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Justice Society of America coming to ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’

Team to appear on time-traveling television series

The motley crew of “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” is set to cross paths with the storied Justice Society of America in its sophomore season.

Several characters associated with the JSA appeared in the CW’s DC-based shows last year, but the season finale of “Legends” ended with a young hero named Rex Tyler introducing himself as a member of the JSA, the forerunner of the Justice League.

Tyler is one of multiple characters to carry the mantle of Hourman, one of six announced members of the JSA to be featured this season, along with Commander Steel, Dr. Mid-Nite, Obsidian, Stargirl and Vixen.

Hourman was considered a few years ago as the potential star of a DC show, back when “Arrow” was the only entry in a shared universe that now includes “Legends,” “The Flash” and “Supergirl.” In the comics, Tyler invented a drug called Miraclo that he took to give himself superhuman strength, agility, durability and more – for an hour at a time. Miraclo addictiveness and other side effects led Tyler into early retirement.

His son, Rick, would later take up the mantle, having his own struggles and developing leukemia from exposure to Miraclo. More than 80,000 years later, a powerful android patterned after Rex Tyler’s DNA picked up the legacy. He was a member of that era’s Justice Legion A before coming back to the 21st century and serving with both the JLA and JSA. Eventually, he cured Rick’s cancer and passed the mantle back to him.

Commander Steel was originally just known as Steel, before a would-be Superman successor adopted that moniker. Hank Heywood was another World War II-era hero whose body was rebuilt using steel components after he was grievously wounded in an act of sabotage. He earned the rank of commander after his first mission with the All-Star Squadron.

His grandsons would eventually carry on his legacy. The most recent was Nate Heywood, who is shaping up to be a key figure on “Legends.” A historian on the TV show, in the comics he was an Ohio State football star whose career was cut short by an injury that led to the amputation of his leg.

While trying to protect his family from a group of Nazi super-villains, Nate inadvertently absorbs the property of one of the attackers’ mutated blood, which turns his body into living steel. He joins the JSA as Citizen Steel.

Dr. Mid-Nite is another legacy character, starting with Dr. Charles McNider in the World War II era. He was blinded while performing an operation on a police witness, but developed the ability to see in the dark. He used his powers and ingenuity to battle organized crime, eventually joining up with the Justice Society and America’s World War II efforts.

Obsidian is a troubled hero who was the son of the original Green Lantern but was adopted and grew up in an abusive home. A member of the team Infinity Inc., mostly children and proteges of the original JSA, he became unhinged and battled his friends and family before being welcomed back into the fold. His powers utilize shadows and darkness pulled from a nightmare dimension.

Stargirl carries two legacies in the comics, first gaining enhanced strength and agility from the Star-Spangled Kid’s Cosmic Belt (her stepdad was the Kid’s sidekick, Stripesy). She became a member of the JSA, growing from a trainee to an integral member of the team. Eventually, Starman turned his cosmic rod — which can fire energy blasts and generate constructs and force fields — over to the young hero.

In DC’s New 52 reboot, she was introduced as a popular hero who served as the spokesperson for the government-sponsored Justice League of America, although she resented being left on the bench during early missions.

Vixen has guest-starred on “Arrow” and has her own animated Web series for the CW. But due to scheduling conflicts, actress Megalyn Echikunwoke will not reprise the role. Instead, Maisie Richardson-Sellers will play the character’s grandmother, who also possesses a mystical totem allowing her to tap into the powers of animals.

In comics, Vixen is more associated with the Justice League. Born in Africa, she immigrated to the U.S. after her father was killed by her uncle, who wanted the totem’s powers for himself. Building a career as a model, she eventually recovered the totem and became a superhero, joining the League when it was reorganized in Detroit by Aquaman.

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