Welcome to the Wellington Comic Lover’s Guide, where we take you through the Wellington City Libraries’ collection of a comic book character or series.
We’ve done blogs on the Teen Titans and Young Justice, Shazam, Supergirl, Batgirl and Blue Beetle in the past, but there are plenty more teenage heroes from the DC Universe who deserve their turn in the spotlight, from the futuristic Legion of Super-Heroes to the electrifying Static!
![Remember The Legion of Superheroes-[IMG=5P8]Now this is Saturday morning cartoon! Right down to the flashy, Incredibles-ish t](http://pa1.aminoapps.com/6760/92c550365281e495642ceef959bd30d39b68353c_hq.gif)
(GIFS via Amino)
Amethyst![]()
Amethyst is the princess of Gemworld, a mystical dimension of swords and sorcery ruled by gemstone-themed kingdoms.
Amethyst [1] / Hadley, Amy Reeder
Young Justice [1] : Gemworld / Bendis, Brian Michael
Batwing![]()
The Batwing is a high-tech armour created by Batman Incorporated, the Dark Knight’s global vigilante force. After the previous Batwing retires, the identity is given to young MMA fighter Lucas Fox, son of Wayne Enterprises CEO Lucius Fox.
Batwing. Volume 4, Welcome to the family / Palmiotti, Jimmy
Batwing. Volume 5, Into the dark / Palmiotti, Jimmy
Black Canary![]()
Before she was a member of the Birds of Prey and partner to Green Arrow, Dinah Lance was an up-and-coming superhero with a rock band, a black belt, and a supersonic ‘canary cry’.
Birds of Prey : Black Canary / Fletcher, Brenden
Black Canary : ignite / Cabot, Meg
Black Canary : breaking silence / Monir, Alexandra (a Young Adult novel)
Crush![]()
Xiomara Rojas is Crush, a half-alien punk girl and one of the newest members of the Teen Titans. She’s also the daughter of Lobo, the macho bounty hunter from the planet Czarnia, who slaughtered his entire race for his high school science project. Can Crush make good out of a bad legacy?
Teen Titans. Vol. 3, Seek and destroy / Glass, Adam
Cyborg![]()
Aspiring football star Victor Stone is horribly injured in an accident and gets rebuilt with advanced technology by his scientist father. Part man, part machine, and all heart, Vic saves the world with his incredible tech powers as Cyborg.
Cyborg solo series
Cyborg. Volume 1, Unplugged / Walker, David
Cyborg. Volume 1, The imitation of life / Semper, John
Cyborg. Vol. 2, Danger in Detroit / Semper, John
Cyborg. Vol. 3, Singularity / Semper, John
Cyborg in the Justice League
During the New 52, Cyborg became a founding member (and eventually leader) of the Justice League.
Justice League Volume 1 (only on Libby)
Justice League. Volume 5, Forever heroes / Johns, Geoff
Justice League. Vol. 6, The people vs. the Justice League / Priest, Christopher J.
Justice League. Vol. 7, Justice lost / Priest, Christopher J.
Justice League odyssey Vol. 1, The ghost sector / Williamson, Joshua
Dial H for Hero ![]()
Two teens find a magic rotary dial phone (ask your grandparents) that can turn them into random superheroes, and they set off on a road trip to find its origin. Their various hero personas even change the art style of the comic around them, paying homage to everything from Dragon Ball to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Dial H for hero [1] : enter the Heroverse / Humphries, Sam
Dial H for hero [2] : new heroes of Metropolis / Humphries, Sam
Firestorm, the Nuclear Man![]()
After an accident at a nuclear power plant, high school jock Ronnie Raymond and physics professor Martin Stein are fused together into the superhuman Firestorm. Using his ability to transmute elements at the atomic level, Firestorm fights a colourful cadre of villains like Killer Frost, Multiplex, and Typhoon. Currently, the Firestorm identity is shared between Ronnie and his classmate Jason Rusch.
Firestorm : the Nuclear Man : united we fall / Conway, Gerry
The fury of Firestorm, the nuclear men. Volume 2, The Firestorm protocols / Harris, Joe
The fury of Firestorm, the nuclear man. Volume 3, Takeover / Jurgens, Dan
More Firestorm appearances
Firestorm has been a member of the Justice League, played a major role in Blackest Night and its sequel series Brightest Day, and became the center of a superhero conspiracy theory in Doomsday Clock.
JLA. Volume seven / Kelly, Joe
Blackest Night saga / Johns, Geoff
Brightest day : omnibus / Johns, Geoff
Doomsday clock : the complete collection / Johns, Geoff
Galaxy![]()
An alien refugee disguised as a human boy on Earth, Taylor Barzelay must decide whether to reveal her identity to her new friend or risk exposing herself to her enemies.
Galaxy : the prettiest star / Axelrod, Jadzia
Gotham Academy![]()
Aspiring detective ‘Maps’ Mizoguchi and new student with a mysterious past Olive Silverlock explore the secrets of Gotham Academy, the prestigious prep school for Gotham’s elite.
