Although the original, pre-Zero Hour Legion Of Super-Heroes are justly famous for their mix of sci-fi, super-heroics and outright weirdness, the group also utilized soap-opera melodrama with the best of ‘em.

From the classic love of Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl to the bad-boy/good-girl mismatch of Wildfire and Dawnstar, a typical issue of the Legion packed more romantic intrigue than X-Men and Spider-Man combined.

In the Keeper’s opinion, however, the most intriguing couple in the Legion were Lightning Lass and Shrinking Violet. Although their love was never declared openly - probably because of Comics Code restrictions and editorial squeamishness - the relationship was there for all to see.

The first hint, as recounted on the excellent Gay League site, emerged in the 22nd issue of the Legion’s second series (if you don’t count the brief reprint title that ran for four issues in the early ’70s).

Both characters had endured tremendous traumas (Violet was kidnapped and held in a sensory deprivation tank for months; Lightning Lass endured a painful break-up with Timber Wolf and survived a brutal battle with her evil older brother) and emerged as decidedly different individuals.

The new status quo was shown, albeit in a cryptic manner, during a brief break in the action. (The main plots in Legion of Super-Heroes #22 involved the return of Universo, the Fatal Five and the mystery of Sensor Girl … ahhh, the good old days.)

After that point, the two often accompanied each other on and off missions. Reflecting the semi-revelation of issue 22, Lightning Lass wavered at times - to the point of flirting heavily, and unsuccessfully, with Magnetic Boy - while Violet always remained true to her convictions.

After longtime scripter and future DC exec Paul Levitz left the title, Keith Giffen and Tom & Mary Bierbaum dropped heavier hints during the controversial “Five Years Later” storyline.

The very first issue of the revamped Legion saw a battle-scarred Violet write a touching letter to her long-time companion, demonstrating a vulnerability she never revealed to her other teammates.

Lightning Lass responded in kind during a rare moment of tranquility after the two were reunited.

The bond between the two was finally severed in Legion of Super-Heroes #61, when Zero Hour forever wiped the original group out of existence. Before Shrinking Violet and Lightning Lass faded away, however, the two shared a final, touching moment.

Of course, the Legion as been rebooted a few more times since that point and there is even an alternate group floating around out there that resembles the classic Levitz/Giffen team.

To our knowledge, none of these incarnations revisited the Lightning Lass/Shrinking Violet relationship, which is truly a shame. Although it would have been nice if the couple were openly acknowledged, at least the creators never portrayed the two in an exploitative manner to gain some quick attention.

In fact, the interaction between Lightning Lass and Violet was often portrayed in a rather mature manner for a comic-book romance. In an era where four-color couples are torn apart in hastily written, editorially mandated storylines (Hi there, Spidey!), this reader could use a little more maturity in his comics.

Happy Valentines’ Day, everyone.