Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #61

Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #61 (1989)
by Paul Levitz & Keith Giffen
cover by Steve Lighle

Second part of the Magic Wars, where we learn what the heck is going on.

Earth’s technology keeps failing, to the point that the planet is going to be completely ruined within a couple of days. Something that Tellus finds weird.

People are understandably panicking. I’m not surprised to see the Science Police isn’t of much use…

…but I am disappointed in the Legion just deciding they shouldn’t do anything.

I mean… people are rioting because they’re scared, and you’re not even trying to tell them to calm down and defuse the tension? You’re just standing?
What kind of superheroes are you???

Considering that last issue a freaking Hydra was re-awakened, I immediately thought that this guy is supposed to be the Greek god Pan. Which would make perfect sense: him playing the flute is supposed to create panic, so maybe they wanted to say the magic is causing the riot in a more direct way?

It’s never explained or referenced. There’s gust a goat man playing the flute in the background.

It’s a good time to discuss one of the many, MANY reasons why this story doesn’t work.
The premise is that “science doesn’t work anymore” and has been replaced by magic alone.
Which SOUNDS cool, but doesn’t make ANY sense if you think about it for five seconds.
What is ACTUALLY happening is “technology doesn’t work anymore”… but not for everything!
If fusion plants are down because fusion doesn’t work anymore, does that mean the Sun isn’t working anymore? What, now it’s just turned into a gigantic pile of burning wood or something?
Geothermic energy still works, but the plants extracting it doesn’t anymore?
Why would monitors work???

Oh, sorry, it works FOR A WHILE, then Computo explodes and everything fails.

But the Flight Rings still work? WHY???

Shrinking Violet’s breathing apparatus still works! And the same for Tellus! What, are they suddenly magic now???

And why would the general public assume that this “science doesn’t work but magic does” nonsense is behind it all? Sure there WAS a mess in the Museum of the Mystic Arts last issue, but how did word get out so fast when THE ENTIRE PLANET IS IN A BLACKOUT???

Saturn Girl continues to be one of the few Legionnaires that are still TRYING.
Why couldn’t Tellus attempt this? Granted he’s not as powerful as she is as a telepath, but still.

The sorcerer from Sorcerers World shows up, and Sensor Girl proves to him that she knows what she’s talking about by showing off her Projectras.

As mentioned in previous issues, by this point she has COMPLETELY replaced White Witch’s role in the team. Sensor Girl is supposed to BARELY know SOME magic!!!

So thanks to her, the Sorcerer guy and Fake Stephen Strange they perform a ritual that is supposed to make science work again.

Aaaaand it fails.

Because the sorcerer… doesn’t even know what science is.
I understand Sorcerers World is not part of the United Planets, but THIS IS SO FREAKING DUMB.

Wait so the spell restoring balance to the universe is NOT going to involve one of the most powerful mages from Sorcerers World… but just Sensor Girl, a guy who didn’t have magic powers until ten minutes ago, and just random people???

Sounds legit.

The spell works!!!

But just on Earth. The rest of the United Planets are still science-less.

Including the ship with Shadow Lass and Mon-El.

And just like that… MON-EL DIES.

Credit where it’s due: this is a fantastic use of The Grid. Had it been used for just this moment it would’ve hit differently.

Only NOW the Legionnaires decide to be heroes again.

You’ve been a colossal disappointment in these past issues, Tellus.

Girl, Mon-El died TWO PAGES AGO! Not your fault since you don’t know yet, but TOO SOON!!!

Then Sensor Girl does THE ONLY MAGIC THING SHE’S SUPPOSED TO KNOW: communicate with the dead.

Man, death really hasn’t been kind to Karate Kid. He looks as if he’s in his fifties.

This is one last chance for the deceased Legionnaires to say their goodbyes…

…because the Emerald Eye just took away Projectra’s ability to communicate with the dead.

This comes OUT OF NOWHERE and I’m pretty sure will go nowhere.

Sure was worth it to waste an entire splash page on this. Riveting stuff.

Throughout the entire issue, THIS FREAKING GUY has been gathering strength.

And on the very last page… which is yet another splash page… he finally escapes to the surface.
This will be known as The Archmage, and he will basically be the final boss of Volume 3.

See what I meant when I said he looks NOTHING like the guy we saw waste multiple pages trying to escape from bondage?

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Legion significance: 10/10
These three last issues are basically one continuous story, which establishes the tone for the next volume. A very, very bleak tone.

Silver Age-ness: 0/10
Not really.

Does it stand the test of time? 2/10
The sequence with Mon-El’s death is the only saving grace. But other than that… the Legionnaires are being useless!!! I also find it really hard to accept that Projectra, the sorcerer and Fake Stephen Strange are able to come up with a spell that can reverse something that is AFFECTING THE ENTIRE GALAXY.
Not to mention the fact that, as mentioned, the whole “science is not working” thing is incredibly inconsistent. On principle it could be done… I can see people like Grant Morrison or Alan Moore going crazy with it… and while it’s possible Levitz could do it, it’s clear by this point that he’s phoning it in and letting Giffen handle everything.
Which is a bad sign because Giffen also doesn’t seem to have his heart in this.

The Grid: 22 pages out of 27
2 pages without a grid
3 splash pages

We are legion
I am counting Mon-El as actually dead. He will return for Volume 4, but as far as Volume 3 is concerned he’s actually dead.
And just so you know… WE STILL ARE NOT DONE LOSING MEMBERS.

18 active Legionnaires
7 reserve members
7 resigned members
13 deceased members
45 people have been members
52 people have been rejected