Gotham Academy. Volume 1, Welcome to Gotham Academy / Cloonan, Becky
Gotham Academy. Volume 2, Calamity / Cloonan, Becky
Gotham Academy. Volume 3, Yearbook / Fletcher, Brenden
Gotham Academy : second semester. Volume 1, Welcome back / Fletcher, Brenden
Gotham Academy : second semester. Volume 2, The ballad of Olive Silverlock / Fletcher, Brenden
Lumberjanes/Gotham Academy / Clugston-Flores, Chynna
Green Lantern: Legacy![]()
On a parallel Earth, thirteen-year-old Thai Pham is chosen as Earth’s next Green Lantern, following the footsteps of his grandmother.
Green Lantern : legacy / Lê, Minh
Hawk and Dove![]()
Hank Hall and Dawn Granger are appointed by the Lords of Chaos and Order to be their avatars on Earth. Hank becomes the strong but violent Hawk, while Dawn becomes the fast and graceful Dove. Despite their opposing philosophies, the pair work together to resolve conflicts and fight alongside the Teen Titans.
Hawk & Dove. Volume 1, First strikes / Gates, Sterling
Titans : burning rage / Jurgens, Dan
Icon and Rocket![]()
Activist Raquel Ervin inspires a complacent superpowered alien to become the hero Icon, with Raquel joining him as his sidekick Rocket.
Icon and Rocket : season one / Hudlin, Reginald
Jimmy Olsen, Superman’s Pal![]()
Meeting alien space gods, solving your own murder, getting turned into a giant turtle boy: it’s all just a day in the life for Jimmy Olsen, Daily Planet photographer and Superman’s best friend.
Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen / Kirby, Jack
Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen : who killed Jimmy Olsen / Fraction, Matt
Legion of Super-Heroes![]()
Inspired by the Justice League, a group of alien teenagers in the 31st century form their own super-team. Together, they use their innate superpowers to protect the United Planets and inspire youth across the galaxy as the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Due to living in the future, the Legion’s history changes with each DC Comics reboot, but certain members persist, like the telepathic Saturn Girl, the shape-shifting Chameleon Boy, and the livewire Lightning Lad.
Post-Crisis Legion
In a future where teenagers are heavily surveilled, the Legion offers sanctuary and resistance for youth across the United Planets, beginning with new recruit Invisible Kid.
Legion of Super-Heroes : teenage revolution / Waid, Mark
Legion of Super-Heroes : death of a dream / Waid, Mark
Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes : the quest for Cosmic Boy / Bedard, Tony
New 52 Legion
A slightly older and depleted Legion faces off against old foes like the tyrannical Dominators and the Fatal Five. A recruitment drive brings new members like the high-flying Comet Queen and the fire-breathing Dragonwing.
Legion of Super-Heroes. Volume 1, Hostile world / Levitz, Paul
Legion of Super-Heroes. Volume 2, The Dominators / Levitz, Paul
Legion of Super-Heroes. Volume 3, The Fatal Five / Levitz, Paul
DC Rebirth Legion
After Jon Kent (Superman‘s son) establishes the United Planets, the Legion of Superheroes bring him to the future to show how his idea has brought peace to the galaxy. New members introduced here include the constantly transforming Monster Boy and the mysterious Gold Lantern.
Legion of Super-Heroes. Vol. 1, Millennium / Bendis, Brian Michael
Legion of Super-Heroes. Vol. 2, The trial of the Legion / Bendis, Brian Michael
Justice League vs. the Legion of Super-Heroes / Bendis, Brian Michael
Legion Lost![]()
During the New 52, a team of Legion members were stranded in the 21st century due to a time-travel accident. In addition to trying to save their future, the team must also contend with the metahuman-hunting organisation N.O.W.H.E.R.E. This series was cancelled abruptly, and its storyline was completed in the pages of Justice League United.
Legion Lost. Volume 1, Run from tomorrow / Nicieza, Fabian
Legion Lost. Volume 2, The culling / DeFalco, Tom
Justice League United. Volume 2, The infinitus saga / Lemire, Jeff
Mister Miracle: The Great Escape
A young adult take on the DC hero Scott Free, the super-escape artist Mister Miracle. Growing up on the dystopian world of Apokolips, Scott yearns to escape from his tyrannical upbringing, but he ends up falling in love with one of his captors, the superstrong guard Barda.
Mister Miracle : the great escape / Johnson, Varian
Monkey Prince![]()
The son of the Monkey King from Journey to the West, the Monkey Prince is the newest young hero in the DCU, using his mystic powers to assist the superhero community during the Lazarus Planet event.
Monkey Prince. Vol. 1, Enter the monkey / Yang, Gene Luen
Monkey Prince. Vol. 2, The Monkey King and I / Yang, Gene Luen
The Movement![]()
A grassroots team of young vigilantes, led by an empathy-powered heroine named Virtue, protect Coral City from institutional corruption.
The Movement. Volume 2, Fighting for the future / Simone, Gail
Mystik U![]()
Teen magician Zatanna Zatara enrolls at the magic academy Mystik U, training alongside other notable DC spellcasters as future Task Force X member Enchantress.
