Legion of Substitute Heroes Special #1

The cover by Keith Giffen and Karl Kesel sets the playful tone perfectly: "Super-Heroes" is crossed out and replaced with "Substitute," and the team — a flaming figure, a purple-haired member, a character in green, a stone-like hero, and several others including a small creature crouching at the side — poses with cheerful confidence on what appears to be a promotional photo pinned to a memo asking, "You really expect us to get people to PAY for this?" It's a genuinely funny self-deprecating gag that makes this 1985 DC Special feel like a celebration of the Legion's lovable underdogs rather than an apology for them. If you've ever rooted for the second string, this one's calling your name.