Who Drew It Better? Tales vs Baxter #25-29

By Siskoid and Russell

Completing our comparison of the covers of the Baxter version of The Legion (volume 3) and their reprints one year later in Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes. This time we wrap up this series, as the reprints ended with Tales #29. The stories were exactly the same, but each issue had a brand new cover. So we go back to the age-old question: Who drew the better cover?

Legion of Super Heroes #309

Legion of Super-Heroes #309 is the penultimate chapter of the Omen and Prophet storyline and proceeds forward about as well as it could. The motivations of cosmic beings are often inscrutable and their heralds sometimes rave like lunatics. So why the Prophet and the Omen are doing what they are doing and why they are doing it now are questions I have always had when I have read this story.

The good news is that, per usual, the creative team of plotters Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen infuse enough Legion character moments into the messy melee to keep things interesting. Giffen's pencils continue to skew towards his rougher style and the epic nature of these fights make things a bit muddy. But this still reads like a fine Legion book, just loud. And, as usual, there are a bunch of subplots simmering to keep me thinking about the future.

Like the prior two issues, this one is split. The Omen story is the leading one. There is a back-up feature here focusing on the newly married Princess Projectra and Karate Kid. For me, knowing those characters future, this back-up story is powerful foreshadowing, reminding me that when Levitz was at the top of his game he was able to keep a ton of balls in the air. This one also has fine art by Pat Broderick and Mike DeCarlo.

On to the book!

The Legion (v2) #284-296

As we are about to start the last part of the Paul Levitz-Keith Giffen newstand Legion of Super-Heroes run, let's review where we've been and what has gone before---! 

Who's Who: Damaxites

 

Damaxites
by Russell & Siskoid

Planet of Origin: Daxam
Super-Power(s): Super-strength, super-speed, super-invulnerability, flight, heat vision and various super senses

Relationship to Legion: Species that spawned one or more Legionnaires.

Who's Who: Mordru

Mordru
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Mordru

Super-Power(s): Master of black magic, Mordru is able to bend virtually any force in the universe to his will.  
Planet of Origin: Zerox

Relationship to Legion: Arch Enemy

Who's Who: Dr. Regulus

Doctor Regulus
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Dr. Zaxton Regulus

Super-Power(s): Heat and light generation
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Villain

Legion of Super-Heroes #287

Legion of Super-Heroes #287

“Save the Suicide Squad”

MAY 1982

The Great Darkness Saga Part Four

Written by Paul Levitz

Pencilled by Keith Giffen

Inked by Bruce D. Patterson

Lettered by John Constanza

Colored by Gene D’Angelo

Cover by Keith Giffen and Romeo Tanghal

Roll Call:

Blok, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Timber Wolf, and Yera (her first appearance).

This time out we dive into part four of our coverage of the Great Darkness Saga story arc, which is collected in the Great Darkness Saga HC & TPB. Once again we have two stories, a lead feature running 18 pages with Keith Giffen taking over as the artist, and an 8 page back-up story following Shadow Lass and Mon-El drawn by Pat Broderick.

Legion of Super-Heroes #286

Legion of Super-Heroes #286

“Old Friends, New Relatives, and Other Corpses”

APRIL 1982

The Great Darkness Saga Part Three

Written by Paul Levitz

Pencilled by Pat Broderick

Inked by Bruce Patterson

Lettered by John Constanza

Colored by Gene D’Angelo

Edited by Anton Kawasaki

Cover by Pat Broderick and Romeo Tanghal

Roll Call:

Blok, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Dawnstar, Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, Phantom Girl, R.J. Brande, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Superboy, Timber Wolf, and Ultra Boy.

We’re back with the third installment of the Great Darkness Saga story arc, as it is presented and reprinted in the Great Darkness Saga TPB & HC. Just like the previous issue, Legion of Super-Heroes #286 featured two stories, a lead feature that ran 18 pages, as well as back-up story, that checks-in on Karate Kid and Princess Projectra on her homeworld of Orando.

Legion of Super-Heroes #285

Legion of Super-Heroes #285

"Night Never Falls at Nullport"

Written by Paul Levitz

Pencilled by Pat Broderick

Inked & Lettered by Bruce D. Patterson

Colored by Gene D’Angelo

Edited by Mike W. Barr

Cover by Pat Broderick & Romeo Tanghal

Roll Call:

Brainiac 5, Colossal Boy, Karate Kid, Lightning Lass, Mon-El, Princess Projectra, Shadow Lass, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Timber Wolf

We’re back with the second installment of the Great Darkness Saga, as collected in the Great Darkness Saga HC & TPB. This time out it’s Legion of Super-Heroes #285, which features a 19 page lead story starring a small squadron of Legionnaires and an 8 page back-up story featuring Dream Girl.

Legion of Super-Heroes #284

Legion of Super-Heroes #284

February 1982

"The Soul Thief from the Stars"
The Great Darkness Saga Part One

Written by Paul Levitz

Pencilled by Pat Broderick

Inked by Bruce Patterson

Lettered by Ben Oda

Colored by Gene D'Angelo
Edited by Mike W. Barr

Cover by Pat Broderick & Romeo Tanghal



Roll Call:
Blok, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dawnstar, Dream Girl, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Karate Kid, Lightning Lad, Light Lass, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy, and Wildfire.

