Discussion:
The Legion's Future Setting...
(too old to reply)
John Duncan Yoyo
2007-06-27 13:29:55 UTC
Permalink
On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:54:48 -0400, Brad Haga <***@adelphia.net>
wrote:

added rec.arts.comics.dc.lsh for more expertise.
I understand that the original Legion of Super Heroes stories were
marketed at kids, and were hardly the place to have geniune "SF"
concepts (tho maybe I'm wrong?), but I was wondering how much
development the 30th/31st century has gotten over the decades. For
1) Politically: I see in the cartoon that the United Planets (or
whatever they call their government) has an elected President. But
what about Earth? Is the USA still a solvent entity, with its own
President or is there a one-world government, with its own President?
Is there an official who is, in effect, the "Mayor/Governor" of the
Americas, or of Earth and answers to the President of the UP? How big
is the UP, anyway?
Politically, in most instances, things are pretty consolidated on Earth
although regional differences still exist. There's usually an EarthGov
to represent Earth within the United Planets and a Terran has been
President of the UP several times.
2) Sexually: Don't recall the issue, but one of the few Legion comics
I recall reading when I was a kid had a scene where a very pregnant
Saturn Girl rushed into battle with her teammates; this would seem to
indicate sexual equality, altho even one of the villains thought the
Legion was insane to allow this! In the Legion's time, are sexual
mores noticably different? I don't expect to see the Legionaires
inviting Superboy to the weekly orgy, but establishing that things
have changed somewhat would be nice...^^
Again, depending on Legion era, sexuality and modesty have varied a
little bit. In the Classic Legion clothing was all but optional
(several members wore very little while others went in for more
traditional superhero garb). Mostly a matter of taste and environment,
I'd say: Laurel Kent (gods, I miss her) wore a poncho and little else,
Cosmic Boy and Shadow Lass wore what could best be described as swimwear
with boots, and Saturn Girl wore a pink one-piece affair with thigh
boots as I recall. 'Professional' people wore more clothing for both
appearance and utility.
Gender roles within the UP seemed generally interchangeable although
there were societies dominated by one gender or another (didn't see many
examples of more than two gender species, actually).
I recall the intimation of same-sex relationships in a few instances and
then there was the Shvaughn/Sean Erin romance with Element Lad ... his
main problem with that was that Shvaughn/Sean decieved him about it.
3) Religion: Do we know any of the practicing faiths of any of the
Legionaires? Have any religions from now survived? Is there still ANY
religion, at all? Any popular or dominant philosophies?
Well, when many of your main characters aren't from Earth things get
odd. As I recall Collosal Boy/Leviathan was Jewish, I read somewhere
that Kinetix was also, while other Legionaires had different beliefs
(Shadow Lass followed the relegion of her people, Element Lad followed
his, Karate Kid adhered to the tenets of several Eastern philosophies
while others venerated Valor and even Superman/Superboy).
IMS There was a Christmas story somewhere along the line although it
may have be a Klordny story.

There is a priceless Hembeck strip of Colossal Boy complaining they
just sprung his Jewish heritage on him before the Christmas party.
4) Language: Basically the same questions as with Religion.^^
Interlac is the common language of choice, most people speak some
version of it (although not everyone, Chameleon Boy had to learn it
early on in the reboot Legion series). For communicating with those not
using Interlac or a language that one of the Legionnaires knew, there
was the Telepathic Earplug (in some versions of the Legion they were not
only universal translators but long range communication devices).
And that sort of thing. I'd understand if there was no functional
difference between now and a thousand years ahead, as this isn't a
serious attempt at SF, but it would be nice if there were...
Oh, there are quite a few differences ... and there are quite a few
similarities, too. The UP standard age of majority is 14 standard years
in most of the runs that I remember, for instance.
Dex
H. Brad Haga
--
John Duncan Yoyo
------------------------------o)
Save the Cheeleader-
Collect the whole set.
MikeB
2007-06-27 16:33:17 UTC
Permalink
Post by John Duncan Yoyo
1) Politically: I see in the cartoon that the
United Planets (or whatever they call their
government) has an elected President. But
what about Earth? Is the USA still a solvent
entity, with its own President or is there a one-
world government, with its own President?
Is there an official who is, in effect,
the "Mayor/Governor" of the Americas,
or of Earth and answers to the President of the UP?
There is a priceless Hembeck strip of Colossal Boy
complaining they just sprung his Jewish heritage on
him before the Christmas party.
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about Colossal
Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of EarthGov
during the Levitz run?

