SUPERBOY 214 (1976)
“No Price Too High” by Jim Shooter & Mike Grell
“Stay Small — Or Die” by Cary Bates & Mike Grell
I can’t believe DC was still giving out spoilers on the covers in 1976.
We begin on planet Gyrich, where the automated defense systems have gone haywire and the Legion has been called to help.
Considering Shooter will create a character called Gyrich in his Avengers run, he must’ve really liked the name!
Superboy has to take a detour to save the pilot of a spaceship…
…who turns out out to be the spoiled son of Leland McCauley (remember him from Adventure Comics 374 ?)
Glad to finally see Wildfire show his personality.
Also it’s a chance to let Mike Grell draw action scenes, which is always a plus.
The mastermind behind this is the Overseer, an old guy who is mad at Leland McCauley for firing him.
The Overseer traps the Legion, with the threat that he’ll kill the kid if they try to escape.
Since the Overseer would kill the kid if he knew he’s McCauley’s son, Superboy warns him to just shut up.
Yeah… sorry but I’m with Wildfire on this one. Screw that kid.
Now THIS is Wildfire!!!
The kid is then prevented from revealing his identity…
…by Wildfire SHOOTING HIS THROAT.
Honestly, how can you not love Wildfire? He’s both the Human Torch and the Thing at the same time!
But seriously, going back to the main theme of the story, screw that kid.
Superboy offers the life of the Legionnaires in exchange for that of the kid…
…but come on, did you seriously think an old man with no powers would be a good match against the Legion?
The kid promises not to be an a##hole…
…and Superboy shows off his trolling skills.
Moving to the second story: am I the only one who finds this kind of technology incredibly creepy?
Turns out Shrinking Violet is suddenly afraid of shrinking, because reasons.
Apparently this is not just a matter of some nightmares: Shrinking Violet is on the verge of a full psychological breakdown.
So Brainiac 5 hypnotizes and kidnaps her in the middle of the night!
I’m sorry, WHAT!?
He also must’ve dressed her up while she was asleep, because when she wakes up she’s in full costume and she’s the size of 20th century keys…
…and fighting this tiny robot thing.
She’s too frightened to use her Flight Ring in time, before the robot pushes her off the table and traps her into some weird goo.
And this is where the story does something weird: Brainiac 5 is ALSO trapped by the goo.
We weren’t shown he was near the robot or that he was trapped… he just shows up inside the goo.
Also it turns out that his plan to cure Shrinking Violet was to take her to a planet of giants.
The smartest man in the universe, ladies and gentlemen.
Luckily for him, Shrinking Violet is herself again.
And that’s how we end.
Wait until she asks herself why she has her costume while she wasn’t wearing it when she was asleep.
Historical significance: 0/10
The kid has a few more appearances, but he’s not important. The second story is even less significant.
Silver Age-ness
First story: 4/10
The fully automated planet is a little Silver Age, plus the fact that the Legion was never in any real danger for a single panel AND that insane Wildfire trick of shooting the throat!
Second story: 8/10
You would think a planet of giants where everyone is dead because of a plague would be kind of a big deal, but…
Does it stand the test of time?
First story: 6/10
As a Wildfire fan this was a treat for me, but for anyone else this was probably a rather run-of-the-mill story.
Second story: 0/10
The Mike Grell art is the only saving grace, but this was a very bland story.
We are legion
22 Legionnaires
6 reserve members
3 honorary members: Elastic Lad, Pete Ross, Rond Vidar
1 resigned member: Command Kid
1 expelled member: Nemesis Kid
3 deceased members: Dynamo Boy, Ferro Lad, Invisible Kid
How much Legion is too much?
The total number of characters who have been members is 36.