Legion of Super-Heroes (TV series): Difference between revisions

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The show had a very [[Silver Age]] tone to it, but the most noticeable and [[They Changed It, Now It Sucks|controversial]] change from the source material was turning team genius Brainiac 5 from a [[Human Alien]] into an [[Mechanical Lifeforms|android]]. [[Word of God]] is that this was supposed to tie him more closely to his ancestor the original Brainiac, as well as avoiding having to explain how an an organic can be the 'descendant' of a robot, clearing away a fifty-year-old example of [[Writing Around Trademarks]].
The show had a very [[Silver Age]] tone to it, but the most noticeable and [[They Changed It, Now It Sucks|controversial]] change from the source material was turning team genius Brainiac 5 from a [[Human Alien]] into an [[Mechanical Lifeforms|android]]. [[Word of God]] is that this was supposed to tie him more closely to his ancestor the original Brainiac, as well as avoiding having to explain how an an organic can be the 'descendant' of a robot, clearing away a fifty-year-old example of [[Writing Around Trademarks]].


Season two saw everyone age about two years, even Brainy, and the show went [[Darker and Edgier]] after the very light and bouncy first season. The premiere visited a [[Bad Future]] where Superman's [[Send in The Clones|clone]] was bred to fight [[Galactic Conqueror]] Imperiex, who when cornered escapes back to the 31st century and proceeds to wreak havoc as the season's [[Big Bad]].
Season two saw everyone age about two years, even Brainy, and the show went [[Darker and Edgier]] after the very light and bouncy first season. The premiere visited a [[Bad Future]] where Superman's [[Send in the Clones|clone]] was bred to fight [[Galactic Conqueror]] Imperiex, who when cornered escapes back to the 31st century and proceeds to wreak havoc as the season's [[Big Bad]].