Beginning a new weekly issue-by-issue look at "The Great Darkness Saga." It starts here with the gathering darkness---! 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #49

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #49 (Aug, 1988)
title: "A Time To Live"

writer: Paul Levitz

penciller: Pat Broderick
inker: Mike DeCarlo
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Ken Steacy
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Sensor Girl, Mon-El, Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Dawnstar, White Witch, Wildfire, Polar Boy, Lightning Lass, Sun Boy, Magnetic Kid, Element Lad, Shrinking Violet, Timber Wolf, Quislet, Invisible Kid, Shadow Lass, Dream Girl, Blok, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Rond Vidar

Opponents: 
Starfinger, the threat of the Time Trapper

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #47

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #47 (June, 1988)
title: "Conspiracy Theory"

writer: Paul Levitz

pencillers: Greg LaRocque & Pat Broderick
inker: Mike DeCarlo
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Ken Steacy
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Quislet, Timber Wolf, Lightning Lass, Magnetic Kid, Tellus, Phantom Girl, Ultra Boy, Dawnstar, Shadow Lass, Chameleon Boy, Shrinking Violet, Dream Girl, Brainiac 5, Invisible Kid, Sensor Girl, Polar Boy, Mon-El, Sun Boy, White Witch, and Wildfire

Guests: 
Bouncing Boy, Duo Damsel, Yera

Opponents: 
the threat of Starfinger, the threat of a Conspiracy in the Legion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #46

The Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #46 (May, 1988)
title: "On The Fourth Hand"

writer: Paul Levitz

pencillers: Greg LaRocque & Pat Broderick
inker: Mike DeCarlo
lettering: John Costanza
colorist: Carl Gafford

editor: Karen Berger 

cover: Ken Steacy
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Mon-El, Brainiac 5, Polar Boy, Tellus, Chameleon Boy, Ultra Boy, Shadow Lass, Phantom Girl, Dawnstar, Sun Boy, Colossal Boy, Saturn Girl; cameos by Timber Wolf, Blok, Magnetic Kid, Element Lad, Shrinking Violet

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, Atmos

Opponents: 
the threat of a Legion-based conspiracy, the threat of Starfinger

Hot: Pat Broderick Legionnaires

We end our week-long celebration of Pat Broderick with some HOT Pat Broderick Legionnaire and (bad girls) art...!

 

2014 commission for our own Anj!

Happy Birthday, Pat Broderick!

Happy Birthday, Pat Broderick!

Today is the birthday of extraordinary artist Pat Broderick, born on this date in  1953.

Anj here. I have been a fan of Pat's since the early 80s. I think I truly became a fan with his work on Firestorm. His style was beautiful and one of the first that I 'recognized'. I think his Legion work is great but, in my mind, he will always be the artist of Firestorm and Captain Atom. I was thrilled that Nightshade, one of my favorite B-listers, became a character in Captain Atom and was drawn by Broderick. Also, his chapter in the wonderful Justice League of America #200 is fantastic and was the first time that I understood the strength of the Martian Manhunter. I recently was lucky enough to meet Broderick at the Rhode Island Comic Con and gushed a bit like a fanboy. He was completely gracious and great to talk to. 


additional GL cover, Captain Atom cover, Micronauts. Alpha Flight? Doom 2099? 

Pat can be found on the internet at The Art of Pat Broderick.

 

Happy Birthday, Saturn Girl!

According to the 1976 DC Calendar, today will be the birthday of Imra Ardeen, better known throughout the galaxy as Saturn Girl. 
Saturn Girl was one of the three founding members of the Legion of Super-Heroes, traditionally counted second because Cosmic Boy was elected the first leader. Saturn Girl served as Leader during their Years Three and Four.
Saturn Girl is a Sagittarius. The change she wants can't be made instantly. But if she changes what she does, she will see a difference in time. She should make the effort, and then think about what it would take for her to repeat it during the next week.

This is Pat Broderick Week here at the Legion of Super-Bloggers because Pat's birthday is November 26! Pat drew Saturn Girl while he was the regular Legion artist, but never as strong and forceful as he drew her here (LSH v3 #49), stepping between the power-houses Sensor Girl and Mon-El and telling them to "knock it off!"

The Art Institute of Zwen: Pat Broderick

Welcome to Pat Broderick Week here at  
the Legion of Super Bloggers!

What is it about the month of November and great Legion artists?
Pat Broderick was born on November 26, 1953. So all this week we here at The Legion of Super-Bloggers want to celebrate *another* of the great Legion of Super-Heroes artists!

Pat started out at DC as a member of the "Junior Bullpen" in the early Seventies. Then he moved to Marvel, where he worked on Captain Marvel with Jim Starlin and The Micronauts with Bill Mantlo. After three years there, Pat had a dispute with Jim Shooter, Marvel's then Editor In Chief. So when DC made him an offer, he took it! The first series he was given was Legion of Super-Heroes. He drew issues 284 thru 287 before he was offered Firestorm, and moved over to that series. He ended up working on several series while at DC, such as Lords of the Ultra-Realm, Detective Comics, Captain Atom, and Green Lantern. In1988 he returned to Legion (v3) for three issues...followed again by Keith Giffen! In the Nineties he returned to Marvel, working on such titles as Alpha Flight and Doom 2099. 

Pat's brief tenure on Legion showed a wonderful eye for future architecture (one story was set entirely at Space Port) and for character personalities (one story featured the Legionnaires out of their uniforms, and it was a testament to Pat's ability that we could still tell who each member was, even without their uniforms). Sandwiched between Jimmy Janes and Keith Giffen, Pat is often over-looked in Legion history. We hope to help remedy that.

Pat can be found on the internet at The Art of Pat Broderick.

To kick off this week-long celebration, here is work from each of Pat Broderick's issues. Behold, and appreciate true talent. 

Be back on his birthday on Wednesday as we showcase even more great Pat Broderick art!