After ‘The Great Darkness Saga,’ we enter ‘The Curse!’ At least, that’s the name that DC gave this next run of issues when they were recently collected. Of note, issue #295 is the first to feature one Karen Berger as series editor. This is, of course, before she would go on to spearhead a number of incredible books that would eventually lead to the creation of the Vertigo imprint. Is there any of that “Berger Books” flair on display here?
The Legion of Super-Heroes #295-#299 Written by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen Illustrated by Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt, Dave Hunt, and Howard Bender Colored by Carl Gafford Lettered by John Costanza
A story on the scale of ‘The Great Darkness Saga’ is no easy act to follow, and Levitz and Giffen (the latter taking on a full-time role as “co-plotter) ease the reader back into the story with shorter stories that focus on the early days of the Legion and their current interpersonal dramas. These issues feature the Legionnaires at their most soap operatic, full of new love, spurned lovers, and a fair bit of the fantastic.
The strangest note regarding these issues involves a small but noticeable change in the artwork. Throughout these issues, Giffen adds lines to the sides of characters faces bisecting or sometimes trisecting, to illustrate differences in shadow and lighting. The coloring reflects this, with one part of the face in its normal color, while the shaded portion most often bears a bluish tint. This becomes very distracting, however, in cases where this lighting feels particularly unnatural, such as when a character is directly facing the reader. The artistic affectation frames the sides of the character’s face in an unnatural shade. Looking back through Giffen’s pages in ‘The Great Darkness Saga,” I see this effect was used on occasion, but with more natural skin tones for the shading. It’s a very small gripe, but the technique is employed so often that it becomes distracting. I thought that it might be due to a change in colorist, but this doesn’t seem to be the case.
Art criticism aside, these five issues can be broken up into three main plots; a look at the Legion’s past dealings with the Green Lantern Corps, a Cosmic Boy-centric story involving a domestic terrorist attack, and finally a bizarre plot involving the Khund and an asteroid mining operation. As usual, Levitz and Giffen weave in a number of smaller plots, some more or less noteworthy. Rather than going issue by issue, I’d like to talk about each of the plots individually.
The Green Lantern story is perhaps my favorite of the bunch. Using a framing device involving Blok (who is quickly become one of my favorite Legionnaires) and Timberwolf, we go back to the early days of the Legion via an old archive tape. In a case of history repeating itself, the story echoes the classic tale of Krona attempting to view the origins of the universe. The echoes continue, as Vidar, a relatively new member of the GLC, takes after Sinestro and betrays the GLC. In a clever bit of retconning, it is inferred that this turncoat eventually becomes the longtime Legion villain, “Universo.” This story is generally quite disconnected from the current Legion stories, although it does explain the offhanded line from a previous issue regarding why the GLC is no longer welcome on Earth.
Next is the Cosmic Boy story, which sees a small nuclear device set off on Earth, with Cosmic Boy’s family caught in the blast. The first half of the story sees the Legion attempt to apprehend the culprits. I found this section a bit difficult to follow as the steps by which the Legion locate the attackers, as well as the criminals’ motives, felt vague and ill-defined. Unless I misread (and I’ll admit, I did read this rather quickly) we never quite learn why the attack even happened. Motive is irrelevant, however, once Cosmic Boy returns to Earth from assisting with the Daxam relief efforts. This second part involves Night Lass and the Legion attempting, and failing, to prevent Cosmic Boy from exacting revenge on the attackers, particularly after it is revealed that his mother was killed in the attack.
While certainly heavy on the melodrama, this story explores a case in which a prominent and founding member of the Legion comes close to taking a life, thereby breaking the Legion code. Levitz and Giffen’s characterization of Cosmic Boy is particularly strong. As he descends into the depths of his grief, Cosmic Boy becomes increasingly more powerful and frightening. By story’s end he is using his powers in incredible new ways, becoming a veritable force of nature. The art team’s work really shines in these sections, delivering really interesting page layouts and imagery. The story’s resolution is heroic and bittersweet, but it carries an ominous note regarding Cosmic Boy’s mental state moving forward. Of note, this chapter highlights his relationship with the Substitute Legion member Night Lass, a relationship that has not been featured significantly up to now.
The last of the three main stories is easily the strangest. While investigating a suspicious death on a mining asteroid, the team of Blok, Dawnstar, Wildfire, Invisible Kid, and White Witch run afoul of the Khund. Specifically, we see the return of Kharlak, the challenge court champion first seen in issue #287. It’s a surprising call back that leads to even more surprising events. Decked out in new cyborg weaponry, Kharlak makes quick work of the Legionnaires, seemingly destroying Wildfire. Invisible Kid uses his abilities to follow Wildfire into a strange spirit world. Here, he finds Drake in human form, surrounded by beautiful women, as well as the spirit of the original Invisible Kid. The whole bizarre adventure ends up culminating in a seance that affirms Princess Projectra’s marriage to Karate Kid, making this one of the weirdest Legion stories I’ve read to date.
Meanwhile, Kharlak makes a second go at the Legion, and it’s White Witch that ends up besting him. As such, this story goes a long way as a showcase for the potential of Levitz’s newest Legionnaires.
There are a number of odds and ends addressed in these issues as well. Timberwolf seeks a new purpose following the departure of Light Lass from the Legion, Chameleon Boy reconnects with his father, Brainiac 5 heals Matter Eater Lad and Mon-El and Shadow Lass enjoy a semi-romantic getaway. The wildest story involves Duplicate Boy of the Heroes of Lallor flying halfway across the galaxy to punch Colossal Boy for stealing his ex. This story ends with two unresolved cliffhangers. First, something strange is going on with Shrinking Violet, but only Element Lad and Schvaugn notice. Second, Ontiir, the reptilian security office from ‘Earthwar’ returns on Weber’s world, with seemingly sinister intent.
Overall, I think these shorter plots work better to Levitz’s strengths as writer. He seems to thrive when telling smaller, more personal stories compared to the massive, large scale conflicts in ‘Earthwar’ and “Great Darkness Saga.’ Giffen’s artwork, on the other hand, certainly flourishes in scenes of massive cosmic spectacle, the sort these chapters lacked. Still, aside from the odd shading issues mentioned earlier, the artwork is still quite good. The mining asteroid and spirit world sequence in particular are vibrant and imaginative.
Next week I’ll dive into “Legion of Super-Heroes” #300, a massive anniversary special with ties to a very interesting Legion story that I’m excited to learn about.
Zach Wilkerson, part of the DC3 trinity, still writes about comics sometimes. He would probably rather be reading manga or thinking about Kingdom Hearts. For more on those things, follow him on Twitter @TheWilkofZ
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