Legends
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Legends was a six-issue comic book limited series published in 1986 and 1987 by DC Comics, which had plot threads running through several other DC comic titles, crossing over into them (each individual crossover/tie-in had a Legends Chapter # header on the cover). The series was plotted by John Ostrander, scripted by Len Wein, pencilled by John Byrne, and inked by Karl Kesel.
Publication history
The six issues of the Legends series could be read as an abbreviated story by themselves, or all 22 chapters could be read as a longer story that included the Legends issues as well as issues from other titles including Batman, Superman, and Secret Origins. It was also the first major DC Universe crossover after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Legends served mainly as a launching pad for several new comic series, including the latter-day Flash title, Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis' comedy/action take on the Justice League, and the villain-based black ops Suicide Squad. The series also saw the post-Crisis introduction into the DC Universe of Captain Marvel (who was spun-off in the miniseries Shazam: The New Beginning) as well as Wonder Woman, who had been rebooted by DC Comics at the same time Legends was being published. The impact on the universe made out its cast of caped superheroes to be called "Earth's Greatest Heroes," akin to Marvel's Avengers who were Earth's Mightiest Heroes, in which later would be comprised as a roster for the new JLA.
Plot synopsis
The plot of Legends is similar to the biblical story of Job, with the evil god Darkseid making a wager with the mysterious Phantom Stranger that he can make humanity turn against its heroes. To carry out his bet, Darkseid sends his minion Glorious Godfrey to Earth[1], where he uses his supernatural ability to control anyone who hears the sound of his voice, and thus turn them against Earth's heroes. To further his scheme, Darkseid sends a new fire elemental called Brimstone to Earth[2], where he defeats the Justice League (in their Detroit-based incarnation, along with Firestorm and a time-traveling Cosmic Boy); meanwhile, Captain Marvel is framed for murder when a cyborg villain called Macro-Man explodes mid-battle via Darkseid's machinations. Captain Marvel is blamed by the media for its death. Batman also suffers his own loss when Robin (Jason Todd) is caught up in a crazed mob and is trampled. Fearing widescale panic, President Ronald Reagan (the U.S. Commander-in-Chief at the time of publication) declares martial law and bans all superheroic activities in America. However, this angers several members of Reagan's department of defense, who - at the behest of Amanda Waller - activate "Project: Task Force X", AKA the Suicide Squad. Recruiting a team of expendable imprisoned supervillains, Amanda Waller has the Suicide Squad destroy Brimstone.
In the end, Doctor Fate is forced to intervene when Glorious Godfrey begins a campaign to use his army of followers to invade Washington DC and take over the United States. Dr. Fate organizes Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Black Canary, Teen Titans members Changeling and the Flash, and the Blue Beetle to oppose Glorious Godfrey. They are joined by the Martian Manhunter, who responds to a JLA distress call from the President, and Wonder Woman; together, they defeat the forces of Glorious Godfrey, including Darkseid's cyborg Hounds of War. In the end, the masses are freed from Godfrey's power when Robin leaves his hospital bed and gathers an army of children, who are untouched by Godfrey's powers, to serve as a human shield between the heroes and Godfrey. When Godfrey strikes a young girl who argues that Godfrey is controlling them, the shock of Godfrey's actions frees the mob from his power. Godfrey himself is defeated when he steals Dr. Fate's helmet and puts it on, rendering him mindless as a result.