SUPERBOY 197 (1973)
by Cary Bates & Dave Cockrum
The Legion finally gets a cover (last time was Adventure Comics #380!!!), showcasing Timber Wolf’s new look.
The 70s are definitely here: even Lana Lang is trying to hook up with Clark Kent!
He’s saved from kissing her by his crotch giving him signals.
This might be the best case for Superboy being asexual: he REALLY doesn’t want to kiss Lana, to the point that his solution is to KNOCK HER OUT.
Superboy’s travel to the future is shown in a cool new way.
That’s where he meets Timber Wolf, who turns out is not dead!
Everybody is overjoyed at seeing the friend that they though died months earlier.
Now you might be wondering: did I skip a review? Don’t worry, this came out of absolutely anywhere in 1973 too! This is the first mention that Timber Wolf was supposed to be dead because a planetoid exploded in his face. (!!!)
Shockingly, amnesia is NOT treated like something that just happens without consequences!
This is the first time memory loss has been taken seriously in any comic I’ve reviewed.
The President of Earth even gives Timber Wolf a medal for his service.
This causes Timber Wolf to go BONKERS.
While Timber Wolf is not in Superboy and Mon-El’s weight class, he really gives them a run for their money.
But they do manage to stop him, thanks to Mon-El’s indestructible cape.
Luckily Brainiac 5 has a device that can fix brains, because of course he does. He’s Brainiac 5.
Unfortunately all he can remember is a vague memory of a weird-looking dude.
Timber Wolf seems to be okay, but during the night Saturn Girl catches him sleepwalking.
As she gets shot, she sends out a telepathic command that frees Timber Wolf from his brainwashing.
Because Saturn Girl is the freakin’ best.
Turns out Timber Wolf has been brainwashed by new bad guy Tyr.
But this is still mainly a Timber Wolf story, so he gets to defeat Tyr.
Defying the cliché, he stops the self-destruct sequence with 5 seconds left instead of 1. Nice touch!
Even with Tyr defeated, this was just Part 1 because his hand weapon just leaves the planet.
Tyr will become a recurring villain, but the weapon will get a much bigger role soon.
Historical significance: 5/10
Timber Wolf’s new costume, but more importantly his new role as being the Legionnaire who is not easily controlled will stick. You can basically ignore 99% of his previous stories.
We also have the first appearance of Tyr, who is definitely one of the most visually interesting Legion foes.
Silver Age-ness: 5/10
That opening sequence. That’s all.
Does it stand the test of time? 7/10
It could benefit from a higher number of pages, even if it’s just part one. It’s refreshing to see the Legion at least try to take things seriously, both with amnesia and brainwashing (even though they underestimated Tyr’s tinkering with their teammate’s brain).
We are legion
25 Legionnaires
3 reserve members: Kid Psycho, Insect Queen, Superboy
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.
In the letters page, we have a note from the editors acknowledging that the Legion was becoming increasingly popular.
The official title of the series is still “Superboy”, but the change in logo is a big deal.
It was ricochet from Tyr’s blast that freed Timber Wolf from the brainwashing, as the panel states, not a telepathic command from Saturn Girl. (Yeah, I know. The latter would have made more sense.)