Bronze Age Legion Writers

 

The Legion of Super Writers Part 2

by Emsley Wyatt

As we profiled in the first part of this article, the Legion of Super-Heroes had a group of talented men guiding their destinies from their very beginning: Otto Binder, Jerry Siegel, Edmond Hamilton, and Jim Shooter. After the Legion of Super-Heroes were unceremoniously kicked out of Adventure Comics in 1969, then-writer Jim Shooter left the series. He has said that economically he needed to write 17-page stories, and that he could literally not afford to write the 8-page back-ups. 

Although it is said that the Bronze Age begins a few years after this, with the decommissioning of the Legion from Adventure Comics and the near simultaneous loss of Jim Shooter, this seemed like a good breaking off point.  

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #278

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #278 (Aug, 1981)
title: "Tragedy At The Top of the World!"

writer: Roy Thomas

plotter:  Gerry Conway
penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Bruce Patterson

letterer: Todd Klein
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Mike W. Barr
cover: George Perez

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Shadow Lass, Mon-El, Lightning Lad, Light Lass, Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf, Star Boy, Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet, Element Lad, Wildfire, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Cosmic Boy, Phantom Girl, Blok

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, Reflecto, President Marte Allon

Opponents: 
Grimbor

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #277

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #277 (July, 1981)
title: "The Man Who Chained the Earth!"

writer: Roy Thomas

plotter:  Gerry Conway
penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Mike W. Barr
cover: George Perez

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Light Lass, Phantom Girl, Timber Wolf, Karate Kid, Brainiac 5, Wildfire, Colossal Boy, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Mon-El, Blok, Shadow Lass

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, Reflecto

Opponents: 
Grimbor

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #276

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #276 (June, 1981)
title: "Lord Romdur's Castle!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Steve Ditko
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Rick Buckler and Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Princess Projectra, Star Boy, Phantom Girl, Chameleon Boy, Sun Boy, Shadow Lass

Opponents: 
Lord Romdur

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #275

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #275 (May, 1981)
title: "Of Pride, Passion, and Piracy!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dave Cockrum

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Ultra Boy, Lighting Lad, Saturn Girl, Wildfire, Dawnstar, Shrinking Violet, Element Lad, Colossal Boy, Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Light Lass, Timber Wolf; Brainiac 5 and Star Boy appear in the background but have no lines

Opponents: 
Captain Frakes and her Pirates of Penzance

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #274

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #274 (April 1981)
title: "The Exaggerated Death of Ultra Boy!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Steve Ditko
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Rich Buckler & Bob Smith

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra; Wildfire, Brainiac 5, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Colossal Boy, Chameleon Boy, Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Dream Girl, Timber Wolf

Opponents: 
amnesia, Space Pirates of the Space Caribbean

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #273

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #273 (March, 1981)
title: "A Murderer---Among Us?"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Bob LeRose

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Rich Buckler & Steve Mitchell

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Star Boy; Lighting Lad, Saturn Girl, Colossal Boy, Timber Wolf, Light Lass, Karate Kid, Shrinking Violet, Wildfire

Guests: 
Bouncing Boy, UP President Marte Allon

Opponents: 
Pulsar Stargrave

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #272

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #272 (Feb, 1981)
title: "The Secret Origin of Blok!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Steve Ditko
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Todd Klein
colorist: Bob LeRose

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Jimmy Janes & Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Wildfire, Sun Boy, Dawnstar, Lighting Lad, and new member Blok

Guests: 
Legion applicants Lamprey, Nightwind, Crystal Kid

Opponents: 
Starburst Bandits

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #271

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #271 (Jan, 1981)
title: "What IS the Dark Man?"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: John Calnan

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Jimmy Janes & Steve Mitchell

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Timber Wolf, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Colossal Boy, Princess Projectra, Wildfire, Mon-El, Shadow Lass

Guests: 
Blok

Opponents: 
The Dark Man, the Fatal Five (Emerald Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, and Validus)

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #270

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #270 (Dec, 1980)
title: "Who Is The Dark Man?"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Milt Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet, Shadow Lass, Mon-El, Wildfire, Princess Projectra, Timber Wolf, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Light Lass

