5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #45

Recap: Mordru has absorbed the White Witch into his body, gaining her power, and nearly becoming a god-like being. With his newfound powers, Mordru decides to take the universe by force, casting a resurrection spell which raises the dead as a revenant army devoted to his cause. With the galaxy scrambling, the Legion is called into duty to defend outlying worlds. But politics make strange bedfellows. The Legion ally themselves with the Khunds and add 4 Khundian super-soldiers to the roster. The streak off to Sklar to help defend that planet. Meanwhile, Kono has been possessed by the spirit of Amethyst and, with Matter Eater Lad and the Martian Manhunter in tow, heads to Naltor for a mission of her own.

I feel I have been a bit harsh in the last couple of reviews of the 5YL run, lamenting the creative daring of the first year and talking about how the book seemed to settle into an "ordinary comic book sort of rut. But after reading this issue for the review, I felt I needed to reconsider things a bit.

Superboy starring The Legion #229

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #229 (July, 1977)
title: "Hunt For A Hero-Killer"

writer: Paul Levitz

artist: Jim Sherman

inker: Jack Abel

colorist: Liz Berube
letterer: Bill Morse

editor: Denny O'Neil
cover: Mike Grell (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Timber Wolf, Saturn Girl, Wildfire, Dawnstar, Mon-El, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Light Lass; cameos by Chemical King, Shadow Lass, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy

Guests: 
Night Girl

Opponents: 
Deregon, The Dark Circle

Synopsis: 
On Shanghalla, the Legion holds the funeral for Chemical King, who died last issue while preventing a cosmic fusion sphere from exploding. Immediately after the ceremony, Legion leader Wildfire uses the computer to pick a team to go to the Dark Circle world to capture Deregon. Although every Legionnaire has volunteered to go, Wildfire picks only five. Saturn Girl argues, citing Legion traditions, but in the end agrees to Wildfire's decision. He, Dawnstar, Timber Wolf, Superboy, and Mon-El head off to the Dark Circle world.

Who's Who: Kent Shakespeare/Impulse

Kent Shakespeare / Impulse
by Siskoid

Real Name: Richard Kent Shakespeare

Super-Power(s): Limited super-strength, super-speed, and super-invulnerability
Planet of Origin: Earth

Legion Seniority: Kent Shakespeare was the second recruit to join the Legion in the mostly-unchronicled era known as the Five-Year Gap.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #29

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #29 (Dec, 1986)
title: "No Star Shall Shine"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Greg LaRocque
inker: Mike DeCarlo
ink assist: Arne Starr
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Element Lad, Widlfire, White Witch, Quislet, Tellus, Magnetic Kid, Polar Boy, Phantom Girl, Sun Boy, Lightning Lass, Dream Girl

Guests: 
Ambassador Relnic

Opponents: 
Starfinger and his cronies, Universo (unseen)

Wonder Woman #101 "Fun House of Time!"

Hey Legionnaires, once again the Kord Kid (that’s me) is back to entertain and educate, this time with a Legion peculiarity. The Time Trapper first battled the Legion in Adventure Comics #317…but he first appeared in this story from Wonder Woman #101 by Robert Kanigher, with art by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito, as the Time Master. Let me start my saying, I didn’t choose the story, it was chosen for me. Yes we all have Bilingual Boy to thank for this once again. That said, though a bit weird, this is definitely the kind of amusing Silver Age tale I enjoy. So without further ado, let’s get started!

Col. Steve Trevor calls Wonder Woman, on a “special Amazon radio” that looks like a ring, to remind her of a date they have. The message is received by Lt. Diana Prince, who quickly ditches her civvies and joins him as Wonder Woman. The duo head to a place called Frolic Park, and the opening of Ty M. Master’s Fun House! 

Legionnaire Dies!

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #44

Recap: The Legion of Super-Heroes is finally stabilizing, re-established on Talus, adding Invisible Kid, Infectious Lass, and Spider Girl to the ranks; and recruiting new members. Meanwhile, The White Witch Mysa has traveled to Sorcerer's World and apparently merged with the spirit of Amethyst. Enraged at the abuse she suffered at the hands of Mordru, she has headed to Tharn to take her revenge.

Legion of Super-Heroes #44 continued the redefining of the Legion landscape in the post-Terra Mosaic galaxy. Written and plotted by Tom McCraw and Tom & Mary Bierbaum, this issue looked closely at the Mysa/Mordru plot as well as showcasing the "new" Legion which has regathered on Talus. It is a fine comic built on the foundation of both Legion history and key moments in this very title.