The character sheet can be found [[Legion of Super Heroes (Animation)/Characters|here]].
The character sheet can be found [[Legion of Super-Heroes (TV series)/Characters|here]].
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=== ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' provides examples of: ===
=== ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' provides examples of: ===
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* [[Bald of Evil]]: [[Rich Bitch]] Alexis loses her hair shortly after going off the deep end for Superman, and [[Never My Fault|blames *him* for it, just like her presumed Silver Age ancestor]]--naturally her prison uniform reads, in [[Cypher Language|Interlac]], "LUTHOR." Unlike her ancestor, her hair grows back, though is now much shorter.
* [[Bald of Evil]]: [[Rich Bitch]] Alexis loses her hair shortly after going off the deep end for Superman, and [[Never My Fault|blames *him* for it, just like her presumed Silver Age ancestor]]--naturally her prison uniform reads, in [[Cypher Language|Interlac]], "LUTHOR." Unlike her ancestor, her hair grows back, though is now much shorter.
* [[Batman Can Breathe in Space]]: Justified, like the comics versions they probably use invisible "transuits" -- [[In Space Everyone Can See Your Face|In space, everyone can see all of you.]]
* [[Batman Can Breathe in Space]]: Justified, like the comics versions they probably use invisible "transuits" -- [[In Space Everyone Can See Your Face|In space, everyone can see all of you.]]
* [[Battle in The Center of The Mind]]: With a [[Fusion Dance]], even.
* [[Battle in the Center of the Mind]]: With a [[Fusion Dance]], even.
* [[Betrayal Insurance]]: It's Brainiac 5, otherwise portrayed as Superman's ''[[Ho Yay|very loyal]]'' [[Robot Buddy]], who keeps Kryptonite for emergencies.
* [[Betrayal Insurance]]: It's Brainiac 5, otherwise portrayed as Superman's ''[[Ho Yay|very loyal]]'' [[Robot Buddy]], who keeps Kryptonite for emergencies.
* [[Big Bad]]: Imperiex in Season 2.
* [[Big Bad]]: Imperiex in Season 2.
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* [[Calling Your Attacks]]
* [[Calling Your Attacks]]
* [[Canon Foreigner]]: Superman X; several homage characters like [[Xtreme Kool Letterz|Alexis, Zyx, and Drax]]; and Breath Boy, with the power to [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?|hold his breath.]]
* [[Canon Foreigner]]: Superman X; several homage characters like [[Xtreme Kool Letterz|Alexis, Zyx, and Drax]]; and Breath Boy, with the power to [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?|hold his breath.]]
* [[Captain Obvious]]: Saturn Girl can give [[Star Trek the Next Generation|Deanna "I sense he's hiding something!" Troi]] a run for her money.
* [[Captain Obvious]]: Saturn Girl can give [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Deanna "I sense he's hiding something!" Troi]] a run for her money.
* [[Card-Carrying Villain]]: Drax.
* [[Card-Carrying Villain]]: Drax.
{{quote| '''Superman''': Why are you doing this?<br />
{{quote| '''Superman''': Why are you doing this?<br />
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* [[Darker and Edgier]]: The second season.
* [[Darker and Edgier]]: The second season.
* [[Dark Horse Victory]]: Possibly the ''quickest'' example ever. The new-leader-election is proposed and concluded in about 30 seconds.
* [[Dark Horse Victory]]: Possibly the ''quickest'' example ever. The new-leader-election is proposed and concluded in about 30 seconds.
* [[A Day in The Limelight]]: "The Substitutes". Then Arm-Fall-Off Boy gets [[media:LoSH31stC_16_Oroboros_DCP_001.jpg|an entire spinoff comic issue.]]
* [[A Day in the Limelight]]: "The Substitutes". Then Arm-Fall-Off Boy gets [[media:LoSH31stC_16_Oroboros_DCP_001.jpg|an entire spinoff comic issue.]]
* [[Dead Little Sister]]: Quite literally: Lightning Lad and Mekt's sister Ayla. One became [[The Lancer]], the other became the [[Aloof Big Brother]] [[White-Haired Pretty Boy]] on the path to villainy. Then {{spoiler|Ayla turned up [[Not Quite Dead]], which brought up all sorts of mutual guilt issues}}.
* [[Dead Little Sister]]: Quite literally: Lightning Lad and Mekt's sister Ayla. One became [[The Lancer]], the other became the [[Aloof Big Brother]] [[White-Haired Pretty Boy]] on the path to villainy. Then {{spoiler|Ayla turned up [[Not Quite Dead]], which brought up all sorts of mutual guilt issues}}.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Phantom Girl
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Phantom Girl
* [[Die Hard On an X]]: In [[Recursive Adaptation|the spinoff comics]], Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad fight off the Fatal Five ''and'' their [[Unresolved Sexual Tension]].
* [[Die Hard on an X]]: In [[Recursive Adaptation|the spinoff comics]], Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad fight off the Fatal Five ''and'' their [[Unresolved Sexual Tension]].
