Difference between revisions of "Superboy v1 200"

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{{issue
 
{{issue
−
|era_color=#ff8080
+
|era=precrisis
−
|issue=''Superboy'' v1 #200
+
|series=Superboy|vol_no=1|issue_no=200
−
|image=
+
|image=[[File:Superboy-v1-200.jpg|250px]]
−
|caption=
+
|caption=Cover, by Nick Cardy, et al.
−
|era=Pre-Crisis
 
 
|story_title=The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger
 
|story_title=The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger
−
|previous=[[Superboy v1 199|''Superboy'' v1 199]] (backup story): The Impossible Target
+
|previous=[[Superboy v1 199|''Superboy'' v1 #199]] (backup story): The Impossible Target
−
|next=[[Superboy v1 201|''Superboy'' v1 201]]: The Betrayer from Beyond
+
|next=[[Superboy v1 201|''Superboy'' v1 #201]]: The Betrayer from Beyond
−
|publication_date=[[October 18]], [[1973]]
+
|publication_date=[[October 18]], [[Legion Publication History/1971-1978#1973|1973]]
−
|cover_date=[[February]] [[1974]]
+
|cover_date=February 1974
−
|series_color=#ff946b
+
|writer=[[Cary Bates]]
−
|writers=[[Cary Bates]]
+
|penciller=[[Dave Cockrum]]
−
|pencillers=[[Dave Cockrum]]
+
|inker=Dave Cockrum
−
|inkers=[[Dave Cockrum]]
+
|letterer=[[Ben Oda]]
−
|letterers=[[Ben Oda]]
+
|colorist=Unknown
−
|colorists=Unknown
+
|editor=[[Murray Boltinoff]]
−
|editors=[[Murray Boltinoff]]
 
 
|cover_artists=[[Nick Cardy]]
 
|cover_artists=[[Nick Cardy]]
−
}}
+
}} __TOC__
−
 
 
 
==The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger==
 
==The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger==
−
 
 
===Synopsis===
 
===Synopsis===
−
At [[Legion Headquarters]], [[Bouncing Boy/Pre-Crisis|Bouncing Boy]] learns that he has permanently lost his bouncing power and must resign from the Legion. Wandering the headquarters, he contemplates that the hardest part is that he will rarely get to see his girlfriend, [[Duo Damsel/Pre-Crisis|Duo Damsel]].   He catches up with her after she has just returned from a space mission, and proposes marriage. Duo Damsel accepts, even though doing so means she will have to leave the Legion, as well. Their joy is cut short, however, when she realizes she has also lost her power and can no longer separate into two bodies.
+
At [[Legion Headquarters]], [[Bouncing Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Bouncing Boy]] learns that he has permanently lost his bouncing power and must resign from the Legion. Wandering the headquarters, he contemplates that the hardest part is that he will rarely get to see his girlfriend, [[Duo Damsel/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Duo Damsel]]. He catches up with her after she has just returned from a space mission, and proposes marriage. Duo Damsel accepts, even though doing so means she will have to leave the Legion, as well. Their joy is cut short, however, when she realizes she has also lost her power and can no longer separate into two bodies.
  
 
====Part 2: This Wife is Condemned====
 
====Part 2: This Wife is Condemned====
−
[[Brainiac 5/Pre-Crisis|Brainiac 5]] discovers that the reason for Duo Damsel’s loss of power is that she and her twin have already separated. Duo Damsel does not remember doing so, but, using a memory-prober, Brainy uncovers the truth: On her recent mission, one of her two selves watched helplessly as the other was spirited away by a giant, teleporting, dragon-like bird. Traumatized by the incident, the remaining twin blotted the incident out of her mind. She also returned to Legion Headquarters in secret to don a spare two-color costume so no one would suspect the truth. Telling Duo Damsel that her twin is lost for good, Brainy says she must put it behind her and prepare for her new, married life.
+
[[Brainiac 5/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Brainiac 5]] discovers that the reason for Duo Damsel’s loss of power is that she and her twin have already separated. Duo Damsel does not remember doing so, but, using a memory-prober, Brainy uncovers the truth: On her recent mission, one of her two selves watched helplessly as the other was spirited away by a giant, teleporting, dragon-like bird. Traumatized by the incident, the remaining twin blotted the incident out of her mind. She also returned to Legion Headquarters in secret to don a spare two-color costume so no one would suspect the truth. Telling Duo Damsel that her twin is lost for good, Brainy says she must put it behind her and prepare for her new, married life.
  
