LSH Annual #1 plus the Great Darkness Saga (290-294) retrospective

Hello everyone - I'm back with another dive back into my collection and this time, we're going to look at the single best 6 issue run in the history of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Yes, that might seem hyperbolic, but I think it's warranted.

First, if you haven't read these issues, go and read them now. We'll wait for you to come back.

Second, just so you understand why I'm expecting this missive to go off the rails, so to speak - this story line is what cemented my love for the Legion and made me a lifelong fan. I think it's as close to a perfect story as comics have seen and, even better, it's aged remarkably well. As much as I love the X-Men and New Teen Titans (the two books that owned the 80's), many of their stories have become problematic these days. The Great Darkness Saga has not.

Third, I wanted to talk about Darkseid before we started this. I know that he's become iconic to modern day audiences, showing up in numerous events, animated shows, and he's known as one of the most important villains in the DCU. But in 1982, he was probably most famous for the average fan as one of the villains in the X-Men/Teen Titans crossover, and that only came out 5 months before his first appearance in the Legion. He wasn't someone you would immediately think of, and his back story wasn't as well known. So when the alternate version of Orion showed up, it wasn't an obvious clue. So although modern readers will immediately make the connection that it's Darkseid, in 1982, it wasn't as easy.

Also, in your mind, is it Dark-side or Dark-seed? Forget about what you hear in the movies and animated series. What did you think the first time you read the name?

The best annual ever?

I remember reading somewhere (and I fully admit that it might have been in a comment section on this subreddit - don't remember) that this might just be the single best one-issue story ever published. For a super-hero book, I think it definitely makes the short list.

In a podcast, Keith Giffen stated that this book is entirely Paul Levitz's story and concept - he just drew it - so I'll give Levitz the credit for this. He wrote an absolute masterpiece. Here are some of the reasons why I think this is so good:

• The annual features every Legionnaire, including the reserves, showing their distinct personalities and characters. Every one of them gets their time to shine, regardless of how integral they are to the actual story.
• Using new Legion Liaison Officer Shvaughn Erin as the reader-surrogate, taking us through the new headquarters, introducing her to the team, and letting her show you what's going on was a very smart choice. I also found it funny that she knew more about Legion history than Shadow Lass.
• It's the perfect way to re-introduce a old villain, make them a credible threat, and make sure every reader knows what the stakes are. For example, the page of Duo Damsel and Bouncing Boy talking about how Computo killed one of her selves in the past gives them a great scene but also reminds the audience just how horrible Computo is.
• This annual kinda sets the template for how Levitz would approach writing the Legion - give different members their own page so they can show who they are, how they think, and what makes them special. You can do a lot with nine panels.
• Giffen's artwork is masterful here - the book looks like it takes place in the 30th century - and he handles all the different characters, facial expressions, and story beats so incredibly well.
• Finally, the new Invisible Kid. We learn who Jacques Foccart is, we find out how brave he can be, and we see just why he'll be a great addition to the team. It's also nice to see a new member who doesn't look or sound like everyone else. He's a distinct new member with his own traits, personality, and characteristics.

And we also get the first appearance of Star Boy's beard. The team continues to mature and become more adult.

Chapter One

We start the saga off with the Servants of Darkness stealing mystical objects from all over Earth. A small group of Legionnaires, including Superboy, go from place to place to try to stop them. Keen-eyed readers figure realize that the servants look a lot like Superman and a Guardian of the Universe, among others. It's the new Invisible Kid's first mission on the team and it's great to see how the other members react to him - Wildfire's sarcasm and Superboy and Phantom Girl's support.

Levitz and Giffen use this issue to lay clues for the readers. Who are these creatures? Why do they look familiar? Why are they stealing artifacts that don't really have any value?

But even with all of this happening, Levitz doesn't stop the subplots:

• Saturn Girl and Timber Wolf having an uncomfortable conversation
• Chameleon Boy about to face trial for taking the Legion into Khundian territory
• The election of a new leader

Rant time: This issue is the perfect example of the difference in storytelling between now and then. The pages are packed with story and there are so many things happening that reading this issue takes time. You are, for lack of a better phrase, getting your money's worth. There's no writing for a trade, there's no decompression.

Is Wildfire on every cover because he's popular or because he's easy to draw?

Part two, which means it's time to ramp up the threat. Instead of stealing power from magical objects, the Servants of Darkness steal power from two of the Legion's most powerful foes - Mordru and the Time Trapper. While this is going on, there's still a leadership election and all three candidates are campaigning - Element Lad, Ultra Boy, and Dream Girl are all trying to become the next leader.

If it wasn't clear enough to the reader, Brainiac 5 spells out the threat to the team - if this new threat is able to steal power from villains that cause the Legion massive problems, how much worse is the problem they're now facing?

We also meet Dream Girl's sister, the White Witch, who was the Servant's third target. The Legion is able to protect her and she becomes a very important ally (and future Legionnaire).

We also learn that the Servant they captured last issue is a clone of Shadow Lass' ancestor, Lydea Mallor. She was a hero from a millennia ago, which further connects this new threat to the past.

But again, it's the dialogue and design that takes this book to the next level. Levitz fills the pages with story and shows each of the characters as their true selves. We get a joking Star Boy, a worried Saturn Girl, a confident Dream Girl, and a charismatic Ultra Boy. They're all more three-dimensional with every issue.