* [[Disney Death]]
* [[Disney Death]]
* [[Detached Sleeves]]: Triplicate Girl has these in season 2.
* [[Detached Sleeves]]: Triplicate Girl has these in season 2.
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* [[Enemy Within]]: {{spoiler|Brainiac 1.0}}
* [[Enemy Within]]: {{spoiler|Brainiac 1.0}}
* [[Enforced Plug]]: Parodied.
* [[Enforced Plug]]: Parodied.
* [[Evil Brit]]: Drax. Appropriate, if it's true that he is [[Superman (Film)|General Zod's]] son.
* [[Evil Brit]]: Drax. Appropriate, if it's true that he is [[Superman (film)|General Zod's]] son.
* [[Evil Counterpart]]: Drax, to Superman.
* [[Evil Counterpart]]: Drax, to Superman.
* [[Evilutionary Biologist]]: Dr. Londo, Timber Wolf's father. He's the ''reason'' why his son looks the way he is and it's strongly implied that he wasn't the only victim of his genetic experiments.
* [[Evilutionary Biologist]]: Dr. Londo, Timber Wolf's father. He's the ''reason'' why his son looks the way he is and it's strongly implied that he wasn't the only victim of his genetic experiments.
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* [[Flashback Nightmare]]: [[Super-Hero Origin|The trip to Korbal]]--for Lightning Lad ''and'' [[Cain and Abel|Mekt.]]
* [[Flashback Nightmare]]: [[Super-Hero Origin|The trip to Korbal]]--for Lightning Lad ''and'' [[Cain and Abel|Mekt.]]
* [[Foreshadowing]]: Superman X's cryptic message to Brainiac 5 at the season 2 premiere. This will be followed by Brainiac's last words from the end of "Who Am I?": {{spoiler|"But that would mean the potential for evil is also within...all of us."}} Of course, finally there's "Message in a Bottle".
* [[Foreshadowing]]: Superman X's cryptic message to Brainiac 5 at the season 2 premiere. This will be followed by Brainiac's last words from the end of "Who Am I?": {{spoiler|"But that would mean the potential for evil is also within...all of us."}} Of course, finally there's "Message in a Bottle".
* [[Fun With Acronyms]]: although it doesn't spell out a word, and it's more like a [[Mythology Gag]]: the so-called "Heroes for Hire" '''L'''ight '''S'''peed '''V'''anguard, which will later be known as the '''L'''egion of '''S'''uper '''V'''illains.
* [[Fun with Acronyms]]: although it doesn't spell out a word, and it's more like a [[Mythology Gag]]: the so-called "Heroes for Hire" '''L'''ight '''S'''peed '''V'''anguard, which will later be known as the '''L'''egion of '''S'''uper '''V'''illains.
* [[Fusion Dance]]: In the second [[Season Finale]].
* [[Fusion Dance]]: In the second [[Season Finale]].
* [[Future Imperfect]]: A lot of details were apparently lost in [[Mythology Gag|"the great Crisis"]]. Meaning, among other things, no one remembers the Phantom Zone's name or that it even exists.
* [[Future Imperfect]]: A lot of details were apparently lost in [[Mythology Gag|"the great Crisis"]]. Meaning, among other things, no one remembers the Phantom Zone's name or that it even exists.
* [[Good Scars, Evil Scars]]: Lightning Lad's undereye mark.
* [[Good Scars, Evil Scars]]: Lightning Lad's undereye mark.
* [[Great Gazoo]]: Zyx, a [[Spoiled Brat]] Mxyzptlk homage.
* [[Great Gazoo]]: Zyx, a [[Spoiled Brat]] Mxyzptlk homage.
* [[Grievous Harm With a Body]]
* [[Grievous Harm with a Body]]
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: Although they weren't seen after their "turns", {{spoiler|Lightning Lord and Ron-Karr}}.
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: Although they weren't seen after their "turns", {{spoiler|Lightning Lord and Ron-Karr}}.
* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: {{spoiler|Ferro Lad}} in the 1st season finale, as a nod to the comics.
* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: {{spoiler|Ferro Lad}} in the 1st season finale, as a nod to the comics.
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* [[If You Kill Him You Will Be Just Like Him]]: Lightning Lad comes this close to fatally violating [[Wouldn't Hit a Girl]]...
* [[If You Kill Him You Will Be Just Like Him]]: Lightning Lad comes this close to fatally violating [[Wouldn't Hit a Girl]]...
* [[In the Back]]: {{spoiler|Brainiac}} does this to Imperiex in the Season 2 finale.
* [[In the Back]]: {{spoiler|Brainiac}} does this to Imperiex in the Season 2 finale.
* [[The Jeeves]]: Alexis' robot [[Battle Butler]], awesomely named ''[[PG Wodehouse (Creator)|Wodehouse]]''.
* [[The Jeeves]]: Alexis' robot [[Battle Butler]], awesomely named ''[[P. G. Wodehouse|Wodehouse]]''.
* [[Jennifer Hale]]: voiced Ma Kent and Emerald Empress in Season 1.
* [[Jennifer Hale]]: voiced Ma Kent and Emerald Empress in Season 1.
* [[Jerk Jock]]: Mekt Ranzz, at first.
* [[Jerk Jock]]: Mekt Ranzz, at first.
