This was a weird read-through. While it’s not the longest era… that honor still belongs to the Hamilton era, which covers 48 stories against this one’s 43… but it sure felt longer.
Despite the evolution of the Legion lore, for the most part not a whole lot seemed to happen.
That’s probably due to the greatest problem of this era: the revolving door of writers. Levitz, Conway and Starlin just don’t stick around for enough consecutive issues to make any consistent subplot!
The artwork is stellar as long as Jim Sherman sticks around, but despite some gorgeous Jim Starlin issues… we are left with Joe Staton for a majority of the stories. That’s a pity because this had the potential for a fantastic era. It’s still a good period, but a flawed one.
Before the awards themselves, our classic categories when applied to the whole era:
Legion significance: 7/10
The era was all over the place. A lot of issues are completely skippable, several are of interest, and a couple are absolutely essential.
Silver Age-ness: 4/10
Not much has changed. There’s a noticeable attempt to get more serious, but we’re still in a firmly pre-Crisis environment.
Does it stand the test of time? 6/10
A slight improvement from the previous era; I’ve already gone through the major problems, but there’s also the fact that way too many times the story is either shorter than it should be, or it has to share the issue with a backup story that, frankly, is typically very forgettable.
And now, ladies and gentlemen: the Legion Awards!
BEST LEGIONNAIRE
Winner: Chameleon Boy
Who could’ve seen this coming? He doesn’t get too many issues dedicated to him, but whenever that happens, he’s FANTASTIC.
Runner-up: Chemical King
Basically the only thing he does in this entire era is die, in Superboy and the LSH 228, but it’s a great death and he does manage a few character moments before he kicks the space bucket.
Third place: Saturn Girl
Look, I’m not trying to force her on the podium every single time… but she keeps impressing me over and over. In addition to fleshing out her romance with Lightning Lad, once again she’s absolutely vital to major victories and all around awesome.
Honorable mention: Wildfire
His leadership is an absolute trainwreck, sure, but at least it’s an entertaining trainwreck! A LOT of the drama of this era comes from his awful job, and what’s comics without drama?
WORST LEGIONNAIRE
Winner: Light Lass
No, she doesn’t do anything particularly egregious. In fact that’s the problem: she doesn’t do anything interesting. A lot of Legionnaires end up with the same fate in this era… I blame the writer changes… but she gets the spotlight more than once and completely fails to do anything with it. There are Legionnaires who do worse at their job, sure, but they do so in an entertaining way. Being boring is the worst thing a fictional character can do.
Runner-up: Brainiac 5
Having said that, almost destroying the universe because you’re overworked and lost an election is the second worst thing a fictional character can do.
Third place: Tyroc
When your appearances are so embarrassing that the writers are willing to go through any length to exclude you from everything. Poor dolt.
Dishonorable mention: Wildfire
Brainiac 5 almost destroyed the universe and I would still vote HIM rather than give Wildfire a second chance. And yes, he does make it on both best and worst Legionnaires, that’s how central Wildfire is to this era.
OTHER LEGIONNAIRE TROPHIES
MOST IMPROVED LEGIONNAIRE: Ultra Boy
I was tempted to give this to Chameleon Boy, but whenever I can I try to avoid giving this trophy to someone already on the podium. Still, Ultra Boy gets a much needed evolution.
BEST NEW LEGIONNAIRE: Dawnstar
By default as she IS the only new Legionnaire of this era, on the technicality that Blok doesn’t join immediately. Not that she’s a bad character, but she doesn’t get a lot of space.
MOST FANSERVICE LEGIONNAIRE
Princess Projectra from the entire second story of Superboy and the LSH 233.
PARTICIPATION TROPHIES
Shrinking Violet: she was THIS close to getting the “most improved Legionnaire” for a second time, but after getting her own story she’s mostly on the background for the rest of the era.
Lightning Lad: finally getting a personality!!!
Matter-Eater Lad: take a moment to absorb the fact that this guy saved the universe on his lunch break.
Sun Boy: very rarely the star, but a constant presence in this era.
Pete Ross: at least he shows up! Not that I wanted Jimmy Olsen to join the Legion again, but still.
BEST VILLAIN
Winner: Infinite Man from Superboy and the LSH 233
This guy is the stuff of nightmares!!! Seriously, the existential horror he brings just sends chills down my spine every time I read this story. Talk about a fate worse than death!
Runner-up: Time Trapper
While I’m not a big fan of the soon-to-be-retconned Controller origin, he gets a much needed improvement over the previous eras.
Third place: Pulsar Stargrave
Does his finale suck? Oh yeah. Is he entertaining as heck when he first shows ups, has a killer name, and a couple of mini-bosses? Check, check and check!
Honorable mention: the Starburst Bandits
Remember those guys Superboy and the LSH 252 ? They’re awesome! And good news: despite what I say in the review, they WILL be back!
WORST VILLAIN
Winner: Arma Getten from Superboy and the LSH 237
His stupid name would be enough, but his plan and his actions make no sense.
Runner-up: Omega from Superboy and the LSH 250
When Doomsday has more personality than you…
Third place: The Fatal Five
They were AWESOME in Superboy and the LSH 231, sure, but the embarrassment of Superboy and the LSH 246 is unforgivable.
Dishonorable mention: Mordru
I’m still waiting for a Mordru story that doesn’t fizzle out in the end. It happened in the previous eras, it happens in JLA #148 and again during Earthwar.
MOST INFLUENTIAL STORY
Winner: All New Collector’s Edition C-55
How could I possibly give this one to anything but the marriage of Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad?