Guests: 
Marte Allon, Blok

Opponents: 
The Fatal Five (Emerald Empress, Mano, the Persuader, Validus, Tharok), The Dark Man, The League of Super-Assassins (Silver Slasher, Titania, Lazon, Mist Master)

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #269

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #269 (Nov, 1980)
title: "Who Shall Name the Dark Man?"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Princess Projectra, Shadow Lass, Mon-El, Shrinking Violet, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Wildfire, Timber Wolf, Colossal Boy, Light Lass (not listed on Roll Call)

Guests: 
Colossal Boy's parents, Wynn and Marte Allon

Opponents: 
The Fatal Five (Validus, the Persuader, Emerald Empress, Mano, and Tharok)

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #267

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #267 (Sept 1980)
title: "To Bottle A Genie!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Dave Hunt

letterer: Milton Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Colossal Boy, Element Lad

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy

Opponents: 
Klaatu, bad writing

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #266

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #266 (Aug, 1980)
title: "Kantuu!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Colossal Boy, Element Lad

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy

Opponents: 
Kantuu

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #265

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #265 (July, 1980)
title: "The Brigadoon Syndrome!"

plot: Gerry Conway
script: J.M. DeMatteis

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Dave Hunt

letterer: Milt Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano 

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Tyroc, Shadow Lass, Dawnstar; cameos of Lighting Lad, Saturn Girl, and Wildfire

Opponents: 
prejudice, slavery, extra-dimensional universes, bad editorial decisions

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #264

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #264 (June, 1980)
title: "Dagon's Cavern of Doom!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Dave Hunt

letterer: Milt Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano (signed) 

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Wildfire, Dawnstar, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Tyroc

Opponents: 
Dagon

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #263

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #263 (May, 1980)
title: "Day of Judgment!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Dave Hunt

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano 

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Light Lass, Wildfire, Tyroc, Shadow Lass, Dawnstar

Guests: 
Crav & Mytra Nah (the parents of Ultra Boy), Tarnia Tolarn (Shadow Lass' mother), Ji Daggle (Chameleon Boy's mother), Arn Digby (Shrinking Violet's father)

Opponents: 
Dagon

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #262

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #262 (April, 1980)
title: "The Planet That Captured The Legion!"

writer: Gerry Conway

artist: Jim Sherman

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Jim Sherman (signed) 

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
in space: Chameleon Boy, Dream Girl, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Karate Kid, Shrinking Violet;
on Earth: Light Lass, Sun Boy, Ultra Boy, Lightning Lad, Shadow Lass, Wildfire, Saturn Girl

Guests: 
RJ Brande

Opponents: 
murderous androids

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #261

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #261 (March, 1980)
title: "Space Circus of Death!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Ric Estrada

inker: John Calnan
letterer: Todd Klein
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Mon-El, Star Boy, Brainiac 5, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Timber Wolf

Opponents: 
unnamed killer

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #260

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #260 (February, 1980)
title: "Come To The Circus And Die!"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Joe Staton

inker: John Calnan
letterer: Milt Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Previously:  
Last issue, Superboy and the Legion faced a villain named the Psycho Warrior who made Superboy learn that he was indirectly responsible for the deaths of his adopted parents. Not wanting to subject their friend to that knowledge every time he came to the future, Saturn Girl gave him a post-hypnotic suggestion to not visit the 30th Century again.
RJ Brande's fortune has been stolen by the United Planets in a misguided effort to help rebuild Earth after the Earthwar and the attack by Omega. After Brande found out about this, however, he forgave the larceny, vowing to re-build his fortune on his own. 
The Legion had investigated the bankruptcy because they wanted to use Brande's fortune to rebuild their destroyed head-quarters. Now, they are still homeless. 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #259

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #259 (January, 1980)
title: "Psycho War"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Joe Staton

inker: Dave Hunt
letterer: Milt Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Wildfire, Karate Kid, Shrinking Violet, Chameleon Boy, Shadow Lass, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Sun Boy; cameo by Mon-El?

Guests: 
RJ Brande, Ma & Pa Kent (images)

Opponents: 
Rejis Thomak, aka Psycho Warrior