* [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold]]: Lightning Lad. In season 2, Superman X [[Depending On the Writer|falls in and out of this every episode]].
* [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: Lightning Lad. In season 2, Superman X [[Depending on the Writer|falls in and out of this every episode]].
* [[Jumping Off the Slippery Slope]]
* [[Jumping Off the Slippery Slope]]
** The Light Speed Vanguard, who at first seem Cooler And More Effective Heroes, then Kinda Selfish Mercenary Heroes, then Ruthless Protection Racket.
** The Light Speed Vanguard, who at first seem Cooler And More Effective Heroes, then Kinda Selfish Mercenary Heroes, then Ruthless Protection Racket.
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* [[Mythology Gag]]: Waaay too many to list.
* [[Mythology Gag]]: Waaay too many to list.
* [[Never My Fault]]: Alexis.
* [[Never My Fault]]: Alexis.
* [[Never Say Die]]: Even when they managed to get a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] onto kids' TV, they still couldn't call it death.
* [[Never Say "Die"]]: Even when they managed to get a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] onto kids' TV, they still couldn't call it death.
* [[No Matter How Much I Beg]]: Brainiac 5
* [[No Matter How Much I Beg]]: Brainiac 5
* [[Noodle Incident]]: Alexis' ''experiment''. "The top ten floors look as good as new, don't they?"
* [[Noodle Incident]]: Alexis' ''experiment''. "The top ten floors look as good as new, don't they?"
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* [[Oh Crap]]: Imperiex in "Message in a Bottle" {{spoiler|when he realizes that he's now squaring off against hundreds of aliens that have the powers of ''Superman''.}}
* [[Oh Crap]]: Imperiex in "Message in a Bottle" {{spoiler|when he realizes that he's now squaring off against hundreds of aliens that have the powers of ''Superman''.}}
* [[The Only One Allowed to Defeat You]]: Superman X for Imperiex.
* [[The Only One Allowed to Defeat You]]: Superman X for Imperiex.
* [[Only the Worthy May Pass]]: "[[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|Trials]]"
* [[Only the Worthy May Pass]]: "[[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Trials]]"
* [[Our Werewolves Are Different]]: Timber Wolf, natch.
* [[Our Werewolves Are Different]]: Timber Wolf, natch.
* [[Out of Order]]
* [[Out of Order]]
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* [[Shout-Out]]
* [[Shout-Out]]
** "In the Beginning": To both the ''[[Total Recall]]'' [[Latex Perfection]] and the ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' [[You Meddling Kids]] line.
** "In the Beginning": To both the ''[[Total Recall]]'' [[Latex Perfection]] and the ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' [[You Meddling Kids]] line.
** And another in "Trials": [[Jackie Chan Adventures (Animation)|"Only magic can defeat magic. Duh!"]]
** And another in "Trials": [[Jackie Chan Adventures|"Only magic can defeat magic. Duh!"]]
* [[Sorry I Left the BGM On]]: The [[Ho Yay|season two opening scene]].
* [[Sorry I Left the BGM On]]: The [[Ho Yay|season two opening scene]].
* [[Spiritual Successor]]: To ''[[Teen Titans (Animation)|Teen Titans]]'', at the least [[Demographics]]-wise. Still a team of super-teenagers, still [[The DCU]], and it started the same year ''Titans'' ended.
* [[Spiritual Successor]]: To ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'', at the least [[Demographics]]-wise. Still a team of super-teenagers, still [[The DCU]], and it started the same year ''Titans'' ended.
* [[Spock Speak]]: Brainiac 5, who also [[Luckily, My Powers Will Protect Me|keeps name-dropping]] his [[Informed Ability|twelfth-level intelligence]]. Toned down a lot for season 2.
* [[Spock Speak]]: Brainiac 5, who also [[Luckily, My Powers Will Protect Me|keeps name-dropping]] his [[Informed Ability|twelfth-level intelligence]]. Toned down a lot for season 2.
* [[Spoiled Sweet]]: Phantom Girl
* [[Spoiled Sweet]]: Phantom Girl
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'''Bouncing Boy:''' With a capital "L"! }}
'''Bouncing Boy:''' With a capital "L"! }}
* [[Xtreme Kool Letterz]]: Lot of X's in the names.
* [[Xtreme Kool Letterz]]: Lot of X's in the names.
* [[Yandere]]: Alexis Luthor. She had no friends until Superman... and [[Stalker With a Crush|she REALLY wanted to keep him]].
* [[Yandere]]: Alexis Luthor. She had no friends until Superman... and [[Stalker with a Crush|she REALLY wanted to keep him]].
* [[You Have Outlived Your Usefulness]]: With the reversal that the ''boss'' has outlived the ''minion's'' purposes...
* [[You Have Outlived Your Usefulness]]: With the reversal that the ''boss'' has outlived the ''minion's'' purposes...
* [[Your Worst Nightmare]]: "Fear Factory," with endless [[Horror]] movie homages.
* [[Your Worst Nightmare]]: "Fear Factory," with endless [[Horror]] movie homages.

