Legion Publication History/Precursors

This page is written from the Real World point of view

During the Legion's early years, there were quite a few issues published that, while not strictly Legion stories, can be linked to the Legion's development or featured appearances by characters who would later be closely associate with the Legion. While not strictly a part of the Legion canon, and thus the Legion's publication history, they are included here because they hold interest to fans of the Legion's earliest tales.

1938
	Action Comics #1 (published May 3, 1938; cover date June, 1938) untitled one-page origin of Superman & accompanying 12 page story W: Jerry Siegel; P&I&L: Joe Schuster; E: Vincent Sullivan First appearance of Superman
	Action Comics #6 (published October 4, 1938; cover date November, 1938) (The Man Who Sold Superman) W: Jerry Siegel; P: Joe Schuster; I: Paul Cassidy? Paul Lauretta; E: Vincent Sullivan First appearance of Jimmy Olsen (as unnamed office boy)
1940
	Action Comics #23 (published February 22, 1940; cover date April, 1940) (Europe at War, Part II) W: Jerry Siegel; P: Joe Schuster; I: Paul Cassidy; E: Whitney Ellsworth First appearance of Lex Luthor
1944
	Superman v1 #30 (published July 5, 1944; cover date September/October, 1944) The Mysterious Mr. Mxyzptlk W: Jerry Siegel; P: Joe Shuster, Ira Yarbrough; I: Ira Yarbrough; E: Whitney Ellsworth (credited), Jack Schiff (actual) First appearance of Mr. Mxyzptlk
	More Fun Comics #101 (published November 21, 1944; cover date January/February, 1945) (The Origin of Superboy) W: Jerry Siegel; P&I: Joe Schuster; E: Whitney Ellsworth (credited), Jack Schiff (actual) First appearance of Superboy
1950
	Superman v1 #66 (published July 7, 1950; cover date September/October, 1950) The Last Days of Superman W: William Woolfolk; P: Al Plastino; I: Stan Kaye; E: Whitney Ellsworth Notes: Twice-Told Tale - Later rewritten to become The Last Days of Superman! in Superman v1 #156, October, 1962
	Superboy v1 #10 (published July 12, 1950; cover date September/October, 1950) The Girl in Superboy's Life W: Bill Finger; P: John Sikela; I: Ed Dobrotka; E: Whitney Ellsworth (credited), Jack Schiff (actual) First appearance of Lana Lang
1952
	Superman v1 #80 (published November 5, 1952, cover date February 1953) Superman's Big Brother! W: Edmond Hamilton; P&I: Al Plastino; E: Whitney Ellsworth Story: Superman mistakes an amnesiac space traveler for his long-lost older brother. First appearances: Halk Kar (Earth-2 Mon-El) Notes: Twice-Told Tale - later rewritten to become Superboy's Big Brother! in Superboy v1 #89, June, 1961.
1953
	Adventure Comics #191 (published June 4, 1953, cover date August 1953) The Two Clark Kents! P: Curt Swan; I: Sy Barry; E: Whitney Ellsowrth Story: A juvenile delinquent tries to take over the life of his look alike, Clark Kent. Notes: Twice-Told Tale - later rewritten to become The Secret of the Seventh Super-Hero! in Adventure Comics #290.
	Adventure Comics #195 (published October 28, 1953, cover date December 1953) Lana Lang's Romance on Mars! P: Curt Swan; I: Stan Kaye; E: Whitney Ellsworth Story: Lana Lang tries to make Superboy jealous by dating the new hero, Mars Boy. Notes: Twice-Told Tale - later rewritten to become Lana Lang and the Legion of Super-Heroes! in Adventure Comics #282.
	Adventure Comics #250 (published May 29, 1959, cover date July 1958) The Imposter From the Year 2958! W: Bill Finger; P&I: John Sikela; E: Whitney Ellsworth, Jack Schiff (managing editor), Mort Weisinger (story editor), George Kashdan (story editor) Story: Superboy must figure out which citizen of Smallville has been kidnapped and impersonated by a criminal from the 30th century. Notes: No Legion content, but story is set in Legion’s timeframe after its debut.
	Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #31 (published July 17, 1958, cover date September 1958) The E-l-a-s-t-i-c Lad! W: Otto Binder; P: Curt Swan; I: Ray Burnley; E: Whitney Ellsworth Notes: First appearance of Jimmy Olsen in his Elastic Lad identity
1959
	Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #37 (published April 7, 1959, cover date June 1959) The Elastic Lad of Metropolis! W: Otto Binder; P: Curt Swan; I: George Klein; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Jimmy Olsen appears as Elastic Lad.
