ACTION Stories

The Legion entered a fifteen-month run as a backup feature in Action Comics. Life as a backup feature was hard...stories were short, involved small teams rather than the entire Legion, and (with one exception) did not continue from one issue to the next. Rather than going for space-spanning stories of swashbuckling derring-do against larger-than-life super-villains, the creative team opted for more personal, intense, character-driven tales, often concentrating on the "weakest" or "silliest" Legionnaires: Due Damsel, Matter-Eater Lad, Bouncing Boy, Chemical King. The approach worked -- just about every one of these stories is a winner.

The most exceptional include "The Forbidden Fruit" in #378, "Half a Legionnaire" in #380, "The Hapless Hero" (#381), and "Lament for a Legionnaire" (#384).

Stories that are reprinted in graphic novels are indicated by appropriate cover images.

Info	Issue	Date	Title	Roll Call
	ACTION 378	1969/07	The Forbidden Fruit	Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Timber Wolf	1969-6
	ACTION 379	1969/08	One of Us is an Impostor	Dream Girl, Element Lad, Lightning Lad, Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Sunburst, Unnamed Female Accomplice (not pictured)	1969-7
	ACTION 380	1969/09	Half a Legionnaire	Bouncing Boy, Duo Damsel, Mon-El, Lelith, Nam'Lor	1969-8
	ACTION 381	1969/10	The Hapless Hero	Brainiac 5, Chemical King, Duplicate Boy, Karate Kid (Val), Lightning Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Ultra Boy, Mitz Kem, Rall Kem	1969-9
	ACTION 382	1969/11	Kill a Friend to Save a World	Karate Kid (Val) (becomes Leader), Light Lass, Mon-El, Shrinking Violet, Superboy, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy, Cosvarr, Zorla	1969-10
	ACTION 383	1969/12	Chameleon Boy's Secret Identity	Chameleon Boy, Karate Kid (Val), Princess Projectra, Janice Warren	1969-11
Reference	SUPERBOY 161	1969/12	The Superboy Legend	Statuettes: Cosmic Boy, Sun Boy, 8 unidentified statuettes	1969-11a
	ACTION 384	1970/01	Lament for a Legionnaire	Dream Girl, Element Lad, Karate Kid (Val), Mon-El (died) (revived), Princess Projectra, Shadow Lass, Superboy, Ultra Boy, Eltro Gand (died)	1970-1
	ACTION 385	1970/02	The Fallen Star Boy	Brainiac 5, Colossal Boy, Dream Girl, Karate Kid (Val), Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Fryd Kallor, Mira Kallor, Yark Althu	1970-2
Cameo	ACTION 385	1970/02	The Immortal Superman	Superman, Time Trapper Superman uses a defective time-bubble to travel into the future, where the Time Trapper strands him.	1970-2a
	ACTION 386	1970/03	Zap Goes the Legion	Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Karate Kid (Val), Lightning Lad, Night Girl, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Ultra Boy, Uli Algor, Hawkor Phuy	1970-3
Cameo	ACTION 386	1970/03	The Home for Old Super-Heroes	Superman, Time Trapper	1970-3a
LSP	ACTION 387	1970/04	One Hero Too Many	Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Chemical King, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Invisible Kid (Lyle), Karate Kid (Val), Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Superboy, Supergirl, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy, Beppo, Comet, Krypto, Proty II, Streaky, Wayland Bannan, Professor Sayar	1970-4
Cameo	ACTION 387	1970/04	Even a Superman Dies	Superman, Time Trapper	1970-4a
Cameo Wild World Legion	ACTION 388	1970/05	The Puzzle of the Wild World	Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Superman	1970-4b
	ACTION 389	1970/06	The Mystery Legionnaire	Chemical King, Cosmic Boy, Shrinking Violet, Klim	1970-5
	ACTION 390	1970/07	The Tyrant and the Traitor	Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Element Lad, Karate Kid (Val), Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf, Espionage Squad, Nym Belev, Chavak, Dark Circle, Diol Masrin, President Peralla, Wanpar, Yroa, Marli Zhorg	1970-6
	ACTION 391	1970/08	Ordeal of Element Lad	Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Element Lad, Karate Kid (Val), Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf, Espionage Squad, Nym Belev, Chavak, Dark Circle, Diol Masrin, President Peralla, Wanpar, Yroa, Marli Zhorg	1970-7
	ACTION 392	1970/09	The Legionnaires Who Never Were	Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Karate Kid (Val), Matter-Eater Lad, Mon-El (becomes Leader), Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Prince Projectur, Saturn Lad, Pozr-Du	1970-8

Mini-FAQs

Who's Listed? I try to list all appearances of Legionnaires and major characters. This includes images, visions, flashbacks, statues and statuettes, disembodied heads, and any other visual represenations of the characters.

Who's a Major Character? Ultimately, it's a judgement call. I try to include all continuing characters: Legionnaires, friends, family members, professional associates, villains, and assorted others. For one-shot characters, I try to include those whose names are given, or who otherwise play a major role in a story.

What About Non-Legion Stories? When Legionnaires make appearances in other comics, I only list the characters with a direct Legion connection. For example, if the Legion guest-stars with the Justice League, I don't list all the Justice Leaguers.

In What Order Do You List Characters? First, Legionnaires in alphabetical order. (This includes Subs, Honorary Legionnaires, Legion Reserve, and some special cases like Duplicate Boy). Seconds, friendly (or neutral) characters in alphabetical order. Third, bad guys in alphabetical order. Finally, statuettes go on their own line to preserve the aesthetics. Occasionally I will list all the members of a groups together, like the Fatal Five or the Heroes of Lallor.

In What Order Do You List Comics? Yeah, I know it doesn't always seem right. Chronological by month, then alphabetical by title -- but mainstream Legion titles always get listed first in the month. Aren't you glad you asked?

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