Revision as of 08:47, 8 April 2014

The Animated Adaptation of the Legion of Super-Heroes comic book series. Ran for two seasons, 2006-2008, abruptly ending with a hook for the third season that never came.

When the series opens, the 31st-century Legion is hopelessly outclassed by the famed Fatal Five. They resolve to recruit the near-mythical Superman from the past, but for undisclosed reasons, Brainiac 5 brings them to Smallville, not Metropolis. There they invite 18-year-old Clark Kent to help them in The Future, promising that with Time Travel, he can return the minute he left.

At Brainy's insistence, everyone studiously avoids telling Clark who he's supposed to become in the future. Regardless, Clark finds the Superman Museum, connects the dots, and takes the costume from the display case, and the name of Superman, for his own. Together they defeat the Five, and then Adventures Happen.

The show had a very Silver Age tone to it, but the most noticeable and controversial change from the source material was turning team genius Brainiac 5 from a Human Alien into an android. Word of God is that this was supposed to tie him more closely to his ancestor the original Brainiac, as well as avoiding having to explain how an an organic can be the 'descendant' of a robot, clearing away a fifty-year-old example of Writing Around Trademarks.

Season two saw everyone age about two years, even Brainy, and the show went Darker and Edgier after the very light and bouncy first season. The premiere visited a Bad Future where Superman's clone was bred to fight Galactic Conqueror Imperiex, who when cornered escapes back to the 31st century and proceeds to wreak havoc as the season's Big Bad.

The character sheet can be found here.

Legion of Super-Heroes provides examples of:

 Superman: Why are you doing this?

Drax: Because I'm evil. Always have been, always will be.

 Brainiac 6: Evil does not die. It evolves.

 Brainiac 5: Do not worry. Soon this agony shall pass, as it will pass from this entire universe. Once my work is complete, there will be no more pain, no more chaos. Only a perfect order imposed by me.

  • Wham! Episode: Dark Victory. Brainiac 5 ends up being controlled by Brainiac 1.0, Superman is defeated and apparently killed, and Imperiax Killed Off for Real.
  • What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic: The crown of Kryptonite.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: at least twice, between Brainiac and Superman, with the latter calling Brainy out for hiding both Supes's weakness to a red sun in "Brain Drain" and the original Brainiac's involvement in the shrinking of Kandor in "Message in a Bottle". And also when Brainiac suggested risking the Kandorians lives with Imperiex.
    • With the former, Brainiac 5 told Superman he apparently failed to un-shrink Kandor.
  • White-Haired Pretty Girl: Triplicate Girl, one-third of the time -- white with colored streaks, in her combined form (it changed in season 2)
  • Whole-Episode Flashback: "In the Beginning"
  • With a Capital T: "Unnatural Alliances"

 Duo Damsel: Terra-Man, word is you've been terrorizing this entire prairie in search of someone.

Star Boy: The only thing you're gonna find here is trouble.

Bouncing Boy: With a capital "L"!

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