Superboy starring The Legion #228

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #228 (June, 1977)
title: "That A World Might Live...A Legionnaire Must Die!"

writer: Paul Levitz

artist: Jim Sherman

inker: Jack Abel

colorist: Liz Berube

editor: Denny O'Neil
cover: Mike Grell (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Wildfire, Chameleon Boy, Superboy, Light Lass, Shadow Lass, Saturn Girl, Colossal Boy, Timber Wolf, Chemical King

Opponents: 
Deregon, The Dark Circle

Synopsis: 
In Metropolis, President of Earth Kandru invites Legion leader Wildfire and Legion Espionage Squad leader Chameleon Boy to see him. He tells them about Governor Deregon of Western Australia, who appears hell-bent on starting a war. He asks them unofficially to try to stop him.

Who's Who: Nightwind

Nightwind
by Siskoid

Real Name: Berta Skye Haris

Super-Power(s): Wind generation and manipulation
Planet of Origin: Earth

Legion Seniority: Nightwind was a member of Legion Academy through the Bronze Age, but only became a full-fledged Legionnaire in the Five-Year Gap, the first of many new recruits in the largely-unchronicled era.

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #28

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #28 (Nov, 1986)
title: "The Lost Hero"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Greg LaRocque
inker: Mike DeCarlo
ink assist: Arne Starr
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Star Boy, Chameleon Boy, Timber Wolf, Dawnstar, Invisible Kid; Brainiac 5, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Magnetic Kid, Tellus, Polar Boy, White Witch; cameos by Colossal Boy and Sun Boy

Guests: 
The Tribune of Xanthu, SP Chief Zendak, SP Officer Shvaughn Erin, Star Boy's parents Fryd and Mira Kallor; cameo of Atmos

Opponents: 
Universo (unseen)

San Diego Comic Con special

San Diego Comic-Con just finished last week, and those Legion fans lucky enough to attend might have come across a Legion-related collectible or two. As we know, many comic book conventions are now mega-events, getting bigger each year like a sun-eater spreading its tendrils across the galaxy. And as the gatherings grow in size and popularity, so too does the quality of the souvenir programs that get published in conjunction with them. These books often contain information about the convention, bios on the guests, explanations of the panels and booths, comic book previews, and more often than not, specially-commissioned pieces and original art from participating comic book artists. For Legion fans, coming across programs with Legion-related art in them can be quite a treasure find.

One of the earliest examples of Legion artwork appeared in the souvenir booklet for the 1978 Women in Comics expo, organized by the Delaware Valley Comicart Consortium, and which ran for three days in Philadelphia.  Inside the publication, adorned by a Marie Severin cover, are articles on many of the convention guests, including Joe Staton, the Legion artist at the time. To accompany the article, Joe provided a great sketch of the female Legionnaires.

Happy Birthday, Dick Giordano!

Happy Birthday, Dick Giordano! 

Tomorrow July 20 is the birthday of extraordinary penciller, inker, editor, and all-around-good-guy Dick Giordano, born on this date in  1932.

Dick first broke into comics at Charlton Comics in the mid Sixties as an editor. During his tenure there he worked with such talent as Jim Aparo, Denny O'Neil, and Steve Skeates. In 1968 he was hired by DC Comics, and brought several of these talented gentlemen with him. He was initially the editor of titles such as Aquaman and Teen Titans, as well as the inker for Neal Adams on several classic Batman stories. Later still, he became the editor of the Batman titles, then the entire DC line. He retired from DC in 1993.

Star Boy: Hot or Not?

He's had many looks, a group of candid women with no real Legion knowledge will tell us which is hottest.

Participants
Our honorary Legion members are...
Art Girl - Has always wanted to be a star.
DJ Nath - Not a club DJ, but keeps getting invites from club DJ cicles.
Havana Nights - Likes to think she turns others into stars.
Lip-Bomb - Is the co-star of a You-Tube channel, Mind Linked, which she telepathically shares with her sister DJ Nath.
Shotgun - Recently refereed an improv game in front of 1500 people, which might be a record. Is that stardom?
Moderator: Siskoid - Well known for his incapacity to be starstruck.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #43

Recap: In the aftermath of the destruction of Earth, the older Legion is reorganizing and recruiting. Jacques Foccart has rejoined the team and is trying to bring some sense of structure to a team that had barely formed when Terra Mosaic occurred. 

Meanwhile, Mysa Nal has been on a vision quest since seeing Amethyst, Princess of the Gemworld in her dreams. Mysa was still recovering from the emotional and physical torture she suffered as a wife of Mordru when she left the Legion to follow this phenomenon.

