Legends #3

Legends was a six-issue limited series published by DC Comics from November 1986 to April 1987, written by John Ostrander and Len Wein with art by John Byrne and Karl Kesel. The crossover event served as the first major storyline following Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985-1986), which had reset DC's continuity. The plot centered on the New God Darkseid's attempt to destroy Earth's superheroes by turning public opinion against them through his minion Glorious Godfrey, who used media manipulation and rhetoric to incite fear and hatred of costumed heroes. The series featured appearances from Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash (Wally West's first major appearance as Flash), and Captain Marvel, while introducing the modern Suicide Squad concept and setting up the formation of the new Justice League.

The storyline had significant ramifications for the DC Universe. President Ronald Reagan issued an executive order banning superhero activity, forcing heroes to operate illegally or retire. The series marked several important character developments: Wonder Woman's first post-Crisis appearance in "Man's World," the debut of the new Female Fury team, and the establishment of Amanda Waller as a major DC character. The event crossed over into multiple ongoing titles including Action Comics, Adventures of Superman, and Detective Comics. The series concluded with the heroes defeating Darkseid's scheme and regaining public trust, directly leading to the launch of Justice League #1 (1987) by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, which reimagined the team with a lighter tone.

Legends demonstrated DC's post-Crisis approach to interconnected storytelling and established templates for future crossover events. The series sold well, with first issues reaching approximately 150,000 copies, strong numbers for the direct market in 1986. Critics praised Byrne's artwork and the story's examination of media influence and public perception of heroes, themes that would recur throughout DC publications. The series has been collected in trade paperback multiple times and remains significant for establishing key elements of the modern DC Universe, including the Suicide Squad's Task Force X structure and the international approach to the Justice League that would define the team throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.