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

[JQ]

The Five Year Gap

Drura Sehpt, like all natives of Somahtur, is a carrier of millions of different germs to which she is immune but which she can transmit to others. Twice rejected due to lack of control over her power, Infectious Lass became a member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes and eventually joined the main Legion during the Five Year Gap. In the current timeline she remained a member of the Subs until she became lost in the timestream during a battle with the Justice League of Earth, finding herself in the company of Doctor 13 and his associates and attempting to justify their continued existence to the reality-altering "Architects". Strangely, this adventure took place during the tenure of a different version of the Legion.

I love Infectious Lass. A lot of people love Infectious Lass. The Legion love her -- they let her try out twice, and Superboy seemed genuinely sorry to reject her. In one future, Invisible Kid II loves her and marries her. Brian Azzarello loved her enough to put her in his Doctor 13 "Architecture and Mortality" story, where I think Captain Fear loves her too. Love her personality, her powers and her costume!

I have to say though, in action figure form I would only want the original Cockrum version: white skin, not the occasional Caucasian. Crosshatched green plaid. Two mini side-collars, not one big one. And of course, the dripping, slimy sleeves. The redesigns that have shown up just aren't as good. I think Mattel really missed the boat in not doing an "Architecture and Mortality" wave with Infectious Lass, Doctor 13, Captain Fear, etc.

Next: For his sake, don't stand too close to him!

[kcekada]

The Five Year Gap

I love Infectious Lass. A lot of people love Infectious Lass. The Legion love her -- they let her try out twice, and Superboy seemed genuinely sorry to reject her. In one future, Invisible Kid II loves her and marries her. Brian Azzarello loved her enough to put her in his Doctor 13 "Architecture and Mortality" story, where I think Captain Fear loves her too. Love her personality, her powers and her costume!

If Paul Levitz had any imagination left (which I don't think he does), he'd see that this character was marked for greatness. Seriously, just about anything Cockrum created in the 70s had a mark of genius about it. Why we have to get POS characters like the new Academy members -- over truly original characters like Infectious Lass, is beyond me.

Many of us were hoping the character would return in Legion Lost, but that doesn't look very likely. I'm sure she's off the radar of anyone now involved with the Legion universe. And yeah, I bought that Dr. 13 mini -- just because of her.

I wonder if Rod ever considered doing a custom of Drura.

[JSayonara]

She was great in that Dr 13 book.

I'm not a Legion fan, but I recognise an actual unique character (both powers and appearance) when I see one.

This is a Legion figure I'd actually be happy to own.

[JQ]

She has such a dynamic look, I don't know why anyone ever felt the need to modify her costume. And yes, I think she has untapped potential. By this time she should have better control over her powers and she'd make as good a Legionnaire as anyone else. And wouldn't this have made a great DCUC wave back when such things were possible?:

[JQ]

The Five Year Gap

Born with a porcupine-like appearance and the ability to shoot projectile quills from his body -- possibly due to a curse from a Fifth-Dimensional imp -- Peter Dursin of Earth tried out for the Legion but was rejected because he couldn't control his aim. He began a friendship with Infectious Lass that day, which led to them both becoming members of the Legion of Substitute Heroes and then of the Legion of Super-Heroes during the Five Year Gap.

Porcupine Pete was one of those popular Legion rejects that was fondly remembered, probably because of his unique Cockrum design and a power which seemed it would be worthwhile if refined. It was great not only to see him and Infectious Lass as members of the Subs in the DC Comics presents story but to also see them as star players and interacting heavily with Superman, who had rejected them as applicants when he was younger.

I'm not sure what the best way to accomplish a Porcupine Pete action figure would be. I'm guessing sharp quills, especially projectiles, would be a no-no, so molded close to the body might be best with maybe a small clip-on missile launcher with quill-like grooves etched into it and the projectile. Costume-wise I prefer the Cockrum design, though I like the Giffen facial features more.

Next: He may not have had the optimal personality for a Legionnaire, but I can see how his powers would be an asset.

[JSayonara]

She has such a dynamic look, I don't know why anyone ever felt the need to modify her costume. And yes, I think she has untapped potential. By this time she should have better control over her powers and she'd make as good a Legionnaire as anyone else. And wouldn't this have made a great DCUC wave back when such things were possible?:

I'd buy that for a dollar.

And I'd love a pack in Genius Jones figure somewhere down the line.

[jamgut]

Born with a porcupine-like appearance and the ability to shoot projectile quills from his body -- possibly due to a curse from a Fifth-Dimensional imp -- Peter Dursin of Earth tried out for the Legion but was rejected because he couldn't control his aim. He began a friendship with Infectious Lass that day, which led to them both becoming members of the Legion of Substitute Heroes and then of the Legion of Super-Heroes during the Five Year Gap.