−
The next morning, the entire team gathers in three cruisers, except for [[Mon-El/Pre-Crisis|Mon-El]] and [[Shadow Lass/Pre-Crisis|Shadow Lass]], who remain on duty at headquarters. The Legionnaires travel to Nix Olympica, a Martian resort, where the wedding ceremony is performed with nearly fifty guests in attendance. But just as Bouncing Boy is about to kiss the bride, she begins to glow and collapses. Brainiac 5 uses a medical scanner to discover that Duo Damsel is dying. Then, [[Starfinger/Lars Hanscom/Pre-Crisis|Starfinger]] – an old Legion enemy – appears. He carries Duo Damsel’s missing twin and announces that both twins will die unless the Legionnaires turn the bride over to him.
+
The next morning, the entire team gathers in three cruisers, except for [[Mon-El/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Mon-El]] and [[Shadow Lass/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Shadow Lass]], who remain on duty at headquarters. The Legionnaires travel to Nix Olympica, a Martian resort, where the wedding ceremony is performed with nearly fifty guests in attendance. But just as Bouncing Boy is about to kiss the bride, she begins to glow and collapses. Brainiac 5 uses a medical scanner to discover that Duo Damsel is dying. Then, [[Starfinger/Lars Hanscom/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Starfinger]] – an old Legion enemy – appears. He carries Duo Damsel’s missing twin and announces that both twins will die unless the Legionnaires turn the bride over to him.
  
 
====Part 3: The Secret of the Starfinger Split====
 
====Part 3: The Secret of the Starfinger Split====
−
Against Bouncing Boy’s wishes, [[Superboy/Kal-El/Pre-Crisis|Superboy]] carries his unconscious bride to a rendezvous with Starfinger. The villain knocks Superboy out of the sky with a red sun ray projected from his fingertips, then escapes with both twins.
+
Against Bouncing Boy’s wishes, [[Superboy/Kal-El/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Superboy]] carries his unconscious bride to a rendezvous with Starfinger. The villain knocks Superboy out of the sky with a red sun ray projected from his fingertips, then escapes with both twins.  
  
−
Starfinger reminisces that it was he who sent the dragon bird, Warxi, to kidnap Duo Damsel on her last mission; as the bird managed to grab only one twin, Starfinger had taken the precaution of exposing them to poisonous gas to ensure that they would die if separated for long. Returning to his headquarters (a large spaceship that resembles his costume), he reveals that his purpose is to learn the secret of Duo Damsel’s power so he can divide himself into innumerable duplicates in order to rule the galaxy.
+
Starfinger reminisces that it was he who sent the dragon bird, Warxi, to kidnap Duo Damsel on her last mission; as the bird managed to grab only one twin, Starfinger had taken the precaution of exposing them to poisonous gas to ensure that they would die if separated for long. Returning to his headquarters (a large spaceship that resembles his costume), he reveals that his purpose is to learn the secret of Duo Damsel’s power so he can divide himself into innumerable duplicates in order to rule the galaxy.
  
−
Meanwhile, a small task force of Legionnaires assembles. [[Saturn Girl/Pre-Crisis|Saturn Girl]] uses her telepathy to tune into discs of Duo Damsel’s brainwave patterns and leads Brainiac 5, [[Cosmic Boy/Pre-Crisis|Cosmic Boy]], and Superboy to her location. As they approach Starfinger’s spaceship, Saturn Girl picks up the villain’s thoughts and learns that he is about to create his first duplicate. Hearing this, Superboy suddenly speeds off.
+
Meanwhile, a small task force of Legionnaires assembles. [[Saturn Girl/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Saturn Girl]] uses her telepathy to tune into discs of Duo Damsel’s brainwave patterns and leads Brainiac 5, [[Cosmic Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Cosmic Boy]], and Superboy to her location. As they approach Starfinger’s spaceship, Saturn Girl picks up the villain’s thoughts and learns that he is about to create his first duplicate. Hearing this, Superboy suddenly speeds off.
  
