Cover: John Byrne

Legends #1

Nov 1986 · DC · 0.75 USD; 1.00 CAD; 0.40 GBP

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★ 1st appearance — Amanda Waller★ 1st appearance — Brimstone

About this Issue

Legends #1 is the opening chapter of DC's first major crossover event after Crisis on Infinite Earths, making it the foundational bridge between the collapsed multiverse and the unified New Earth continuity. The issue introduces two characters of lasting consequence to DC lore: Amanda Waller — a non-powered, morally complex government official who would become one of the most distinctive figures in the publisher's history — and the fire-elemental villain Brimstone, both making their debut appearances here. It also marks the first Post-Crisis appearance of Captain Marvel, using his dilemma in this issue as the emotional engine for Darkseid's scheme to dismantle heroic 'legends.' Beyond its debut content, the issue set in motion three new ongoing series and a miniseries — The Flash, Justice League, Suicide Squad, and Shazam: The New Beginning — cementing its role as a genuine generational turning point for the DC Universe.

In "Once Upon a Time...!", a terrifying new threat emerges as Darkseid unleashes the monstrous Brimstone to dismantle Earth’s legendary heroes, forcing the Justice League—led by Martian Manhunter—into a desperate battle they may not survive. Meanwhile, Shazam! confronts Macro-Man in a clash that ends in tragedy, leaving Billy Batson broken and swearing off his powers forever. Written by John Ostrander and Len Wein, with dynamic art by John Byrne and bold inks by Karl Kesel, this landmark issue redefines the cost of heroism. The cover, also by Byrne, captures the moment of crisis with striking intensity.

Contains 2 stories

Once Upon a Time...!

22 pp · Superhero

In "Once Upon a Time...!", Darkseid unleashes the monstrous Brimstone to crush Earth's heroes, overwhelming the Justice League led by Martian Manhunter. While Firestorm absorbs Brimstone’s power to hold it at bay, the battle leaves lingering danger—and Shazam!, in a tragic clash with Macro-Man, accidentally kills his foe, prompting Billy to renounce his powers forever.

Secret of the Temple

3.5 pp · Adventure

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (VF) $7

CGC 9.8 · 309 in census $83

CGC 9.6 · 216 in census $38

CGC 9.4 · 115 in census $38

CGC 9.2 · 61 in census $28

CGC 9.0 · 45 in census $24*

CGC 8.5 · 35 in census $20

Show all 15 grades ▾

CGC 8.0 · 31 in census $20*

CGC 7.5 · 16 in census $20*

CGC 7.0 · 6 in census $20*

CGC 6.5 · 6 in census $20

CGC 6.0 none in existence

CGC 5.5 · 1 in census $20*

CGC 5.0 none in existence

CGC 4.5 · 2 in census $20*

CGC 4.0 · 1 in census $20*

* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade

Our model’s value — refined as new sales data arrives · CGC census counts shown where available

More listings for this title

NM $1.49 VG $1.49 VF/NM $2.49 NM $3.78 VF/NM $4 VERY GOOD $4.92 Variant $6.59 NM- $7.49

Related listings we couldn't confirm as this exact issue · 57 total · seen 30 days ago

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History

The series was conceived by John Ostrander — then fresh from First Comics — as his DC debut, with Ostrander plotting and veteran Len Wein scripting the dialogue across all six issues. DC paired them with John Byrne on pencils, capitalizing on his momentum from the acclaimed Man of Steel Superman relaunch earlier that year, and Karl Kesel on inks; editor Mike Gold oversaw the project with Robert Greenberger as coordinating editor. The creative mandate was deliberately functional as well as narrative: Legends was engineered as a launchpad to reintroduce and reboot several corners of the DC line in the wake of Crisis, and the first issue went on sale August 5, 1986 with a November 1986 cover date. Some copies of the issue were distributed with a 12-page M.A.S.K. promotional comics insert, creating a print variant distinction that collectors note to this day.

Trivia · 8 facts

First appearance of Amanda Waller (created by John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne), the hard-edged government operative who would go on to lead the modern Suicide Squad — her character concept as 'The Wall' was visually designed by John Byrne to convey formidable, non-superpowered authority.
First appearance of Brimstone, an artificial fire-elemental construct created when Darkseid's Techno-Seed transforms a nuclear reactor, and the monster that Darkseid sends to batter the Justice League as part of 'Operation: Humiliation.'
First appearance of Glorious Godfrey in his 'G. Gordon Godfrey' identity — a New Gods villain first created by Jack Kirby in 1971, here reimagined as a media pundit whose name parodies Watergate figure G. Gordon Liddy.
First Post-Crisis appearance of Captain Marvel (Billy Batson): the issue depicts Darkseid tricking Macro-Man (also debuting here, and dying in this same issue) into a confrontation where Captain Marvel's lightning inadvertently kills him, causing Billy to swear never to transform again.
Plotted by John Ostrander, scripted by Len Wein, pencilled by John Byrne, and inked by Karl Kesel; edited by Mike Gold. The issue's title is 'Once Upon a Time...!'
The series was engineered to launch four new titles: The Flash (vol. 2), Suicide Squad (vol. 1), Justice League (the Giffen/DeMatteis run), and the Shazam: The New Beginning miniseries.
Some printings of the issue include a 12-page M.A.S.K. promotional comics insert ('Secret of the Temple'), creating a recognized variant for collectors; at least one printing without the insert also exists.
The issue and the full six-issue miniseries have been collected multiple times, including a 30th Anniversary Edition trade paperback (2016) and in the DC Finest: Suicide Squad — Trial by Fire collection (2025).