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The Legion Of Nothing is a Web Serial Novel about the Grand Lake Heroes League of Grand Lake, Michigan, a team of teenagers with superpowers.
They are the children and grandchildren of the members of the original Grand Lake Heroes League, a group of former World War II soldiers who were part of an elite unit of superpowered soldiers. They came home after the war and continued to use their powers to combat organized crime and other villains, powered and otherwise in the 1950's.
The lead character, and the one through whom the story is told is Nick Klein. His grandfather was the Gadgeteer Genius known as The Rocket. Among his inventions, a suit of Powered Armor equipped with numerous weapons and a rocket pack (yes, fans have noted the similarity to Iron Man). Nick isn't really sure he wants to take up the superhero mantle, but a group of his friends decide to revive the League, and Nick in turn dons his grandfather's armor.
As a part conventional Super Hero story, part Coming Of Age story, Legion is highly effective. Its big selling points are its sense of humor and its very effective pacing. Cliff Hanger endings are not uncommon, but this is okay due to the timely update schedule.
Provides examples of:
- Above The Ruins
- Alliterative Name: Chris Cannon, Kayla Ketchem and Martin Magnus, it wouldn't be a superhero story without this one.
- Awesome Yet Practical: One of the new Rocket's inventions is a Guitar Hero controller... that also generates lasers, blinding lights and fires explosive charges.
- Badass Crew: Every super team seems to qualify for this.
- There is a team of superhero assassins called The Executioner, which managed to murder several superheroes and their families. Evil? For sure. Badass? Most definitely.
- Badass Bookworm: Nick is a stereotypical nerd in classic Peter Parker-style. However his smarts are the basis of some his best ass-kicking.
- Badass Grandpa: The original Rocket was active from at least the forties and didn't retire until the eighties. If he was in his twenties when he started, he was in his sixties when he quit.
- Badass Normal: Nick is capable of beating up the big guys even when he's not wearing the Rocket Suit. He Knows Kung Fu, after all.
- Remarkably, most of the super-villains in the story are un-powered folks who use cunning and technology to give the supers hell. One team, the Executioner(s), succeeded in murdering several supers and their families before the Legion took them down. Or did they??
- Battle Couple: Rocket and Night Cat, at least until she tells him that he should give her some space.
- Beware The Superman: A common theme, as although vigilatism isn't legal, it's generally accepted by mainstream humanity providing that supers police their own kind.
- Bold Inflation: Red Lightning's "I will stop you in the name of TRUTH and JUSTICE".
- Brought To You By The Letter S: The Rocket, and Big C, amongst others.
- Building Swing: Although the Rocket can fly, he says he has two grappling hooks "in case I ever need to do the Spider Man thing". This comment is a strong contender for Nick's Crowning Moment Of Awesome.
- Cape Busters: In Three, The Rocket goes up against Syndicate L, a non-superpowered organisation with capebusting potential, and a Humongous Mecha (which being the Rocket, he can't resist trying to get his hands on).
- Captain Ersatz: The Rocket is very similar to Iron Man, just more likable.
- Car Fu: Two distinct types. The first is characters wondering where heroes learn offensive driving. The second is the regularity with which cars are flung around as weapons.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Sean first appeared in Lighting Strikes Twice as someone Vaughn owed money to only to appear later in Bullies and Counselors as Haley's ex.
- City Of Adventure: A lot of things seem to happen in Grand Lake, but this is hand-waved as being due to the high concentration of supers in the area, which in turn may be partly due to a sinister breeding program started by Red Lightning.
- Clothes Make The Legend: The League are legacy characters, after all. Captain Commando's sword is an example of this, too.
- Code Name: Hero names are a big deal, there's even a register to ensure that no two heroes get the same name, which causes problems in King Of Storms.
- Color Character: Red Lightning, Blue Streak.
- Commissioner Gordon: Isaac Lim, although whether he is a genuine good guy is yet to be seen...
- Crimefighting With Cash: Nick was bequeathed 11 million dollars 'earmarked for "fighting evil"'
- Dating Catwoman: The original Rocket married Ghostwoman, a Nazi super he met while fighting for the Allies in WWII.
- Destructive Savior: Both Rockets seem to break a lot of windows every time they use their sonic weapons.
- Dramatic Irony: Used regularly to great effect.
- Elaborate Underground Base: Nick mostly used the League HQ, complete with ridiculous security measures to watch DVDs and play Guitar Hero before the League was reformed.
- Fake Ultimate Hero: Sean keeps taking credit for the League's work. Between his attitude and his Magnetoesque powers, he has the makings of either an awesome Arch Nemesis or an Anti Hero.
- Faux Action Girl: For all her super strength and virtual immortality, Captain Commando doesn't really do that much.
- First Person Smartass: Nick's POV, with its snarky little comments and light tone, really makes Legion Of Nothing stand out.
