Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #315 (Part 1) (1984)
by Paul Levitz & Terry Shoemaker
Now THAT is a great design for an alien!
We continue from last issue with the Legion smashing throught the Dark Circle’s headquarters to arrest Ontiir.
Supergirl is particularly impressive here. Too bad it’s a short appearance.
The Legion sure has trouble with evil organizations with teleportation technology, isn’t it?
First the Legion of Super-Villains in volume 3, now the Dark Circle.
That’s despite Brainiac 5 thinking it’s unusual. It DOES explain why teleportation is not particularly commonplace in the Legion universe, as opposed to other sci-fi franchises.
If this was the teenage Supergirl, I would give her the benefit of the doubt and believe she’s oblivious to the effect she has on Brainiac 5.
But here it’s definitely deliberate. Not that Brainy is complaining!!!
Although she’s not entirely sure she understands him.
Brainiac 5 deduces the Dark Circle couldn’t possibly have enough energy to teleport the population of an entire planet… unless they harness the energy of a star.
Meanwhile, Ontiir is busy trying to weasel his way into getting the Dark Circle to trust him.
It doesn’t work, because the Dark Circle did its homework and has the testimony of a witness (another member of Ontiir’s species).
I don’t know if it’s on purpose, but Ontiir constantly messing up and trying to one-up himself on just how much bulls##t he can come up with is genuinely hilarious.
Unfortunately for him, he’s trying to double-cross an entire organization of double-crossers.
And THEN the Legion shows up! This just isn’t Ontiir’s day.
The cover promised us an awesome alien, and he doesn’t disappoint. He’s also surprisingly powerful, being able to withstand Sun Boy’s heat.
That’s the occasion Ontiir was looking for to prove himself to the Dark Circle, since he has a clear shot at Sun Boy.
That’s when the Science Police also shows up, and Chief Zendak shoots Ontiir in the head!!!
Told you this wasn’t his day.
It certainly isn’t something most superheroes would do, but I don’t think anyone blames Zendak.
This turn of events seems to have shaken Supergirl, however.
Unless I’m missing a cameo somewhere, this is the last time Supergirl interacts with the Legion before Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Well that took a depressing turn.
Let’s cheer up a bit with the subplot about the original Invisible Kid… who still wants to die.
That will be explored next issue. For now, I’m with Dr. Gym’ll.
Legion significance: 4/10
Slightly bumped up by being the last interaction with Supergirl. Plus Ontiir will return despite his death.
Silver Age-ness: 0/10
There’s the bit about teleporting the population of an entire planet, but with that headshot? Nope!
Does it stand the test of time? 8/10
As I said about the first part, if the two halves were combined into a single story it could’ve been a minor classic. And we might’ve had a little more time to discuss the differences of opinion about using lethal force against villains, an extremely classic Legion theme.
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