History:  (Adventure Comics I #306) - Lydda's father gave her superpowers using scientific experimentation, and as Night Girl she traveled to Esarth to apply for membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes. She was rejected because her powers faded in sunlight, something she never had to deal with on Kathoon, which had perpetual night. She met up with several other rejected Legionnaire hopefuls, and encouraged by Polar Boy, decided that even though they weren’t Legion material, they could still use their powers to help people. They formed the Legion of Substitute Heroes, vowing to help people and, if need be, the Legion of Super-Heroes in their time of need. They built their own clubhouse in the side of a mountain as well as a spaceship and Science Police monitoring system. They got a warning about giant evolved sea creatures that had escaped from the Ocean Research Laboratory, and were quick to respond, but the LOSH were already on the scene wrangling the beasts. The next Science Police alert came when scientists who’d built a domed city in the Arctic went rogue. They secretly built an atomic power plant under the dome, propelling the city into space, and delivered an ultimatum that they’d use the advanced weaponry they’d built to attack Earth unless they were given tribute. The Substitute Heroes flew into space, but Sun Boy of the Legion streaked through space near the domed city, and fearing they were about to be hit by a meteorite the scientists piloted their city back to Earth where they were apprehended by Colossal Boy and Cosmic Boy. Robot-ships attacked Earth and Polar Boy offered the Legion back-up, but Brainiac 5 refused him, saying the mission was too dangerous for untrained civilians. The Substitute Heroes’ anxieties finally got to them, and they decided they were no help as a team after all and prepared to disband. Chlorophyll Kid spotted seeds that had rained down from space, and used his plant growth powers on one. The seed grew into a plant man that attacked him, and the Substitute Heroes defeated it, and Fire-Lad incinerated the rest of the seeds. They learned from their monitor system that the seeds had come from a distant planet that had also sent the robot-ships. The robot-ships were meant to divert the Legion while the planet rocketed more seeds to Earth to conquer the planet. The Substitutes traveled to the planet, found the warehouse storing millions of seeds, and Chlorophyll Kid used his powers to prematurely grow them to plant men. The planet was now burdened with a population explosion, and had to cease its’ plans of invasion. The Substitutes decided to stay together after all, and were pleased to keep their victory a secret amongst themselves, and attended a parade for the Legion celebrating their defeat of the robot-ships.

(Legion of Super-Heroes III #3, 4) - The Legion of Super-Villains invaded Orando and captured Queen Projecta and Karate Kid. On Earth Cosmic Boy agreed to keep watch on the planet while Element Lad assembled the rest of the Legion to fly a ship to Orando. Cosmic Boy was worried about Element Lad devoting all their resources to Orando, but trusted his judgment. Cosmic Lad felt some sense of relief when night Girl sent him a video message offering the support of the Legion of Substitute Heroes. The Legion of Super-Villains warped Orando to a space between dimensions, inadvertently taking several Legionnaires with them. The LSV planned on finding other worlds where there was no Legion to foil them and conquering them. Dream Girl, acting as deputy leader with Element Lad on Orando, called Cosmic Boy to check in on Earth. Cosmic Boy now had the back-up of reservists Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel, the Legion of Substitute Heroes and the Legion Academy.

(Legion of Super-Heroes III #8) - Cosmic Boy tried to figure out a way to make his plan to shake up the Legion work. Night Girl visited him, asking him to take a trip with her to Kathoon. Cosmic Boy said that if the Substitute Heroes could survive without Night Girl the Legion could survive without him once they found their missing teammates. He told Night Girl he was considering going off active-duty permanently, saying his exit might be the perfect catalyst to move the Legion forward.

(Legion of Super-Heroes III #15) - When Polar Boy dissolved the Legion of Substitute Heroes to join the Legion of Super-Heroes their old hq, the Legion clubhouse, was transformed into a Legion museum. Mayor Khalid unveiled the museum alongside Cosmic Boy and Night Girl. The crowd got to be too much for Night Girl, so she and Cosmic Boy left. Cosmic Boy was happy with retirement, but Night Girl wasn’t thrilled with the Subs disbanding, and Cosmic Boy said he’d put in a good word for her with the Legion.

Comments: Created by Edmond Hamilton & John Forte

Night Girl received a profile in Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #16 and Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #3. She received a profile in Who’s Who in the DC Universe #11 under the Legion SUBS entry. She received profiles in Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #13 and Who's Who Update '87 #3 under the Legion of Substitute Heroes entry

Night Girl's appearance in Adventure Comics I #306 was reprinted in DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #1 and Adventure Comics I #500, Legion of Super-Heroes III #3, 4, 8, 14 was reprinted in Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #328, 329, 333, 340.

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