The universe-resetting events of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (1985-1986) posed a major problem for the Legion of Super-Heroes. In Earth-One continuity, the group were inspired by Superboy who would also join them on missions in their future timeline, from time-to-time (intend that pun). But in the post-Crisis New Earth continuity, Superman has never been ‘Superboy’! And yet, the Legion still appear to exist in the future that now only has one timeline…
Crossover: This is a standard four-part crossover event without an official title; the Omniverse Comics Guide has named it ‘A Twist in Time’ after the story featured in Legion of Super-Heroes #37.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (1985-1986) – A new continuity is born!
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers; bold issues are ‘must-reads’:
- Legion of Super-Heroes #37
- Superman #9
- Action Comics #591
- Legion of Super-Heroes #38
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Legion of Super-Heroes #37 In the 31st Century, the Legion of Super-Heroes rebuild the Time Beacon. Brainiac 5 leads Blok, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid, Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Sun Boy and Ultra Boy on a mission to the end of time, past the Time Trapper’s barrier. Instead, they arrive in the past where Superboy traps half the team in time-stasis, while the others escape through the timestream. Superboy pursues them, observed by the Time Trapper. 1st appearance: Lana Lang (Pocket Universe), Pete Ross (Pocket Universe) |
| Superman #9 On New Earth, Superman investigates the arrival of four strange super-beings, but his heat-vision (reacting strangely after absorbing Rampage’s energy the day before) accidentally fires at them. In the ensuing throwdown, the Legion refer to Kal-El as ‘Superboy’. Superman recalls meeting a Superboy from Earth-Prime (during CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, 1985-1986). Brainiac orders Blok, Invisible Kid and Sun Boy to stop and explains their situation. Superboy arrives and uses the Stasis Ray on all of them! |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Action Comics #591 Superboy bundles the Legionnaires into their Time Bubble. Superman grabs Superboy as he breaks the time barrier. Losing his grip, he crash-lands on Superboy’s Earth, which is revealed by the Time Trapper to be a Pocket Universe of his creation. Superboy confronts Superman, punching him so hard he almost collides with Krypto. A plan to use Gold Kryptonite on Superman backfires, only taking Krypto’s powers. Superman figures Superboy wants to be defeated. The Legion and Superboy decide to take the fight to the Time Trapper, without New Earth’s Superman! 1st appearance: Krypto (Pocket Universe) |
| Legion of Super-Heroes #38 Superboy admits he made a deal with the Time Trapper to save his Earth from the Crisis. Arriving in the Pocket Universe, Superboy returns to the Trapper, pretending the Legion are his captives. But he breaks the ruse when he’s asked to kill them. Forced to choose between his world and the lives of the Legion, Superboy opts to destroy the device that protects his world and sacrifices himself to absorb the energy that threatens reality. Time Trapper escapes. The Legion celebrate their fallen friend… |
See how this story fits into the wider DC Universe with these reading orders:
- SUPERMAN, 1987-1988 – The Man of Steel
| Must Reads | Issue(s) & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Superman #21 (1988) Adventures of Superman #444 (1988) Superman #22 (1988) The fate of Superboy’s Pocket Universe is revealed; the Supergirl from the Pocket Universe asks Superman of New Earth to help her and Lex Luthor end the threat of General Zod and his cronies. | THE SUPERGIRL SAGA |
| ✔ | Legion of Super-Heroes #4-5 (1990) With Mon-El’s origins also reliant on Earth-One Superboy, the Time Trapper implies Mon-El is his creation, having been born of the Pocket Universe; Mon-El is revealed to have killed the Time Trapper and Glorith has taken his place, manipulating event as he sees fit. | |
| ✔ | Superman #49 (1990) Superman of New Earth deals with his own variation of Red Kryptonite. | KRISIS OF THE KRIMSON KRYPTONITE |
| Legion of Super-Heroes #24 (1991) Apparent time-paradox version of certain members of the Legion of Super-Heroes emerge who many believe to be clones. | ||
| ✔ | Valor #22-23 (1994) The Earth of the Pocket Universe is pulled into the New Earth universe, though it’s instability threatens to cause it to explode; the time-paradox Legion members are revealed to be creations of the Time-Trapper’ Cosmic Boy is revealed to be a future incarnation of the Time Trapper. | END OF AN ERA ZERO HOUR: CRISIS IN TIME! |
| ✔ | Action Comics #776 (2001) The New Earth incarnation of Krypto makes his debut. | |
| Absolute Crisis on Infinite Earths (2005) Superboy’s ‘Pocket Universe’ is classified as Earth-Twenty-Three. | ||
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16 (2006) Kara Zor-El of New Earth joins the Legion of Super-Heroes. | ONE YEAR LATER | |
| Justice Society of America #5 (2007) Young Superman’s influence in the formation of the Legion of Super-Heroes is revealed. | ||
| ✔ | Superman: Legion of 3 Worlds #1-5 (2008-2009) Superboy-Prime is revealed to be the Time Trapper; the existence of all previous incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes is confirmed. | FINAL CRISIS |
| ✔ | Superman: Secret Origin #2 (2010) Following the events of Infinite Crisis, it’s confirmed that Superman did spend a period of time as Superboy and inspired the Legion of Super-Heroes. | |
| Superman #28 (2025) Superman is transported to the Time Trapper’s Pocket Universe again. | ALL-IN LEGION OF DARKSEID |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Superman: The Man of Steel vol.4 tpb (2005) Superman: The Man of Steel vol.2 HC (2021) | Action Comics #591 Legion of Super-Heroes #37-38 Superman #9 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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