Legion: Secret Files 1998

Legion: Secret Files 1998 (Jan, 1998)
title: "Legionnaires Three"

co-plotter/scripter: Tom Peyer
co-plotter/colorist: Tom McCraw

penciller: Jeffrey Moy

inker: D.C. Carani
letterer: Pat Brosseau
asst editor: Frank Berrios

editor: K.C. Carlson
cover: Phil Jimenez (colors by Patrick Martin)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

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

Guests: 
R.J. Brande, Luornu Durgo (Triplicate Girl)

Opponents: 
xenophobia, bureaucracy, Grimbor the Chainsman



Synopsis: 
Triplicate Girl recounts the story of how industrialist R.J. Brande, who had made his fortune creating star-gates, realized that with interstellar travel possible, the universe needed some concrete way to keep the peace. He thereby pushed to create the United Planets organization.

However, he was met with all sorts of roadblocks and conflicts. To try to decide what he should do next, he took a short tour of several planets. On his last stop, he was confronted by "the people" for his luxurious life-style. So he decided to put aside his private star-ship and to ride back to Earth on a tourist-class shuttle instead.

On this ride to Earth he was almost killed, but the assassination attempt was thwarted by three teen-agers from three different worlds. After witnessing their cooperation he gets the idea of creating a Legion of Super-Heroes. He investigates the three youths and offers them a salary to follow his dream. They agree, of course.

Brande soon has them making personal appearances around Metropolis trying to drum up news and support, for themselves and for the United Planets. During one of these public relations events Grimbor the Chainsman breaks several animals free at the Metropolis Interplanetary Zoo.

Working together, the three Legionnaires re-capture the animals, prevent any injuries, and captures Grimbor. Instead of destroying Brande's dream, the powers arraigned against them has only strengthened it. The Legion of Super-Heroes are on their way!

Commentary: 
I've read the Secret Origin of the Legion of Super-Heroes in several iterations, and the idea of three strangers working together to save someone's life is a very good basis to build a story around. And I have to say, this one, with a little bit more background on RJ Brande before he was targeted, is one of the better ones. I like the idea of Brande, creator of the star-gates, would want to maintain a peaceful use for them, so would try to build up the United Planets. And I like the idea of him going around the universe trying to drum up grass roots support for his scheme. The rest of the pieces just seem to fall into place after that.

The events in this story occur before, during, and then after Legion of Super-Heroes #0 but before the events of Legionnaires #0. The three youngsters are still getting to know each other, and this is before they get their individual uniforms and code-names, and also before the United Planets officially sanction them.

title: "The Shvaughn Erin Interview"

writer: Tom Peyer

pencils & inks: W.C. Carani

colorist: Tom McCaw

editor: K.C. Carlson

Synopsis: 

Science Police Officer Shvaugh Erin is interviewed by OmniChatting reporter Brad Majors. She touches on the attitudes she received from older officers when she was first named Legion Liaison Officer, and also on how difficult it can be to work with the Legion. When Majors tries to press her to give negative comments about Brainiac 5, she terminates the interview.

Commentary: 
These "interview" text pages were standard for the Secret Files specials back in the day. This one is a little bit interesting for the "behind the scenes" feel, but I'm not sure if I wouldn't have appreciated another two profile pages or more story pages instead.

title: "Guided Tour: Legion Outpost"

writer: Tom McCraw

penciller: Jeffrey Moy

inker: Phillip Moy
colorist: Tom McCaw

editor: K.C. Carlson

Mission Monitor Board:  
Invisible Kid, XS, Element Lad, Brainiac 5, Live Wire, Monstress

Guest-Stars: 
architect Chuck Taine, HW Chief Dyrk Magz (Magno)
 

Synopsis: 
This is a one page of story set-up, Chuck Taine working on the Legion's new head-quarters, then a two-page spread of the space station.

Commentary: 
I hope that the Legion creators printed this schematic and kept it handy so that they set their stories in the correct area of the head-quarters! Otherwise, what is the point?
This doesn't explain who Chuck Taine or Dyrk are, which to this time-confused fan, would have been helpful. I initially thought the former was a mis-spelling of Dirk (Sun Boy) Morgna until I read the "Legion Chronology" text page at the end of this issue. 

title: "Lost Pages"
(What did the Legion do for money when they were stranded in the 20th Century?)

writer: Tom Peyer

penciller: Todd Nauck

inker: Lary Stucker
letterer: Albert DeGuzman
colorist: Tom McCaw

editor: K.C. Carlson

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Brainiac 5, Gates, Spark, Saturn Girl, Ferro

Opponents: 
poverty

Synopsis: 
Although I am familiar with the Legion being stuck in the 20th Century (because I picked up Superman Plus the Legion), I don't know the hows or whys, nor do these pages have anything to do with that dilemma. These four pages try to explain how those stranded Legionnaires made money while they were in our time. Gates uses his teleportation power to work for a UPS/FedEx delivery service, Cosmic Boy collects a finder's fee for raising the Titanic, Spark does pyrotechnical work for a rock band, Saturn Girl works at the United Nations as an interpreter, and Ferro collects aluminum cans.

Commentary: 
I guess this is supposed to be funny? Ferro, boy of metal, collecting aluminum cans? Haha. I am not a big fan of Todd Nauck's overly-angular artwork, either, so....yeah. Pass.

title: "Legion Chronology"
writer: Tom McCraw

Commentary: 
Not being knowledgeable of this version of the Legion, I can't vouch for how detailed this chronology is. It seems to feature the events from Legion Of Super-Heroes #0 thru ?? (Siskoid, help?)

Click to Leviathanize it

Click to Leviathanize it

title: "The Roll Call"

artist: Phil Jimenez

Science Police Notes:  

• Eighteen profile pages are included in this issue, all written & colored by Tom McCraw. The art is by such talents as Colleen Doran, Cully Hamner, Phil Jimenez, and Chris Sprouse. These profiles will be collected and posted separately next week~! Watch for them! 

Status: 
This issue has not yet been reprinted.