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Post by Prince Hal on Dec 4, 2015 11:12:50 GMT -5
The Legion was ok, but I always felt like with Superman Jr (Superboy) in there, with the whole Legion, they were practically unbeatable. I love the linkage with Superboy & Supergirl, but more as guest stars. Once Superboy left in # 259, Legion got more enjoyable for me... You're not alone in your feelings about Superboy and Supergirl. By the mid-1960s, it was apparent (based on letters and other feedback) that the Legion had a solid fanbase and could pull its own weight and didn't need the marquee value of a Superboy (or Supergirl). In fact in 1966 one of the LSH writers, E. Nelson Bridwell, with the blessing and cooperation of editor Mort Weisinger, wrote a story to remove the Super cousins from the Legion. The idea was that in the 30th century (2966 AD) an immense cloud of Kyrptonite dust had drifted into the Earth's orbit, so the cousins couldn't travel into the future to participate in Legion adventures/meetings without endangering themselves. The story was quite elaborate--scientific data revealed the cloud would orbit the earth for 2 years before drifting away; the Legion tried every means possible to dispel the cloud but could not; the Supes' memories of the Legion were wiped (by Shrinking Violet, who entered their bloodstreams a la Fantastic Voyage); and before they returned to the 20th century, the cousins selected their own replacements. This story appeared in Adventure #350. Well, when the DC executives/publishers heard about what was planned they went ballistic. No way could you remove Superboy (and Supergirl) from the feature! The LSH had to feature someone with that big S emblem and red cape at all times! So according to Bridwell (in the Legion Outpost book and elsewhere), the second part of the story (appearing in #351) was rewritten and a quite ridiculous "solution" to the cloud problem was tacked on so that Superboy and Supergirl could return to the 30th century.  I forget now, but why couldn't the two Super-cousins simply "skip" those two years and start showing up for meetings in 2568 instead of 2566? I think that their long excursions for Legion adventures were explained by having them return to the the 20th century a second or so after they'd left. Or am I as wrong as I usually am when my memory is involved? |
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Post by hondobrode on Dec 4, 2015 17:44:28 GMT -5
I read the Wildfire issue and the one right before that, and oh man! The LoSH are definitely addictive. Some zany freak situation that explained how Ultra Boy didn't really die, and how he and Superboy got mixed up with memories and minds. SO CRAZY. Such a soap opera, too! And I am so drawn to it. So stuck on it. I'm IN!  I read LSH #289 and the first LSH Annual last night, and it's fun reading these comics as a run. It's been a very long time since I read LSH Annual #1 because I used to skip it when I read LSH #285 to #330. It's OK. Re-reading these issues reminds me why I haven't looked at the earlier part of the run for a very long time. It's good, and I used to read it pretty regularly, but I wore it out. I also think The Great Darkness Saga is over-rated. I loved it when it was new, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it when I read it again, but it's right after the Saga that LSH gets great for me. Every six months or so, I'll pull out two or three issues in the #295 to #320 (or so) era and read those. So, coldwater, if you decide to go past #290, it's just going to get better and better! And I wanted to remind you to get Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1 if you keep going. It takes place between #289 and #290 (or thereabouts) so you'll want to include it when you get that far. (And I have to keep reminding myself not to give anything away because you haven't read them yet.) Yes, I definitely remember reading and re-reading that annual. Great stuff ! |
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Post by berkley on Dec 5, 2015 1:12:30 GMT -5
I recently re-acquired the Great Darkness back issues and a few others from around that time. The artwork alone is good enough that I'm now thinking of going on and hunting down the rest of Giffen's run at least, and maybe beyond that depending on how I feel after reading those. Levitz kept on writing for awhile after that, right? Was it Steve Lightle on the art after Giffen?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2015 8:26:25 GMT -5
I have not read that story yet, but now I need to. But look how happy those bag of jerks are in the background. You can send me a PM if you like to see how you feel about this book. Oh, duh. It IS in collection. And I will get it eventually. I keep coming back to look at that cover. It makes me laugh. Not because they are crying, but because the rest in the background are going about their day like they weren't just big a-holes. I need a print of that cover. That's good stuff. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Dec 5, 2015 9:56:40 GMT -5
