ADVENTURE COMICS 377 (1969)
by Jim Shooter & Win Mortimer
cover by Curt Swan & Neal Adams
This is a fantastic cover.
We begin with the Science Police following a criminal to a strange planet called Modo.
The planet is somewhat alive, hosting a creature called Modulus.
Back on Earth, the Legion is busy busting drug dealers.
This is your Legion on acid.
I’m sure that Superboy will be okay after inhaling tons of drugs.
The drug dealers are arrested and investigated, revealing their connection to Modulus.
As for why anyone would set foot on a living planet, the criminals seem to have thought of everything.
Does the Daily Bugle exist in the 30th century DC universe?
Early signs of Superboy slowly turning into The Worst.
Then we see him asking for money to save people.
Then again, judging by his earlier appearance, Leland McCauley probably deserves this.
The rest of the Legion keeps asking for money for their heroic acts.
Perhaps five million dollars in 2969 are the equivalent of 5$ in 1969 money?
McCauley is so enraged by this that he accuses the Legion on TV.
Holy crap, Meet the Press is still on in 2969? It’s already the longest-running program in 2021, by then it’ll be a 1,022 year old program!
McCauley is supposed to be a bad guy, right? Right?
Honestly it’s hard not to side with the audience.
In other news: Science Police useless, we’re all going to die, film at 11.
Then, in a surprising move nobody could’ve predicted, we call back to Adventure Comics #350 and its crazy money!!!
The Legion makes a big show of their shopping spree.
(isn’t Princess Projectra already incredibly rich? Why would this make the news?)
Since the Legion is busy spending, the criminals take the chance to shoot down their cruiser and steal all their money.
And that’s what the Legion was waiting for!
Yes. The metal-eating turtle money was used as a PLOT POINT. (!!!!)
This has to be, without a doubt, the most needlessly complicated plan the Legion has ever devised.
I’m impressed that Jim Shooter was able to use the absurdly insane money from that throwaway story, but “brilliant scheme” is not how I would describe this.
Don’t tell me this doesn’t look like a sitcom’s ending. I can almost see the freeze frame and hear the laugh track.
Bonus: this is one of the issues with the “Statement Of Ownership”.
It’s too small to be legible in the scan, but in the previous 12 months Adventure Comics was selling 404,000 copies.
According to this source in 1969 Adventure Comics was the 10th highest selling comic book, outselling all of Marvel except Spider-Man and most of DC. Interestingly, Superboy was the 3rd highest selling title of 1969, only behind Superman and Archie. It’s interesting because the Legion will move to Superboy in 1971.
Legion significance: 0/10
This is, unfortunately, the only appearance of Modulus.
Silver Age-ness: 9/10
It’s not a 10/10 because there’s an attempt to make the living money credible, but come on. Living turtle money that eats metal!!!
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
A for effort for at least TRYING to use that money in an interesting way. The result, however, is way too similar to the hundreds of times Superman has pulled a stunt like this. It’s also a complete waste of Modulus, who could’ve been a very interesting idea that instead won’t be used again
We are legion
26 Legionnaires
2 reserve members: Kid Psycho, Insect Queen
3 honorary members: Elastic Lad, Pete Ross, Rond Vidar
1 resigned member: Command Kid
1 expelled member: Nemesis Kid
2 deceased members: Dynamo Boy, Ferro Lad
How much Legion is too much?
The total number of characters who have been members is 35.