The Lethal Legion is the name of five teams of fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.

The first version of the Legion appears in The Avengers #78 (Jul. 1970); the second version in Avengers #164 (Oct. 1977); the third version in West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #1 (Oct. 1985); the fourth Avengers West Coast #98 (Sep. 1993) and the final version in the limited series Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1 (Aug. 2009). The teams were created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema; Jim Shooter and various artists; Steve Englehart and Al Milgrom; Roy Thomas and Tim Dzon; and Frank Tieri and various artists respectively.

History[link]

Lethal Legion[link]

The original Lethal Legion are formed by the villain Grim Reaper (the brother of Avenger Wonder Man) and first appear in the title the Avengers. The Man-Ape attacks Captain America, but is beaten back by the Avengers. However, he captures the Black Panther's girlfriend Monica, binding her hand and foot with metal clamps. The Black Panther is lured into a trap by the Man-Ape, and despite getting past him he is knocked out by an exploding dummy of Monica. The Black Panther is chained, and with the Man-Ape he meets the other members of the Lethal Legion. They are dispatched to different locations to meet the Avengers. The villains, however, are overconfident, and despite trapping most of the members in a giant hourglass which is filling with a deadly gas, they are tricked and defeated by the Avengers after the Vision defeats Power Man, who had been sent to capture him. He disgusies himself as Power Man and Power Man as him, and takes him to the base.^[1]

Lethal Legion II[link]

A second version, formed by European villain Count Nefaria reappears in the title, composed of Living Laser, Whirlwind and Power Man. He magnifies their powers, but is revealed to be a manipulative ploy to steal their magnified powers in a failed bid to destroy the Avengers. The depowered villains are sent to prison.^[2]

Lethal Legion III[link]

The Grim Reaper returns in the title West Coast Avengers, leading a third version against the superhero team, but internal squabbling and personal agendas hinder the villains and they are defeated and scattered.^[3]

Lethal Legion IV[link]

A fourth version appear in the title Marvel Age. They were led by the Porcupine where they track down and battle Captain America who is aided by several other Marvel heroes. Their battle with the superheroes was witnessed by the Beyonder. The outcome of the battle wasn't shown, but it is assumed that the heroes won.^[4]

Lethal Legion V[link]

In the title Avengers West Coast the demon Satannish creates another version using the souls of four infamous historical killers that were found in Mephisto's section of Hell. They have been given powers along with Hangman and the group battle the renamed Avengers West Coast. The group consisted of Axe of Violence (a demonically-enhanced version of Lizzie Borden with an axe replacing one hand), Coldsteel (a demonically-enhanced version of Joseph Stalin now an 8 ft. giant with superhuman strength), Cyana (a demonically-enhanced version of Lucrezia Borgia with poisoned claws), and Zyklon (a demonically-enhanced version of Heinrich Himmler who can belch deadly gas fumes from his mouth). This incarnation eventually lost their powers and their souls were destroyed during the struggle between Mephisto and Satannish.^[5]

Lethal Legion VI[link]

A new version of the Lethal Legion appears during the Dark Reign storyline in the three issue limited series Dark Reign: Lethal Legion. The Grim Reaper (now aided by brother Wonder Man) recruits villains to oppose criminal mastermind Norman Osborn.^[6]

Absorbing Man, Mister Hyde, and Tiger Shark reformed the Lethal Legion with Grey Gargoyle as it's latest member.^[7]

Membership[link]

Other versions[link]

Heroes Reborn[link]

In the Heroes Reborn reality, the Lethal Legion was formed by Enchantress and consisted of Executioner, Scarlet Witch, Ultron-5, and Wonder Man^[8] The Lethal Legion is later betrayed by Loki who takes the Gamma Core's energy for himself.^[9]

In other media[link]

Television[link]

• The Lethal Legion appears in the animated television series The Super Hero Squad Show. This version happens to be a result of Doctor Doom forging allianced with every known villain to help him in his quest to get all the Infinity Fractals that make up the Infinity Sword.

Video games[link]

• The Lethal Legion appears in the Marvel Super Hero Squad video game.

Footnotes[link]

External links[link]

• Lethal Legion at Marvel.com
• Lethal Legion at the Comic Book DB

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