Adventure Comics #403 is an issue of the series Adventure Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 1971.
Synopsis for "The Stolen Super-Powers!"
This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #304.
After getting a warning from the criminal Zaryan the Conqueror stating that he predicts a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes will die, Saturn Girl is the first to find it and after reading the message she destroys it. Shortly thereafter, Saturn Girl is elected to be the official leader of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Shortly thereafter, Saturn Girl becomes a strict and cruel leader, "punishing" Legion members for being unable to follow her orders. As punishment she would "ground" members from the Legion and use a device that would steal their powers and give them to Saturn Girl. When the threat of Zaryan is on it's way, Saturn Girl heads out on her own to tackle Zaryan's menace by herself. However, Lightning Lad intercepts the rocket first and is blasted with a ray while he destroy Zaryan's rocket.
Fatally wounded, Lightning Lad explains to Saturn Girl, that when she found the message from Zaryan, she was unknowingly watched by Mon-El in the Phantom Zone, who told Lightning Lad of her plan to sacrifice herself so none of the other Legion members were killed. Lightning Lad, learning the truth decided to sacrifice himself so that Saturn Girl may live.
When Lightning Lad finally dies, the entire Legion gathers and has a funeral to remember to their fallen friend, Garth.
Appearing in "The Stolen Super-Powers!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Zaryan the Conqueror (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- World-Wide Police
- Commander Loring (Single appearance)
- Trylop Council of Planet Mernl (Behind the scenes)
Locations:
Items:
- Legion Flight Belt
- Spectrum Rainbow Bar
- Vote-o-Matic
- XY-4 Serum
Vehicles:
- Zaryans' Ship
Synopsis for "The Secret of the Missing Legionnaire"
This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #305.
With the recent demise of Lightning Lad, the Legion of Super-Heroes begins looking for an adequate replacement to fill the void left by the heroes death. After testing a series of would-be Legionnaires who's powers either turned out to be duds or artificial, the Legion is met by a costumed youngster calling himself Marvel Lad.
Wanting nothing but the best possible candidate to take the late Lightning Lad's place, the Legion puts Marvel Lad on a series of complex tests to see if he stands up to the Legion's values and codes. When Marvel Lad is able to complete all the missions the Legion asks him to reveal the origins of his powers before he is introduced into the group.
The next day Marvel Lad arrives and reveals that he is really Mon-El in disguise. He then reveals to an astonished Legion that Brainiac 5 had developed a new version of serum XY-4 to try and cure Mon-El of his lead poisoning that forced him to reside in the Phantom Zone. To test out if the serum will work, but not get the other Legion's hopes up, Mon-El took on the guise of Marvel Lad and try out for Legion membership, that way if the serum didn't work the Legion wouldn't be disappointed.
Having passed the Legion's tests, Mon-El is welcomed into the Legion as their new member, and Mon-El returns to the Phantom Zone one last time to get the last laugh on the criminals trapped there who have taunted and tormented him during his time living within the Zone.
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Appearing in "The Secret of the Missing Legionnaire"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Antennae Boy (First appearance)
- Dynamo Kid (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Phantom Zoners
- Sun-Eater (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Lightning Lad (Appears only as a corpse)
- Space Police (Mentioned only)
- Superboy (Flashback only)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Return of Lightning Lad"
This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #308.
While draping a ceremonial cape on the grave of the recently deceased Lightning Lad, the Legion of Super-Heroes is shocked when Lightning Lad seemingly rises from his coffin, alive and well. After recharging his apparent lost powers, Lightning Lad rejoins the Legion. However, on their daily routine of missions, each of the Legion members (including Chameleon Boy's new pet Proty) begin to suspect that the person aiding them is not their Lightning Lad.
After busting up some alien criminals, the Legion figures out the truth, that this is not really Lightning Lad at all, but his twin sister disguised as him. She reveals that she took the body of her brother to a planet where there is perpetual lightning as a suitable resting place and decided to take his place to continue his heroic tradition in his place. With the truth revealed, the Legion accepts her into their team and she is rechristened as Lightning Lass.
