Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1 is an issue of the series Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 2008. It was published on August 20, 2008.
Synopsis for "Legion of 3 Worlds: Book One"
Time Trapper stands at the End of Time and compares the Legion of Super-Heroes to the cockroaches he's surrounded by. He struggles to think of a way to destroy them, as his plan to make them forget Superman failed. Taking a boy who is lost in time and throwing him into the 31st Century, Time Trapper declares that the Legion will live no longer.
Back on Earth, two xenophobic farmers in Smallville named Jun and Mara watch the Earth-Man trial on television. He is convicted of two-dozen criminal counts including treason, and sentenced to Takron-Galtos. This does little to resolve the tensions of a brewing race war, as humans continue attacking aliens on Earth and aliens continue attacking humans on their own planets. Jun and Mara see a figure crash in their fields, and take a shotgun to kill the alien scum. This figure is revealed to be Superboy-Prime, who insists that his name is Superman and fries them with heat vision.
Superboy-Prime wanders the area and realizes he is in Smallville of the future. This leads him to the Superman Museum, where he is shocked to see the enormous legacy of his nemesis Superman. The tour guide is a hologram of Jimmy Olsen, who shows him through the various exhibits. This includes the Legion of Super-Heroes and the United Planets, both of which were inspired by Superman. Superboy-Prime is outraged to see that his own exhibit is not on display, and he is remembered as a pathetic failure. Superboy-Prime destroys the statues of every hero, and slaughters the Science Police who try to stop him. He swears that he will destroy everything Superman has ever inspired. The Olsen hologram believes he is asking about enemies of the Legion, and tells him about the Legion of Super-Villains.
In Metropolis, Earthgov meets with the United Planets to discuss the possibility of seceding or being kicked out. Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl speak on Earth's behalf. The councilors argue that the Legion is outdated and they no longer serve a purpose in the United Planets.
Lightning Lass, Phantom Girl, and Shadow Lass enter the Phantom Zone to rescue Mon-El. They battle the Phantom Zoners and nearly release General Zod, but Lightning Lass destroys the Phantom Zone Projector. Brainiac 5 chastises her for not simply shutting it off, and administers the Anti-Lead Serum to Mon-El. They suggest that Sun Boy could quickly power Mon-El up. Sun-Boy is still traumatized from his torture at the hands of Earth-Man, and considers leaving the Legion. Polar Boy tries to talk him out of it.
The second Karate Kid testifies against the Legion, accusing them of rampant internal strife among races. Lightning Lad angrily accuses the councilors of forgetting how many times the Legion saved the universe. They are interrupted by R.J. Brande, who returns to speak in favor of the Legion.
Superboy-Prime visits Takron-Galtos to break out Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, and Saturn Queen. They greet him as a legend, explaining that he was their inspiration and he will lead them to final victory.
R.J. Brande explains that the Legionnaires are more than teenage super-heroes. They are the people who taught Superman himself about truth, justice, and the American way. The Legion are a shining example of diversity and tolerance in a universe plagued by chaos and xenophobia. Leland McCauley bursts out of the crowd and shoots Brande several times in the chest. Cosmic Boy is unable to stop him as the gun and bullets are not metallic. Dr. Gym'll tries to save Brande, but he tells the Legion to never quit and dies. Brande reverts to his Durlan form, and McCauley triumphantly shouts that Brande was a fraud and an alien invader. The Science Police descend and demand that the Legion turn in their rings, so they can be questioned in the murder. Cosmic Boy snaps and knocks them away with his powers. Leland McCauley rapidly ages before their very eyes, crumbling into dust because of the Time Trapper.
Chameleon Girl and Colossal Boy observe the riots on Durla, with no sign of Chameleon Boy. Invisible Kid, Night Girl, and Shrinking Violet are asked to leave Naltor with no sign of Dream Girl. Ultra Boy and Timber Wolf return to Earth after a battle with the Khunds. The other Legionnaires missing-in-action include Blok, Bouncing Boy, Dawnstar, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Quislet, Sensor Girl, Tellus, Tyroc, White Witch, and Wildfire. There's a small funeral held for R.J. Brande on Earth, and the Legion discuss their future.
Superman is called into the future by his special rip-cord Flight Ring. The Legionnaires tell him that over 20,000 guards and staff were murdered on Takron-Galtos, then an "S" logo was burned into the surface. They play the news footage, and Superman instantly recognizes Superboy-Prime. The Legion realize they're dealing with a Superman-level threat, a new Legion of Super-Villains, and whatever controlled McCauley to assassinate Brande. Brainiac 5 suggests that since they're dealing with a threat from an alternate universe, they should call on allies from an alternate universe. He intends to contact the second and third Legion, who they have previously teamed up with. Superman lectures them about how serious of a threat Superboy-Prime represents. Despite this, Superman believes that their best option is to try and morally redeem him.