Naomi![]()
Naomi McDuffie is an adopted orphan who idolizes Superman, and turns out to have more in common with him than she expected.
Naomi. Season one / Bendis, Brian Michael
Naomi. Season two / Bendis, Brian Michael
The Newsboy Legion![]()
After creating Captain America for Timely Comics (the company that would eventually become Marvel), Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created the Newsboy Legion, a team of adventurous street kids who were joined by their own shield-bearing hero, The Guardian. Clones of the original team would later team up with Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen.
The Newsboy Legion. Vol. 2 / Simon, Joe
Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen / Kirby, Jack
Primer![]()
Creative foster kid Ashley Rayburn discovers a secret supply of body paints that give her a variety of superpowers.
Primer : a superhero graphic novel / Muro, Jennifer
Robin![]()
The various Robins will probably get their own blog at some point. If you want to get up to speed on the five previous sidekicks to Batman (the acrobat Dick Grayson, delinquent Jason Todd, teen sleuth Tim Drake, supervillain daughter Stephanie Brown and trained assassin Damian Wayne), check out the recent Robins series.
Robins : being Robin / Seeley, Tim
Shade the Changing Girl
Using a hyper-advanced “madness coat”, bored alien Loma Shade astrally projects herself into a young woman on Earth, and quickly gets more than she bargained for when her new host turns out to be a horrible person.
Shade, the changing girl. Vol. 1, Earth girl made easy / Castellucci, Cecil
The Signal![Book Jacket for: Batman and the signal]()
Gotham teenager Duke Thomas has assisted Batman during the cataclysmic Zero Year and been a member of We Are Robin (see below). Eventually, he adopted his own identity as Gotham’s daytime defender, the light-manipulating Signal.
Batman, zero year / Snyder, Scott (Duke’s first appearance)
Batman and the signal / Snyder, Scott
Batman and The Outsiders. Vol. 1, Lesser gods / Hill, Bryan Edward
Batman : secret files / Tynion, James
Stargirl![]()
Courtney Whitmore inherits a cosmic-powered staff and belt from her superhero stepfather, becoming the heroine Stargirl and joining the Justice Society of America. Recently, Stargirl rescued a group of teenage sidekicks who had been erased from history, adding even more young heroes to the DC Universe.
Justice Society of America. Vol. 1, The New Golden Age / Johns, Geoff
Stargirl : the lost children / Johns, Geoff
Earth-Prime (features the Stargirl from the CW show)
Static Shock![]()
After the ‘Big Bang’, an event where several protestors in Dakota City gained superpowers after being exposed to experimental tear gas, nerdy high schooler Virgil Hawkins gains the ability to manipulate electromagnetism. Donning a costume, Virgil uses his powers to put a shock to the system as the hero Static.
Static. Season one / Ayala, Vita
Static : shadows of Dakota / Draper-Ivey, Nikolas
Static : up all night / Giles, Lamar
Vixen![]()
Using the mystical Tantu Totem, Mari McCabe can take on the abilities of any animal, like the speed of a cheetah or the venom of a snake. Her recent Webtoon series, Vixen: NYC, showcases her adventures in the Big Apple after she is given the Totem by the spider god Anansi.
Vixen : NYC. Volume three / Walls, Jasmine
More Vixen appearances
Justice League of America : road to rebirth / Orlando, Steve
We Are Robin![]()
During the New 52, a group of teenagers created a decentralised vigilante network to protect Gotham City after an attack by the Joker, using the name of Batman’s sidekick as a shared sobriquet.
They’re not a gang. They’re not sidekicks. They are Robin.
We are Robin. Volume 1, The vigilante business / Bermejo, Lee
We are Robin. Volume 2, Jokers / Bermejo, Lee
Whistle![]()
Willow Zimmerman is a Gotham City teenager who works at a local animal shelter to pay her mother’s medical bills. After a confrontation with Killer Croc, Willow discovers she has superpowers and must decide how best to use them.
Whistle : a new Gotham City hero / Lockhart, E
Wonder Girl – Yara Flor![]()
The newest Wonder Girl is Yara Flor, a headstrong young woman who traces her heritage to a hidden tribe of Amazons in the Brazilian rainforest.
Wonder Girl : homecoming / Jones, Joëlle
Wonder Woman. Volume 4, Revenge of the gods / Cloonan, Becky
Wonder Twins![]()
Jayna can turn into any animal. Zan turns into any form of water. Together, they’re the Wonder Twins. Working as interns at the Justice League’s Hall of Justice, the pair quickly learn the limits of superheroes in a rapidly modernising world.
Wonder Twins. Vol. 1, Activate / Russell, Mark
Wonder Twins. Vol. 2, The fall and rise of the Wonder Twins / Russell, Mark
Zatanna![]()
Inspired by her wizard father, aspiring mystic Zatanna Zatara learns the art of backwards spellcasting and becomes a crime-fighting magician.
Black Canary and Zatanna : bloodspell / Dini, Paul