−
Inside his spaceship, Starfinger uses a molecular ray on himself. A second Starfinger appears, but as the villain gloats over his success, the doppelgänger attacks him and knocks him out. The second Starfinger emerges from the spaceship carrying both Duo Damsel twins. Cosmic Boy magnetically destroys the duplicate’s costume, revealing that the duplicate is really Superboy. The teen of steel had flown back to Legion Headquarters and donned a replica of Starfinger’s costume in order to fool the villain.
+
Inside his spaceship, Starfinger uses a molecular ray on himself. A second Starfinger appears, but as the villain gloats over his success, the doppelgänger attacks him and knocks him out. The second Starfinger emerges from the spaceship carrying both Duo Damsel twins. Cosmic Boy magnetically destroys the duplicate’s costume, revealing that the duplicate is really Superboy. The teen of steel had flown back to Legion Headquarters and donned a replica of Starfinger’s costume in order to fool the villain.
  
−
Warxi, the dragon bird, appears and grabs Starfinger’s spaceship, then teleports away with the villain inside. However, Brainiac 5 is able to rejoin Duo Damsel’s two selves to each other and revive them before the poison proves fatal.
+
Warxi, the dragon bird, appears and grabs Starfinger’s spaceship, then teleports away with the villain inside. However, Brainiac 5 is able to rejoin Duo Damsel’s two selves to each other and revive them before the poison proves fatal.
 
 
−
At Legion Headquarters, Mon-El and Shadow Lass decide to invite Superboy back as a full-time Legionnaire to replace one of the departing members. Unknown to them, a mysterious energy being watches and plans to fill the other slot.
+
At Legion Headquarters, Mon-El and Shadow Lass decide to invite Superboy back as a full-time Legionnaire to replace one of the departing members. Unknown to them, a mysterious energy being watches and plans to fill the other slot.
  
 
===Key Quotes and Catchphrases===
 
===Key Quotes and Catchphrases===
Line 47: Line 43:
 
===Critique===
 
===Critique===
  
−
==Roll Call==
+
===Roll Call===
  
−
===Legionnaires===
+
====Legionnaires====
−
''Feature roles:''
+
*[[Brainiac 5/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Brainiac 5]]  
−
*[[Brainiac 5/Pre-Crisis|Brainiac 5]]  
+
*[[Bouncing Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Bouncing Boy]] (loses his power, marries Duo Damsel, and leaves the Legion in this story)
−
*[[Bouncing Boy/Pre-Crisis|Bouncing Boy]] (loses his power, marries Duo Damsel, and leaves the Legion in this story)
+
*[[Cosmic Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Cosmic Boy]]
−
*[[Cosmic Boy/Pre-Crisis|Cosmic Boy]]
+
*[[Duo Damsel/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Duo Damsel]] (marries Bouncing Boy and leaves the Legion in this story)
−
*[[Duo Damsel/Pre-Crisis|Duo Damsel]] (marries Bouncing Boy and leaves the Legion in this story)
+
*[[Saturn Girl/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Saturn Girl]]  
−
*[[Saturn Girl/Pre-Crisis|Saturn Girl]]  
+
*[[Superboy/Kal-El/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Superboy]] (Honorary)
−
*[[Superboy/Kal-El/Pre-Crisis|Superboy]] (Honorary)
 
  
 
''Supporting roles:''
 
''Supporting roles:''
−
*[[Mon-El/Pre-Crisis|Mon-El]]  
+
*[[Mon-El/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Mon-El]]  
−
*[[Shadow Lass/Pre-Crisis|Shadow Lass]]
+
*[[Shadow Lass/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Shadow Lass]]
  
