ACTION COMICS 385 (1970)
“The Fallen Starboy!” by E. Nelson Bridwell & Win Mortimer
“The Immortal Superman” by Cary Bates & Curt Swan
Cover by Curt Swan
This begins a 3-part storyline Superman story that has some Legion relevance.
But before we get to that, let’s begin with the Legion story.
There’s an emergency on Star Boy’s planet, so he’ll have to cancel his date with Dream Girl.
She’s pretty sarcastic about it!
There’s been a series of strange robberies on his planet, so the Legion is asked to guard some newly discovered archeological site.
Despite Saturn Girl’s confidence, she fails to find the criminals.
We soon discover why: they’re wearing Anti-Telepathy Helmets ™ !!!
The criminals manage to escape. I get that they’re too fast for the Flight Rings and that both Colossal Boy and Saturn Girl are at a disadvantage… but couldn’t Star Boy make their ship too heavy to fly!?
Colossal Boy has a rather dumb question, wondering if the thieves are telepaths. Saturn Girl (incorrectly called Irma instead of her real name Imra) has to state the obvious: that telepaths wouldn’t have a reason to wear Anti-Telepathy Helmets ™.
Then Star Boy reads the plot realizes the answer: the criminals have precognitive powers!
They also have a grudge against Star Boy because he killed their leader’s brother.
When they later run into the Legion again, they teleport Star Boy at the first occasion.
The plan is to attack Star Boy in space, since without gravity he doesn’t have powers.
In an interesting moment of worldbuilding, we’re informed that the people of Naltor don’t use last names. That won’t last: Dream Girl’s real name is Nura Nal, and since her sister’s name is Mysa Nal they blatantly DO use last names.
I’m not talking about the fight because it’s pretty uninteresting. It does provide a neat explanation on how Star Boy’s powers actually work, though.
And the story ends abruptly with the rest of the Legion showing up to highlight how incredibly stupid the villains are.
Yep. That was a Bridwell story.
Moving to Superman: he’s asked by the President not to travel through time. (!!!!)
Except he’s urgently needed 100,000 years in the future.
Well that’s not a problem, right? He’s needed “urgently”, yes, but that doesn’t mean he has to leave TODAY, right? Right?
THERE’S NO REASON TO DO THIS TODAY, SUPERMAN!!!
Also, should we be worried that when he uses his powers to time travel he “disrupts the space-time continuum”?
Once he gets to his destination, however, he discovers why the Time Bubble was supposed to be scrapped:
THIS MAKES NO SENSE.
He does have to prove that he still has his powers, though. Are we supposed to believe Superman is basically immortal then?
And what’s the emergency that calls for sending a message 100,000 years in the past?
A bank robbery.
Turns out the 1,020th century has superheroes. But they’ve all failed to stop the thieves.
Superman sits in the vault waiting for the thief to show up… and it turns out it’s THIS THING.
Superman defeats this energy monster with… yellow paint.
Sounds legit.
Story’s over, right? Nope! This was just the setup!
And we get to the reason why this has some Legion significance: the Time Trapper is behind everything!
Well, at least he’s behind the barrier (which strangely enough isn’t called the Iron Curtain of Time); it doesn’t seem that he’s behind Superman getting old.
Stranded in the 1,020th century, Superman does some sightseeing.
Complicating things is the fact that criminals use his costume now.
He also runs into the Multiple-Men, who have 25 super-powers each. That’s 1.5 Martian Manhunters!
They attack him with some gas that makes him rather weak and depressed.
He passes out and he’s taken to a hospital, where SUDDEN KRYPTONITE!
Except… surprise, Superman is now immune to both Kryptonite AND magic!
We’re also TOLD, not shown, that he’s immune to red suns as well.
So Superman is:
1) Immortal
2) Invulnerable to absolutely anything
3) Going to live eternity alone
To be continued, because otherwise it’d be too depressing!
Historical significance: 0/10
The only bit of Legion lore (Naltorians not using last names) will be ignored, and don’t expect Superman to suffer any repercussions from this storyline.
Silver Age-ness
Legion story: 2/10
The idea that this is a crisis that requires the Legion is a bit forced, but that’s about it.
Superman story: 8/10
Absurd time travel rules, stock future tropes, plus a random magic dog shows up for no reason!
Does it stand the test of time?
Legion story: 0/10
How do you completely screw up the awesome idea of the villains being precognitives with anti-telepathy technology!?
Superman story: 0/10
This is our first taste of Cary Bates, who will become a Legion regular writer. He’s best known for a legendary run on Flash. He’s a really great writer… but for some reason I don’t like any of his Superman stories. This one is a good example: the setup is interesting, but that’s about it.
We are legion
26 Legionnaires
2 reserve members: Kid Psycho, Insect Queen
3 honorary members: Elastic Lad, Pete Ross, Rond Vidar
1 resigned member: Command Kid
1 expelled member: Nemesis Kid
2 deceased members: Dynamo Boy, Ferro Lad
How much Legion is too much?
The total number of characters who have been members is 35.
Time travel doesn’t work that way
“The year 100,070 needs me RIGHT NOW, I can’t wait until tomorrow to time travel!”
ಠ_ಠ
Interesting letters: the Legion fandom was so dedicated that publishing comics in Interlac wouldn’t be completely out of the question!
