Adventure Comics 305
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Contents
The Secret of the Mystery Legionnaire!
Synopsis
As the Legionnaires hold tryouts to find a replacement for the deceased Lightning Lad, an applicant who calls himself both Legionnaire Lemon and Marvel Lad boasts that he is certain he will be accepted. He demonstrates a variety of powers, including flight and super-strength; when the Legionnaires suspect he is Superboy playing a trick on them, Marvel Lad proves he is immune to both kryptonite and lead, Mon-El’s weakness. The Legionnaires instruct Marvel Lad to perform a series of initiation tests: to retrieve the element fluvium from a distant world, to ward off a creature called a Sun-Eater, to clear the planet Brogg of strange monsters, and to create a new element which doesn’t exist on earth. Marvel Lad easily passes all of his test and tantales the Legionnaires by demonstrating more abilities: super-speed, invulnerability, and heat vision. Finally, he is told that he will be inducted into the Legion the next day.
However, when he arrives at the induction ceremony, Marvel Lad reveals that he is, in fact, Mon-El. Twenty-four hours earlier, Brainiac 5 had released Mon-El from the Phantom Zone to test a modified version of his anti–lead serum, which until now enabled Mon to stay in the material world for only short periods of time. Brainy believed that the new cure would be permanent but insisted on a secret trial run so the other Legionnaires wouldn’t be disappointed if it didn’t work. Mon-El decided to spend the time having fun with the Legion; now that the 24-hour trial has passed, he can stay in the material world for good.
Mon-El returns to the Phantom Zone briefly to gloat over the criminals, who remain behind and who tormented him for his friendship with Superboy. He then rejoins the Legion and pledges to find a way to restore Lightning Lad to life.
Key Quotes and Catchphrases
Critique
Roll Call
Legionnaires
- Brainiac 5
- Cosmic Boy
- Mon-El (also appears as Legionnaire Lemon/Marvel Lad; leaves the Phantom Zone for good in this story)
- Bouncing Boy
- Colossal Boy
- Saturn Girl
- Shrinking Violet
- Superboy (flashback to Superboy v1 #89 only)
Cameos
- Invisible Kid
- Lightning Lad (as a corpse and statue)
- Sun Boy
Villains
- The Sun-Eater (not the same creature that appears in Adventure Comics 352 and 353)
- Three unnamed Phantom Zone criminals
Supporting characters
None
Other characters
- Legion applicants
- Antennae Boy (from the planet Grxyor)
- Dynamo Kid (not to be confused with Dynamo Boy, who appears in Adventure Comics 330 and 331.)
Planets and Settings
- Brogg (planet)
Technology, Gadgets and Other Neat Stuff
- Element 152 (an anti-gravity element invented by Mon-El; later used in the creation of flight rings)
- Fluvium (needed for the anti-lead serum)
Notes
Errors and Oddities
- Daily Planet is still published in the 30th century, available on microfilm.
First appearances
This issue marks the first appearance of the following characters and recurring key Legion story elements:
- Element 152 (later used in the creation of flight rings)
Powers and abilities
Reboot Reference Kit
Retcon Alert
Other
Other stories in this issue
There is an additional story that does not feature the Legion - "Clark Kent, He-Man"
Reprints
This Legion story has been reprinted in the following:
Adventure Comics #403 (March/April 1971)
Adventure Comics #500 ( June 1983)
See also
- Legion Publication History - Other issues published 1950-1964
- Legion Publication History - Other issues of Adventure Comics
- Pre-Crisis Chronology
- Quick index of links to other Adventure Comics issues
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