−
''Cameos:''
+
=====Cameos=====
−
*[[Chameleon Boy/Pre-Crisis|Chameleon Boy]]
+
*[[Chameleon Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Chameleon Boy]]
−
*[[Chemical King/Pre-Crisis|Chemical King]]
+
*[[Chemical King/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Chemical King]]
−
*[[Colossal Boy/Pre-Crisis|Colossal Boy]]
+
*[[Colossal Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Colossal Boy]]
−
*[[Dream Girl/Pre-Crisis|Dream Girl]]
+
*[[Dream Girl/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Dream Girl]]
−
*[[Element Lad/Pre-Crisis|Element Lad]]
+
*[[Element Lad/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Element Lad]]
−
*[[Invisible Kid/Lyle Norg/Pre-Crisis|Invisible Kid]]
+
*[[Invisible Kid/Lyle Norg/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Invisible Kid]]
−
*[[Karate Kid/Pre-Crisis|Karate Kid]]
+
*[[Karate Kid/Val Armorr/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Karate Kid]]
−
*[[Light Lass/Pre-Crisis|Light Lass]]
+
*[[Light Lass/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Light Lass]]
−
*[[Lightning Lad/Pre-Crisis|Lightning Lad]]
+
*[[Lightning Lad/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Lightning Lad]]
−
*[[Matter-Eater Lad/Pre-Crisis|Matter-Eater Lad]]
+
*[[Matter-Eater Lad/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Matter-Eater Lad]]
−
*[[Phantom Girl/Pre-Crisis|PhantomGirl]]
+
*[[Phantom Girl/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|PhantomGirl]]
−
*[[Princess Projectra/Pre-Crisis|Princess Projectra]]
+
*[[Princess Projectra/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Princess Projectra]]
−
*[[Shrinking Violet/Pre-Crisis|Shrinking Violet]]
+
*[[Shrinking Violet/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Shrinking Violet]]
−
*[[Star Boy/Pre-Crisis|Star Boy]]
+
*[[Star Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Star Boy]]
−
*[[Sun Boy/Pre-Crisis|Sun Boy]]
+
*[[Sun Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Sun Boy]]
−
*[[Supergirl/Kara Zor-El/Pre-Crisis|Supergirl]]
+
*[[Supergirl/Kara Zor-El/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Supergirl]]
−
*[[Timber Wolf/Pre-Crisis|Timber Wolf]]
+
*[[Timber Wolf/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Timber Wolf]]
−
*[[Ultra Boy/Pre-Crisis|Ultra Boy]]
+
*[[Ultra Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Ultra Boy]]
  
−
===Villains===
+
====Villains====
 
*[[Starfinger]]
 
*[[Starfinger]]
  
−
===Supporting Characters===
+
====Supporting characters====
−
*[[Wildfire/Pre-Crisis|ERG-1]] (unidentified; as a disembodied energy form)
+
*[[Wildfire/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|ERG-1]] (unidentified; as a disembodied energy form)
  
 
''Wedding guests -- cameos only:''
 
''Wedding guests -- cameos only:''
 
*[[Legion of Substitute Heroes]]
 
*[[Legion of Substitute Heroes]]
−
**[[Chlorophyll Kid/Pre-Crisis|Chlorophyll Kid]]
+
**[[Chlorophyll Kid/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Chlorophyll Kid]]
−
**[[Color Kid/Pre-Crisis|Color Kid]]
+
**[[Color Kid/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Color Kid]]
−
**[[Fire Lad/Pre-Crisis|Fire Lad]]
+
**[[Fire Lad/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Fire Lad]]
−
**[[Night Girl/Pre-Crisis|Night Girl]]
+
**[[Night Girl/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Night Girl]]
−
**[[Polar Boy/Pre-Crisis|Polar Boy]]
+
**[[Polar Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Polar Boy]]
−
**[[Stone Boy/Pre-Crisis|Stone Boy]]
+
**[[Stone Boy/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|Stone Boy]]
 
*[[Legion Reserve|Legion Reservists]]
 
*[[Legion Reserve|Legion Reservists]]
 
