Before I get into the story proper, lets go back to the back up story in Superboy 196 " One shot Hero" A quick synopiss: We are introduced to Drake Burroughs aka ERG-1 a being made out of Energy livining in a containment suit applying for membership in the Legion.. His powers are control over his own energy to duplicate the ablitys of various legionarries. Mon-El Rejects him saying that memebers have to have at least one unique power. The Legionarries go on a mission and just before Colosaal boy is about to be killed by an out of control machine. ERG who stowed away on their mission flies in and unleases his full energy on the machine and destroy's it. Left with an empty contaiment suit the Legionarries assume he his dead.
Now on to the issue at hand. We open apon the Legion's green room and three hopful Legion applicants, Porcupine Pete, Infectious Lass and Molecular Master. We also see the energy blob we saw in the last issue still claiming that nothing must stand in his way. Shrinking Violet leads the applicants into the Visitape library, where temporary leader Superboy is waiting to show them the tape of Erg-1 sacrificing himself to save Colossal Boy. At this time we learn that the energy blob is really Erg-1 and with out access to his containment suit he was just a formless blob, and after a journey of millions of miles that took almost a full year he finally reached earth and his containment suit. In the Hall of Heroes he finds his suit in a glass case next to the Statue of Ferro Lad. Trying to enter his suit he is shocked by the force-field that surrounds it. Meanwhile Porcupine Pete is ready to show his powers, projecting quill like objects from his body in all directions, the only problem is that he can to figure out how to aim them.Noticing that his powers are more of a hindrance than a help Superboy Rejects him.
After recovering from the force-field attack Erg is still trying to solve his problem, when he encounters a whistling Cosmic Boy walking the hallways. Figuring that his energy status will allow him to enter Cosmic boy's brain and take control of him long enough to release the force field, he tries to do just that and fails. Back in the Main Hall Infectious Lass asks for a volunteer to demonstrate her powers, the ever gallant Starboy volunteers only to be hit by the common cold and a flu virus from Infectious Lass who powers are to transmit any disease she chooses to others. Starboy collapse to the ground and Superboy rejects the lass fearing that they all could be put on the sick list by her powers.
In a nearby corridor Erg again recovers from being shocked and figures out that the Flight Ring Cosmic boy was wearing was powered by the same type of energy that makes up the force-field which surrounds his uniforms, meaning he can not contact any member of the Legion for help.
Molecular Master has is turn to demonstrate his powers. His unique ability enables him to enlarge the infinite tiny atoms that make up the universe, and control the power within. Superboy and the other members in the room are impressed and announce that he past the first test. Since Molecular master is not wearing a flight ring Erg believes he can enter his body and command him to free his uniform. Buy to Erg's unbelievable horror, he finds that he cannot control his mind because he does not have one he is an android. After analyzing the computer data Erg finds out he was sent to infiltrate the legion to steal the Miracle Machine.
The Miracle Machine: Converts thoughts into reality it is capable of achieving anything. Note See adventure comics #367.
Erg finds out that the android is poisoning the air by exhaling invisible gas into the air since he arrived, a gas so toxic even Superboy will succumb to it. Shadow Lass escorts Molecular master to the Psychological Training Unit, for the next test. As she is explaining the test Shadow lass goes weak and passes out. Throughout the vast citadel members of the Legion begin to collapse all afflicted with the same mysterious malady even the mightiest of all, Superboy. In moments not a singe one remains standing and Molecular Master attempts to collect his prize when he his stopped by a revised Erg in his containment suit. The android uses his powers to grow an Atom into a Super-Atom, with the destructive energy of more than 1,000 nuclear bombs. Erg who is composed of pure energy him self, absorbs the energy to be come even more powerful than before and uses it to fire a boot blast that destroys the android. As the Molecular masters lies on the floor in pieces Erg reflects on how he used the miracle machine itself to change the poison to knock out gas and to restore himself to his containment suit. As the legion recovers to their feet Erg faces his toughest task, explaining what just happened.
Bits of Legion Business.
Roll Call
- Superboy (temporary leader)
- Star Boy
- Phantom Girl
- Colossal Boy
- Chemical Kid
- Cosmic Boy
- Shrinking Violet
- Shadow Lass.
Parts of Legion Headquarters
- The Green Room
- Visitape Library
- Main Meeting room
- Hall of Heroes
- Psychological training unit
Notes
In Superboy 195 I just noticed for the first time to day as Phantom Girl is escorting Erg out the address over the door is 344 Clinton st. Which is the same address as Clark Kent Metropolis apartment used it comics from this time (70's),
Infectious Lass looks like a 30th century street walker in her outfit.
Porcupine Pete does not look much better, the best costume of the three is Molecular Master, who reminds me a little of the X-Man Havok costume. Erg trying to figure out how to get back into his suit is interesting and the twist with Molecular master is good. Every Miracle Machine story ends the same with the hero using it to save the day, I usually do not like this kinds of stories but it works here because that is what it is suppose to do. We see the Miracle Machine again in about 10-12 issues from know. All three applicants will appear again in the future. I do not like that we do know who sent the Molecular masters but this will be resolved later in I think the Paul Levitz run but do not quote me on that, I am going by memory not research.
Next Time the 2nd story from this Issue, another Bates Cockrum classic "The Silent Death."
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