Legends

{{DC Database:Event Template
 * Image                  = Legends TP.jpg
 * OfficialName           = Legends
 * Aliases                = Operation: Humiliation


 * Universe               = New Earth
 * Locations              = Apokolips, Earth


 * Heroes                 = Batman, Black Canary, Blue Beetle, Captain Marvel, Changeling, Doctor Fate, Firestorm, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Superman, Wonder Woman
 * Villains               = Brimstone, Darkseid, DeSaad, Glorious Godfrey
 * Others                 = Cosmic Boy, Justice League, Suicide Squad, Warlord


 * Titles                 =
 * Collected              = Legends: The Collection
 * Creators               = John Ostrander; Len Wein; John Byrne
 * First                  = Legends #1
 * Last                   = Legends #6


 * HistoryText            = Legends is a DC Universe crossover event written by John Ostrander and Len Wein, with illustrations by John Byrne. The series' involved include Action Comics, Adventures of Superman, Batman, Blue Beetle, Cosmic Boy, Detective Comics, Firestorm, Green Lantern Corps, Justice League of America, Secret Origins, Superman, and Warlord.

The story deals with an operation by Darkseid to discredit the heroes of Earth. This is a plot to destabilize Earth's power structure so Darkseid can harvest the Anti-Life Equation. His agent Glorious Godfrey is sent to turn the people of Earth against their heroes. To accomplish this, Godfrey uses his persuasive powers and poses as a TV psychologist.

Synopsis
Darkseid decides that humanity will be easier to control if he destroys the legends that inspire them. His first attack sent to Earth is a giant monster called Brimstone, who begins destroying New York City. Doctor Bedlam also poses as a villain named Macro-Man to attack Captain Marvel. They trick Captain Marvel into believing he has murdered Macro-Man, and Captain Marvel is so traumatized that he gives up being a hero. Darkseid and the Phantom Stranger argue over humanity's nature. Brimstone buries the Justice League under a building. Glorious Godfrey poses as a psychologist named G. Gordon Godfrey on TV, and turns the public against super-heroes. This rhetoric incites violent riots across America. President Reagan issues an executive order declaring that all costumed super-heroes must cease their activities. Batman is attacked by a crowd, and Robin is beaten unconscious by the mob. Amanda Waller puts a new Suicide Squad together under Task Force X. This group includes Blockbuster, Bronze Tiger, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Enchantress, and Rick Flag. They are sent to destroy Brimstone, who is attacking Mount Rushmore. Blockbuster is killed in action. Deadshot shoots Brimstone with an experimental rifle and Brimstone explodes. The riots get worse and super-villains go on crime sprees with no heroes to oppose them. Godfrey convinces his followers that they must overthrow the corrupt American government.

Doctor Fate recognized that chaos was overtaking the country, and in order to maintain the cosmic balance, recruited several heroes to his cause. These heroes successfully exposed G. Gordon Godfrey for the villain that he was and freed the minds of those under his thrall.

Batman
Batman and Robin help Commissioner Gordon take down Magpie. Bruce Wayne and Gordon meet Godfrey at a social event, where they argue about vigilantism. Godfrey threatens Gordon's career for supporting Batman. Batman and Robin later attend a Godfrey rally at Gotham University. The Penguin is also at Gotham University, attempting to steal a group of valuable rare falcons. They hunt the Penguin down and stop him with the help of a local ornithologist.

Green Lantern
Guy Gardner returns to Earth, having escaped his imprisonment with Appa Ali Apsa on Maltus. Gardner tries to take over leadership in the Green Lantern Corps of Earth. The other Lanterns fight him off, recognizing that he is brain-damaged. Appa tries to strip Gardner of his rank and power ring. Gardner's girlfriend Kari Limbo pleads with Hal Jordan to help Guy. Jordan convinces Appa that they can rehabilitate Gardner if they let him stay on Earth.

Legion of Super-Heroes
Cosmic Boy and Night Girl leave the 30th Century in a Time Bubble to go on vacation in the 20th Century. Cosmic Boy is shocked to find that Superman doesn't remember him, despite their long history together. Cosmic Boy realizes that there are several things wrong with this era, and he needs to fix history. They visit Houston to see why NASA is so behind on where the space program should be. Cosmic Boy's ancestor Jason Krinnski is a scientist there, and they help him fight off violent protesters.

Warlord
Warlord briefly leaves Skartaris with Mariah and Shakira to find the cure for a plague. Darkseid's underling DeSaad travels to Skartaris while Warlord is missing and begins to impersonate Warlord. DeSaad commits villainous acts of murder to ruin Warlord's reputation. Together with the assassin Y'smalla, DeSaad creates a Citadel of Fear to hold his victims. They begin capturing innocents and DeSaad tortures them using Apokoliptian technology. DeSaad kidnaps Warlord's wife Tara to hold a public execution. Warlord is able to break into the Citadel and stop DeSaad's plans. DeSaad escapes before Warlord can pursue him. Despite the failure of his plans, DeSaad is satisfied that he has made many citizens of Skartaris despise Warlord.


 * Issues                 =

Index:

Chronology:


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 * Notes                  =
 * This series begins a long-running trend of annual crossover events at DC. It is followed the next year by Millennium.
 * This series is the DC Comics debut of writer John Ostrander, who previously worked at the company . Len Wein was a veteran DC writer, having started at DC on Teen Titans in 1968. John Byrne is relatively new to DC, having worked at Marvel Comics for a long time prior. Byrne's DC work at this point included Untold Legend of the Batman and The Man of Steel.
 * Trivia                 =
 * Though Captain Marvel's battle with Magno-Man seemed to have taken place in Fawcett City in the Legends mini-series, the tie-in mini-series Shazam: The New Beginning (which retold the origin of Captain Marvel in the New Earth setting prior to The Power Of Shazam) implies that it actually took place in San Francisco.


 * RecommendedReading     =
 * Legends spawned several spin-off titles including:
 * Flash (Volume 2)
 * Justice League America
 * Suicide Squad
 * Wonder Woman (Volume 2)

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