I always considered Pete to be the inspiration for Dartalon of the Wanderers.

[kcekada]

Was Dartalon originally Elvo?

[Xavion]

The Five Year Gap

You know, for a girl that has a splotch on her face, snot dripping from her sleeves, and an outfit that makes her look like a Bay City Rollers groupie...she's kinda cute.

[Rod Keith]

I wonder if Rod ever considered doing a custom of Drura.

I hadn't until I checked this thread! That costume looks like a lot of fun to paint. Lotsa detail, but doesn't have to be 'exact' to any specific illustration.

[JQ]

Dartalg the blow-dart guy became Dartalon the grows-darts-from-his-own-body guy -- and definitely inspired by Porcupine Pete.

Elvo the swordsman became (The) Elvar, the swordself.

Immorto became Re-Animage, Ornitho became Aviax, Quantum Queen and Psyche got costume and personality changes and Celebrand didn't get cloned so was out of the picture.

[JQ]

The Five Year Gap

Rhent Ustin of Earth -- presumably his adopted name and planet since he was found in front of a child-care facility with no clues as to his true origin -- has a variety of vision powers at his disposal due to his four eyes: Maxi-Optic, Micro-Optic, Thermal-Optic and Hypno-Optic. It is believed he has other, undiscovered vision powers as well. A cadet at the Legion Academy, Visi-Lad joined the Legion during the Five Year Gap.

Yes. This really is scraping the bottom of the barrel. Bad enough that most of the 5YG members weren't actually shown as members in the comics, now here's a character that only appeared in a handful of panels including an unsatisfyingly mysterious non-origin in Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes -- which by the way had a number of origins that seemed made up on the fly or contradicted previous origins.

A viable action figure? Maybe in the days of not caring how important a character is if a gimmick can be worked into it. His head is large enough to fit in some mechanism for different eye effects. His look is interesting at least, though it seems no on could decide if he had 4 or 5 fingers, or if he had normal feet or round, cloven ones. I'll say it right now -- I would love a Visi-Lad figure ... but I would hate that resources were wasted on him and that he was made before hundreds of more deserving characters!

Next: His power may not seem Legion-worthy at first glance, but he proved many times that it's not always black and white.

[jamgut]

I posted a question for TG asking if a Legion sub has been considered and then tried to make a case with some numbers.  Just trying to get a little love for the 31st century

http://forums.mattycollector.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3441044647/m/1451047967

[JQ]

Cool

Of course I'd love a Legion sub though I'd do it a bit differently ... bimonthly two packs, each with one male, one female and one accessory. Though I also believe they really need to look into a couple of 6-packs.

It just bothers me that the 12-pack was such a success and they want to dismiss it. Why didn't they strike while the iron was hot and start looking at a smaller set with the lady Legionnaires? Yeah, it overworked the 4H but you know what? Cornboy told me he likes the Legion and would love to do more. And he said the same thing everyone else does: they're basically the same body, with some differences here and there, and a new head sculpt. The Legion gets a surprising amount of support ... why not give the people what they want to buy?

[Xavion]

Of course I'd love a Legion sub though I'd do it a bit differently ... bimonthly two packs, each with one male, one female and one accessory.

I love that idea!

Though I also believe they really need to look into a couple of 6-packs.

It just bothers me that the 12-pack was such a success and they want to dismiss it. Why didn't they strike while the iron was hot and start looking at a smaller set with the lady Legionnaires? Yeah, it overworked the 4H but you know what? Cornboy told me he likes the Legion and would love to do more. And he said the same thing everyone else does: they're basically the same body, with some differences here and there, and a new head sculpt. The Legion gets a surprising amount of support ... why not give the people what they want to buy?

That's one of the biggest issues with how this property is being managed in general.  Fans vote with their wallets, and you need to go where the money is.

Teams sell.  How many fucking times do we have to tell Toy Guru this (and back it up with our wallets) before he gets the message?  We're collectors.  We collect things.  The goal of every collector is to own a complete set of whatever it is they're collecting.

No one will ever have a complete set of the DC Universe.  With all do respect to Hyperion, Rod, Hater, and everyone else here that loves the DCU as a whole, THAT'S why the sub is failing.  However, when it comes to a specific team, you CAN have a reasonably complete set.  The Legion may be the most challenging DC team of all in that respect, but look how many fans jumped on board with that 12 pack including people like myself that only have a casual interest in the property.

I said in another thread that I would be more excited over a Legion sub than I have been over anything we've seen the past two years, and I meant it.  Why?  Well, aside from being perhaps the most toyetic team in the DCU, I already have almost half of the core lineup and the collector in me naturally wants to complete the set.

This is where Toy Guru really struggles:  Human Psychology.  If he had a better grasp on it, he could use it to his advantage to sell merchandise, but because he doesn't, he's unintentionally driving fans away.

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