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Jerry Siegel
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Showcase Presents: Legion of Super-Heroes - VOL 01 Paperback – April 4, 2007

by Jerry Siegel (Author), Curt Swann (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 41 ratings
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Collects tales about the Legion of Super-Heroes and its most legendary member, Superboy.
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  1. Print length
    552 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    DC Comics
  4. Publication date
    April 4, 2007
  5. Grade level
    7 - 9
  6. Dimensions
    6.65 x 1.18 x 10.16 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1401213820
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1401213824
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The bargain-priced, black-and-white Showcase Presents Legion of Super-Heroes, Vol. 1 is a slice of 1960s comics innocence, 550 pages of the beginnings of the 30th-century supergroup. It begins in April 1958 (Adventure Comics #247), when three teens--Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl--travel through time to meet Superboy and invite him to join their "super-hero club" 1000 years in the future. This volume collects that story as well as the various other appearances the Legion made with both Superboy and Supergirl, introducing new characters (Brainiac 5, Mon-El, Ultra Boy, Triplicate Girl, Phantom Girl) and new concepts along the way (the Legion of Super-Villains, the Legion of Super Pets) (Some of the ideas would be tossed out later, such as the idea that Supergirl meets the children of the original Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl, and there are a couple of mis-references to the Legion being in the 21st century.) Then in September 1962, Adventure Comics officially became "Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes" in its 300th issue and the Legion became a monthly feature. The series was able to indulge in the decade's love of sci-fi, traveling to strange planets and fighting mad scientists and strange monsters (they still used reel-to-reel tape recorders, though, and women's rights still weren't quite developed in the 30th century).

This period introduced the Legion of Substitute Heroes and the Time Trapper, saw the first Legionnaire die in action, and brought in Bouncing Boy, Matter-Eater Lad, Dream Girl, and others. This volume runs through June 1964 (Adventure Comics #321), and most of the writing is by Jerry Siegel or Edmond Hamilton, and art is handled by John Forte or Superman legend Curt Swan. Like all Showcase Presents volumes, it's in black-and-white, which helps keep the super-low price but the loss of color lessens the impact of the funky worlds and aliens, and makes it harder to tell the Legionnaires apart. Rabid Legion fans who want the stories in color and on high-quality paper should try the hardback DC Archives series, but it's substantially more expensive. --David Horiuchi

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ DC Comics; First Edition (April 4, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 552 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1401213820
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1401213824
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.65 x 1.18 x 10.16 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 41 ratings

About the author

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Jerry Siegel

Jerry Siegel

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Jerome "Jerry" Siegel (October 17, 1914 – January 28, 1996), who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S. Fine, was the American co-creator, along with Joe Shuster, of Superman, the first of the great comic book superheroes and one of the most recognizable of the 20th century.

He was inducted (with Shuster posthumously) into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Alan Light [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
41 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sheri L Leisure
5.0 out of 5 stars Pleased
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2024
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Delivery earlier than expected and in great shape!!!
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David M
5.0 out of 5 stars appearing two years before the Justice League or even Marvel's Fantastic Four. The Legion's introduction and earliest stories ar
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2015
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Where it all began! The Legion was the first true Silver Age superhero team, appearing two years before the Justice League or even Marvel's Fantastic Four. The Legion's introduction and earliest stories are cataloged here in this first volume in the Showcase: Legion of Super-Heroes series. Many of the core concepts at the Legion's heart are included in this volume and a big part of the Silver Age roster was set within the pages of the books reprinted here. The stories are Silver Age all the way, nostalgic and goofy at the same time but the title was by far at the forefront of what DC was publishing in those days and this volume is essential in understanding the much deeper writing of the Paul Levitz era.
3 people found this helpful
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Luis Eugenio Espinosa
4.0 out of 5 stars Saudade
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2012
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It was great to get in touch with a story from the past: as an academic, to be able to compare the stories considered heroic is priceless...
I appreciate the effort to keep the price down, although I do miss the color!!!
Fans should enjoy the memories _and the transformation_ of our heroes...
One person found this helpful
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Billie Killingsworth
5.0 out of 5 stars What is not to love!?
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2013
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I am hardcore in love with the Legion, and have collected the story since I was a child of the 60's. I enjoy going back even further and learning more about the team and individual characters. So if you enjoy these characters as much as I do, you will have to begin from the beginning and just savor the great stories.
One person found this helpful
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Shane Sullivan
3.0 out of 5 stars Black and white. Coloring book?
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2018
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Grrrr. Black and white. Did not know that. Bummer.
2 people found this helpful
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R.C. Douglass
5.0 out of 5 stars Family friendly entertainment!! Highly recommend it!
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2019
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I love all the characters,especially Superboy and Mon-El!! Great family fun!Exciting stories,clever plot lines!! Worth it!!
One person found this helpful
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David K. Taggart
4.0 out of 5 stars The Good Old Stuff
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2013
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First off, be ready for them not to be a good as you remember. And the black-and-white format can be jarring -- you never know who Brainiac 5 is, for example. But it's still gosh-wow science fiction comics about the future!
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Top reviews from other countries

