The Legion of Doom is a group of supervillains who originated in Challenge of the Superfriends, an animated series from Hanna-Barbera based on DC Comics' Justice League. The Legion of Doom has since been incorporated into the main DC Universe, appearing in American comic books, as well as further animated and live-action adaptations, and video games.
History In each episode of Challenge of the Superfriends that they appeared, the Legion of Doom would enact a plot against the Super Friends and a plot to take over the world only to be met with defeat by the end of the story. In some episodes, they would escape capture through a last-minute escape plan often contrived by Luthor. Other times, the Legion of Doom (or portions of it) would end up apprehended.
The episode "History of Doom" showed that Lex Luthor assembled 13 supervillains in order to form the most powerful and sinister group the world had ever seen.
Development When the Challenge of the Superfriends season was originally conceived, it was named Battle of the Superheroes and featured the introduction of Captain Marvel to the Super Friends. The group that challenged the heroes was to be called the "League of Evil", led by Captain Marvel's nemesis Doctor Sivana. However, Filmation was producing Shazam! and The New Adventures of Batman which prevented the use of characters such as Mister Atom, King Kull, Beautia Sivana, The Joker, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, and Catwoman. Early conceptual art drawn by Alex Toth also included Heat Wave, Poison Ivy, and Abra Kadabra.
The Hall of Doom The Legion of Doom's headquarters was the Hall of Doom which was located in Slaughter Swamp (just outside Gotham City). The facility, which resembles Black Manta's helmet, could be lowered or raised above the swamp water's surface. It could fly or enter space using rockets. The Hall of Doom's mobility could be controlled through remote control helping the Legion to escape on several occasions. Its defenses included laser weapons and the ability to time travel.
In "Doomsday" after Sinestro, Black Manta and Cheetah are abandoned by the rest of the Legion after they take control of a mental device, they use it to create another Hall of Doom, which attacks the original one and enables the Legion to be captured.
In "History of Doom", it is revealed that the Hall of Doom was placed in a swamp as a compromise between Black Manta, Captain Cold, and Gorilla Grodd, who respectively wanted it to be placed in the ocean, underneath the polar ice caps, and in a jungle.
Members There were thirteen members of the Legion of Doom:
Bizarro (voiced by William Callaway) is a twisted duplicate of Superman created from a duplication ray by Lex Luthor on Earth. He has powers similar to Superman, but opposite in some aspects, namely his ice vision and heat breath. Black Manta (voiced by Ted Cassidy) is a deep sea diver and would-be ocean conqueror. Brainiac (voiced by Ted Cassidy) is an alien android with advanced intelligence. Captain Cold (voiced by Dick Ryal) is a blue-suited villain with mastery over cold temperatures. Cheetah (voiced by Marlene Aragon) is a villain themed after her namesake who possesses cat-like abilities. Giganta (voiced by Ruth Forman) is a villain who stole Apache Chief's magical powder to duplicate his powers, gaining the ability to grow to an immense size. Gorilla Grodd (voiced by Stanley Ralph Ross) is a megalomaniacal gorilla who was exiled from Gorilla City. He possesses immense strength and intelligence. Lex Luthor (voiced by Stanley Jones) is a mad scientist and the founder of the Legion of Doom. Riddler (voiced by Michael Bell) is an enemy of Batman who uses riddles to taunt and confuse adversaries while committing crimes. Scarecrow (voiced by Don Messick) is an enemy of Batman who uses fear gas to bring his opponents' fears to life. Sinestro (voiced by Vic Perrin) is a renegade former Green Lantern and enemy of the Green Lantern Corps. Solomon Grundy (voiced by Jimmy Weldon) is a gangster who was resurrected as a superpowered zombie. Toyman (voiced by Frank Welker) is a villain who dresses as a jester and uses toy-based tactics to commit crimes.
The episode "Super Friends: Rest In Peace" reveals that the Legion of Doom has a previously unrevealed fourteenth member, Doctor Natas. He created Noxium, a crystal with the ability to recreate and exploit the weaknesses of any hero.
Appearances in comics Members of the Legion of Doom made some appearances in the Super Friends spin-off comic title based on the TV series: A version of the Legion of Doom appeared in Extreme Justice #16–18 (May–July 1996), led by Brainwave Jr. and consisting of Killer Frost, Houngan, Major Force, the Madmen, and a robot duplicate of Gorilla Grodd.Extreme Justice #17 (June 1996)Extreme Justice #18 (July 1996)
The 2006 DC comic miniseries Justice features a version of the Legion of Doom, consisting of traditional members Lex Luthor, Bizarro, Black Manta, Brainiac, Captain Cold, Cheetah, Giganta, Gorilla Grodd, Riddler, Scarecrow, Sinestro, Solomon Grundy and new members Black Adam, Metallo, Clayface, Parasite, and Poison Ivy.Justice #9 (February 2007) An alternate version of the team appeared in the mini-series Flashpoint: Legion of Doom, part of the company-wide Flashpoint event. This iteration of the team consisted of supervillains interned in Doom Prison, which is based on the Legion headquarters from Super Friends. The membership consisted of Heat Wave, Plastic Man, Sportsmaster, Killer Wasp, and Cluemaster.Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #1 - #3 (August - October 2011) A new Legion of Doom led by Superboy-Prime appeared in a Teen Titans storyline that ran from issues #98–100. The roster consisted of Sun Girl, Headcase, Persuader (Elise Kimble), Indigo, Zookeeper, three Superboy clones, and Inertia.Teen Titans (vol. 3) #98 (September 2011) In the mini-series Super Powers, Lex Luthor introduces a Legion of Doom featuring Bizarro, Black Manta, Brainiac, Captain Cold, Cheetah, Gorilla Grodd, Pryme, Riddler, Scarecrow, Sinestro, and Starro.Super Powers #4 (October 1984) In Superman #43 (May 2018), the Bizarro Legion of Doom on Earth-29 was called as Legion of Fun. It included Bizarro versions of Black Manta, Captain Cold, Cheetah, Giganta, Poison Ivy, Lex Luthor, Riddler, Scarecrow, Toyman, Sinestro (Green Lanturn), Gorilla Grodd (Gorilla-Odd), Joker (Jo-Cryer), Brainiac (Nobrainz), and Solomon Grundy (Solomon Grundzarro). The first arc of Scott Snyder and Jim Cheung's Justice League relaunch for DC Rebirth features the Legion of Doom as the main antagonists. The group consists of Lex Luthor, Sinestro, Cheetah, Gorilla Grodd, Brainiac, and Turtle. Former members include Black Manta and Joker, both excommunicated due to their own ulterior motives. To prepare for all-out war with the Justice League, Luthor also recruits various villains to his cause including Bizarro of Earth 29, Black Adam, Black Manta, Black Mask, Captain Cold, Catwoman, Circe and her Injustice League Dark (consisting of Floronic Man, Solomon Grundy, Klarion the Witch Boy, and Papa Midnite), Deathstroke, Harley Quinn, Heat Wave, Lobo, Mr. Freeze, Ocean Master, Oracle, Ra's al Ghul, Red Hood, Riddler, Talon, and the Terribles of Earth 29 (consisting of Mister Terrible, Change-O-Shape-O, Figment Girl, and Disposable Man).Justice League (vol. 4) #30 - 34 (October - December 2019) This Legion reappears in Dark Crisis, consisting of Lex Luthor, Vandal Savage, Punchline, Cheetah, Gorilla Grodd, Black Manta, Sinestro, Scarecrow, and the Rogues (Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Golden Glider, Captain Boomerang, and Weather Wizard). A new version of the Legion of Doom appears in the 2024 series Justice League Unlimited, consisting of Lex Luthor, Bizarro, Black Manta, Brainiac, Captain Cold, Cheetah, Gorilla Grodd, Joker, Riddler, Scarecrow, Sinestro, Solomon Grundy, and Pythoness. As part of the Wonder Comics imprint, Wonder Twins featured a version of the Legion of Doom, whose roster is not revealed.Wonder Twins #4 (July 2019) A future version of the Legion of Doom is introduced in "Future State", led by T. O. Morrow and consisting of Amaz-X, Cobalt Blue, Despera, The Flood, Professor Ivo, Lex Luthor, Screech Owl, and UltraViolet Lantern.Future State: Justice League #1 (March 2021) The Legion of Doom appears in DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion, consisting of Lex Luthor, Black Manta, Captain Cold, Catwoman (who is later revealed to be a double-agent working for the Justice League), Cheetah, Gizmo, and Sinestro. The Legion is later joined by Doctor Eggman, who ends up betraying them, and creating the Metal Legion, a horde of robotic duplicates of the Legion members similar to Metal Sonic.
In other media Television The Legion of Doom appears in Legends of the Superheroes, led by Mordru and consisting of Doctor Sivana, Riddler, Giganta, Sinestro, Weather Wizard, and Solomon Grundy. While never directly referred to as such in Justice League Unlimited, with only the DVD box set for the third season explicitly doing so, the Legion of Doom served as inspiration for the Secret Society, which is originally led by Gorilla Grodd before Lex Luthor takes over and also includes Bizarro, Devil Ray, Cheetah, Giganta, Sinestro, and Toyman among their ranks. Series producer Bruce Timm said that he wanted to include the Riddler and Scarecrow as members as a nod to the original Legion, but could not do so due to the "Bat-embargo", which limited the use of Batman-related characters at the time. By the end of the series, Luthor, Bizarro, Cheetah, Giganta, Toyman, and Sinestro, among others, survive an attack by Darkseid before joining forces with the Justice League to foil his invasion of Earth. Luthor disappears with Darkseid after finding the Anti-Life Equation while the other survivors are given a "five-minute head start" in return. Of this final appearance, series writer Matt Wayne stated that he consciously tried to round up as many of the original thirteen Legionnaires as he could, citing the Legion's Wikipedia page as one source. The Legion of Doom appear in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Triumvirate of Terror!", consisting of Lex Luthor, Joker, Cheetah, Weather Wizard, Felix Faust, and Amazo. The Legion of Doom appear in the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special, consisting of the original thirteen Legionnaires, Joker, Penguin, mailroom worker Glen, Aquaman, Bane, Catwoman, Two-Face, Icicle, Mirror Master, Harley Quinn, Deathstroke, Mr. Freeze, Mister Banjo, Chillblaine, Darkseid, and Robot Chicken original character Humping Robot. In the Teen Titans Go! episode "Snuggle Time", the Teen Titans decide to become supervillains and become the "Legion of Doooom", with Starfire becoming Starfire the Terrible, Cyborg becoming The Cyborg, Raven becoming the Demon of Azarath, Robin becoming Dick Gravestone, and Beast Boy becoming Beast Monster. The Legion of Doom appear in Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 2: Villains in Paradise, consisting of Lex Luthor, Bizarro, Poison Ivy, Black Manta, Joker, Penguin, Brainiac, Captain Cold, Scarecrow, Gorilla Grodd, Sinestro, Catwoman, Riddler, Toyman, and Two-Face as prominent members as well as Weather Wizard, Black Adam, Darkseid, Harley Quinn, Mr. Freeze, Professor Zoom, Starro, Killer Croc, and Clayface, who make cameo appearances. The Legion of Doom appear in Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship, consisting of Lex Luthor, Sinestro, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Penguin, and Joker. Additionally, multiple incarnations of the Legion from across the multiverse appear as well.