Legion of Super-Heroes v2 #269 (1980)
by Gerry Conway & Jim James
cover by Dick Giordano
What’s up with the proportions on Validus?
It’s election time, but not for the Legion: it’s the President of Earth that is up for election.
We get a sweet double page out of it.
Colossal Boy hits on Shrinking Violet by namedropping his mother (weird choice),who he only now discovers is one of the candidates.
I’m not sure how to interpret Violet’s reference to “letting a computer” make choices… are the people voting or is the President being chosen by a computer? If so, why are there multiple candidates?
Mon-El and Shadow Lass have different priorities.
Either Shadow Lass has changed her costume to something slightly more modest, or the colorist was more than a little confused.
Then a meteorite falls and SUDDEN VALIDUS!!!
Persuader also shows up, knocking out Mon-El. Poor guy, he has an axe that can cut through anything and he never gets to kill anyone with it!
I might believe someone without super-strength was able to break Validus’ grip, MIGHT, if this was Karate Kid. But Shadow Lass!? Come on!!!
Disappointingly, she thinks she can’t use her powers at night. What happened to her being able to project darkness blacker than the blackest nigh!?!?
Not that it would have mattered, because Emerald Empress probably would’ve been able to capture her regardless, but still.
The distress call reaches the Legion HQ, but only Timber Wolf is able to respond.
I guess it would’ve been pretty awkward to interrupt Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl from their team-up ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), but couldn’t he just wake up Light Lass!?
The rest of the team is at Colossal Boy’s home to talk to his mother.
There’s an amusing moment with Princess Projectra not really understanding democracy.
Then SUDDEN MANO!!!
Mano… you attacked a team that YOU KNOW includes someone able to create illusions!!!
Tharok shows up to stun the Legion girls, but he’s not quite himself.
Mano takes care of the the rest, and we’re left with a cliffhanger.
Legion of Super-Heroes v2 #270 (1980)
by Gerry Conway & Jim James
cover by Jim James & Dick Giordano
We’ve basically had zero clues about the identity of the Dark Man so far; you might remember he was first namedropped a couple times since issue 254. (he was behind Block’s origin)
Whoever he is, he has solid tech if he can imprison both Mon-El and Wildfire.
Meanwhile Timber Wolf has been investigating the disappearance of Shadow Lass and Mon-El.
I guess Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl are done with their off-panel teamup.
Yes this was years after Wolverine joined the X-Men, why do you ask?
I wonder why Timber Wolf is being so hostile about Legionnaires doing their two-person crossovers when his own girlfriend is applying for the Most Fanservice Legionnaire Award.
I do appreciate the fact that Saturn Girl doesn’t criticize her husband’s leadership until they are alone.
How do all these villains manage to infiltrate the HQ? It’s frankly getting ridiculous.
Saturn Girl still manages to send out a telepathic distress call.
Light Lass is attacked by Persuader and Validus, using her power to make them fight each other and provide a very clear indication why having a rage monster in your team is rarely a good idea.
Light Lass is the only Legionnaire who manages to escape. The Fatal Five present their prize to the Dark Man, who is very quick to establish who’s the boss.
Instead of calling the rest of the team (not everybody appears in this saga), Timber Wolf and Light Lass decide to gather some allies: the League of Super-Assassins, who interestingly are not being kept on the prison planet Takron-Galtos.
The Super-Assassins used to work for the Dark Man, and Timber Wolf hopes they could lead them to his base. They are anything but cooperative.
With one very important exception: Blok joins the mission.
They eventually begin a rescue mission…
…and we end with the cliffhanger of the real identity of the Dark Man.
Legion significance: 6/10
The real introduction of Colossal Boy’s mother, who is going to have some significance, plus the re-introduction of Blok.
Silver Age-ness: 3/10
Shadow Lass being strong enough to cause pain to Validus and poor Persuader never managing to hurt anyone.
Does it stand the test of time? 7/10
While far from being Conway’s worst outing, the pacing is all over the place and Timber Wolf’s attitude seems to come out of nowhere. The fight scenes are also quite disappointing, and the mystery of the Dark Man feels like it’s cheating a little. The little character moments were a joy to behold, though, and the worldbuilding is good.
We are legion
21 Legionnaires
6 reserve members
1 on sick leave (Matter-Eater Lad)
Interesting letters: the reaction to issue 263 is less than enthusiastic.