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luca pistarelli
4.0 out of 5 stars LEGIONE CLASSIC
Reviewed in Italy on May 10, 2017
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troviamo in tale volume tutte le storie della legione pre crisi , periodo anni 60 /70.
Superboy incontra i legionari che impareremo a conoscere , ci sono i cattivi , la legione dei sostituti e degli animaletti super .
Un must per ogni appassionato dc e della LEGIONE , peccato che non lo abbiano ancora tradotto in ITALIANO !!
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Glenn Cook
5.0 out of 5 stars Takes you right back
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2007
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This is a cracking book. The Legion of Super Heroes was always a big favourite of mine in the past with the same thought pattern as getting the Justice League of America in that you got a whole lot of heroes for the price of one. You will either love this or be indifferent.

Written back in the Silver age these stories appeared in the Superboy Comics and later their popularity merited their own comic title.

Well the series does not fail to entertain.

You can see how the origin of the Legion started and gradually refined over a few guest appearances in Superboy and Superman.

Finally the Legion gets into its stride and we start to see a little of life in the far distant future which is a major draw to buy the comics along with the super powers.

The stories start out a little tame but are not as naive or as childish as say Green Lantern.
They have aged very well.

Now to the quality. You get a lot for your money well over 538 pages for under a tenner. All in black and white and on cheap paper BUT hey this is disposable nostalgia for the over 50s. So cheap as the chips which would be right at home in this quality of paper.

The Good News is that there are now 4 volumes in the Series.

 Showcase Presents Legion Of Super-Heroes TP Vol 02
Showcase Presents : Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3
Showcase Presents Legion Of Super-heroes TP Vol 04
8 people found this helpful
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I. R. Kerr
4.0 out of 5 stars Their name is Legion, for they are many.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2009
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And aren't they just; starting off in 1958 with Cosmic Boy, Lightning Boy and Saturn Girl testing out Superboy for membership of the Legion.
It was over a year before their next appearances of the 30th Century band of heroes with a couple of guest slots alongside Superboy again and then Supergirl.
It was a while before they found their first real home in Adventure Comics but along the way the membership mushroomed considerably. Odd as their rules only allowed members who under 18 and only allowed one additional member per year, later changed to one male and one female. Still that's a minor quibble when you look at the role call of Legion members and their powers.
The powers vary from the sublime Ultra-Boy, Mon-El Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy etc. to the plain ridiculous Bouncing Boy (who even gets credited as Bouncing Girl in the Legionnaires Super-Contest) and Matter Eater Lad, even including a descendant of Superman's old foe Brainiac.
I counted 19 full members here, not including Jimmy Olsen as Plastic Lad. You also get the Legion of Substitute Heroes and the Legion of Super Pets.
This is pure escapism and very enjoyable, there's a little romance, danger, the death of 1 legionnaire as well as guest appearances by Lex Luthor and a descendant of Mr Mxyzptlk.
Several of the stories are pretty similar (e.g. one Legionnaire is presumed to be a traitor but they have a secret master-plan) but that apart this is a good grounding in Legion history as far better stories would soon be coming. All of these early tales (1958 to 1964) were new to me and I plan on getting the later volumes as well.
8 people found this helpful
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Alex Mathers
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2016
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Great comic will be getting more
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