Universe Building: The Legion of Substitute Heroes

The Subs are those characters I never quite got.  Their genesis is pure Silver Age and meant to be fun.  Their usage, however, didn't really hold up to scrutiny.  Making them a last line of defense seems odd when they aren't worthy enough to be Legionnaires. They seem to be used less in the Bronze age.  They get a couple pages in Earthwar.  We do see them make an appearance during the GDS and Night Girl is seen in a Cosmic Boy spotlight issue (#297). They gain some additional members and form an auxiliary.  But they do not appear again until the Subs specials where they are clearly meant to be comedy relief.  By this time, Night Girl has left and Polar Boy decides to disband the Subs and join the Legion.  We see Night Girl used a bit more and then that is it until the 5 Year Gap.

During that time, we find out that many of the Subs join the Legion when it's on its last legs until everyone finally gives up.  In the 5YL series Polar Boy and Night Girl make a few appearance both nothing significant. Infectious Lass is show to be married to Invisible Kid II, but she doesn't see much action.  It's not until well into vol 4 that we see that the Subs are no longer jokes, at least  Fire Lad, Stone Boy, Chlorophyll Kid and Color Kid.  Fire Lad really never had silly powers and it appears he controls them well.  Color Kid is able to generate blinding strobe lights, lighting up regions of outer space.  Stone Boy is taught how to retain his powers even in suspended animation state by a form of hypnosis and because the Dominators have plant based tech, Chlor is a natural in its sabotage. It's a nice bit of redemption for these characters.  We do see a bit more of them and they remain capable.

Fortunately, a Reboot of the Subs is only hinted at with Polar Boy and Night Girl and never happens. Infectious Lass however is in the Cadets program.   The Threeboot shows Night Girl applying for Legion membership but doesn't make it, but may be part of a Legion reserve.  This is not explored further as  it was towards the end of the Threeboot.

When we come to the Retroboot, the Subs make a valiant effort again.  While Color Kid is taken out of action, we see Rainbow Girl now as a member.  Stone Boy is back to his original powers and Chlor says he can talk to plants, but can't really.  So we are back to more of a comedic approach and there are only 4 of them present (Fire Lad is there).  However, this is their only appearance. Night Girl and Polar Boy are members of the Legion.

Now beyond the original Subs, we see a Legion Annual for the Baxter series where Cosmic Boy, Night Girl, along with Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, Karate Kid II and Comet Queen form a "new Subs."  Why?  I don't know.  There is literally no point to it as they are basically the Legion Academy with Lu, Chuck, Rokk and Lydda. And why would Cosmic Boy retire from the Legion in order to head up a new group?  Maybe Levitz just needed a filler story and that's what we got.

The Subs as a group really serves no purpose.  It seems like they sometimes get their own missions but who funds them? I can't believe there is work for them that the SPs couldn't handle.

If you are rejected from open tryouts, then you need to go into the Academy or join the SP.   As Legion leader, if your  team of nearly 25 plus Reserves and Academy is not adequate, a bunch of rejects won't make a difference. I know some people enjoy them, and truly, I don't dislike them either. Fire Lad could easily qualify for Legion membership with the proper control and my post on Color Kid would expand him a bit.  Chlor could probably get work in conservation. Stone Boy, Porcupine Pete and Infectious Lass may not have the most useful powers.

I really feel the Subs is one of those concepts that should not be revived.