**[[Kid Psycho]]
 
**[[Kid Psycho]]
Line 104: Line 99:
 
**[[Gas Girl]]
 
**[[Gas Girl]]
 
**[[Life Lass]]
 
**[[Life Lass]]
−
*[[Wanderers/Pre-Crisis|The Wanderers]]
+
*[[Wanderers/Preboot#Pre-Crisis|The Wanderers]]
 
**[[Celebrand]]
 
**[[Celebrand]]
 
**[[Dartalg]]
 
**[[Dartalg]]
Line 116: Line 111:
 
**[[Don Allen]]
 
**[[Don Allen]]
  
−
===Other Characters===
+
====Other characters====
 
*An unnamed priest
 
*An unnamed priest
  
−
===Planets and Settings===
+
====Planets and Settings====
 
*Nix Olympica, [[Mars]]
 
*Nix Olympica, [[Mars]]
 
*Metro-Center of Metropolis
 
*Metro-Center of Metropolis
 
*Metropolis Extraterrestrial Botanical Gardens
 
*Metropolis Extraterrestrial Botanical Gardens
  
−
===Technology, Gadgets and Other Neat Stuff===
+
====Technology, Gadgets and Other Neat Stuff====
 
*The Legion's Visitape Library
 
*The Legion's Visitape Library
 
*Brainiac 5's memory-prober
 
*Brainiac 5's memory-prober
  
−
===Alien Wildlife===
+
====Alien Wildlife====
 
*Warxi (Starfinger’s dragon-like bird)
 
*Warxi (Starfinger’s dragon-like bird)
 
*Eaglox birds (“sacred symbols” of the United Planets; only two exist)
 
*Eaglox birds (“sacred symbols” of the United Planets; only two exist)
Line 136: Line 131:
 
===Errors and Oddities===
 
===Errors and Oddities===
 
*One of the unexplained mysteries of this story is why, with almost fifty heroes present, the Legion chooses to send only four of its members after Starfinger.
 
*One of the unexplained mysteries of this story is why, with almost fifty heroes present, the Legion chooses to send only four of its members after Starfinger.
−
*It is never explained how Bouncing Boy lost his power this time. The first time he lost it (in [[Adventure Comics 321|''Adventure Comics'' # 321]]), it was the result of stepping in front of a shrinking ray.
+
*It is never explained how Bouncing Boy lost his power this time. The first time he lost it (in [[Adventure Comics 321|''Adventure Comics'' #321]]), it was the result of stepping in front of a shrinking ray.
−
*Superboy mis-remembers the Legion’s previous encounter with Starfinger (in [[Adventure Comics 335|''Adventure Comics'' # 335]] and [[Adventure Comics 336|336]]). In that story, Dr. Lars Hanscom had no powers himself, but brainwashed Lightning Lad into masquerading as the villain and modified his artificial arm.
+
*Superboy misremembers the Legion’s previous encounter with Starfinger (in [[Adventure Comics 335|''Adventure Comics'' #335]] and [[Adventure Comics 336|336]]). In that story, Dr. Lars Hanscom had no powers himself, but brainwashed Lightning Lad into masquerading as the villain and modified his artificial arm.
  
 
===Easter Eggs===
 
===Easter Eggs===
−
*J’Onn J'Onzz, the Manhunter from Mars, and Tars Tarkas of Barsoon (a character from ''John Carter, Warlord of Mars'') also attend the wedding.
+
*J’Onn J'Onzz, the Martian Manhunter, and Tars Tarkas of Barsoon (a character from ''John Carter, Warlord of Mars'') also attend the wedding.
 
*Two nods to ''Star Trek'':
 
*Two nods to ''Star Trek'':
 
**Mr. Spock appears outside the Metro-Center (page 5, panel 1).
 
**Mr. Spock appears outside the Metro-Center (page 5, panel 1).
Line 152: Line 147:
  
 
===Other===
 
===Other===
−
*The date given for Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel’s wedding is October 28, 2973. While topical years must not be taken literally in Legion adventures, the month and day could be taken as “real”.
+
*The date given for Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel’s wedding is October 28, 2973. While topical years must not be taken literally in Legion adventures, the month and day could be taken as “real”.
  
