Legion of Super-Heroes vol.3 #27 (1986)
written by Paul Levitz
pencils by Greg LaRoque, Shawn MacManus & Gene Colan
cover by Steve Lighle
That is a fantastic cover, but it gets me a bit worried since Mordru hasn’t been a decent villain in a looooong time.
But first let’s see the main focus of the story: Projectra returning to her planet Orando to take back her place as Queen.
That’s an interesting aspect of her transformation into Sensor Girl that wasn’t really explored during the reveal: it’s also a personal quest to regain her honor.
Of course being among commoners wasn’t a huge loss for Projectra, since she’s been doing that for years, but still.
However her new powers are so much more than creating illusions: the fact that she can “see through illusions” is a bit more philosophical.
This is kind of a heavy topic for a superhero story, but this kind of argument HAS been discussed in real life monarchies: the idea that its power derives from the throne being a symbol, and who sits on it isn’t really important.
This is where we leave Orando, basically for good. It won’t show up again until Volume 4, and even there it doesn’t play a big role.
It’s a sad farewell. Exactly like Projectra, we leave the place behind and only keep the memory of the tragedy that happened there.
Speaking of sad memories, we then move to a place hit by a tragedy MUCH worse than Orando’s: Element Lad’s native planet Trom.
Kind of scary that dead worlds are apparently common enough in the United Planets that they have the term “cemetery worlds” as a whole category.
The planet is filled by gravestones created by Element Lad for his people, which is both eerie and touching.
Since Trom is destined to die, it’s a shame we never get a proper look at it before the genocide in any Legion continuity.
One bit of worldbuilding that is underappreciated is the explanation that the radiation that gave Tromites their powers also reduced the natality rate. The fact that there weren’t a lot of them goes a long way to explain why a single pirate fleet managed to kill them all.
There’s something disturbing in the idea that the United Planets sends robots to take care of the place. It’s a nice thing to do, sure, but when you consider that they have “Cemetery Worlds”… PLURAL… means there’s something in the United Planets budget dedicated to take care of entire planets full of graves.
The highlight of the scene is the visit to a church. Or that’s the term Shvaughn uses, Element Lad doesn’t see it that way. Either way, GORGEOUS shot by LaRoque!
I mean he brough her to the most sacred place for his people, the two of them alone; is it any wonder that’s how she sees it?
But apparently Tromites didn’t really do weddings, he just wants her to pray with him.
Well that was touching. Easily the most well-remembered Element Lad in the entire Volume 3, perhaps in his entire history.
Let’s hope the White Witch plot doesn’t ruin the moment, because she’s gone back to the Sorcerers’ World…
…to free Mordru!?!?
Great idea, guys!!!
You are just made of disappointment, Mordru.
So, uhm… did the sorcerers just lobotomize Mordru!?!?
Exactly like Projectra was asked to stay on Orando, White Witch is asked to stay on Sorcerers’ World.
Which she naturally doesn’t accept. Considering we haven’t seen much of Sorcerers’ World and that she’s not even native to this planet, it doesn’t hit as hard as Projectra’s plot.
Then we have a domestic scene at Colossal Boy’s home, penciled by an unmistakable Gene Colan.
It’s a small scene, but we haven’t seen much of the Legionnaires’ private lives lately, and Colossal Boy… despite his mom being the former President and marrying a shapeshifter ex-spy… probably has the most normal private life of them all.
Although I’m a little bothered Colossal Boy is in costume.
And finally we have group scene with a Legion party, full of small moments.
Guys, get a room!
(also, was Dream Girl cheating on Star Boy or not in the previous issues?)
Preferably, NOT a room close to Sun Boy’s.
Also, Saturn Girl is the one who came up with Sensor Girl’s name.
I guess she’s a big fan of the initials.
The Legionnaires vote on whether to fully accept Sensor Girl as a member, excusing her killing Nemesis Kid as self-defense. Too bad we don’t get to learn how each Legionnaire voted, but there’s a shout-out to the team busy dealing with Booster Gold and voting from the past.
Not too many people need to be voted THREE times to join the Legion!
(I assume they’re counting the first time Projectra joined as the first, Sensor Girl as the second and this time as the third).
Legion significance: 6/10
You would think lobotomizing one of their worst enemies would have a bigger impact. But the only thing that matters is that Projectra has left Orando for good.
Silver Age-ness: 4/10
It would be an easy 0/10 if it wasn’t for Mordru being de-powered by… actually I’m not entirely sure WTF happened there!
Does it stand the test of time? 9/10
The Projectra scene is great, the entire plot about Element Lad is one of the best parts of Volume 3, and the party is full of charm.
What brings it down is the Mordru plot: it basically comes out of nowhere, it’s not set up AT ALL, and even the pencils are disappointing (I assume the entire scene is by Shawn MacManus). Thematically it parallels Projectra’s story, but not very well.
I would be tempted to say it needed to be its own story, but that would’ve meant wasting an entire second story on White Witch’s journey… and considering her previous solo stories on “Tale Of The Legion”, perhaps it’s better it didn’t happen.
In general, Mordru has been one of the greatest disappointments of this entire retrospective for me. His original story is still a masterpiece, but basically every time he comes back he’s less threatening and less interesting. If they had completely dropped him here I wouldn’t have minded.
In fact, considering how overused and misused he will be in Volume 4, I would’ve preferred it… but that’s a topic for waaaaay later.
We are legion
24 active Legionnaires
7 reserve members
11 deceased members
With the design on his shirt and that silly little winged cap, Mordru looks childish here even pre-mystic lobotomy. In fact, he reminds me of a somewhat older Charlie Brown.
My first Legion purchase was a giant-sized reprint of the first Mordru story. It was one of my first comic books and Mordru was terrifying. His degeneration was a sad thing to see. He went from being menacing to merely toying with the Legion. He might have redeemed himself by taking on the LSH, the JLA, and the JSA all at once, if not for the way he got his butt handed to him by the Demons Three. Then came atrocities like “Lord Romdur’s Castle” and having Darkseid drain him. Seeing him nerfed like this was just the sad end of a once-great villain.
It’s hard believe this ending came from the same team that elevated Computo to a top-tier villain.