Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v2) #4 (1988)

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v2) #4 (1988)
title: "Secrets Within The Star"

writer: Paul Levitz

artists: Barry Kitson, Bruce Patterson, and Romeo Tanghal

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford
asst editor: Art Young

editor: Karen Berger
cover: Brian Bolland (signed)

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Dawnstar, Phantom Girl, Invisible Kid, Shrinking Violet, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy

Opponents: 
Starfinger, Starlight, Starbright



Synopsis: 
Out in space, Dawnstar is leading the search for Chameleon Boy again, as Dream Girl foresaw him being in danger. She heads towards Rimbor, where he was last seen, but then senses him closer to home and heads back to Mars. On the cruiser flying with her, Shrinking Violet is bad-mouthing Dawnstar, while Phantom Girl as team leader is trying to hold the Legion Espionage Squad together.

Elsewhere, Chameleon Boy is imprisoned in a crystal cage. At first he seems trapped, but then comes up with an idea on how to escape.

Once free, he is investigating the place when Phantom Girl arrives, having been led there by Dawnstar. When she activates her flight ring signal device, however, it triggers an auto explosive device. They both barely escape alive and are rescued by the others.

On Mars, Colossal Boy is being tortured by Starfinger. As he is losing consciousness, Colossal Boy mutters, "Why?" Starfinger dismisses his lackeys and then tells the Legionnaire (and us) why he hates him so much. Starfinger's real name is Char Burrane, and he was the escaped convict Colossal Boy and Gigi captured immediately after Gim gained his growth powers (as shown in LSH (v3) #39).

At that time, Burrane was wearing a pain bracelet, but he thought it was a tracking device. So he specifically headed away from the casino resorts and towards the sands, hoping to get far enough away to escape the tracking signal. However, when he did actually get out of its range it "tased" him. He fell into a pit and would definitely have been re-captured except he got lucky and discovered the Starfinger ring, releasing Starlight and Starbright, who saved him.

Using its power and theirs, he became the new Starfinger, even killing the original, and building up a strong criminal empire. And that has brought him in conflict with the Legion.

Out in space, Invisible Kid has arrived on Mars and managed to sneak into Starfinger's headquarters. He manages to track down the captured Colossal Boy, but Starfinger attacks.

Shrinking Violet reveals herself to him, and working with Invisible Kid they knock Starfinger out. They free Colossal Boy and rush to the communication center to call in the others. Because of what had happened to Phantom Girl and Chameleon Boy, they left their flight rings behind.

However, Starfinger has regained consciousness and attacks again with Starlight and Starbright. Just as the three Legionnaires think all is lost, Dawnstar and the Science Police burst in, responding to Colossal Boy's call for help.

Overwhelmed, Starfinger retreats again, but this time Shrinking Violet sees him and his entourage shrink into his ring. She captures it, so now Starfinger and his lackeys are held prisoner inside the ring.

Commentary: 
Having the story told by various actors from their points of view is an interesting idea, but I'm not sure this quite works. For one thing, the segues from one  Legionnaire to another are either abrupt or totally random. (For the worst example, consider how Chameleon Boy's story starts: "Don't ask who I am." ??? Why in the world would Cham be thinking this while he is being held captive by Starfinger?)

The story itself is worth telling, as the Legion finally confronts Starfinger and takes him down (sort of). I am a fan of Mission: Impossible and various other "espionage" adventures, so this story should be right up my alley. Unfortunately, the execution of the idea just leaves me a little bit cold. And I seriously don't understand why Princess Projectra was never a member of the Legion Espionage Squad. I don't know why Sensor Girl wasn't invited along on this mission. She, or the mental telepathy of Tellus or Saturn Girl, would have come in quite handy on that team.

Maybe that's the real reason I don't particularly care for this adventure: the characters shouldn't be able to dictate what type of adventure they are going to go on. Phantom Girl's original mission was to rescue Chameleon Boy. So given that mission, how could she have possibly known that she wouldn't need some muscle, such as from Ultra Boy, or some recognizance such as from Sensor Girl? It just doesn't feel like the story evolved naturally, I guess.

Lastly, I have to say I have a real problem with the personalities displayed here by Invisible Kid and Shrinking Violet. Will Jacques EVER feel like he is worthy of being called a Legionnaire? I understand being shy and humble, but come on! He's had this same self-confidence issue in every story arc he has ever been featured in. And as for Violet, all her bitching and complaining puts her right up there with Dawnstar as the most unlikable Legionnaire. Plus, she considers herself the least useful Legionnaire, just as she is the one to crack the whole case open?! No wonder Phantom Girl has a hard time keeping all of these members together as a team.

This is the debut Legion appearance of penciller Barry Kitson. The layouts and figures are fine. In fact, several bits remind me of Brian Bolland (who contributes a totally acceptable cover). Although I can often see the heavy inks of Romeo Tanghal, especially compared to the lighter touch of Bruce Patterson.

title: "Sunset, Sunrise"

writer: Paul Levitz

artist: Garry Leach

letterer: John Costanza

colorist: Carl Gafford

asst editor: Art Young

editor: Karen Berger

Mission Monitor Board:  
Dream Girl

Guest: 
Atmos  


Synopsis: 
Dream Girl goes on a date with would-be Legionnaire Atmos to watch the sunrise from an orbiting restaurant. While there, Dream Girl tells Atmos he cannot join the Legion. He decides to go back to his home planet, Xanthu. He invites her to go with him, and against her better judgment she agrees.

Commentary: 
This story is as dull as dish-water. There is no action, and almost no dialogue. For example, instead of showing us the scene of Dream Girl confronting Atmos, we get passive narration like, "I told him he cannot join." This is probably the least interesting Legion story ever. Paul Levitz tried to write the whole issue from various narrators' points of view, but this story is a dismal failure.

This appears to be artist Garry Leach's publishing debut. He moved on to be an inker on such series as Hitman, The Monarchy, and The Twelve.

Science Police Notes:  

• The events in this issue occur between LSH (v3) #52 and #53, as Dream Girl is still on Earth in #52 but gone in #53, and Colossal Boy is back on Earth in #53. 
• Colossal Boy appears to be nude while he is being tortured (in fact, that seems to be the point, as they specifically target his thigh to hurt). As soon as he is found by Invisible Kid, however, he is wearing pants. 
• Star Hawkins' robot secretary Ilda appears at the party with Dream Girl and Atmos. There is also a Skrull from Marvel Comics' universe in attendance. And is that slug actually sexually harassing that waitress? 

Status: 
This issue has not yet been reprinted.

Milestone: 
Dream Girl leaves the Legion in this issue.
This is the first Legion work for artist Barry Kitson, who went on to illustrate L.E.G.I.O.N for several years and then, later, the Threeboot (Supergirl and) The Legion of Super-Heroes series.