 
==Reprints==
 
==Reprints==
 
'''The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger''' has been reprinted in the following:
 
'''The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger''' has been reprinted in the following:
 +
 +
<gallery>
 +
file:LtdCollectorsEdC49.jpg|[[Limited Collectors' Edition C-49|''Limited Collectors' Edition'' #C-49]]
 +
file:LSHArchives10.jpg|[[Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol 10|''Legion of Super-Heroes Archives'' Volume 10]]
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 +
*[[Legion Publication History/1971-1978|Legion Publication History - Other issues published 1971-1978]]
 +
*[[Legion Publication History/Series/Superboy|Legion Publication History - Other issues of ''Superboy'']]
 +
*[[Chronology/Preboot/Pre-Crisis|Pre-Crisis Chronology]]
 +
*[[Legion Publication History/Index/Series#Superboy v1|Quick index of links to other ''Superboy'' v1 issues]]
 +
 +
 +
{{Prevnext
 +
|era=precrisis
 +
|series=Superboy|vol_no=1|issue_no=200
 +
|prev_continuity=[[Superboy v1 199|''Superboy'' v1 #199]]
 +
|next_continuity=[[Superboy v1 201|''Superboy'' v1 #201]]
 +
|prev_series=[[Superboy v1 199|''Superboy'' v1 #199]]
 +
|next_series=[[Superboy v1 201|''Superboy'' v1 #201]]
 +
|prev_publication=[[Superboy v1 199|''Superboy'' v1 #199]]
 +
|next_publication=[[Superboy v1 201|''Superboy'' v1 #201]]
 +
}}
 +
  
−
[[Category: Pre-Crisis issues]]
+
[[Category:Superboy v1 issues]]

Latest revision as of 16:39, 19 October 2012

Superboy v1 #200
Preboot » Pre-Crisis
Superboy-v1-200.jpg
Cover, by Nick Cardy, et al.
Story title The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger
Previous story Superboy v1 #199 (backup story): The Impossible Target
Next story Superboy v1 #201: The Betrayer from Beyond
Publication date October 18, 1973
Cover date February 1974
Creators
Writer Cary Bates
Penciller Dave Cockrum
Inker Dave Cockrum
Letterer Ben Oda
Colourist Unknown
Editor Murray Boltinoff
Cover artist(s) Nick Cardy

The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger

Synopsis

At Legion Headquarters, Bouncing Boy learns that he has permanently lost his bouncing power and must resign from the Legion. Wandering the headquarters, he contemplates that the hardest part is that he will rarely get to see his girlfriend, Duo Damsel. He catches up with her after she has just returned from a space mission, and proposes marriage. Duo Damsel accepts, even though doing so means she will have to leave the Legion, as well. Their joy is cut short, however, when she realizes she has also lost her power and can no longer separate into two bodies.

Part 2: This Wife is Condemned

Brainiac 5 discovers that the reason for Duo Damsel’s loss of power is that she and her twin have already separated. Duo Damsel does not remember doing so, but, using a memory-prober, Brainy uncovers the truth: On her recent mission, one of her two selves watched helplessly as the other was spirited away by a giant, teleporting, dragon-like bird. Traumatized by the incident, the remaining twin blotted the incident out of her mind. She also returned to Legion Headquarters in secret to don a spare two-color costume so no one would suspect the truth. Telling Duo Damsel that her twin is lost for good, Brainy says she must put it behind her and prepare for her new, married life.

The next morning, the entire team gathers in three cruisers, except for Mon-El and Shadow Lass, who remain on duty at headquarters. The Legionnaires travel to Nix Olympica, a Martian resort, where the wedding ceremony is performed with nearly fifty guests in attendance. But just as Bouncing Boy is about to kiss the bride, she begins to glow and collapses. Brainiac 5 uses a medical scanner to discover that Duo Damsel is dying. Then, Starfinger – an old Legion enemy – appears. He carries Duo Damsel’s missing twin and announces that both twins will die unless the Legionnaires turn the bride over to him.

