Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #314 (Part 1) (1984)
by Paul Levitz & Terry Shoemaker
cover by Larry Mahlstedt
The Legion proved so popular that not only they got a new series in the prestigious Baxter format, but for 11 issues it will have this companion series.
Our first story is about the trial of Ontiir, who has been accused of treason for allying himself with Emerald Empress in issue #303.
He has an unusual defense: he was working with the Science Police!
But once Chief Zendak wastes little time to contradict him…
…and a ship crashes through the space station / artificial planet, extracting Ontiir.
It sure helps to have Brainiac 5 around. I don’t know if he just had this gizmo in his pockets or he built it on the spot, but otherway that’s quite impressive!
While the authorities want to double check Ontiir’s claim that he was working under Zendak’s orders, Supergirl is for a more direct approach.
And you wonder why Supergirl doesn’t hang out with the Legion as often as she used to.
Just kidding, she’s enjoying this almost as much as Brainiac 5.
This is perhaps the happiest Brainiac 5 we’ve ever seen.
Ontiir has been saved by the Dark Circle, and he’s playing a weird game of betraying everyone.
I love how even the Dark Circle has no idea WTF he’s doing.
We’re also in the dark about it, because this plot will continue next issue.
This may not be the main Legion book but it’s still a Levitz series, so it still has subplots.
Just one, actually, which focuses on Invisible Kid who is back to visiting his family in Africa.
This is the ONLY appearance of his older sister. I completely forgot he had TWO sisters!
Also, either that white streak is genetic or it’s a popular 30th century fashion choice.
It’s barely more than a sneak peek into next issue, because the plot of the seemingly resurrected Invisible Kid I doesn’t go anywhere yet.
There’s also a one-page interlude with Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl, who almost run into superhero work while on parental leave…
…which he fixes with a well-placed electric blast without attracting too much attention.
Cute.
Legion significance: 2/10
Outside of the curiosity on how Ontiir storyline proceeds, this is mostly setup.
Silver Age-ness: 2/10
There’s SOME Silver Age in Brainiac 5 just having a planet-saving gizmo.
Does it stand the test of time? 7/10
Not much to say, honestly. This would’ve benefitted if it was combined with the following issue, instead of splitting this one with two separate stories.
The Lightning Lad / Saturn Girl page is great, but I would’ve preferred leaving the Invisible Kid storyline for the next part and give a little more space to the Ontiir story.
We are legion
20 active Legionnaires
8 reserve members
1 honorary member (Rond Vidar)
41 people have been members
Interesting letters: there’s a discussion going on between the readers who prefer to have a single focused story, and those who like Levitz’s style of fast intercuts.
According to the letters page, the majority sides with Levitz.
That’s also my position, but I do admit that sometimes he tries to do too many things at once.
Also, I have to point out the list of the other languages received Legion translations at the time.
In Italy we had to wait a long time before our turn.
I’m pretty sure that the white streak in Jacques’s hair was from his fright from having viewed Darkseid or Apokolips or something related, and is not natural or genetic (unless the predisposition to it is genetic and something scared her before this story).
I think the point is that sister Francine (who presumably never set eyes on Darkseid) also appears to have some white in her hair. However, that depends on which panel you focus on. In some panels, she has some white strands, in others, she just has some sort of white hair clip.
It’s entirely possible that Darkseid put so much fear into Jacques that his whole family felt it. Danielle didn’t feel it because she was in a medically induced coma at the time.
I really like Levitz’s portrayal of Supergirl in this issue and the next. It’s too bad this strong-willed, vivacious take on Kara didn’t get much of a chance to fly before the character was killed off in COIE and subsequently erased from existence.