Legion of Super-Heroes v2 #265 (1980)
by Gerry Conway (plot), J.M.DeMatteis (script) & Jim Janes (pencils)
cover by Dick Giordano
Notice how Lightning Lad is worried about losing Shadow Lass and Dawnstar but couldn’t care less about Tyroc. And honestly, can you blame him?
Last issue Tyroc returned to his island of Marzal, which vanished taking with him the two Legion girls.
Marzal is back into another dimension, and it’s quite trippy.
Luckily they have with them the best navigator in the universe. Dawnstar’s got this!
Well, uhm, at least she has Shadow Lass around to help, right?
“Then Tyroc saves the day” is not something I get to write often.
This being his last appearance for a long time, it’s fitting that he has to increase the number of effects his random shouting powers have!
It’s been ages since I had to bust out the Tyroc Powers Count! But up to this point his voice has been shown to be able to:
1) make things explode, 2) create forcefields, 3) teleport, 4) make him fly, 5) send supersonic signals, 6) warp reality, 7) create sticky rain, 8) impair balance, 9) turn plants into monsters, 10) summon winds, 11) be used as a sonar.
And now I get to add 12) solidify clouds.
Forget being in the Martian Manhunter range, he’s reaching Composite Superman!!!
The ladies want to know WTF is going on, so Tyroc gives us the extended version of his origin.
Which begins with the slave trade.
The ship carrying Marzal’s ancestors ran into a storm; the slaves revolted and took refuge in a desert island.
And just in time for the entire island to disappear into another dimension!
This is definitely the best part of the issue: it’s brief, but the glimpse at how Marzal developed into a full society while separated from the rest of the planet is very interesting.
The idea of an island that has developed its own society appears on Earth every 200 years, stays there for 30 years and then vanishes for another 200 years is just great.
You could really write an entire series on this concept alone!
This flashback tells us two things about Tyroc.
First, his powers are somehow related to the same effect that transports the island through dimensions.
Second, apparently he’s worn the same clothes since he was a child.
Tyroc has theorized… and I believe out of absolutely nowhere… that the fact he’s been using his powers is the reason why Marzal is returning to the parallel dimension ahead of schedule.
Shadow Lass suggests using Tyroc’s powers to get home. I don’t get why his people don’t want to leave the island, but couldn’t they try to move the island back to Earth’s dimension? It’s never brought up, and neither is the possibility of a single person from Marzal wanting to leave.
But at least the two Legion girls can return.
Oh yeah. I can see why they would trust Dawnstar to get back home.
And so Tyroc manages to send his teammates out of his dimension.
It might be the same thing of his teleportation… but it’s funny to consider this as an addition of 13) Interdimensional travel.
Despite my earlier snark, Dawnstar is actually able to navigate through interdimensional space and get back to Earth.
Tyroc however doesn’t make it, staying behind and effectively leaving the team.
I am truly saddened by the loss.
So… how to count Tyroc leaving in my count of the Legion membership?
Technically speaking he’s missing in action. But considering he knew well he would not be able to return, I’m counting him as “resigned” as I don’t think he qualifies as a reserve.
He’s not in good company, as the only other resigned member is currently Command Kid from the atrocious Adventure Comics 328.
Poor dolt.
Legion significance: 6/10
Tyroc won’t return until after the Five Year Gap, and he has an unquestionably higher impact in that era than in everything he’s ever done so far. He even got to be president of New Earth.
Silver Age-ness: 6/10
Why is there an island randomly jumping dimensions? Why is Tyroc’s power connected to the same effect? Who cares, it just happens!
Does it stand the test of time? 6/10
What a waste of great potential. Marzal is by far the most interesting thing connected to Tyroc and they barely do anything with it. In general Tyroc had such a small impact on the Legion that him leaving doesn’t have much impact.
Compare and contrast with the other perennial disappointing Legionnaire: Chemical King.
Both had badly defined powers, a bland personality and were constantly lost in the shuffle. But CK didn’t have racist implications and he went off with a bang with his last story, whereas Tyroc goes out with a whisper. Kind of ironic for a guy whose power requires yelling. So one last time… poor dolt.
Tyroc power count: 13
You just HAD to squeeze one in at the last moment, didn’t you?
We are legion
21 Legionnaires. This is the lowest the number of active members has been since Superboy & the LSH 244.
6 reserve members
1 on sick leave (Matter-Eater Lad)