

He's one of the few that I actually want from the 5YL group.  I always thought there was more to him than what we got in the rebuilding crapola.  Of course, I felt the series also suffered from the "magic marker" era Giffen artwork and the space-Victorian clothing.





Atmos

[kcekada]

Giffen was obviously going for more of a sci-fi feel, so the visual appeal of the classic Legion was largely lost. Have to admit that I never got Kent Shakespeare. His power set seemed to nebulous and undefined.

And a final thanks to all the well-wishers. I had a 30-minute phone intererview for a position at Penn State, but have to wait until later next month to see if I get an actual face-to-face interview. I would guess competetion is pretty fierce, but the interiew went okay -- so I hope, I at least get the next interview.

[Hyperion]

*starts the "kc at Penn State! kc at Penn State! kc at Penn State!" tomahawk chant*

[JRJStarman]

I never really knew what Kent's powers were either bit I did dig the fact that he wore glasses.

Atmos is most definitely the next person discussed.


Bring on Andromeda!

[JQ]

I have to say I was interested at the time in the Kent Shakespeare mystery but then it just went on and on ... and yeah, what were his powers? It was stated at one time that he was "a living virus" which doesn't really say anything, and aren't all viruses living? At some point it just didn't matter anymore and he was just ex-Legionnaire Kent Shakespeare and that was fine.

The costume though ... belts and pouches and gloves, and on top of that a jacket? The Legion had already jumped on the jacket and pouch craze before the 5YG so maybe he did wear all that as a Legionnaire, and it's not a bad look really ...

... but there's just a lot going on there -- way too much detail for us to ever expect on a production action figure, especially of a bit player.  Any of us wanting a Kent Shakespeare action figure just have to accept that all we'll ever get is customs! Though a box set of these would be pretty cool:

[JQ]

The Five Year Gap

In an attempt to create a planetary champion for Xanthu after Star Boy joined the Legion, Marak Russen was genetically altered and sent through a comet's tail, gaining super strength, flight, invulnerability, nuclear bolts and mind control powers as a result. Abducted by Universo and replaced as Xanthu's champion by Star Boy, Atmos made a failed attempt to join the Legion once freed, rather than return to his duties. It was during the Five Year Gap however that he actually joined, only to resign two months later.

At least ... that's the way I think the story goes, since the 5YG was only ever partially filled in through flashbacks and character comments and the Mayfair Games "2995: The Legion of Super-Heroes Sourcebook" which contained a timeline that the writers held to but wasn't itself considered canon. Most online resources don't give much info on Atmos and don't mention his joining the Legion -- I didn't even remember that he might have till a couple of weeks ago ... but I'll go with it.

Now, Atmos was a real jerk. But so was Nemesis Kid. And so was Earth Man. He sure would make an interesting looking figure in a Legion display with half his torso missing, though! But again, extremely minor character which would require a unique buck that could never be used again. To me this points out the importance of sticking with the most well known Legion era, when it was a best-selling title, for actual figure production purposes.

Next: He struck first, hard and with no mercy ... until the Legion taught him to find balance.

[JRJStarman]

I hated Atmos when he showed up in Legion and I never warmed up to the character. I wouldn't mind ever seeing him again.

Your teaser could be Karate Kid II. (Myg, not Daniel-San).

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