Legion of Super-Heroes #43 was a spotlight issue for the White Witch, a Legionnaire who had been pushed a bit into the background since the beginning of the mega-arc of Terra Mosaic. She certainly wasn't alone as the focus of this book seemed to drift away from the main Legion characters to the Subs, rebels, and SW6 Legionnaires during the Dominator war.

DC Special #28

DC Special #28 (July 1977) 
Earth Shattering Disasters! 
title: "The City That Stopped---Dead!"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Arvell Jones
inker: Bob Layton
colorist: Liz Berube
lettering: Bill Morse

editor: Paul Levitz 

cover: Al Milgrom
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Phantom Girl, Brainiac 5, Ultra Boy, Timber Wolf, Chemical King

Opponents: 
Fenton Pike

Synopsis: 
On Earth, the fusion power-sphere in Metropolis suddenly goes dead. Brainiac 5's team investigates it while Timber Wolf and Ultra Boy are on damage control.

Who's Who: Laurel Gand/Andromeda

Laurel Gand / Andromeda
by Siskoid

Real Name: Laurel Gand (Leala Linder)

Super-Power(s): Super-strength, super-speed, super-invulnerability, various super vision powers, as per every Daxamite
Planet of Origin: Ricklef II, an asteroid in the Daxam system

Legion Seniority: Laurel Gand replaced Supergirl in post-Glorithverse continuity. As such, she joined at the same time as Brainiac 5 and is thus retroactively Legionnaire #9. Her first name was taken from Laurel Kent, a supposed descendent of Superman who went to Legion Academy, and who may also have been wiped from continuity post-Glorithverse.

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #2 (1986)

The Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v2) #2 (1986)
title: "Child of Darkness, Child of Light"

writer: Paul Levitz

pencillers: Keith Giffen and Curt Swan
inkers: Larry Mahlstedt and Ernie Colon
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Element Lad, Wildfire, Magnetic Kid, Invisible Kid, Blok, Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Timber Wolf, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl

Guests: 
SP Officers Shvaughn Erin and Gu Dehn

Opponents: 
Darkseid, Validus, Ol-Vir

Booster Gold #8-9 "Time Bridge"

Hey Legionnaires! It’s your pal, the Kord Kid, back to cover some Legion periphery! After my recent coverage of “Convergence: Booster Gold”, our mutual friend and fellow member of the Legion of Super-Bloggers, Bilingual Boy, asked me to take a look at another Booster/Legion team-up. The story is called “Time Bridge” from 1986. So without further ado, let’s dive right into “Booster Gold” #’s 8&9, by Dan Jurgens and Mike DeCarlo.

In the year 2986, Brainiac-5, Ultra Boy, and Chameleon Boy have been summoned to the Time Institute by Chronarch and Dr. Manning. It seems a time machine has been unearthed. Not just any time machine either, one that belonged to Rip Hunter and was stolen by Michael Carter, aka Booster Gold in 2462. That’s not all…inside was a force shield belt belonging to none other than Brainiac-5! 

Hot: Francis Portela Brings The Heat

There wasn't a lot to overly praise about the last Legion of Super-Heroes title.

But one thing that definitely was a highlight was the super-slick art by Francis Portela. Portela's stream-lined look definitely worked with the idea of a gleaming future.

But Portela also brought a fair amount of hotness to the entire cast. Reading this book was like watching Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210 in their heyday. Everyone was beautiful.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #42

Recap: The two Legions are still located on Earth, helping the "planet" stabilize. Meanwhile, an armored renegade has been seen kidnapping Legionnaires like Saturn Girl. Who is it? And who are they targeting?

Before I begin my review of Legion of Super-Heroes #42, I have to apologize.

You see, by the time LSH #42 had come out, there had been three annuals in the 5YL universe. And I haven't covered any of them  here. It is pretty sad to admit that I have missed these stories especially because they are relatively crucial in the re-establishment of much of the Legion mythos after the Mordru/Glorith reboot from early in the title.

Superboy starring The Legion #227

Superboy starring the Legion of Super-Heroes #227 (May, 1977)
title: "War At World's End!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Joe Staton
inker: Jack Abel
editor: Denny O'Neil 

cover: Mike Grell
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Superboy, Wildfire, Colossal Boy, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Shrinking Violet, Lightning Lad, Shadow Lass; cameo flashbacks of Sun Boy and Star Boy

Opponents: 
Pulsar Stargrave, Quicksand, Holdur

Synopsis: 
Above Colu, a Legion cruiser approaches Brainiac 5 and his one-man ship when it is blasted by another ship hiding behind a moon. The Legion realize that this is not the real Brainiac 5, so abandoned the cruiser and were not killed. They find the real Brainiac 5 tied up inside his ship, but no one on the second ship.