	Wonder Woman v1 #101 (published August 14, 1959, cover date October 1959) Fun House of Time! W&E: Robert Kanigher; P: Ross Andru; I: Mike Esposito Notes: Villain later revealed to have been the Time Trapper, in his retroactive first appearance.
1960
	Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #46 (published May 19, 1960, cover date July 1960) Elastic Lad's Greatest Feats! W: Otto Binder; P: Curt Swan; I: John Forte; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Jimmy Olsen appears as Elastic Lad.
	Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #23 (published December 22, 1960, cover date February 1961) The 10 Feats of Elastic Lass! W: Otto Binder; P&I: Kurt Schaffenberger; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Lois Lane uses Jimmy Olsen's Elastic Lad serum
1961
	Action Comics #277 (published April 27, 1961, cover date June 1961) The Battle of the Super-Pets! W: Jerry Seigel; P&I: Jim Mooney; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: 1st meeting of Krypto, Streaky & Beppo
	Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #54 (published May 18, 1961, cover date July 1961) Elastic Lad's Wrestling Match! W: Robert Bernstein; P: Curt Swan; I: John Forte; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Jimmy Olsen appears as Elastic Lad.
	Superboy v1 #90 (published May 18, 1961; cover date July, 1961) Pete Ross' Super-Secret W: Otto Binder; P: George Papp; E: Mort Weisinger Pete Ross learns Superboy's secret identity
	Adventure Comics #287 (published June 29, 1961, cover date August 1961) War of the Superboys! W: Otto Binder; P&I: George Papp; E: Mort Weisinger Story: A Kryptonian juvenile delinquent arrives to make trouble for Superboy on Earth.. First appearances: Dev-Em
	Adventure Comics #288 (published July 27, 1961, cover date September 1961) The Knave from Krypton! W: Jerry Seigel; P&I: George Papp; E: Mort Weisinger Story: Dev-Em continues to wreak havoc, disguised as Superboy, before getting flung into the far future.
	Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #28 (published August 8, 1961, cover date October 1961) The Lois Lane of the Future! P&I: John Forte; E: Mort Weisinger Story: Superman meets Lois 4xR in a future world where everybody has super-powers. Notes: Set in 30th century, no Legion appearance.
	Action Comics #284 (published November 30, 1961, cover date January 1962) The Babe of Steel! W: Robert Bernstein; P: Curt Swan; I: Sheldon Moldoff; E: Mort Weisinger Story: Superman learns of a portal that will allow Kryptonian criminals to escape the Phantom Zone. Notes: Mon-El appears
1962
	Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #33 (published March 27, 1962, cover date May 1962) The Phantom Lois Lane! P: Curt Swan; I: George Klein; E: Mort Weisinger Story: Lana Lang forces both Lois Lane and Lori Lemaris into the Phantom Zone to eliminate her competition in marrying Superman. While in the Zone, Lois meets Mon-El.
	Action Comics #288 (published March 29, 1962, cover date May 1962) The Man Who Made Supergirl Cry! W: Leo Dorfman; P&I: Jim Mooney; E: Mort Weisinger Story: In a bid to escape from the Phantom Zone, Kryptonian criminals force Supergirl's adoptive father to make her cry and collect her tears. Notes: Mon-El appears.
	Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #62 (published May 24, 1962, cover date July 1962) Superman's Phantom Pal! W: Leo Dorfman; P: Curt Swan; I: George Klein; E: Mort Weisinger Story: As Elastic Lad, Jimmy slips through a tiny hole into the Phantom Zone, where he has a chance to learn Superman's secret identity. Notes: Jimmy Olsen appears as Elastic Lad, Mon-El cameo
	Superboy v1 #101 (published October 4, 1962, cover date December 1962) The Valhalla of the Super-Companions! P&I: George Papp; E: Mort Weisinger Story: An alien forces heroes from several worlds to live on his, only to send them packing when they outstay their welcome. Notes: Twice-Told Tale - story later reused with new title and art changes as When Superboy Walked Out on the Legion! in Adventure Comics #371, August, 1968.
1963
	Superman #161 (published March 21, 1963, cover date May 1963) The Last Days of Ma and Pa Kent! W: Leo Dorfman; P&I: Al Plastino; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Superboy mentions Mon-El.
