DC’s Legion fans are a passionate bunch.

We’ll debate most useless member, best creative team and favorite reboot.

But you don’t get a lot of guff about one of the admittedly goofier elements of Legion Lore:

The Legion of Substitute Heroes.

There just might be a good reason for that.

In “The Legion of Substitute Heroes!,” presented in “Adventure Comics” No. 306, cover date March 1963, written by Edmond Hamilton and illustrated by John Forte, a hopeful teen journeys to Earth to fulfill the dream of a lifetime – to become a member of the fabled Legion of Super-Heroes.

Young Brek Bannin – calling himself Polar Boy – demonstrates his impressive power to generate massive waves of cold.

The Legion is left shivering, if not exactly wowed.

‘Your power is unusual, but it might freeze and disable us at a critical moment,” Sun Boy says. “So we have decided – your application is rejected!”

As excuses go, this is pretty weak. This is a team who would eventually induct a gal whose strongest when she’s sleeping and a guy known for his digestive tract.

But back to this story.

A dejected Polar Boy wanders the streets until he meets up with another recent rejectee, Night Girl. Night Girl possesses super-strength but only at night or in deep shadow and has seen fit to choose a name that broadcasts her liability to the universe.

If I were Night Girl, I would have named myself All-Day Mighty Gal!

Polar Boy has an idea – and gathers other Legion rejectees: Stone Boy, who can turn his body to stone – but remains immobile; Fire Lad, who exhales flame; and Chlorophyll Kid, who control the growth of plants.

“We can never equal the super-heroes, but we can use our abilities to help people!” Polar Boy explains to his new comrades. “Instead of going home as hopeless failures, let’s form the Legion of Substitute Heroes, to act as pinch hitters for the super-heroes and help them in any way we can!”

The Subs carve out a secret cave headquarters in a mountain, complete with a “Warning Wall Monitor” to notify them of planetary disasters. Their first couple of attempts to help are thwarted by the heroes they idolize who show up first and get the jobs done.

The Subs are ready to abandon their clubhouse forever when Chloro – Chlory? – notices some odd seeds drifting in the air and falling on the ground. He uses his super-power on one seed – and it turns into a rampaging alien invader.

As twists go, this is genuinely creepy.

It’s part of a diabolical plan to take over the Earth.

With the Legion of Super-Heroes off battling the invaders’ robo-ships, it’s up to the Subs to save the planet.

They travel to the hostile world, and after the Subs battle the plant men, Chlorophyll Kid uses his power on the missiles stuffed with seeds, making them explode with plant men.

Back on Earth, the Legion of Super-Heroes get the glory for stopping the robo-ships. The Subs are happy to know they helped and stand ready to serve when needed.

The Legion of Substitute Heroes proved to be so popular with readers, they did have more adventures. They won the respect of their idols, and decades later, Polar Boy eventually won full membership. His pals were thrilled for him.

Here’s why the Legion of Substitute Heroes matters, why they are so important: Because their existence proves that no matter what your abilities, if your heart is pure and your intentions good, you too can stand with the greatest heroes.

That’s a powerful and meaningful message to send to young readers.

You can get this gem in the DC Comics app.

Oh, the lead story is about high school student Mister Mxyzptlk pranking Superboy and Lana Lang. It’s deranged. You have to love the Silver Age.