The Legion wasted no time getting more members in the card era, but were they good members?

In the case of Dream Girl (Justice League 048), the answer is yes. She gave the team its first Probability Control piece to nudge the odds a little more toward success — important for the offense- and actions-challenged Legion. She shifts to Outwit on her late dial. Hidden Charm: It’s vital that she gets line of Fire for her PC, so consider the Coordination feat to ensure she can see from behind a wall of allies.

On the other hand, Bouncing Boy (Justice League 016) is NOT a good addition to the LSH, with a difficult-to-use SP and highly mediocre values. Hidden Charm: His Toughness makes him a decent tie-up piece with some endurance. Also, time his attacks against near-dead foes to best activate his SP for extra attacks.

How did the Legion respond to a Crisis? Answer: with some of its best figs to date.

Supergirl (Crisis 056) improved a bit on earlier bruisers, starting with several clicks of melee-only Hypersonic Speed for 178 points. But her 3 damage is much lower than either Vet M’onel’s or Vet Origin Supergirl’s, she’s still only wielding a 10 AV, and she’s not saving that much in cost. She is a source of the Superman Ally TA, though, for a Legion-only team. Hidden Charm: Get around her weaknesses by staying based with her initial target, where she can use Close Combat Expert, then Quake or Flurry as her dial progresses.

At 63 points, Karate Kid (Crisis 024) provides company for Timber Wolf in the low-cost melee fighting division. Though his AV begins a bit lower at 10, it ramps up to 12 by mid-dial. He needs to be shielded from shooters who’ll make short work of him. Hidden Charm: His 2nd click gains Plasticity and retains CR, so he becomes a mean tie-up piece.

Dawnstar (Crisis 022) added one of the game’s cheapest Hypersonic Speed figs and she also benefited the Legion’s cause with her SP “Quarry” that gives a +1 AV to the whole team against a certain target. Willpower rounds out the 60-point package. Hidden Charm: She excels at drawing fire from more vital members of the team, being relatively hittable with low DV and troublesome to the enemy due to her SP.

Was the Legion crazed enough to enter Arkham Asylum? Yes…barely. Fall 2008’s Arkham Asylum, the last set of the Topps-era WizKids, only added a solitary Legionnaire:

Element Lad (Arkham Asylum 037) was a disappointment. Based on the weakest iteration of the matter-transmuting character, the clix was even more underwhelming. Double-target Incapacitate isn’t good with only a 9 AV. Barrier at 6 range isn’t a whole lot better. The worst bit, though, is the relative uselessness of his Transmute SP: He can destroy 2 adjacent objects or remove hindering, blocking or debris marker within 4 squares and line of fire, but only at beginning of turn. For him to get that close to use it AND have the LOF, his 17 DV will likely have to weather attacks in the turn prior. He’s the first piece to go if you’re having trouble fitting characters on the build. Hidden Charm: Treat him as a Barrier piece, period, until you can’t anymore. This gives the actions-challenged Legion a breather.

The first DC set of the NECA era, Winter 2010’s Brave and the Bold, didn’t have a single Legion of Super-Heroes member. And the DC 75th Anniversary set in late 2010 only has one with the keyword:

Superboy (DC 75th Anniversary 026) provides the Teen Titans TA for an otherwise all-Legion team to copy and heal each other with, along with Superman Ally. He’s also a decent brawler with Charge, Super Strength and 4 damage, if rather expensive at his limited role. Hidden Charm: He can also contribute either the New Teen Titans ATA to give the high-point fig Leadership (possibly himself at 153 points) or the Young Justice ATA to prevent untimely KOs (works particularly well with the bunker formation).

Next: It seems the Legion needs a Superman to inspire them.