"The Hero who hated the Legion" Story: Cary Bates, Art: Mike Grell
58 years ago a sizable fortune in rare gems were stolen and hidden in a satellite that was launched into orbit with no one but the gang who stole it knowing about it. Today in the 30th century the last of the gang confesses and Satellite falls from orbit to the Island nation of Marzal. Marzal is an independent self sufficient community populated entirely by a black race that wants nothing to do with the outside world. The Legion in their Cruiser head for Marzal just before they touch down they noticed the Betas on of the most notorious gang in the galaxy flying via jet packs over the city. The beta's must be looking for the Gems just as the Legion. Superboy , Brainiac-5, Karate Kid and Shadow Lass fly out of the ship to take on the Betas. Just before they can engage they here an ear piercing sound, and before them the Betas jet packs burst into flames. Not wanting to leave the crooks to fall to their death Superboy and Karate Kid race towards the criminals. Just before they get there they hair another indistinguishable noise. Suddenly the Betas are encased in bubbles floating in air. Not sure what is happening they spot the Beta's ship coming to rescue their partners. Out of nowhere a fast flying form in a white costume appears flying at the beta's ship. The Betas fire their Dual Mega blasters at him but he makes another of those weird noises and a force field appears. He makes another yell and the Betas ship is flung from the island city. The legionnaires are impress and think he would make a good member of the team. They ask him if he wants to join but the unnamed man yells again and teleports away. Soon the for heroes roam Marzal in search of the fallen probe when on the giant screen is a pre recorded visit tape from the mysterious hero. His name is Tyroc and he is telling his people not to help the four Legionnaires, for the Legion has ignored them whenever they were in trouble. Tyroc says it is because of their skin color that does not make them important enough. Racial prejudice died out years ago but perhaps the Legion is behind the times he tells his people. The Legion are astonished that they are being called racists, but before they can do anything Karate Kid has Superboy follow him to where a sky bridge is collapsing, the tow make short work of the debris. Bu the good people of Marzal are not impressed and give them a hard time. All this time Tyroc's message is still playing telling the people of Marzal about the Betas and that he will take them into custody. While this is happening two Beta's are spying on the Legion. The Legion track the Gem's using a Gem Scanner that Brainiac-5 developed. But before the Team can get there the beta's find the probe they open it and it releases deadly radiation from being in space all of these years. One Beta still concouius spots the legion flying in the distance but they cannot see what is happening. The Beta opens is mouth but no sound comes out. All of a sudden Superboy turns and has the rest follow him to the stricken Beta's and the probe. Superboy has Shadow Lass cover the jewels with her shadow temporary stopping the radiation and Superboy throws the probe out of this world. 3 of the 4 Beta were too close to the radiation and they are now dead the 3 is revealed to be Tyroc in disguise. He used his super power to contact Superboy and let him know what was going on. Tyroc realizes that the Legion is not so bad and decides to see if he can Qualify to become a Legionnaire.
Roll Call:
- Superboy
- Brainiac-5
- Karate Kid
- Shadow Lass
- Cosmic Boy
- Tyroc
- Cruiser
- Flight Ring
- Gem Scanner
Page 1:
- Great splash page showing Tyrok and the people of Marzal throwing rocks at the Legion.
- Cosmic boy in his chest baring uniform explaining about the Gems and the probe.
- We get exposition about Marzal, it being a city populated entirely by black people, which explains why we have never seen any black people in 30th century earth.
- The beta's are black suit jet pack wearing crooks.
- The Legion hear strange noises doing strange things.
- Tyroc makes a great entrance. This is a great drawing of a silly costume.
- Tyroc TV
- We get to see the grateful citizens of Marzal, tell the legion to get the hell off their Island.
- Of course Brainiac-5 just happens to have a gadget to find the missing Gems.
- Darkness stopping radiation, not so sure about that.
And of course Tyroc is now all buddy buddy with the legion and wants to join up.
I always liked this story and was disappointed that Tyroc was not used more often He makes only two more major appearances in this title and is not used regularly until the 5 year Later Legion in the 90's.
Next time the 2nd tale of this issue starring my favorite threesome Duo Damsel and Bouncing Boy. And I leave you with another Hostess Ad featuring Batman and Robin
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