The Legion of Super-Heroes binge reaches its conclusion this week as I cover the final issues of “Legion of Super-Heroes” volume 2 before the book is retitled as “Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes,” the sister title of “Legion of Super-Heroes” volume 3. Does this era end with a bang or a whimper? Read on to find out!
The Legion of Super-Heroes #311-313, Annual #3
Written by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen
Illustrated by Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt, Karl, Kesel, Gene Colan, Curt Swan, and
Romeo Tanghal
Colored by Carl Gafford
Lettered by John Costanza
Following last week’s bombastic “Prophet and Omen” arc, this batch of issues is decidedly more tame. Issue #311 is a one-off chapter featuring two stories, each the culmination of a long-running plot thread.
The lead story sees Brainiac 5 finally make progress in finding a cure for Danielle Foccart. Not only is he able to extract Computo from her psyche, but he repurposes the A.I. into a new construct. He also reconstructs the destroyed Legion headquarters into an even more impressive futuristic fortress. Giffen and Mahlstedt continue to deliver some really great artwork, particularly in their character’s facial expressions.
The second chapter features artwork from guest penciller Gene Colan sees Wildfire throw caution to the wind and sets out to intercept Dawnstar on her pilgrimage. Even disregarding the big heteronormativity of Dawnstar’s pilgrimage, this particular plot point is not particularly engaging. When Wildfire and Dawnstar finally reconnect and give in to each other, the duo makes a big point of their inability to have a physical relationship. Again, this plays into an antiquated notion that a sexual relationship is inherently preferable to a non-sexual relationship. While it’s great to see Dawnstar and Wildfire enter into this relationship, the story doesn’t hold up well on a modern reading.
Issues #312 and #313 feature one of the least interesting stories in this entire run. It’s a rather generic story about the Legion and the Science Police teaming up to solve the mystery of a number of bombings the the SP crime computer has been unable to predict. However, it’s definitely no Minority Report. Even overlooking the particularly problematic sections where Element Lad adorns black-face while impersonating a Science Police officer, there’s just not much to enjoy in this story. It’s a poor end to this era of Legion stories.
The volume is rebranded as “Tales of the Legion” with issue #314, which runs alongside the new “Legion of Super-Heroes” #1. However, just a couple of months later, the third “Legion of Super-Heroes Annual” was published, and it acts as a better denouement. The oversized issue, featuring artwork by Curt Swan and Romeo Tanghal, features two plots; the imminent birth of Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl’s child(ren?) and the return of Mordru.
This is the third time we’ve seen Levitz turn to Mordru for conflict with the Legion. Following his defeat by Darkseid, a group of sorcerers seeks to revive him using dark magics. Literal darkness, in this case, as the group kidnaps Shadow Woman and her cousin to tap into their inherent control of darkness. It’s a fairly simple plot, but one that Colan draws the hell out of. I’ve loved every time the Legion has dealt the magical, fantastic, or medieval, one of my biggest surprises of this Legion run.
While Mordru is summarily dealt with thanks to the White Witch, their work is not without its consequences. It just so happens that the blanket of darkness cast by the sorcerers falls as Saturn Girl is giving birth. When the curtain is lifted, the duo find themselves the parents of a beautiful baby boy. However, in the midst of this parental bliss, we cut away to an epilogue featuring none other than Darkseid himself. In a stunning bit of payoff from ‘The Great Darkness Saga,” we learn that Darkseid’s “curse” is the kidnapping of LL and SG’s second child. Darkseid ominously reveals his intention to raise the child as Validus, a long time Legion villain and member of the Fatal Five. This is a wild bit of retconning on Giffen and Levitz’s part, and an absolute nightmare for any parent to imagine.
The audacious ending of “Annual” #3 aside, this was far from the most gripping batch of Legion stories. With a new volume of “Legion” beginning, this seems like the proper time to take a break from a summer comics binge that has gone well into the fall. I’ve enjoyed reading and writing about these stories and plan to continue on my own. I hope that along the way I’ve helped make at least a few more Legion fans, or at least helped some longtime Legionnaires revisit some classic stories. Thanks for reading!