	Action Comics #301 (published April 25, 1963, cover date June 1963) The Secret Identity of Super-Horse! W: Leo Dorfman; P&I: Jim Mooney; E: Mort Weisinger Story: Comet the Super-Horse gains the ability to turn into a normal man when in the presence of a comet.. First appearances: planet Zerox.
	Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane Annual #2 (published June 6, 1963, cover date Summer 1963) 1st reprint of The 10 Feats of Elastic Lass! from Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #23, February, 1961
1964
	80-Page Giant #2 (published July 2, 1964, cover date September 1964) 1st reprint of The E-L-A-S-T-I-C Lad! from Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #31, September, 1958
1965
	Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #86 (published May 7, 1965, cover date July 1965) The Team of Olsen and Brainiac! W: Jerry Seigel, Mort Weisinger; P: Curt Swan; I: George Klein; L: Milton Snapinn; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Superman mentions Mon-El
	Superboy v1 #124 (published August 19, 1965, cover date October 1965) The Insect Queen of Smallville! W: Otto Binder; P&I: George Papp; L: Vivian Berg; E: Mort Weisinger Story: Lana Lang rescues a trapped alien and is rewarded with a ring that allows her to transform into various insects and arachnids. First appearances: Lana Lang in her Insect Queen identity
	Superman v1 #181 (published September 16, 1965, cover date November 1965) The Superman of 2965! W: Edmond Hamilton; P: Curt Swan; I: George Klein; E: Mort Weisinger First appearances: Klar Ken T5477. Notes: Story set in 30th century
	Action Comics #330 (published September 30, 1965, cover date November 1965) Supergirl's Duel With Dr. Supernatural! W: Leo Dorfman, Mort Weisinger; P&I: Jim Mooney; E: Mort Weisinger Story: Supergirl is forced to travel to an alien world where she meets captive heroines. (1st part of a story that will have Legion content)
1966
	Superboy v1 #127 (published January 6, 1966, cover date March 1966) The Strange Insect Lives of Lana Lang! W: Otto Binder; P&I: George Papp; L: Milton Snapinn; E: Mort Weisinger Story: Lana Lang travels to Africa where she teams up with Bee-Boy. (2nd app. Insect Queen)
	Superboy v1 #128 (published February 17, 1966, cover date April 1966) The Twilight World of No Return! W: Jerry Siegel; P&I: Al Plastino; E: Mort Weisinger Story: Superboy has a nightmare about what his life on Krypton might have been like if it had not been destroyed. (App. Dev-Em)
	Action Comics #338 (published April 28, 1966, cover date June 1966) Muto – Monarch of Menace! W: Edmond Hamilton, Mort Weisinger; P: Curt Swan; I: George Klein; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Klar Ken, 30th century descendant of Superman, appears
	Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #94 (published May 24, 1966, cover date July 1966) Insect-Olsen versus the Bug Bandits! W: Unknown, Mort Weisinger; P&I: George Papp; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Jimmy uses Lana's Insect Ring
	Superboy v1 #132 (published July 7, 1966, cover date September 1966) Krypto's Cat-Crook Caper! W: Otto Binder; P&I: George Papp; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Space Canine Patrol Agency appear.
	Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #69(published August 9, 1966, cover date October 1966) Beware of the Bug Belle! W: E. Nelson Bridwell; P&I: Kurt Schaffenberger; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Lois uses Lana's insect ring
	Superboy v1 #136 (published January 5, 1967, cover date March 1967) Decoy of the Doom Statues! W: Otto Binder; P&I: George Papp; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Space Canine Patrol Agency appear
1967
	Superboy v1 #138 (published March 14, 1967, cover date May/June 1967) 2nd reprint of War of the Superboy's from Adventure Comics #287, August, 1961 2nd reprint of The Knave From Krypton! from Adventure Comics #288, September, 1961
	Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #104 (published June 13, 1967, cover date August/September 1967) 1st reprint of The Elastic Lad of Metropolis! from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #37, June, 1959
	Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #105 (published July 11, 1967, cover date September 1967) The World of 1,000 Olsens! W: Otto Binder, E. Nelson Bridwell; P&I: Pete Costanza; E: Mort Weisinger Notes: Jimmy Olsen appears as Elastic Lad.
	Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #111 (published April 9, 1968, cover date June 1968) 1st reprint of Elastic Lad's Wrestling Match! from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #54, July, 1961
	Superman v1 #212 (published October 15, 1968, cover date December 1968) 1st reprint of The Babe of Steel! from Action Comics #284, January, 1962