In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?

--Mike Blake
Michael S. Schiffer
2007-06-27 18:01:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by MikeB
...
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about Colossal
Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of EarthGov
during the Levitz run?
Yes: Marte Allon.
Post by MikeB
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?
IIRC, the candidates were computer-selected, but then ran against one
another in an election.

Mike
YKW '06
2007-06-27 18:07:32 UTC
Permalink
Post by Michael S. Schiffer
Post by MikeB
...
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about Colossal
Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of EarthGov
during the Levitz run?
Yes: Marte Allon.
Post by MikeB
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?
IIRC, the candidates were computer-selected, but then ran against one
another in an election.
Mike
But other UP worlds =did= use a draft-lottery system to choose
representatives. I believe that was how Tenzil Kem initially became
involved in politics on Bismoll.
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Hal Shipman
2007-06-27 21:27:16 UTC
Permalink
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:07:32 GMT, "YKW '06"
Post by YKW '06
Post by Michael S. Schiffer
Post by MikeB
...
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about Colossal
Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of EarthGov
during the Levitz run?
Yes: Marte Allon.
Post by MikeB
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?
IIRC, the candidates were computer-selected, but then ran against one
another in an election.
Mike
But other UP worlds =did= use a draft-lottery system to choose
representatives. I believe that was how Tenzil Kem initially became
involved in politics on Bismoll.
No, he was drafted as a candidate, not directly as a representative,
in the Legion of Super-Rejects story.

Hal.

I don't wear no Stetson
But I'm willing to bet, son
That I'm as big a Texan as you are
- Robert Earl Keen, "Amarillo Highway"
Dan McEwen
2007-06-27 19:08:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by MikeB
Post by John Duncan Yoyo
1) Politically: I see in the cartoon that the
United Planets (or whatever they call their
government) has an elected President. But
what about Earth? Is the USA still a solvent
entity, with its own President or is there a one-
world government, with its own President?
Is there an official who is, in effect,
the "Mayor/Governor" of the Americas,
or of Earth and answers to the President of the UP?
There is a priceless Hembeck strip of Colossal Boy
complaining they just sprung his Jewish heritage on
him before the Christmas party.
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about Colossal
Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of EarthGov
during the Levitz run?
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?
A few people were selected to be able to run. Actually, I don't think
there was a choice as to whether or not you could choose not to run.
The criteria for selection was never disclosed to us. The candidates,
once chosen, were elected through popular vote.
Jay A. Johnson
2007-06-28 02:22:24 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dan McEwen
Post by MikeB
Post by John Duncan Yoyo
1) Politically: I see in the cartoon that the
United Planets (or whatever they call their
government) has an elected President. But
what about Earth? Is the USA still a solvent
entity, with its own President or is there a one-
world government, with its own President?
Is there an official who is, in effect,
the "Mayor/Governor" of the Americas,
or of Earth and answers to the President of the UP?
There is a priceless Hembeck strip of Colossal Boy
complaining they just sprung his Jewish heritage on
him before the Christmas party.
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about Colossal
Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of EarthGov
during the Levitz run?
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?
A few people were selected to be able to run. Actually, I don't think
there was a choice as to whether or not you could choose not to run.
The criteria for selection was never disclosed to us. The candidates,
once chosen, were elected through popular vote.
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
Mike Blake
2007-06-28 02:58:23 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dan McEwen
Post by MikeB
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about
Colossal Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of
EarthGov during the Levitz run?
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?
A few people were selected to be able to run. Actually, I don't
think there was a choice as to whether or not you could choose not
to run. The criteria for selection was never disclosed to us. The
candidates, once chosen, were elected through popular vote.
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned, in passing by Ms. Allon,
that "anybody who actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
Thanks; that's what I was thinking of....it was more like being drafted
into public service than choosing a life in politics.
Daibhid Ceanaideach
2007-06-28 17:00:14 UTC
Permalink
'Twas on the 28 Jun 2007, that "Jay A. Johnson"
Post by Jay A. Johnson
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
Was this before or after "Hitch-Hikers' Guide" came out?
--
Dave
Official Absentee of EU Skiffeysoc
http://sesoc.eusa.ed.ac.uk/
"I'm still here with the eyes of a child,
The wonder never grows old."
-"Hearthammer", Runrig
Duggy
2007-06-29 03:09:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Daibhid Ceanaideach
'Twas on the 28 Jun 2007, that "Jay A. Johnson"
Post by Jay A. Johnson
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
Was this before or after "Hitch-Hikers' Guide" came out?
I don't know, but Thomas Moore's Utopia is probably before both,
right?

