* (The Legion has undergone quite a few incarnations prior to the New 52, and thus this post will mainly focus on Pre-Zero Hour and the Retroboot.)

Imra Ardeen is one of the most talented telepaths among a race of powerful mentalists. She left her homeworld of Titan to join the Science Police as a teenager. However, during her flight to Earth, an assassination attempt was made on the life of fellow passenger and billionaire, R.J. Brande. Using her powers of telepathy, Imra discovered the plot, and, with the help of two other teenagers on board, Garth Ranzz and Rok Krinn (later on Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy respectively), caught the assassin and saved Brande’s life. At Brande’s urging, she adopted the persona of Saturn Girl, and joined Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy in founding the Legion of Super-Heroes – an organization of teenage heroes formed to honor the legacy of Superman.

As a Legionnaire, Imra gained a reputation for self-sacrifice; just prior to the leadership elections of 2975, she learned that a Legionnaire would die during an attack on Earth and decided to take on that responsibility herself. Using her telepathy, Imra forced the other Legionnaires to vote her leader and then ordered them not to use their powers during the attack. However, Lightning Lad defied her orders and took her place in death. Distraught over his selfless act of devotion, Imra vowed to do all in her power to bring him back. A method was soon developed which could revive Lightning Lad, but only at the cost of another member’s life. Imra again interfered in the process to ensure hers was the life taken, but her plan was foiled by Proty, the telepathic pet of Chameleon Boy. Proty admired Imra and tricked her so that it could take her place. Upon Proty’s death, Lightning Lad was restored. Despite this series of events, Imra’s leadership was highly valued in the Legion, and her position as leader, despite its means of acquisition, was allowed to stand. She earned a second term the following year. As leader of the Legion, Saturn Girl was the first female comic book character to head a group of superheroes.

After dating for almost ten years, Garth proposed marriage, but Imra initially rejected his offer due to a Legion rule which forced married members to retire. After consulting with her mentors on Titan, however, Imra eventually relented. However, the couple’s retirement was short-lived; a few months after their marriage, war broke out in which all active Legionnaires were captured and the reserves were forced into action. Imra’s telepathic skills were instrumental in the Legion’s eventual victory, and as a result the rule barring married members was repealed. Imra would go on to have twin sons with Garth.

Imra briefly rejoined the Legion again in 2987 when Universo took control of the Earth and hypnotized and imprisoned many heroes, including her. Imra’s powerful mind broke free and eventually broke Universo’s hold over Earth and forced him unconscious. It was then that she realized how much the Legion was in her blood, and she rejoined, this time without Garth, who was enjoying life as a father and househusband.

Saturn Girl can read people’s minds in detail, either by consciously willing it or by mentally picking up their stray thoughts. Via her telepathy, she can also send messages into the minds of others, sounding like her own voice inside their heads, or place knowledge of certain things into people’s minds. Using a combination of these methods, she can interpret unknown alien languages. She can send or receive telepathic messages to or from the Phantom Zone. She is able to resist control and hide her thoughts from prying by other telepaths, though closing her mind completely also means she cannot send or receive thoughts. On occasion, she has telepathically freed persons from the mental control of others.

Saturn Girl is a prodigy, and is considered a tenth level by her people, the highest ranking there is. She has an incredible working knowledge of the average humanoid brain and the specific functions of each part. Her telepathy is comparable in power level to that of the 20th century’s Martian Manhunter, whom in turn is renowned as one of the most powerful telepaths on Earth.

As a long-time Legionnaire, Saturn Girl is proficient in hand-to-hand combat, and has great leadership skills. She is also noted for her high intellect.

• Adventure Comics #247
• Legion of Super-Heroes vol.2
• JLA/JSA: The Lightning Saga
• Action Comics #858-863
• Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 6
• Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds

“I have peered into the minds of those that hold onto hate and I have seen the potential to change that.”