This volume contains more Legion stories from the late 1960's up to 1970.
"Heroes for Hire" presents the Legion with a dilemma: How do they get at a group of Pirates who are defended by an actual living planet? The Legion appears to cope by quitting being unpaid defenders of the galaxy and now only helps people for pay. But have they really gone mercenary, or does their money-grubbing have a point?
"Twelve Hours to Live" has Superboy, Princess Projectra, Karate Kid and Duo Damsel drinking a toast to Brainiac 5's birthday. But their cups have been poisoned with the deadliest poison in the galaxy, and each has only twelve hours to live, and each decides to spend it in different ways. But as they make their wills and time ticks towards zero, time stops, and the other legionnaires are offered an incredible bargain to save their lives. But when they take it, can they succeed at their mission?
"The Legion's Space Odyssey" has Ultra Boy, Invisible Kid, Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, Cosmic Boy and Sun Boy blasted off into space by a strange explosion. They wake up on a far distant planet, and Superboy, who is with them, is killed by a strange creature with Kryptonite teeth. How will they ever get home again, and what caused the explosion that threw them into space?
In "The Forbidden Fruits", Timber Wolf is drugged with strange fruits by an unknown man. He's prepared to give him more- as long as Timber Wolf shares them with the rest of the Legion. But which is stronger: Brin's duty, or his love of the Legion and Light Lass?
"One of Us is an Imposter!" When the Legion Computer says that one of the Legionnaires present is an imposter, Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Dream Girl, Lightning Lad and Element Lad must figure out which of them it is- before it's too late!
In "Half a Legionnaire", Duo Damsel splits in two to get a rest while one of her two selves goes on a mission. But when she comes back engaged to a man named Nam'lor, rumors of a criminal duo consisting of a man and a beautiful woman come back with her, and her other self fears she is the one to blame. But what is the truth, and does her new fianceé have something to do with it?
"The Hapless Hero" gives us more about Matter-Eater Lad, and his unhappy home life. While the other heroes have supportive parents, his dad is a gambler, and his mother is a stay-at-home do nothing. When he gets into another fight with them about money, he goes back to the Legion clubhouse, where Shrinking Violet is missing the man she loves, Duplicate Boy. But when Matter-Eater Lad takes her out for a night on the town, will she cause a fight between the two heroes?
In "Kill a Friend to Save the World", Ultra Boy is challenged by a robot in the mall, and defeated. The maker of the Robot, Cosvarr, wants to sell the robots to the UP as protectors, since the Legion is inadequate. But when the Legion investigates, Cosvar has Superboy and Mon-El as his prisoners. Can they defeat Cosvarr or kill their own friends to save them from his robot plot?
In "Chameleon Boy's Secret Identity", Cham goes to a party with Princess Projectra and meets a beautiful friend of hers, but she is completely turned off by his looks. He likes her anyway, so he changes his form to that of a human to be with her. But when her life is in danger, will he give up his secret to save her life? And how will she feel about him afterwards?
"Lament for a Legionnaire" has Dream Girl having a vision of Mon-El's death in a mere five days. But when the vision comes true, who will sacrifice their own life to save that of Mon-El?
"The Fallen Starboy" has Starboy returning to Xanthu to take on a group of thieves who always seem to know when and where shipments are being made, even if changes are made at the time of the delivery. But when Star Boy is kidnapped by the raiders, can he take them on all on his own?
"Zap Goes the Legion" has a supposedly reformed villain using the Legion's own powers against them. Can anyone come up with a way to defeat her?
In "One Hero Too Many" the United Federation of Planets determines that the Legion shall have only 25 active members at one time to remain a tax-free organization. But who will go?
"The Mystery Legionnaire"- When a robotic criminal named Klim wants revenge on the Legion, the same three heroes who defeated him before- Chemical King and Cosmic Boy, along with Shrinking Violet, head off to stop his body from finding his head. But can they reach his head before the rest of his body can, and defeat him again?
"The Tyrant and the Traitor" has the Legion being called in to assist with the toppling of President Peralla of Lahum, who has taken over his planet and intends to try and conquer others with an army of chemical Men. But the leader of the revolution is tied to the Dark Circle. Can the Legion infiltrate and take out both the Tyrant and the Traitor and free Lahum?
"The Legionnaires who Never Were" has Princess Projectra and Saturn Girl being captured on a mission. Bu when they return to the Legion, they find that the Legionnaires don't know them and have no record of either of them. But they do have two new members: Prince Projectur and Saturn Lad. Can the two Legionnaires prove who they are? Or is this some strange dimensional switch?
While there are still some long stories at the beginning of this book, the rest of the stories are one-shots, which was a worrying return to the 50's and 60's stories. I prefer the longer stories, with perhaps a one-shot here and there to break things up.
But the stories are still entertaining and show how much can be packed into a single story without the story being too short or boring. Because even these one-shots can be quite suspenseful and interesting. Yes, I don't like the return to primarily one-shots. I'd rather have longer stories, but I still liked this book.
Reading the old stories shows how the Legion gained its staying power and the amount of interest it generated- really excellent stories with plenty of background for the heroes and incredible foes. Highly recommended.
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