===
= DUG.
===
Daibhid Ceanaideach
2007-06-29 17:17:00 UTC
Permalink
On Jun 29, 3:00 am, Daibhid Ceanaideach
Post by Daibhid Ceanaideach
'Twas on the 28 Jun 2007, that "Jay A. Johnson"
Post by Jay A. Johnson
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
Was this before or after "Hitch-Hikers' Guide" came out?
I don't know, but Thomas Moore's Utopia is probably before
both, right?
Good call.
--
Dave
Official Absentee of EU Skiffeysoc
http://sesoc.eusa.ed.ac.uk/
"I'm still here with the eyes of a child,
The wonder never grows old."
-"Hearthammer", Runrig
JLB
2007-06-28 17:34:52 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jay A. Johnson
Post by Dan McEwen
Post by MikeB
Post by John Duncan Yoyo
1) Politically: I see in the cartoon that the
United Planets (or whatever they call their
government) has an elected President. But
what about Earth? Is the USA still a solvent
entity, with its own President or is there a one-
world government, with its own President?
Is there an official who is, in effect,
the "Mayor/Governor" of the Americas,
or of Earth and answers to the President of the UP?
There is a priceless Hembeck strip of Colossal Boy
complaining they just sprung his Jewish heritage on
him before the Christmas party.
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about Colossal
Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of EarthGov
during the Levitz run?
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?
A few people were selected to be able to run. Actually, I don't think
there was a choice as to whether or not you could choose not to run.
The criteria for selection was never disclosed to us. The candidates,
once chosen, were elected through popular vote.
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
I remeber reading a sci-fi book with a statement like that in it.
DOn't remember the title, but I think it involved a human being who
lived on one of Saturn's moons and since he couldn't have kids he had
a couple clones of himself.

JLB
Dan McEwen
2007-06-28 18:57:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jay A. Johnson
Post by Dan McEwen
A few people were selected to be able to run. Actually, I don't
think there was a choice as to whether or not you could choose not to
run. The criteria for selection was never disclosed to us. The
candidates, once chosen, were elected through popular vote.
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
That's probably for the best even if it didn't completely eradicate
corruption from the post.
JLB
2007-06-28 21:24:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dan McEwen
Post by Jay A. Johnson
Post by Dan McEwen
A few people were selected to be able to run. Actually, I don't
think there was a choice as to whether or not you could choose not to
run. The criteria for selection was never disclosed to us. The
candidates, once chosen, were elected through popular vote.
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
That's probably for the best even if it didn't completely eradicate
corruption from the post.
You know what's kind of fun? Imagining the campaign promises of
people who actually didn't want the job.

"And if elected I shall spit in the face of every citizen who voted
for me. I will make the Earth's official language Pig Latin, I wll
open all meeting with local governments by kicking the male
representives in the crotch.