And finally, in the backup that I'm sure Giffen needed because of all the pages he's drawing, Dream Girl is elected leader. Although Giffen hated her powers and didn't want her to be leader, you can't deny that this surprise election made for great stories and resulted in great development for her.

How many people were confused that the Servant was shooting his teammate, not knowing it's Blok?

The Legion travels to the Sorcerer's World to protect them from a coming attack. The Servants have opened a vortex to suck up all the mystic energy on the planet.

The whole team goes into action, fighting against the Servants, trying their best to stop them. But as Dream Girl's vision of the future saw them losing, everyone is on edge and scared for what will happen.

Two big clues hit as well, getting us one step closer to discovering the identity of the leader of the Servants. We now know that Mon-el recognizes him as someone he saw during his 1,000 years in the Phantom Zone. And the original three, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, and Cosmic Boy, discover that the Servants are most likely clones of a Guardian of the Universe and Superman.

When the battle is over, a baby has appeared. Dream Girl sees the child as a sign, as a way to defeat the evil that's coming.

A few things popped out of this issue for me:

• Is this the first time we see Phantom Girl, Ultra Boy, Mon-El, and Shadow Lass traveling together as a pair of couples? This foursome becomes a staple of future issues.
• Wildfire trying his best to save Dawnstar, tossing her away from danger. The seeds of the relationship have been shown for a while, but I think this is the first time he protects her. I also love her line "Drake Burroughs, you are an hopeless moron!"
• Giffen's designs for Sorcerer's World are just gorgeous. Having the cities floating on waves was a great touch.

Another of my favorite covers!

It's the penultimate chapter with the big reveal at the end and the biggest threat the Legion has ever faced: Darkseid has taken control of the entire population of Daxam and switched their planet to another place in the universe. Which means, of course, that the Legion will face 3 billion people with the power of Superman. Who re-shape the surface of their planet to look like Darkseid's head.

Now that's how you ratchet up the tension and the threat.

But all is not lost. Everyone's involved in the hunt for the Servants, including all the reservists and the Legionnaires on vacation (Colossal Boy and Shrinking Violet). The baby is now a toddler, growing rapidly and emitting energy. Brainiac 5 has discovered a way for Superboy to keep fighting under a red sun. Most importantly, they're able to kill one of the clones by surrounding the Superman doppelganger with gold kryptonite. One less threat is good, right?

We discover Invisible Kid has a new power, rescuing Dawnstar from some other dimension that only he can see. This continues to be a story line for years to come. Levitz sowing seeds, right?

Two things I want to call attention to:

• Dawnstar calling out Wildfire for "saving" her last issue, reminding him that she's a Legionnaire and doesn't need protection. Again, not a big deal in 2023. But in 1982, this was big. Comics have a very bad history of female characters taking the back seat and relying on the big strong men to save them. This was a moment that went against that.
• Chameleon Boy in prison, fighting against the other Durlans. There have been many Legion stories that show the prisons in the future and, for the most part, they all seem very... bad. No prison reform in the future, I'm guessing. Also, wouldn't a former Legionnaire have been kept in isolation for his own protection?

Now that jumps off the racks, right?

41 pages. For $1.00. Featuring every hero who's ever appeared in the Legion. It's a crash course in characters if you were, like me, unfamiliar with the heroes of Lallor, among others.

The entire issue is action-packed, like the end of an epic movie, and we get to see the teamwork and comradery that the Legion is known for. Instead of just relying on raw power, different team members use their brains to win battles. Shrinking Violet blocks the bloodstream of one of the Servants, rendering her unconscious. Element Lad adds lead to the air, incapacitating the Daxamite hordes.

Since it's Darkseid, the battle ends with the baby turning into Highfather and the Orion clone is converted to a real version, ready to fight his father. But even they aren't strong enough and Superboy and Supergirl throw a few heavy duty haymakers. It takes the 3 billion Daxamites, free from Darkseid's control, to show him that he's not going to win. So he surrenders, but not before making the final threat that would continue in this book for years: "That which is purest of you shall be the first to fall."

If I had one criticism, it would be that I would've liked to see the Legionnaires be more involved in the final battle. Highfather and Orion needed to be there, but when it's the Supers who throw some final blows, it would have been nice to see Ultra Boy, Blok, or Wildfire involved too.

Once the battle is over, Light Lass resigns and White Witch joins. Things are changing, aren't they?

Things that stood out:

• Loved the panel where Darkseid is being hit by blasts from the different Legionnaires. You don't see the heroes, just their powers, and everything is so distinct you know exactly who did what.
• Karate Kid leaping to attack Darkseid, who doesn't even notice as he hits him from behind and does no damage at all. I think he actually knocks himself out.
• The page where Darkseid incapacitates multiple Legionnaires by hurting them to their core: Lightning Lad loses his arm again, Dream Girl loses her looks, etc. Just a great way to show everyone's weaknesses and how easily Darkseid exploits them.

Here's my one final thought before I end this. I am always disappointed when this story doesn't make any "Best of the 80's" lists. It's hard to put this ahead of the Alan Moore/Frank Miller/John Byrne output, but I think it's better than almost anything else that was published.

Okay, I've written too much, so I'm going to call it for now.

But again, if you haven't read these yet, what are you waiting for?