With just 14 stories, this is going to be a very different era when it comes to the awards.
Artist Win Mortimer is the only constant for all issues, with Jim Shooter, E.Nelson Bridwell and Cary Bates alternating for writing credits.
Jim Shooter actually left DC Comics in this period; he’ll be back for about a dozen issues next era.
The Legion is the back-up feature, so most stories have only about 11 pages to work with… and all writers seem to really struggle with this. Part of it could be because this isn’t enough for such a large team.
Before the awards themselves, our classic categories when applied to the whole era:
Legion significance: 3/10
There are only three things that happen in this era and will have an impact. In order of importance:
1) the 25 member rule is established
2) Saturn Girl gets her 70s costume
3) Superboy leaves the Legion for the first time
The 25 member rule will slowly fade away and Superboy will return soon enough, so that leaves the first costume change… and that happens in the very last issue.
This makes this short era the least significant so far, and by a large margin.
Silver Age-ness: 5/10
This is also the least Silver Age era so far. Several issues tackle character development and even social issues, even if it’s often with questionable results.
Does it stand the test of time? 5/10
Marginally better than the Hamilton era and of the pre-history. The stories are definitely more mature, even if the they don’t use the limited number of pages all that well.
And now, ladies and gentlemen: the Legion Awards!
BEST LEGIONNAIRE
Winner: Matter-Eater Lad
Exclusively on the basis of Action Comics #381. Not only his relationship with his parents is unique (even if the story drops the ball on them), but he’s a very three-dimensional character and he gets a very satisfying victory against Duplicate Boy without even fighting him or getting the girl!!!
Runner-up: Duo Damsel
Continuing her slow evolution into an interesting character, Action Comics #380 gave us some interesting psychological ramifications of her power.
Third place: Shrinking Violet
Also because of Action Comics #381. She doesn’t make a scene about Duplicate Boy missing a date and her relationship with Matter-Eater Lad is just so wholesome.
Honorable mention: Timber Wolf
Action Comics #378 doesn’t hold up very well, but at least he gets SOME personality!
WORST LEGIONNAIRE
Winner: Mon-El
Look, every Legionnaire in Action Comics 379 sucks. But forgetting to take the serum that keeps him alive!?
Runner-up: Chemical King
Poor dolt. For the second era in a row, Chemical King fails to make any impression.
Third place: Chameleon Boy
His time to shine was supposed to be Action Comics 383 and he didn’t deliver.
Dishonorable mention: Superboy
When your most notable accomplishment during an era is that you’re leaving…
MOST IMPROVED LEGIONNAIRE: Element Lad
I typically try to avoid giving this award to someone who is already on the podium for best Legionnaires, but I was almost going to give this to Matter-Eater Lad regardless. Then Action Comics 391 came along and finally gave us a competent Element Lad!
BEST NEW LEGIONNAIRE: nobody
WORST NEW LEGIONNAIRE: nobody
The first era that doesn’t introduce a single new Legionnaire.
PARTECIPATION TROPHIES
Saturn Girl: she’s extremely competent in both #390 and #391, plus she’s the one to usher the new costume craze. In this era, you get what you can!
At this point there are so many Legionnaires that not everyone is guaranteed to get a trophy, but this time nobody else deserved anything more.
WORST ANYTHING: Proty II
Blink and you’ll miss it, but he’s still around. And I still hate him.
BEST VILLAIN
Winner: Earth’s Bureau of Revenue and Taxation from Action Comics 387
Think about it. What other villain forced Superboy to leave the team?
Runner-up: Uli Algor from Action Comics 379 and 386
The only returning villain, even if you’re excused for completely forgetting she was in the first story. But she was rather effective in the sequel!
Third place: Cosvarr from Action Comics 382
His story is just atrocious, but he had some potential. If only his partner didn’t blow up his base at the first occasion…
Honorable mention: Nam’lor from Action Comics 380
He’s not technically a villain, even if he has an aura that makes you evil. A complete waste of a fantastic concept!
WORST VILLAIN
Winner: Zorla from Action Comics 382
She had the Legionnaires dead to rights and yet she decided to blow herself up for no reason!!!
Runner-up: Sunburst from Action Comics 379
He has a cool name and a nice design but I absolutely can’t remember his existence for more than five minutes straight.
Third place: Yark Althu from Action Comics 385
When you are a super-strong precognitive with an anti-telepath helmet and you STILL lose…
Dishonorable mention: the doctor from Action Comics 378. You know, the guy who drugs Timber Wolf and doesn’t even get a name!
MOST INFLUENTIAL STORY
Winner: Action Comics 387
The 25 member rule is the only thing of consequence of this era.
Runner-up: Action Comics 392
When Saturn Girl showing some skin is the most important part of your story.
Third place: Action Comics 380
Duo Damsel having different personalities for her bodies has some serious influence on the reboot.
BEST STORY
Winner: Action Comics #381
A neat character study for Matter-Eater Lad and Shrinking Violet, with a nice ending despite a forced editorial mandate.
Runner-up: Action Comics #380
Despite the rushed ending, the insight into Duo Damsel’s powers is very well done.
Third place: Action Comics #390
Brief but straight to the point, with a touch of political intrigue. A pleasant surprise from the typically bland Bridwell!
Honorable mention: Action Comics #378
It’s unfortunately very dated, but doing a drug story in 1969 DC Comics deserves some recognition.
WORST STORY
Winner: Action Comics 382
I still have absolutely no idea why Zorla blows herself up in the finale.
Runner-up: Action Comics 379
Oh boy. Every story in this era feels very rushed, but this one is more like a summary of a story than a complete one!
Third place: Action Comics 384
I still love Mon-El’s internal dialogues, but the ending is just awful.
BEST REJECTED MEMBER: nobody
WORST REJECTED MEMBER: nobody
As in the previous era, there are NO rejected members.
MOST SILVER AGE PANEL
MOST MEME-WORTHY PANEL
BEST PANEL
WORST PANEL
BEST NEW COSTUME
This will be more important in the following eras. Saturn Girl wins by default!
HALL OF FAME (combining all eras)
4 good trophies
Saturn Girl (2 times Best Legionnaire winner, 1 time Best New Costume, 1 participation trophy)
3 good trophies
-Duo Damsel (Best Legionnaire runner-up, Most Improved Legionnaire, 1 participation trophy)
-Superboy (Best Legionnaire runner-up, 2 participation trophies)
-Lightning Lad (Best Legionnaire third place, 2 participation trophies)
-Shrinking Violet (Best Legionnaire third place, 2 participation trophies)
HALL OF INFAMY (combining all eras)
-Chemical King: 2 times Worst Legionnaire runner-up, no good or participation trophies
-Elastic Lad: 2 times Dishonorable Mention, no good or participation trophies
-Chameleon Boy: once Worst Legionnaire runner-up, once Worst Legionnaire third place, no good trophies (but 1 participation trophy!)