Powers: The Protectors were robots who drew their power from solar energy, and possessed superhuman strength and durability.

History: (Action Comics I #382) - Industrialists Cosvarr and Zorla used super-hypnosis to capture Superboy and Mon-El during a Legion mission, and after studying them found a way to duplicate their solar based powers to create a line of robots called the Protectors. Ultra Boy went shopping for a birthday present for Phantom Girl when he was ambushed by a Protector robot, who challenged him to combat. Ultra Boy was caught unaware, and after being slammed into a wall was hospitalized. Cosvarr gave a speech at the UP’s interworld security council, calling the Legion of Super-Heroes outdated as guardians of the UP, and showed them a tape of his Protector injuring Ultra Boy to prove it. Cosvarr then visited the Legion Clubhouse, delivered the same tape and pitch to Karate Kid and Shrinking Violet to gloat. Karate Kid worried that the UP would start buying Protectors, and any planet without them would feel endangered, sparking an arms race. Karate Kid sent out an emergency signal, and Light Lass and Timber Wold responded. They arrived on Jupiter to visit Cosvarr’s Protector production plant, with Light Lass posing as heiress Carina Walter, who was interested in purchasing Protectors. Cosvarr was immediately interested in seducing her, much to the annoyance of his partner Zorla, who said he chased after every woman he met. “Carina” questioned him about the source of the Protector’s powers, and Cosvarr showed her the unconscious Superboy and Mon-E.. Cosvarr then veered off topic, talking about his unhappy childhood and his need to make his mark in life before sending Zorla off and offering “Carina” a drink. Timber Wolf, Violet and Karate Kid infiltrated the plant, but were caught by Zorla, who realized “Carina” must also be a Legionnaire. She presented her captives to Cosvarr, who was trying to force himself on Light Lass, and Zorla was furious. She’d had enough, and allowed the Legionnaires to rescue Mon-El and Superboy and leave the plant before pressing a destruct button that atomized the plant, destroying the Protectors and killing herself and Cosvarr in the process.

Comments: Created by Jim Shooter & Win Mortimer.