Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #279

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #279 (Sept, 1981)
title: "Castle Grimbor Must Fall!"

writer: Roy Thomas

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

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, President Marte Allon

Opponents: 
Grimbor

Couples Legion Style

The earliest Legion stories I read as a child were reprints of earlier tales in Adventure Comics. The title at the time was featuring Supergirl, and Legion reprints were common. Two stories that left an impression on me were "The Revolt of the Girl Legionnaires" originally from Adventure #326 and "The Weddings That Wrecked the Legion" from Adventure #337.

These two stories made my preschool mind aware of two things. First: how progressive the future was in that men and women, even as teenagers, were all equal – as opposed to the present day where most super-teams only had one female, like Sue in the Fantastic Four and Wanda in the Avengers. Secondly I was made aware that most of the female Legionnaires were paired off with male Legionnaires. Straight in the Silver Age, but the Legion was ahead of its time gender-wise in the years to come. So it's true, the Legion taught me equality, and sexuality, before I even hit kindergarten.

So for the day before Valentines' Day, let's take a look at couples, Legion style!

Threeboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #48

Recap: An alien planet is parked in our solar system, encased in a gravitational field to stop it from wreaking havoc on the galaxy. An alien technoconstruct army has been attacking the UP for some time. The UP has tried to hem in the Legion but is currently working with them. Brainy has married Dream Girl in his mind after having a physical fling with a medium channeling Nura. Dream Girl was unfortunately psychically blinded within Brainy's mind. And Projectra is planning an overthrow. So what else can happen?

For those who have been following these reviews of the Jim Shooter/Francis Manapul run on Legion of Super-Heroes, I thank you. I have been pretty harsh in my reviews of these books. I know we aren't supposed to curse the darkness. We should light a candle. But I haven't found much to like in this run, especially these issues nearing the end.

Legion of Super-Heroes #48 doesn't break the trend. With so many plot lines being juggled, Shooter decides to add another. I am unclear when Shooter knew this title was going to be canceled (two issues from now) but you would think that if he knew we were that close to the end line he would be shoring things up not adding more.

At the very least, we are merging two of the storylines into one. In this issue we learn the flying planet is the source of the technoconstructs. Hurrah for that. And I was happy to see Sun Boy back in the fold. Shooter closes off a plot from the Waid run.

As for the complaint of casual sexism and unnecessary cheesecake in this run, we do get one superfluous scene which fits the bill. At least it didn't reach the wretchedness of last issues treatment of Meander and Dreamy.

And, as is typical of this run, Manapul brings a nice feel to the art here.

On to the book.

Reboot: Legionnaires #35

Legionnaires #35 (March 1996)
title: "While You Were Out..."

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

penciller: Jeffrey Moy
inker: W.C. Carani
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson
special thanks: Mark Waid & Karl Kesel

cover: Jeffrey Moy & W.C. Carani
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Invisible Kid, Leviathan, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Spark, Star Boy, Triad, XS

Guests:
Athramites, Chuck Taine, Lori Morning (as Future Girl), Marla Latham, Proty, Rond Vidar, Shvaughn Erin, Tenzil Kem

Opponents:
Empress, Mano, Persuader, Proteans, Sun-Eater (in background), Tharok, Validus

Who's Who: Universo

Universo
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Vidar

Super-Power(s): Super-hypnosis; as a Green Lantern, used a Power Ring
Planet of Origin: Unknown

Relationship to Legion: Villain

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

Justice League vs. Suicide Squad...what you missed!

Hey Legionnaires! Kord Kid here, back with a tangential piece of Legion lore...something I'm betting a few of you missed or overlooked! A couple months back, DC started a little mini-series called Justice League vs. Suicide Squad, written by Joshua Williamson with art by Jason Fabok, Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea, Jesus Merino and Andy Owens, Fernando Pasarin and Matthew C. Ryan, Robson Rocha with Oclair Albert, Sandu Florea, Daniel Henriques and Jay Leisten, and Howard Porter. That's a lot of artists for a six issue mini, huh? 

I know what you're thinking. "I'm a Legion fan, this is a Legion blog! OK, so Superman is part of the Justice League, and was part of the Legion, but why should I care about the Suicide Squad? The story's not even set in the 30th Century!?" 

Fair enough. I'll give you 3 reasons...

Threeboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #47

Recap: Princess Projectra and the remaining living Orando citizens are planning a vengeful attack on the United Planets from within. There is a massive planet which has invaded Earth's solar system, parked outside Saturn. The Legion is being torn apart from within by infidelity, insecurities, and impatience. But at least their financial and political problems have been solved. But all the dangers are piling up. How will the Legionnaires solve the problem?

Throughout the Jim Shooter run on the Threeboot run, I have complained that he has been dealing with too many plots and too much sophomoric sexual politics. Subplots about technoconstructs, Gazelle, financial woes, political prejudice, and invading planets have sort of limped along. It feels like there are too many storylines being juggled here. And, to make matters worse, those plots are often left simmering so Shooter can insert needless cheesecake, sex in pantries, and other adolescent heterosexual male innuendo into the mix. This hasn't been an easy run to read.

Legion of Super-Heroes #47 is unfortunately par for the course. We have very little plot progression here. Instead the whole issue is devoted to Brainy figuring out a way to have sex with the ghost of Dream Girl. Now you might say that Dreamy has been a leftover plotline from the Waid run that needed to be dealt with. But this issue once again has me wondering about Shooter's feelings towards women in general. Dreamy is both a sex object in this issue and physically tortured to spur the male character forward.

The cover is done by regular artist Francis Manapul and is a lovely montage cover with Brainy and Dreamy front and center. Rick Leonardi does interior art. I like Leonardi and he does fine with this issue's proceedings.

But I have been drained by this run. Three more issues. I might need a couple of weeks off of reviewing after this to regain my mental capacities.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #78

Legion of Super-Heroes #78 (March 1996)
title: "The Gathering Doom"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

penciller: Lee Moder

inker: Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson

cover: Alan Davis & Mark Farmer
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Invisible Kid, Leviathan, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Spark, Star Boy, Triad

Guests:
Evolvo, President Chu, Takron-Galtos' warden, the president's bodyguards, U.P. ambassadors

Opponents:
Empress, Leland McCauley, Mano, Persuader, Sun-Eater, Tharok, Validus, Winema Wazzo

Who's Who: Tyr

Tyr
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Tyr

Super-Power(s): Great strength, sentient gun-arm
Planet of Origin: Tyrraz

Relationship to Legion: Villain