Appearing in "Legion of 3 Worlds: Book One"
Featured Characters:
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Blok (On a TV or computer screen)
- Bouncing Boy (On a TV or computer screen)
- Brainiac 5
- Chameleon Boy (On a TV or computer screen)
- Chameleon Girl
- Colossal Boy
- Cosmic Boy
- Dawnstar (On a TV or computer screen)
- Dream Girl (On a TV or computer screen)
- Duo Damsel (On a TV or computer screen)
- Element Lad (On a TV or computer screen)
- Lightning Lad
- Lightning Lass
- Matter-Eater Lad (On a TV or computer screen)
- Mon-El
- Night Girl
- Phantom Girl
- Polar Boy
- Quislet (On a TV or computer screen)
- Saturn Girl
- Sensor Girl (On a TV or computer screen)
- Shadow Lass
- Shrinking Violet
- Sun Boy
- Tellus (On a TV or computer screen)
- Timber Wolf
- Tyroc (On a TV or computer screen)
- Ultra Boy
- White Witch (On a TV or computer screen)
- Wildfire (On a TV or computer screen)
- Legion of Super-Heroes 2 (On a TV or computer screen)
- Andromeda, Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Chuck Taine, Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Element Lad, Ferro, Gates, Gear, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum, Kid Quantum II, Kinetix, Koko, Leviathan, Livewire, Magno, M'Onel, Monstress, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Thunder, Timber Wolf, Triad, Umbra, Ultra Boy, Violet, Wildfire, XS
- Legion of Super-Heroes 3 (On a TV or computer screen)
- Superman
Supporting Characters:
- Doctor Gym'll
- Earthgov
- Mr. President (First appearance)
- Myg (Karate Kid)
- R.J. Brande (Dies)
- United Planets
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Aad'm (reporter)
- Daily Planet (Superman Museum)
- Dubbilex (Superman Museum)
- Gaston Dominguez (Superman Museum guard)
- Human Separatist Movement (Mentioned only)
- Earth-Man (On a TV or computer screen)
- Jonathan Kent (Superman Museum)
- Jor-El (Superman Museum)
- Jun (Dies)
- Justice League (Superman Museum)
- Lara Lor-Van (Superman Museum)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Superman Museum)
- Legion of Super-Villains (Superman Museum)
- Mara (Dies)
- Martha Kent (Superman Museum)
- Science Police
- Sodam Yat (Superman Museum)
- Sonia (reporter)
- Superman Family (Superman Museum)
- Krypto, Lori Lemaris, Steel, Superboy, Superwoman
- Superman Villains (Superman Museum)
- Supermen of the Multiverse (Superman Museum)
- Teen Titans (Superman Museum)
- Titano (Superman Museum)
Locations:
Items:
- Anti-Lead Serum
- Jimmy Olsen's Signal Watch (Superman Museum)
- Kinetic Hammer (Superman Museum)
- Green Kryptonite (Superman Museum)
- Legion Flight Ring
- Phantom Zone Projector
Vehicles:
- Brainiac's Skull Ship (Superman Museum)
- Kryptonian Rocket (Superman Museum)
Concepts:
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds.
- This story is continued from the conclusion to Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes. The results of the Earth-Man trial are announced, following his arrest.[1] Time Trapper mentions that he tried to make the Legion forget Superman.[2]
- Superboy-Prime is discovered floating through the Timestream, and it's mentioned that he was last seen during the Sinestro Corps War. He murdered a Guardian, and the energy released by its death tore a fabric in the space-time continuum.[3] This allowed him to travel the Multiverse in Countdown as Superman-Prime.[4] When he tore apart Monarch's containment suit, the explosion sent him floating through time.[5]
- The farm couple seen in Smallville are Jun and Mara, a clear reference to Jonathan Kent and Martha Kent. They were originally seen in the opening to Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes, where they murdered an alien baby sent to Earth.[6]
Trivia
- The statue in the lobby of the Superman Museum is his pose on the cover of his first appearance.[7]
- The second row of portraits displaying different versions of Superman are: Kal Kent of DC One Million, Superman of Kingdom Come, and the Tangent Superman.
- The "Hall of 1,000 Olsens" in the Superman Museum is presumably named after "The World of 1000 Olsens" in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #105. The Hall includes:
- Super-Brain Olsen from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #22.
- Elastic Olsen from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #37.
- Jupiter Jimmy from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #32.
- The Wolf-Man of Metropolis from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #44.
- The Giant Turtle Man from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #53.
- The Human Octopus from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #41.
- The Human Flame-Thrower from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #33.
- The Human Porcupine from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #65.
- The Fat Boy of Metropolis from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #49.
- Jimmy the Gorilla Reporter from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #24
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds series
- Images from Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds Vol 1 1
Recommended Reading
- Legion of Super-Heroes Recommended Reading
- Adventure Comics (Volume 1)
- Adventure Comics (Volume 2)
- The Legion (Volume 1)
- Legion Lost (Volume 2)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 2)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 3)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 4)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 5)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 7)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 8)
- Legionnaires (Volume 1)
- Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 1)
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 1)
Links and References
- Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1 Annotations
- Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1 Annotations Update
- ↑ Action Comics #863
- ↑ Action Comics #864
- ↑ Green Lantern (Volume 4) #
- ↑ Countdown to Final Crisis #24
- ↑ Countdown to Final Crisis #13
- ↑ Action Comics #858
- ↑ Action Comics #1
Final Crisis Crossover
Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1 • Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2 • Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3 • Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #4 • Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5 One-Shots
Grant Morrison's Recommended Reading Order
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