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Legends was a six issue comic book limited series published in 1986-1987 by DC Comics, which had plot threads running through several other DC comic titles, crossing over into them (each individual crossover/tie-in had a Legends Chapter # header on the cover). The series was plotted by John Ostrander, scripted by Len Wein, pencilled by John Byrne, and inked by Karl Kesel. A trade paperback Legends: The Collection (ISBN 1-56389-095-X) was published in 1993 collecting the entire 6 issue limited series.
Publication history
The six issues of the Legends series could be read as an abbreviated story by themselves, or you could read all 22 chapters as a longer story that included the Legends issues as well as issues from other titles including Batman, Superman, and Secret Origins. It was also the first major DC Universe crossover after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths. Legends served mainly as a launching pad for several new comic series, including the latter-day Flash title, Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis's comedy/action take on the Justice League, and the villain-based black ops Suicide Squad. The series also saw the post-Crisis introduction into the DC Universe of Captain Marvel as well as Wonder Woman, who had been rebooted by DC Comics at the same time Legends was being published. The impact on the universe made out its cast of caped superheroes to be called "Earth greatest heroes," akin to Marvel's Avengers who were Earth's Mightiest Heroes, in which later would be comprised as a roster for the new JLA.
Plot synopsis
The plot of Legends is similar to the biblical story of Job, with the evil god Darkseid making a wager with the mysterious Phantom Stranger that he can make humanity turn against its heroes. To carry out his bet, Darkseid sends his minion Glorious Godfrey to Earth, where he uses his supranatural ability to control anyone who hears the sound of his voice, and thus turn them against Earth's heroes. To further his scheme, Darkseid sends a new fire elemental called Brimstone to Earth, where he defeats the Justice League (in their Detroit-based incarnation, along with Firestorm and a time-traveling Cosmic Boy); meanwhile, Captain Marvel is framed for murder when a cyborg villain called Macro-man explodes mid-battle via Darkseid's machinations. Captain Marvel is blamed by the media for its death. Batman also suffers his own loss when Robin (Jason Todd) is caught up in a crazed mob and is trampled. Fearing widescale panic, President Ronald Reagan (the U.S. Commander-in-Chief at the time of publication) declares martial law and bans all superheroic activities in America. However, this angers several members of Reagan's department of defense, who - at the behest of Amanda Waller - activate "Project: Task Force X", AKA the Suicide Squad. Recruiting a team of expendable imprisoned supervillains, Amanda Waller has the Suicide Squad destroy Brimstone. In the end, Doctor Fate is forced to intervene when Glorious Godfrey begins a campaign to use his army of followers to invade Washington DC and take over the United States. Dr. Fate organizes Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Black Canary, Teen Titans members Changeling and the Flash, and the Blue Beetle to oppose Glorious Godfrey. They are joined by the Martian Manhunter, who responds to a JLA distress call from the President, and Wonder Woman; together they defeat the forces of Glorious Godfrey, including Darkseid's cyborg Hounds of War. In the end, the masses are freed from Godfrey's power when Robin leaves his hospital bed and gathers an army of children, who are untouched by Godfrey's powers, to serve as a human shield between the heroes and Godfrey. When Godfrey strikes a young girl who argues that Godfrey is controlling them, the shock of Godfrey's actions frees the mob from his power. Godfrey himself is defeated when he steals Dr. Fate's helmet and puts it on, rendering him mindless as a result.
Story Chronology
Chapter 1 Cross-over: Batman #401 (November 1986): "A Bird in the Hand..."
Chapter 2 Cross-over: Detective Comics #568 (November 1986): "Eyrie"
Legends #1 (November 1986): "Once Upon A Time...!"
Chapter 3 Cross-over: Green Lantern Corps #207 (December 1986): "Simple Minds"
Legends #2 (December 1986): "Breach of Faith!"
Chapter 4 Spin-off: Cosmic Boy #1 (December 1986): "Those Who Will Not Learn the Lessons of History..."
Chapter 5 Cross-over: Justice League of America #258 (January 1987): "The End of the Justice League of America: Saving Face"
Chapter 6 Spin-off: Secret Origins Vol. 2 #10 (January 1987): "The Phantom Stranger"
Chapter 7 Cross-over: Firestorm #55 (January 1987): "The Stench of Brimstone"
Legends #3 (January 1987): "Send For... the Suicide Squad!"
Chapter 8 Spin-off: Cosmic Boy #2 (January 1987): "Is History Destiny?"
Chapter 9 Cross-over: Justice League of America #259 (February 1987): "The End of the Justice League of America: Homecoming"
Chapter 10 Cross-over: Firestorm #56 (February 1987): "Firestorm No More"
Chapter 11 Cross-over: Blue Beetle Vol. 2 #9 (February 1987): "Timepiece!"
Legends #4 (February 1987): "Cry' Havoc...!"
Chapter 12 Cross-over: Warlord Vol. 1 #114 (February 1987): "When A Legend Dies"
Chapter 13 Spin-off: Cosmic Boy #3 (February 1987): "Past, Present... and Future"
Chapter 14 Cross-over: Justice League of America #260 (March 1987): "The End of the Justice League of America: Flesh"
Chapter 15 Cross-over: Blue Beetle Vol. 2 #10 (March 1987): "Time on His Hands"
Chapter 16 Cross-over: Warlord Vol. 1 #115 (March 1987): "The Citadel of Fear"
Chapter 17 Cross-over: SupermanVol. 2 #3 (March 1987): "Legends From the Darkside"
Chapter 18 Cross-over: Adventures of Superman #426 (March 1987): "From the Dregs"
Chapter 19 Cross-over: Action Comics #586 (March 1987): "The Champion!"
Legends #5 (March 1987): "Let Slip the Dogs of War"
Chapter 20 Spin-off: Cosmic Boy #4 (March 1987): "Time Without End"
Chapter 21 Cross-over: Justice League of America #261 (April 1987): "The End of the Justice League of America: Last Stand"
Legends #6 (April 1987): "Finale!"
Chapter 22 Spin-off: Secret Origins Vol. 2 #14 (May 1987): "The Secret Origin of the Suicide Squad"
