Superman Analogue: Laurel Kent
164A thousand years from now, Superman's descendant would carry his legacy on her invulnerable shoulders!
Music by Bret Eagleston - www.breteagleston.bandcamp.com
Original Thread: https://twitter.com/CaseAiken/status/1528169019412463616
Original Text: When I listed off a number of #supermananalogue characters from the Legion of Superheroes, I omitted one because I wasn't sure what I wanted to say about them. However, since my most recent video was on their Post-Crisis namesake, it's probably time to talk about Laurel Kent.
So here's the basic story: Laurel was created by Jim Shooter as a future descendant of Superman. Being a thousand years removed from her powerful progenitor, she only inherited the Kryptonian nigh-invulnerability and otherwise was a regular human.
All things considered, this was a pretty great power to retain, especially since she didn't have the numbness aspect that we've seen with purely invulnerable beings like in League of Superman from DC's Legends of Dead Earth.
Being invulnerable meant she didn't need to hold back for fear of injury, so she could strike hard and not break her hand!
Also, this is the Legion of Superheroes, so she got a flight ring and thus had that part covered!
When she was first introduced, she used a pseudonym to conceal her identity when she met Superboy: Elna (a nod to Lois "Lane"). Superboy was smitten with her until he discovered that she was actually his descendant and that she looked like the woman he'd fall in love with!
I should note that Laurel never was a full member of the Legion of superheroes. She was a trainee, but due to the incredibly lame rule that everyone required unique superpowers, she was never allowed to become a full member. There are many Legionnaires who are invulnerable.
And her form of vulnerability wasn't even particularly unique, as she shared the Kryptonian weaknesses to Kryptonite and magic.
One thing I really liked about the character was that her powers influenced her personality. Being effectively invulnerable meant that she didn't feel the need to wear heavy clothing to protect herself from the elements. Her normal attire was basically just a bikini...
And her most recognizable look was wearing a poncho with a Superman symbol on it over said bikini.
After the Crisis, it took a minute to settle on how things would effect the Legion (cough... Pocket Universe Superboy... Cough), so Laurel remained on the team until they decided to clean house!
As a tie in to the Millennium event... In the late 80s... DC retconned the character as an imposter, revealing her to be one of the robotic Manhunters! This weirdly makes her also connected to the Green Lanterns. I... didn't like this retcon and many writers have since ignored it
During the 5-year Gap era, time was rewritten to place a higher emphasis on Lar Gand/Valor/Mon-El instead of Superboy. Laurel was merged with Supergirl and envisioned as a descendant of Lar Gand, thus creating Laurel Gand, though the character more resembles Supergirl.
Since then, the character has popped up as an Easter egg in future presentations of the family tree of the House of El. This has led some to speculate that the Manhunter incarnation of Laurel was merely impersonating the real character.
But some of these future versions of Laurel seem to have all of the Superman powers, so I think it's best not to think too much about it.
Laurel Kent was a really interesting take on the lineage aspect of the Legion of Superheroes. She didn't get special treatment because of her heritage and while she was often sad that she would never be a full member, she was a steadfast friend to all of the recruits!
Considering that she was initially created to have a really messed up flirtatious relationship with Superboy, it's cool to see that she went on to be the exhibitionist friend of all the Legionnaires!
The Legion is best when it's a soap opera blended with high stakes superheroics and science fiction, so I'm glad we got to have an interesting character who could be their emotional support and who wouldn't get hurt in the process.
Though she could also be the giver of "tough love", and what's tougher than Laurel Kent, the invulnerable girl of tomorrow?
Master Thread: https://twitter.com/CaseAiken/status/1346189702580342785
Image Citations coming soon!
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