I recently re-acquired the Great Darkness back issues and a few others from around that time. The artwork alone is good enough that I'm now thinking of going on and hunting down the rest of Giffen's run at least, and maybe beyond that depending on how I feel after reading those. Levitz kept on writing for awhile after that, right? Was it Steve Lightle on the art after Giffen? Yes, Levitz was on for quite bit longer. I think the Baxter series started aout a year after the end of The Great Darkness saga, and Levitz wrote the entire 63 issue run. I think Greg LaRocque was the artist after Giffen, and personally I loved his art. I liked it even better than Giffen's. |
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Post by MDG on Dec 5, 2015 10:06:14 GMT -5
I recently re-acquired the Great Darkness back issues and a few others from around that time. The artwork alone is good enough that I'm now thinking of going on and hunting down the rest of Giffen's run at least, and maybe beyond that depending on how I feel after reading those. Levitz kept on writing for awhile after that, right? Was it Steve Lightle on the art after Giffen? Yes, Levitz was on for quite bit longer. I think the Baxter series started aout a year after the end of The Great Darkness saga, and Levitz wrote the entire 63 issue run. I think Greg LaRocque was the artist after Giffen, and personally I loved his art. I liked it even better than Giffen's. I didn't care for LaRoque--he seemed weak at drawing faces. Lightle's art is pretty solid. |
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Post by Farrar on Dec 7, 2015 10:15:14 GMT -5
I forget now, but why couldn't the two Super-cousins simply "skip" those two years and start showing up for meetings in 2568 instead of 2566? I think that their long excursions for Legion adventures were explained by having them return to the the 20th century a second or so after they'd left. ... That makes far too much sense, Prince Hal!  IIRC some sharp-minded readers asked the same thing back then, and the editorial response/attitude was that readers--if they wanted to enjoy the Legion stories--needed to abide by that particular series' internal logic of time travel. |
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Post by Prince Hal on Dec 7, 2015 10:21:36 GMT -5
I forget now, but why couldn't the two Super-cousins simply "skip" those two years and start showing up for meetings in 2568 instead of 2566? I think that their long excursions for Legion adventures were explained by having them return to the the 20th century a second or so after they'd left. ... That makes far too much sense, Prince Hal! IIRC some sharp-minded readers asked the same thing back then, and the editorial response/attitude was that readers--if they wanted to enjoy the Legion stories--needed to abide by that particular series' internal logic of time travel. Of course common sense makes no sense in comics!  And was the Legion in the |
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Post by Farrar on Dec 7, 2015 10:23:02 GMT -5
I could see why the DC executives didn't want him to leave. In the mid 1960s, Superboy was the best selling comic in the industry other than Superman. Weisinger probably wanted him out for the same reason he didn't want Superman in JLA, overexposure. Right, he was worried that the Legion with Superboy would siphon readers from the Superboy comic (he thought kids would buy either Adventure or Superboy--not both). And according to Shooter (in the Legion Companion interview) this is also partly why the Legion was removed from Adventure a few years later. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Dec 7, 2015 12:38:46 GMT -5
I'm OK with Superboy and Supergirl being in the Legion, but I don't consider them an essential part of the Legion. I'd think it great even without them.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 7, 2015 12:50:32 GMT -5
Superboy's presence was one of the reasons I didn't read the Legion. I never bought the book until he was gone.
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Post by Pharozonk on Dec 7, 2015 21:42:00 GMT -5
I'm OK with Superboy and Supergirl being in the Legion, but I don't consider them an essential part of the Legion. I'd think it great even without them. I consider Superboy's role more important in a symbolic sense than in a physical presence one. Even if he's only sporadically showing up, his role as the inspiration for the Legion is what makes them interesting as a team. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2015 21:59:01 GMT -5
I am perfectly fine with Superboy and Supergirl being there.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2015 21:59:49 GMT -5
Notttt that I have read much of either in LoSH. But I will!!!
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Post by Pharozonk on Dec 7, 2015 22:27:39 GMT -5
Notttt that I have read much of either in LoSH. But I will!!! Quit slacking and get back to reading!  |
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