Legion of Super-Heroes v2 #263

Legion of Super-Heroes v2 #263 (1980)
by Gerry Conway & Jim Janes
cover by Dick Giordano

We’ve lost Jim Sherman at the artwork, but Jim James is a suitable replacement.

We begin with he Legion HQ being visited by the surprisingly young-looking parents of some of the Legionnaires.

Seriously, if it wasn’t for the dialogue you would think these have the same age of the Legionnaires.

You would think it would be easier to keep track of the mothers, considering two of them have alien skin colors. But the human-looking one in the yellow costume is supposed to be the mother of Ultra Boy… and yet she talks as if she was from the same planet of Shadow Lass.

However instead of their children they run into Dagon the Avenger and his amazing costume!
Just look at this thing. I can understand the horns might have a purpose and the knuckles make sense, but what’s up with those things on his boots!?

Unfortunately some of the parents have powers. And even if they didn’t, they have been supplied weapons from R.J.Brande. (?????)

Still… powers or not, they’re not superheroes.

The mother of Shadow Lass puts up a good fight…

…even leaving behind a clue for her daughter…

…but still: not a superhero.

All of this is taking place while the Legion is busy with a distraction, much to Wildfire’s frustration.
Then again, pretty much everything frustrates Wildfire.

Once they do get back to HQ, Shadow Lass finds the clue left for her.

I do like the fact that the Legion quickly deduces the other parents have been targeted. Especially since they don’t bring Brainiac 5 to do this: I love Brainy, but it’s better to give other characters the chance to look smart.

Other parents have disappeared as well. I guess we were shown those five specifically to have the best variety between powered and non-powered parents; that’s a good choice.

Obviously, if you’re missing anything it’s great to have the best tracker in the universe in the team.
About time Dawnstar got the chance to do ANYTHING.

I thought those were some of the missing parents, but no, it’s just a quick scene to re-establish Dawnstar. And speaking of re-establishing: this is the last storyline that involves Tyroc.

He and Light Lass run into a guy who blames the Legion for R.J.Brande’s bankruptcy.
He reminds me of Gyrich, the government nuisance pestering the Avengers after the Shooter run.
Is it just me or does he feel completely out of place in the 30th century?

Light Lass has no time for his crap. Yet another Legionnaire who finally gets to do SOMETHING.

And we begin the endless soap opera between Wildfire and Dawnstar. Get used to scenes like these (though Dawnstar is typically the passive-aggressive one).

Alright, the gang is all here! Time to start… a completely different Tyroc plot.

I don’t think Wildfire got the memo that he’s not the leader anymore, but I suspect a lot of readers rejoiced at the idea of Tyroc’s membership coming to a close.

Think the Brande bankruptcy was a completely meaningless plot? Well it WAS in its era, but at least it’s put to SOME use here.

But then Dagon appears to reveal he’s keeping the parents hostage (something they already figured out), and that’s our cliffhanger.

Ah, Saturn Girl hilarious reaction shots. I’ve missed you.

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Legion significance: 0/10
Some of the Legionnaire have parents with extreme significance. None of those involved in this story, though: they’re basically footnotes.

 Silver Age-ness: 4/10
Any story featuring Tyroc can’t be TOO low, but at least now his powers are consistent.

 Does it stand the test of time? 8/10
While not as good as the previous issue, this holds up pretty well. The Brande employee feels very out of place, but other than that Conway seems to be getting the hang of the 30th century and of the Legionnaires. It’s also good to have some variety on the parents: some have powers and some don’t, some are badasses and some are regular people, some Legionnaires have both parents, some have one… it’s refreshing to see not ALL superheroes are orphans!
The artwork is also a significant improvement over the vast majority of the latest issues.

We are legion
22 Legionnaires
6 reserve members
1 on sick leave (Matter-Eater Lad)