Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #40 (1987)
by Paul Levitz & Greg LaRoque
cover by Steve Lightle
The new Starfinger grows to prominence with this storyline. Sadly he doesn’t turn into a giant.
Dream Girl has had a dream that someone is going to attack Earth, so a few Legionnaires are hanging out above it. A rare chance to see the Polymer Shield™ that protects it up close!
I’m getting a bit tired of every single Dream Girl story having her deal with a fellow Legionnaire doubt the usefulness of her power. Guys she’s been in the team for ages, you should know better!
It’s also a reunion of sorts with Star Boy, since she specifically requested his presence.
And then a ship shows up to attack Earth by throwing itself directly at the Polymer Shield™.
It works, and the ship is able to break through the shield to land. Nice job selecting that team, Dream Girl!
The ships delivers some mercenaries…
…and an action scene.
These guys are from planets with high gravity, which in comics often means indestructible.
Definitely not the case here.
I can’t say I find Starfinger’s plan particularly impressive if it starts with trying to smuggle these losers to Earth.
To nobody’s surprise, the real reason why Dream Girl requested Star Boy’s presence was to talk to her ex-boyfriend.
It doesn’t end well.
In other plots, we visit Polar Boy’s planet!
You would expect it to be a cold place, but remember that it’s exactly the opposite: it’s a scorching inferno. I’ve always loved that idea.
I guess we were due for a visit now that Polar Boy is the leader.
Speaking of which, notice how this is one of the relatively few stories that remember that he’s supposed to be a short guy. I guess it’s true for the other people on this planet, since one of the local Science Police officers is just as short.
Didn’t think Dawnstar would be that tall, though.
Levitz does love to bring the White Witch into missions where her magic protects her from environmental hazards, doesn’t he?
There are other options among currently active Legionnaires! Sure Ultra Boy wouldn’t be able to switch to another power and Chameleon Boy would be struck as a particular form, but Levitz could’ve picked other characters who haven’t done anything lately.
Sun Boy is the most blatant omission, but I would count at the very least Blok, Wildfire and Quislet among those who wouldn’t be affected by the heat.
Also I feel like this is too many Legionnaire for what is essentially a quick repair job.
Still, it’s a great excuse for some excellent worldbuilding!
It took me longer than it should to read the Interlac sign: it’s “Comic City”.
If the tunnels are kept at a comfortable 97°C (that’s 206°F), how hot is the surface!?
I’m just saying, this wouldn’t be happening if you brought Blok.
Don’t make me agree with Dawnstar, White Witch. I hate it when that happens.
I’m glad they didn’t bring Wildfire. We already have Dawnstar complaining, and you just KNOW he would he’d be talking trash about the heat even when he can’t feel it.
This is all related to the Starfinger plot, since he’s the one sabotaging the mines.
It’s a pity the Legion is not as popular as Superman or Batman, otherwise I imagine we’d get an actual encyclopedia with all this worldbuilding.
Also, the page is structured so that we can get an accurate view of just how deep the mines are! Very cool detail (pun intended).
The attempts to sabotage the mines continue.
It’s about time we check on Starfinger. But besides the fact that he had a deal with Universo and that he’s behind several unseen accident, we don’t learn much about him.
We also check on Laurel Kent. She’s the last lingering plot from the whole Crisis situation: she was originally the descendant of Superboy… but now that Superboy has been retconned into being from the Pocket Universe, so is she the actual descendent of Superman or not?
The next storyline will address it directly (and poorly, in my opinion).
This brings me to wonder once again: just how old are the Legionnaires supposed to be!?
Sassy Dream Girl is the best.
Am I the only one who wants to see an actual Future D&D game being played out?
You would think the issue is winding down at this point, but that’s exactly when Starfinger strikes.
Good thing the whole headquarters can move!!!
Okay Starfinger, a giant space laser IS a better start to your plan.
Wildfire is about to blow it up, but Sensor Girl stops him because she sensed a trap. Somehow.
Instead it’s Sun Boy who saves the day.
Boss move from Sensor Girl.
The current score stands at Legion 1, Starfinger 0.
Legion significance: 3/10
The saga as a whole is important, but this issue in particular not so much.
Silver Age-ness: 0/10
Not really.
Does it stand the test of time? 9/10
Levitz is relying on his strong points: worldbuilding and having almost every Legionnaire do something notable. He doesn’t cover the whole team, and White Witch is probably getting too much screen time, but it’s still solid. I still find Starfinger rather generic, but he does his job.
We are legion
24 active Legionnaires
6 reserve members
12 deceased members
In Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger, James Bond is almost sliced in half by a circular saw. In the movie, this was upgraded to a surgical laser. The name Goldfinger inspired the Legion villain Starfinger, who finally gets his chance to slice his enemies is half. He’s no more successful than Goldfinger was.
While Sun Boy would have been comfy cozy on Tharr, the natives would have gone ballistic if he used his powers and added to the heat! Actually, that could have made for a great scene as the authorities try to have him deported.
Yeah the connection to Goldfinger was pretty blatant in the very first Starfinger cover.
PS: slightly edited your comment to avoid spoiling another review 🙂
Regarding the Legionnaires’ ages, Levitz wrote a Legion role-playing sourcebook in the ’80s, in which he included a year-by-year history of the team to that point. As I recall, 14 years had elapsed up to Element Lad’s second term as leader. This puts Cosmic Boy’s age at 28 (he was 14 in the Legion’s origin story). The other long-time Legionnaires are roughly the same age.