Who's Who: The Legion of Super-Heroes

...and with that, we are at The End of Phase 1 of the Legion of Super Bloggers' "Who's Who of the Legion of Super-Heroes" column!

It's been 38 weeks, but we finished covering the entire roll call for the Silver Age-Bronze Age Legion of Super-Heroes. So from now on when you are faced with something like this: 

...you should be able to recognize a few of the characters!!

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #27

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #27 (Oct, 1986)
title: "Going Home"

writer: Paul Levitz

pencillers: Greg LaRocque, Colleen Doran, Shawn McManus, and Gene Colan
inker: Mike DeCarlo
ink assist: Arne Starr
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Sensor Girl, Element Lad, White Witch, Colossal Boy; cameos by Star Boy, Dream Girl, Quislet, Wildfire, Dawnstar, Invisible Kid, Blok, Timber Wolf, Shrinking Violet, Phantom Girl, Sun Boy, Lightning Lass, Magnetic Kid, Polar Boy, Tellus

Guests: 
The Royal Council of Orando, SP Officer Shvaughn Erin, the Sorcerers of Xerox, Marte and Wynn Allon, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad

Opponents: 
Ignorance, Mordru

TOS: Adventure Comics #293 Group Review

featuring
The Legion of Super Bloggers Round-Table Discussion on
Adventure Comics #293 (February, 1962)
title: The Legion of Super-Traitors!
writer: Jerry Siegel
penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein
letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover: Curt Swan and George Klein

Mission Monitor Board: 
Superboy, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad

Guests:
The Legion of Super-Pets (Krypto the Super-Dog, Streaky the Super-Cat, Comet the Super-Horse, Beppo the Super-Monkey), Lana Lang, Pa and Ma Kent, Mon-El, Supergirl (cameo)

Opponents:
The Brain-Globes of Rambat, Jax-Ur, General Zod

Ultra Boy: Hot or Not?

From one powerhouse to the next, a group of candid women with no real Legion knowledge will evaluate which is actually the hottest.

Participants
Our honorary Legion members are...
Art Girl - Can't look at orange next to another color. No, not can't. Won't.
DJ Nath - Can't read and walk at the same time. Follow her You-Tube channel, Mind Linked, which she telepathically shares with her sister Lip-Bomb.
Havana Nights - Can't put pictures and words together in her mind. So it's entirely ironic that she's contributing to a comic book blog.
Lip-Bomb - CAN read and walk at the same time. #MindLinkFail.
Shotgun - Can't listen to music and stop herself from dancing at the same time.
Moderator: Siskoid - Multi-tasking master.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #41

Recap: The Earth was destroyed and then rebuilt as a flotilla of floating cities. More importantly, it has TWO Legion of Super-heroes, the older ones who have lived throughout and the recently revived, younger, brighter SW6 Legionnaires. These cities aren't big enough for the two of them. It is time for the teams to take stock of their members and to move forward in this new Earth and new political landscape of the galaxy.

If Legion of Super-Heroes #41 came out in today's market it would be a #0 issue, or maybe it would be the dreaded #40.1. The title had a major upheaval when the Dominators' control was eliminated from Earth and the planet was subsequently destroyed. It also had a major creative upheaval as well. Gone is Keith Giffen. Gone are some of the quirkier stylistic points the title had. And the elephant in the room isthe presence of two full squads of Legionnaires. The title was still trying to find its footing. It was in the midst of getting settled into this new reality. And this issue was the turning point.

Superboy starring The Legion #226

Superboy starring The Legion of Super-Heroes #216 (April, 1976)
title: "The Dazzling Debut of Dawnstar!"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Jim Sherman
inker: Jack Abel
colorist: Liz Berube

editor: Denny O'Neil

cover: Mike Grell
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Sun Boy, Star Boy, Superboy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Wildfire, Dawnstar; cameos of Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Timber Wolf, Mon-El, Ultra Boy, Shrinking Violet

Opponents: 
The Resource Raiders

Synopsis: 
At Legion HQ on Earth, Sun Boy and Star Boy chase after escaped Resource Raiders and re-capture them. All the Legion got out of them was a set of coordinates. Lightning Lad has plotted them, but it is just an area in open space. Wildfire introduces his team-mates to Dawnstar, and asks for her help in tracking the Raiders.

Who Is Sensor Girl?

Who Is Sensor Girl?
by Bilingual Boy

Real Name: Unknown

Super-Power(s): Unknown
Planet of Origin: Unknown

Legion Seniority: Sensor Girl joined at the same time as Polar Boy, Magnetic Kid, Quislet, and Tellus. Tradition had her listed before her male team-mates, making her Legionnaire #34.