- Flashback: 1953 shows how the Heroes League reformed after the war, and introduces the original Rocket's Archnemesis Man Machine.
- Fridge Logic: If it the Rocket didn't have a rocket pack when he started out, why did he call himself The Rocket.
- The Good Captain: Captain Commando
- Grandfather Clause: A literal grandfather clause (possibly an example of the author reading TV tropes) results in the League being part of the FBI's National Hero Program.
- Heel Face Turn: Ghostwoman started out as a Nazi spy.
- Heroic Build: Most of the heroes around, except Nick.
- Hero Insurance: "I hope this building's insurance covers rampaging giants".
- How To Give A Character Superpowers: A nice range. Many of the heroes have genetic powers that emerge in puberty (Night Wolf, Night Cat), some have had them since childhood (Accelerando) and some gain them by other means (Captain Commando it stated as having "had surgery for normality" and Storm King zapped himself with the Power Impregnator).
- I Believe I Can Fly: The League is split about half and half between those that can fly and those that can't, but no two flyers use the same method.
- I Just Want To Be Normal: Nick isn't so sure about being a hero, but events keep forcing him to take up the Rocket Suit.
- I Just Want To Be Special: Cassie took treatments to be "cured of being normal".
- Jet Pack: Newer models can apparently carry enough fuel for 3 hours flight. It's best not to look at the Physics in some of the devices in Legion Of Nothing.
- Lamarck Was Right: Most Kids seem to inherit their parents powers, but how their parents got them is mostly left to imagination. We'll have to wait and see how this one plays out.
- Laser Sword: Captain Commando's sword isn't a lightsaber, but it might as well be.
- Legacy Character: Most of the Grand Lake Heroes League are the descendants of the original League (Rocket, Captain Commando, Night Wolf), including those whose predecessor's names are still in use (Night Cat, Accelerando).
- Don't forget Rachel, Nick's older sister, as Ghost.
- Magic Vs Science: A literal case occurs when the Storm King (whose powers seem to stem from electromagnetic manipulation of the weather) and the King of Storms (an ancient avatar and weather magician) fight it out in King of Storms.
- The Medic: Alex/Paladin is this on Three.
- Never Live It Down: Vaughn's grandfather went crazy and became a super villain. Most heroes and some fans seem to be waiting for this to happen to Vaughn. That's right, he'll Never Live It Down for something he didn't do, and may never do.
- Nakama: The New Heroes League grew up together. May also apply to the original team seeing how Rocket get mad when someone shot Night Wolf in 1953
- Only Sane Man: Nick, the main character, is usually the one who comes up with the most sensible plans to fighting villains.
- Outdated Outfit: The Rocket Suit is described as being 'Art Deco', an art style that was outdated by the 40's, when the Rocket came into existance. That's ok, though, because the Rocket has made it Classic.
- Parental Obliviousness: Most of the parents have no idea that their children are heroes, because of the Mentalist's block.
- Personality Powers: Storm King is broody and unpredictable, Accelerando is always in a rush and Captain Commando is irrepressible.
- This is also inverted with Nick and Alex in Three. Nick's Powered Armor causes a lot of damage but he worries about hurting people, even the ones he's fighting. On the other hand Alex has the power to heal others but doesn't think about the consequences of his actions.
- Police Are Useless: And they know it, they just wait for the heroes to show up.
- Poor Communication Kills: At one point, Accelerando throws a car that the Rocket is clinging on to the back of. The League needs to work on its teamwork a little.
- Posthumous Character: Most of the original league.
- President Evil: The Mayor, although like all the villains, an understandable character with real motives, more of a Well Intentioned Extremist than anything else.
- Rapid Fire Fisticuffs: Used by various speedsters with varying levels of effectiveness.
- Refusal Of The Call: Nick started out no wanting to become the Rocket and felt pressured by his late grandfather. Ironically, after the war his grandfather also tried to refuse the call, and focus on being a husband and a father.
- Required Secondary Powers: Mostly averted, as the author describes most powers pretty acurately before they become useful, but Accelerando's catching a skin-eating acid bomb without harm due to her neccesary super-strength still came as a surprise.
- Rogues Gallery: We're slowly learning about the original Rocket's recurring foes, just as the new Rocket develops his own.
- Secret Identity: All the League have secret identities, but some are better at hiding them than others. This is a point of friction with the many detractors of vigilate justice in the story.
- Secret Keeper: Kayla discovers the identities of the Rocket, Storm King and Captain Commando, which gives the League a nice opportunity to consider the morals of using a phychic block like the original League used and come up with a new solution of their own that isn't so morally dubious.
- Serious Business: Superheroes are serious business, with their own radio, TV and historians, but it's justified considering what they can do.
- Sidekick Graduations Stick: Both Nick and The Rhino were sidekick to the original Rocket before assuming their superhero identities.
- The Smart Guy: Nick, Gadgeteer Genius and all-round geek.
