The Lethal Legion returns in the upcoming five-issue spinoff series New Mutants: Lethal Legion, and the cover for Issue #2 reveals a female Grim Reaper with her scythe fully prepared to wreck the book's heroes.
"That’s right, Count Nefaria is recruiting -- and the New Mutants are lining up for the job!" reads Marvel's description of the issue, which hits comic shop shelves in April. "When Escapade, Scout and Cerebella set out to rob from the rich, they’ll find themselves in way over their heads. But surely the OG team will come rescue them, right? Only, Wolfsbane’s trapped in a sewer with a very angry beastie, Magik’s got X-Men business and Dani and Karma have no idea their young charges are in trouble. And make no mistake -- between a room full of hardened criminals and a bottle of very expensive grappa, the kids are NOT all right."
A History Of Marvel's Grim Reaper And Lethal Legion
The new Grim Reaper, illustrated by Javier Fernandez, stands in front of a Count Negaria recruitment poster on the cover of Issue #2. Little is known about her at the moment, but the original Grim Reaper -- also known as Eric Williams -- was a supervillain who first appeared in 1968's The Avengers #52. Depicted wearing a skull and crossbones logo on a black costume and a giant scythe attached to his arm, the Grim Reaper is best known for his status as Wonder Man's brother, and also his countless deaths. Perhaps appropriate considering his namesake, the Grim Reaper has been killed multiple times, resurrected as a zombie, and somehow managed to remain a consistent nuisance to the Avengers for over fifty years.
The Grim Reaper was also the founder of the original Lethal Legion, which debuted in 1970's The Avengers #79. Other villains in the roster included Living Laser, Man-Ape, Power Man and Swordsman. There have been multiple iterations of the Lethal Legion over the years, but Count Nefaria and the Grim Reaper have consistently remained founders -- though their enemies have traditionally been the Avengers rather than Marvel's mutants.
New Mutants: Lethal Legion is written by Charlie Jane Anderson, illustrated by Enid Balám and features a variant cover by Mike McKone. The issue goes on sale April 19 from Marvel.
Source: Marvel