Part 3: The Secret of the Starfinger Split

Against Bouncing Boy’s wishes, Superboy carries his unconscious bride to a rendezvous with Starfinger. The villain knocks Superboy out of the sky with a red sun ray projected from his fingertips, then escapes with both twins.

Starfinger reminisces that it was he who sent the dragon bird, Warxi, to kidnap Duo Damsel on her last mission; as the bird managed to grab only one twin, Starfinger had taken the precaution of exposing them to poisonous gas to ensure that they would die if separated for long. Returning to his headquarters (a large spaceship that resembles his costume), he reveals that his purpose is to learn the secret of Duo Damsel’s power so he can divide himself into innumerable duplicates in order to rule the galaxy.

Meanwhile, a small task force of Legionnaires assembles. Saturn Girl uses her telepathy to tune into discs of Duo Damsel’s brainwave patterns and leads Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, and Superboy to her location. As they approach Starfinger’s spaceship, Saturn Girl picks up the villain’s thoughts and learns that he is about to create his first duplicate. Hearing this, Superboy suddenly speeds off.

Inside his spaceship, Starfinger uses a molecular ray on himself. A second Starfinger appears, but as the villain gloats over his success, the doppelgänger attacks him and knocks him out. The second Starfinger emerges from the spaceship carrying both Duo Damsel twins. Cosmic Boy magnetically destroys the duplicate’s costume, revealing that the duplicate is really Superboy. The teen of steel had flown back to Legion Headquarters and donned a replica of Starfinger’s costume in order to fool the villain.

Warxi, the dragon bird, appears and grabs Starfinger’s spaceship, then teleports away with the villain inside. However, Brainiac 5 is able to rejoin Duo Damsel’s two selves to each other and revive them before the poison proves fatal.

At Legion Headquarters, Mon-El and Shadow Lass decide to invite Superboy back as a full-time Legionnaire to replace one of the departing members. Unknown to them, a mysterious energy being watches and plans to fill the other slot.

Key Quotes and Catchphrases

Critique

Roll Call

Legionnaires

Supporting roles:

Cameos

Villains

Supporting characters

  • ERG-1 (unidentified; as a disembodied energy form)

Wedding guests -- cameos only:

Other characters

  • An unnamed priest

Planets and Settings

  • Nix Olympica, Mars
  • Metro-Center of Metropolis
  • Metropolis Extraterrestrial Botanical Gardens

Technology, Gadgets and Other Neat Stuff

  • The Legion's Visitape Library
  • Brainiac 5's memory-prober

Alien Wildlife

  • Warxi (Starfinger’s dragon-like bird)
  • Eaglox birds (“sacred symbols” of the United Planets; only two exist)

Notes

Errors and Oddities

  • One of the unexplained mysteries of this story is why, with almost fifty heroes present, the Legion chooses to send only four of its members after Starfinger.
  • It is never explained how Bouncing Boy lost his power this time. The first time he lost it (in Adventure Comics #321), it was the result of stepping in front of a shrinking ray.
  • Superboy misremembers the Legion’s previous encounter with Starfinger (in Adventure Comics #335 and 336). In that story, Dr. Lars Hanscom had no powers himself, but brainwashed Lightning Lad into masquerading as the villain and modified his artificial arm.

Easter Eggs

  • J’Onn J'Onzz, the Martian Manhunter, and Tars Tarkas of Barsoon (a character from John Carter, Warlord of Mars) also attend the wedding.
  • Two nods to Star Trek:
    • Mr. Spock appears outside the Metro-Center (page 5, panel 1).
    • The “nerve-press” Brainy uses to render Bouncing Boy unconscious is remarkably similar to the Vulcan neck pinch, though applied to the temple instead of the neck.

First appearances

This issue marks the first appearance of the following characters and key Legion story elements:

  • Light Lass’s dark blue costume

Reboot Reference Kit

Other

  • The date given for Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel’s wedding is October 28, 2973. While topical years must not be taken literally in Legion adventures, the month and day could be taken as “real”.

Reprints

The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger has been reprinted in the following:

See also


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