JLB
Michael S. Schiffer
2007-06-28 23:38:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by JLB
...
Post by Jay A. Johnson
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
...
You know what's kind of fun? Imagining the campaign promises of
people who actually didn't want the job.
"And if elected I shall spit in the face of every citizen who
voted for me. I will make the Earth's official language Pig
Latin, I wll open all meeting with local governments by kicking
the male representives in the crotch.
The computers were mostly pretty good at picking either 1) people
with a sense of responsibility, such that they'd take the election
seriously and serve dutifully if elected, or 2) Universo disguised
as/mind-controlling someone in group 1).

(Which probably meant that the average level of megalomania in
Earthgov's executive branch wasn't all that different from 20th
century Earth.)

Mike
Lilith
2007-07-12 21:56:39 UTC
Permalink
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:22:24 -0700, "Jay A. Johnson"
Post by Jay A. Johnson
Post by Dan McEwen
Post by MikeB
Post by John Duncan Yoyo
1) Politically: I see in the cartoon that the
United Planets (or whatever they call their
government) has an elected President. But
what about Earth? Is the USA still a solvent
entity, with its own President or is there a one-
world government, with its own President?
Is there an official who is, in effect,
the "Mayor/Governor" of the Americas,
or of Earth and answers to the President of the UP?
There is a priceless Hembeck strip of Colossal Boy
complaining they just sprung his Jewish heritage on
him before the Christmas party.
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about Colossal
Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of EarthGov
during the Levitz run?
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?
A few people were selected to be able to run. Actually, I don't think
there was a choice as to whether or not you could choose not to run.
The criteria for selection was never disclosed to us. The candidates,
once chosen, were elected through popular vote.
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
So anyone who really wanted it should pretend they don't want it. Or
they get someone who isn't prepared for politics at all. Like we have
in the US today.
--
Lilith
Daibhid Ceanaideach
2007-07-13 19:41:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Lilith
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:22:24 -0700, "Jay A. Johnson"
Post by Jay A. Johnson
Post by Dan McEwen
Post by MikeB
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something
about Colossal Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became
the President of EarthGov during the Levitz run?
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she
*selected* rather *elected* to the post, through a
lottery or something?
A few people were selected to be able to run. Actually,
I don't think there was a choice as to whether or not you
could choose not to run. The criteria for selection was
never disclosed to us. The candidates, once chosen, were
elected through popular vote.
Actually, there was one criterion mentioned,
in passing by Ms. Allon, that "anybody who
actually wanted the job wasn't allowed anywhere
near it".
So anyone who really wanted it should pretend they don't
want it. Or they get someone who isn't prepared for
politics at all. Like we have in the US today.
The impression I've always had is that the UP, like Star
Trek's Federation, had concluded that "politics" wasn't the
best way to run things.

What did they replace it with? Well, if we knew that, we could
do it now 8-)...
--
Dave
Official Absentee of EU Skiffeysoc
http://sesoc.eusa.ed.ac.uk/
"I'm still here with the eyes of a child,
The wonder never grows old."
-"Hearthammer", Runrig
Joe Sewell
2007-06-29 18:01:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dan McEwen
Post by MikeB
Post by John Duncan Yoyo
1) Politically: I see in the cartoon that the
United Planets (or whatever they call their
government) has an elected President. But
what about Earth? Is the USA still a solvent
entity, with its own President or is there a one-
world government, with its own President?
Is there an official who is, in effect,
the "Mayor/Governor" of the Americas,
or of Earth and answers to the President of the UP?
There is a priceless Hembeck strip of Colossal Boy
complaining they just sprung his Jewish heritage on
him before the Christmas party.
Quoting two snippets out of context to ask something about Colossal
Boy...wasn't it him whose mother became the President of EarthGov
during the Levitz run?
In fact, and this I may be misremembering, wasn't she *selected*
rather *elected* to the post, through a lottery or something?
A few people were selected to be able to run. Actually, I don't think
there was a choice as to whether or not you could choose not to run.
The criteria for selection was never disclosed to us. The candidates,
once chosen, were elected through popular vote.
The selection process, IMS, was done by computer.

Whether the software just picked 3 random characters or actually
analyzed the individual's profiles is something I don't recall ... but I
*do* recall that one important thing to the process was to avoid those
who actually sought office.
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