Legion of Super Heroes is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation, adapted from the DC Comics series of the same name. It aired on The CW as part of the Kids' WB programming block from September 23, 2006, to April 5, 2008, spanning two seasons and 26 episodes.
Premise
The series centers on a teenage Clark Kent (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal) who is about to move from Smallville to Metropolis. He knows of his abilities but is uncertain about his future. Three members of the Legion of Super-Heroes—Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl, and Bouncing Boy—travel back in time from the 31st century to recruit Superman to help them defeat the Fatal Five. However, they accidentally arrive too early and find Clark before he has adopted the Superman mantle. Clark agrees to travel to the future, where he gradually learns to control his powers and assumes the identity of Superman. At the end of the first season, he returns to his own time.
In the second season, set two years later, a more experienced Superman returns to the 31st century to help the Legion battle the cosmic warlord Imperiex. A new character, Superman X (Kell-El), a clone of Superman from the 41st century, is also introduced.
Production and Development
The series was developed by Amy Wolfram and produced by James Tucker, Linda M. Steiner, and Sander Schwartz. The theme music was composed by Kristopher Carter, with additional music by Michael McCuistion and Lolita Ritmanis. The series was originally conceived for Cartoon Network to coincide with the release of the film Superman Returns, but Cartoon Network passed on it and Kids' WB picked it up.
Early reports suggested the title would be Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, but legal issues surrounding the ownership of the Superboy character led to the character being referred to as a young Superman instead. The series is not part of the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) continuity, despite a Legion-themed episode of Justice League Unlimited that aired shortly before this series premiered.
Cast
The main voice cast included:
- Yuri Lowenthal as Superman / Clark Kent and Superman X (Kell-El)
- Andy Milder as Lightning Lad
- Heather Hogan as Phantom Girl
- Kari Wahlgren as Saturn Girl, Triplicate Girl / Duo Damsel, and Shrinking Violet
- Michael Cornacchia as Bouncing Boy
- Adam Wylie as Brainiac 5 and Colossal Boy
- Shawn Harrison as Timber Wolf
- Alexander Polinsky as Chameleon Boy and Matter-Eater Lad
- Wil Wheaton as Cosmic Boy
Episodes
- Season 1 (13 episodes): September 23, 2006 – May 5, 2007
- Season 2 (13 episodes): September 22, 2007 – April 5, 2008
The first season follows the core team of eight Legionnaires (Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, Phantom Girl, Bouncing Boy, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, and Superman) as they face various threats including the Fatal Five, the Sun-Eater, and the Controller. The season finale, "Sundown" (Parts 1 and 2), features the heroic sacrifice of Ferro Lad.
The second season has a darker tone and focuses on the threat of Imperiex and Brainiac 5's struggle with his ancestor, the original Brainiac. The series finale, "Dark Victory" (Parts 1 and 2), concludes with Brainiac 5 being freed from Brainiac's influence and leaving the Legion out of guilt, while Brainiac secretly rebuilds himself.
Cancellation and Proposed Third Season
The series was cancelled after its second season. A third season was planned but ultimately not produced, partially due to 4Kids Entertainment taking over the Kids' WB time slot. The proposed third season would have taken place three years after the end of season two and would have introduced Sensor, Magnetic Kid, Supergirl, Tellus, Princess Projectra, and Shadow Lass, while expanding the roles of Blok, Wildfire, and Dawnstar.
Awards and Nominations
The series was named "Best Animated Series" of 2006 by Wizard Magazine and was nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards (Creative Arts category): Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing, and Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing.
Other Media
A tie-in comic book series, Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century, was published by DC Comics and lasted 20 issues. The series was released on DVD and Blu-ray, with the complete series released through the Warner Archive Collection in July 2020.