Appearing in "The Return of Lightning Lad"
Featured Characters:
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Cosmic Boy
- Saturn Girl
- Chameleon Boy
- Triplicate Girl
- Shrinking Violet
- Bouncing Boy
- Brainiac 5
- Sun Boy
- Mon-El
- Lightning Lass (First appearance)
- Proty (First appearance)
- Lightning Lad (Flashback only)
- Supergirl (Cameo)
- Superboy (Flashback only)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Lightning Beasts of Korbal
- Alien Thieves
Other Characters:
- Science Police
- Jon Arkol (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Metropolis (30th Century)
- Korbal (Flashback only)
- Unnamed Thieves Planet
Items:
Vehicles:
- Legion Space Ship
Synopsis for "The Super-Sacrifice of the Legionnaires!"
This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #312.
When Superboy finds a world where the sun restores the people to life, it encourages him to go to the Legion and try to find a way to restore their deceased comrade, Lightning Lad to life.
After scouring the universe for different ways to restore Lightning Lad to life, the Legion cannot find a method that works. Traveling to his home world of Daxam with Saturn Girl, Mon-El comes up with another method. Bringing the Legion back to the Lightning World where Lightning Lad's body is kept, the shows them a special lightning rod which when struck by lightning would cause the life force from one being to transfer into another, restoring the dead body to life.
With all the Legion members wanting to give their all to revive Lightning Lad, they all agree to hold a rod, leaving the choice of who will sacrifice their life to fate. However, when the a bolt seemingly strike Saturn Girl, the Legion are shocked to find that it was really Chameleon Boy's pet Proty in disguise. However, in spite of who sacrificed himself, Lightning Lad is restored to life. When the real Saturn Girl catches up with the Legion, she explains that as Proty was also a telepath, the creature learned of Saturn Girl's intention to sacrifice herself to restore Lightning Lad, and sacrificed itself in her place. With the truth revealed, the Legion takes a moment to mourn the loss of Proty.
Appearing in "The Super-Sacrifice of the Legionnaires!"
Featured Characters:
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Chameleon Boy
- Lightning Lad (resurrected)
- Lightning Lass
- Mon-El
- Saturn Girl
- Sun Boy
- Superboy
Supporting Characters:
- Proty (Dies)
Antagonists:
- Space Creatures
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Metropolis (30th Century)
- Skor
- Daxam (First appearance)
Items:
- Lightning Rods (First appearance)
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Bravest Legionnaire"
Continuing "The Super-Sacrifice of the Legionnaires!".
Appearing in "The Bravest Legionnaire"
Featured Characters:
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Chameleon Boy
- Lightning Lad (resurrected)
- Lightning Lass
- Mon-El
- Saturn Girl
- Sun Boy
- Superboy
Supporting Characters:
- Proty (Dies)
Antagonists:
- Space Creatures
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Metropolis (30th Century)
- Skor
- Daxam (First appearance)
Items:
- Lightning Rods (First appearance)
Vehicles:
Notes
- 68-page special spotlighting the Legion of Super-Heroes. The title resumes its standard format featuring Supergirl next issue.
- "The Stolen Super-Powers!" was originally printed in Adventure Comics #304.
- "The Secret of the Mystery Legionnaire" was originally printed in Adventure Comics #305.
- "The Return of Lightning Lad!" was originally printed in Adventure Comics #308.
- Issue includes two extra features: "Fashions from Fans", new Legion costumes designed by readers; and "Diagram of Legion Headquarters Complex", a complete layout of the Legion's base. The former was reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10 and the latter is reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10.
- "The Super Sacrifice of the Legionnaires!" was first printed in Adventure Comics #312.
- "The Bravest Legionnaire!" was first printed in Adventure Comics #312.
See Also
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)
- Superboy Recommended Reading
- Adventure Comics (Volume 1)
- Superboy (Volume 1)
- Superboy (Volume 2)
- Superboy (Volume 4)
- Superboy (Volume 5)
- Superboy (Volume 6)
- Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 1)
- Superboy and the Ravers (Volume 1)
- Young Justice (Volume 1)
- Young Justice (Volume 3)
- Teen Titans (Volume 3)
- Teen Titans (Volume 4) Main article: Supergirl Recommended Reading