- Steven Ulysses Perhero: Who would have thought a guy named 'Cannon' would become the big-gun-wielding Man Machine?
- Superheroes Don't Wear Capes: In fact, Nick is surprised when he comes across one who does.
- Super Hero Speciation: There's Night Wolf and Night Cat, rarely do they both appear at the same time. This troper would be suprised if one of them doesn't undergo a Face Heel Turn at some point.
- Super Serum: Variously called 'Power Elixer', the 'Drink of the Gods' and 'Super Juice', apparently it is no longer addictive and dangerous, but who knows what to believe. Either way, it's turning into a very major plot point.
- Super Team: Tons of them. The Grand Lake Heroes League isn't even the only one in Michigan.
- Others include Three, The Elementals and The Defenders.
- Super Trophy Super Rack: As well as awards, the League HQ contains relics from villains, numerous versions of the Rocket Suit and the other assorted plot points not yet defined.
- Supervillain Lair: Ranging from the secret area in Man Machine's garage to the sprawling underground deathtrapped palace of Red Lightning.
- Taught By Experience: The New Heroes League lives by the trope.
- Technical Pacifist: Nick doesn't like hurting people (an interesting perspective for someone who once 'just punched them until they stopped'), and is always concerned that he's killed those he defeats. Expect real problems when this eventually does happen, despite his belief that he could do it if required.
- Utility Belt: Captain Commando and the Rocket both have well stocked belts, and they both need them, too.
- Villain Exit Stage Left: Machine-man was famous for these. It wasn't until after Nick defeated him that anyone but Nick's grandfather even knew who he was.
- What Measure Is A Non Super: Superheroes can take out "normals", even well-armed ones. This leads to the normals fighting back in ever-escalating fashion.
- What The Hell Hero: The League gets a chewing out over all their mistakes in The Beginning, the hero giving the lecture even sends them to his website.
- Nick and Chris give Sean one when he goes overboard protecting them from Jack Maniac by repeatily slamming him against the floor, that his Powered Armor started to come off.
- Word Of God: Because of how the site is up the writer, Jim, can talk to fans and give them hints or plain straight answers about what's going to happen and what has happened.
- Wouldn't Hit A Girl: There's a great section in The Beginning where the Rocket feels bad about hitting a girl, even though she was firing an AK-47 at him at the time.
- You Can't Please Everyone: Nick's dad is one of the most vocal opponents of superheroes, but thanks to a mental block he doesn't know Nick is one of them. Yet.
Superpowers exhibited:
- Blow You Away: Air from the Elementals.
- Detect Evil: Vengeance has a sword that can do this. Scary stuff, especially combined with his army of corpses.
- Dishing Out Dirt: Earth from the Elementals, who seems unbeatable until he is lifted off the ground.
- Extra Ore Dinary: The Power, although we're yet to see just how powerful he is.
- Gadgeteer Genius: Word Of God states this is Nick's power. He was inspired by after reading about Sparks.
- Healing Hands: Paladin from Three has this power, not surprising since his father Preserver has the same ability.
- Healing Factor: Captain Commando can do this, giving her Immortality, but it didn't stop her father who had the same powers from dying.
- Immortality: Fire Legion is very hard to kill, as she just needs to keep any one of her clones alive.
- Lee, Nick's mysterious fight instructor also counts.
- Intangible Woman: Ghostwoman and Ghost have this, and Improbable Aiming Skills, too.
- Little Big Man: Grey Giant gets really big, really fast.
- Made Of Iron: Aside from those wearing suits actually made of metal, the Grey Giant is also pretty invulnerable.
- Make Me Wanna Shout: The Rocket's speakers can do some pretty cool stuff.
- Making A Splash: Water from the Elementals, Storm King can also summon an obscuring mist.
- Me's A Crowd: Fire Legion from Three.
- Our Werewolves Are Different: Night Wolf and Night Cat are basically human-looking werewolves, with all the regular powers except the infectious bite, or any of the weaknesses. With the ability to knock out or poison people, too, and a Cool Car.
- Playing With Fire: Fire Legion from Three can shoot fire and the accurately named Fire from the Elementals is a Human Torch.
- Psychic Powers: Mindstryke, the Mentalist and the Mystic all have the full range of Telekinetic, Telepathic, Empathic, Mind Control and Scrying abilities. Some others like Portal, Justice Fiend and Psy-Kick have more limited powers.
- Powered Armor: Both Rockets, The Rhino, and Man-machine.
- Shape Shifter: The Shift as well as Water and Earth from the Elementals.
- Shock And Awe: Red Lightning, Storm King and King of Storms.
- Super Speed: Accelerando and Hotfoot/Big C both have this power.
- Super Strength: Captain Commando has this from her powers, the Rocket gets this from his suit and Accelerando and C have it as Required Secondary Powers.
- Teleporters And Transporters: Portal from Three has the ability to opening "gateways".
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