Runner-up: Superboy and the LSH 250
Brainiac 5’s mental breakdown doesn’t have the impact it probably should have, but there are still quite a few ramifications.
Third place: Superboy and the LSH 233
As I said in the review, Infinite Man doesn’t show up often. But when he does, oh boy…
Honorable mention: the entire Earthwar saga, from #241 to #245
The saga as a whole has its fair share of flaws that prevent any single issue from being a great story, but there’s plenty of big and small additions to the lore.
BEST STORY
Winner: Superboy and the LSH 233
I admitted my bias in the review, but the Infinite Man story is sooooo good at keeping the tension and highlighting the cosmic horror he represents.
Runner-up: DC Comics Presents #13
Who would’ve thought that a Pete Ross story would be THIS good!!!
Third place: Superboy and the LSH 239
A glimpse into what could’ve been a legitimate Jim Starlin run.
Honorable mention: Superboy and the LSH 231
An underrated classic in the grand tradition of Legion vs Fatal Five stories.
WORST STORY
Winner: Superboy and the LSH 250
Brainiac 5’s plot comes out of nowhere, Omega is boring, and we completely squander the flimsy connection to Ultra Boy being accused of murder
Runner-up: Superboy and the LSH 227
The ending of the Pulsar Stargrave storyline makes no sense whatsoever.
Third place: Superboy and the LSH 247
Or how NOT to do a Fatal Five story.
Dishonorable mention: Superboy and the LSH 241 (second story)
The first story of the book, the prologue to Earthwar, is awesome. Light Lass failing yet another attempt at an interesting story… not so much.
Most forgettable story: Superboy and the LSH 257 (first story)
A special one-off award for the most completely unnecessary 10 page story I’ve seen in a while.
NEW MEMBERS
While there are no “official” rejections, I consider the members of the Legion Academy to be rejects by definition.
BEST REJECTED MEMBER: Laurel Kent
She debuted in the last era, yes, but it was either her or Power Boy and, well… you know.
WORST REJECTED MEMBER: Shadow Lad
Same exact powers of Shadow Lass, but without the personality and the fanservice.
Even Power Boy would be a more interesting member.
BEST ALMOST LEGIONNAIRE: Blok
Come on. I had to.
OTHER AWARDS
MOST SILVER AGE PANEL: Justice League of America 148
A bit of a cheat, but the second panel is for context only.
MOST MEME-WORTHY PANEL: also Justice League of America 148
MOST DÉJÀ VU MOMENT: R.J.Brande has gone bankrupt
BEST ALIEN DESIGN: the Resource Raiders
WORST ALIEN DESIGN: the Resource Raiders’ leader
MOST DÉJÀ VU MOMENT: R.J.Brande has gone bankrupt
BEST TECHNOBABBLE
WORST TECHNOBABBLE
MOST FRUNT PANEL
BEST CHAIR: Superboy and the LSH 241
MOST DÉJÀ VU MOMENT: R.J.Brande has gone bankrupt
BEST REACTION SHOT
The entire Legion reacting to Brainiac 5’s insane plot, from Superboy and the LSH 250
WORST REACTION SHOT
This scene from Superboy and the LSH 236 is SUPPOSED to be Night Girl flirting with her boyfriend, but her smile says “I’m going to skin you alive and have fun doing it”.
MOST DÉJÀ VU MOMENT: R.J.Brande has gone bankrupt.
BEST PANEL: Superboy and the LSH 233
I’m a big fan of Wildfire’s visor being used creatively, and this is probably the best use of this feature.
WORST PANEL: Superboy and the LSH 235
What the panel wants me to think: “How are they going to save Wildfire?”.
What the panel makes me think: “What’s wrong with her face!?!?”
BEST SPLASH PAGE: Superboy and the LSH 231
Runner-up: Superboy and the LSH 251
MOST DÉJÀ VU MOMENT: R.J.Brande has gone bankrupt
MOST FANSERVICE PANEL
By Dawnstar of all people. Not an easy task when she’s sharing the panel, and the bedroom, with Laurel “Fanservice Girl” Kent.
WORST SLEEPWEAR: Sun Boy
BEST SLEEPWEAR: Shadow Lass
NO SLEEPWEAR: Dawnstar
MOST DÉJÀ VU MOMENT: R.J.Brande has gone bankrupt.
MOST UNNECESSARY DETAIL: Green Lantern has gone bankrupt
COVERS
BEST COVER: All New Collector’s Edition C-55
WORST COVER: Justice League of America 148
HALL OF FAME (combining all eras)
6 good trophies
Saturn Girl (2 times Best Legionnaire winner, 1 time Best New Costume, 1 Best Legionnaire third place, 2 participation trophies). This means she is the only Legionnaire to get at least 1 “good” trophy for each era!
5 good trophies
-Shrinking Violet (Best Legionnaire third place, Most Improved Legionnaire, 3 participation trophies)
4 good trophies
-Duo Damsel (1 Best Legionnaire, 1 Best Legionnaire runner-up, 1 Most Improved, 1 participation trophy)
-Invisible Kid (Best Legionnaire third place, 3 participation trophies)
-Bouncing Boy (4 participation trophies)
-Sun Boy (4 participation trophies)
HALL OF INFAMY (combining all eras)
3 bad trophies
-Tyroc: Worst New Legionnaire, Worst New Costume Third Place, no good or participation trophies.
-Chemical King: 3 times Worst Legionnaire runner-up, but he DOES redeem himself with 1 Best Legionnaire runner-up
2 bad trophies
-Elastic Lad: 2 times Dishonorable Mention, no good or participation trophies