The Stop Button

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #270 W: Gerry Conway. A: Frank Chiaramonte, Jimmy Janes, Steve Mitchell. It’s a surprisingly packed issue, starting with the Legionnaires trying to escape a deep sea prison. On the surface, other Legion heroes investigate, getting into fairly regular battles with the Fatal Five. There’s also the interpersonal squabbling because Conway’s lazy with characterization. A decent issue for this creative team; badly done big reveal for the finish though.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #271 [1981] W: Gerry Conway. A: Jimmy Janes, John Calnan, Steve Mitchell. Despite Goodwin’s jarring second-person Dracula narration, Colan and Palmer’s artwork continues to impress, making even the most static dialogue visually captivating. The story involves Drac and a retired fashion model trying to regain her looks with a magic mirror (apparently mentioned in the Stoker novel). Meanwhile, the vampire hunters team up with Scotland Yard. Definitely an improvement over last issue.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #272 [1981] W: Gerry Conway, Marv Wolfman. A: Carmine Infantino, Dennis Jensen, Dick Giordano, Frank Chiaramonte, Jimmy Janes, Steve Ditko. Legion prospect and reformed (teenage, of course) super-villain Blok has now joined the good guys and we get his origin story along with his first official mission. Wildfire’s a dick to him (obviously) until learning the backstory. Blok’s more likable than most of these characters, which helps, and Ditko pencils are always interesting to see.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #273 [1981] W: Gerry Conway. A: Frank Chiaramonte, Jimmy Janes, Rich Buckler, Steve Mitchell. Conway retcons a story thread from a while ago only for it to be to bring back a big bad. We finally find out who drove Brainiac 5 so insane he tried to destroy the galaxy. Apparently, there was only one death and now he must pay. Goofy excuse for a comic. The art’s iffy, the villain’s fun.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #274 [1981] W: Gerry Conway, Jack C. Harris. A: Bob Smith, Frank Chiaramonte, Rich Buckler, Steve Ditko. Kind of cool, kind of bad issue about Ultra Boy not being dead just amnesiac and a space pirate. The Ditko pencils and the Chiaramonte inks clash, but it’s still a very well laid out book. Lots of cheesecake for some reason. And Conway flexing in strange places (women’s grief). Cosmic Ditko is cool too. The book’s very Silvery Bronze.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #277 [1981] W: Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas. A: Frank Chiaramonte, George Pérez, Jimmy Janes. Thomas takes over scripting, and it’s almost an improvement. Conway still has story credit and once the script gets absurdly talky, he’s missed. The Legion saves a sinking ship, which leads to suspense and heroics. Also momentum-killing blathering from Thomas. Then there’s a mystery hero, an absurd villain, and silly stakes. Some very unimpressive art too.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #278 [1981] W: Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas. A: Bruce Patterson, George Pérez, Jimmy Janes. Thomas’s writing is borderline insipid. He’s so weird about writing couples and there are so many couples in the issue. It’s a packed affair. While Grimbor’s energy chains crush the Earth’s atmosphere, Reflecto gets into a fight with the Legion. I’ll bet his secret is disappointing next issue. The Patterson inks are incredible. Sometimes the art’s not terrible.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #279 [1981] W: Roy Thomas. A: Frank Chiaramonte, George Pérez, Jimmy Janes. Time’s almost up for Earth’s oxygen but there’s always time for Thomas to wrap the Grimbor the Chainsman arc. It never stops being a little silly with Grimbor, who’s a blowhard in fetish gear, but there’s decent tension. The art’s not great but there’s occasionally effort. Thomas’s writing is improving, despite being banally obvious.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #280 [1981] W: Roy Thomas. A: Bruce Patterson, George Pérez, Jimmy Janes. Thomas’s writing falls off. His exposition is excruciating. The story has Superboy thinking he’s (presumed dead) Ultra Boy. After a long discussion about the situation, a team travels to the past to investigate. There they find Superboy a wanted man. Boy. He inexplicably messed up a nuclear detonation test. Thin stuff–with two desperate teasers pleading for attention.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #281 [1981] W: Paul Levitz, Roy Thomas. A: Bruce Patterson, George Pérez, Steve Ditko. Superboy continues thinking he’s Ultra Boy thinking he’s Superboy, the Legion hangs out in Smallville, and an old enemy appears out of nowhere to cause trouble. Levitz basically just does half a (very introspective) SUPERBOY comic (with delightful Silver Age-y Ditko and Patterson art), before doing a LEGION one focusing on Phantom Girl. Levitz just saved the LEGION.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #282 [1981] W: Paul Levitz, Roy Thomas. A: Bruce Patterson, Jim Aparo, Jimmy Janes. Scripting from Thomas’s story, Levitz does his best to wrap up the Superboy, Ultra Boy, Time Trapper arc. The resolution’s a bit of a whiff but the rest of the comic is so good it doesn’t matter. The art’s the best Janes has done on the series, with some able help from Patterson. Wonder what Levitz’ll do now.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #283 [1982] W: Roy Thomas. A: Bruce Patterson, Howard Bender, Jim Aparo. Okay-ish secret origin of Wildfire done-in-one. None of the detailed flashbacks explain why he’s a bigoted dick in the present. Speaking of–the inciting incident is him getting aroused by young hotties. Cool? Thomas is back, in his easy best issue (though it’s overwrought); still miss Paul Levitz (the tag promises his return next issue).

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #284 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Bruce Patterson, Pat Broderick, Romeo Tanghal. Broderick does detailed future stuff and realistic, mulleted Legionnaires and it does not work with Levitz’s script. But the script’s got more problems than not. They initially seem to be doing a more sci-fi comic, but then it’s silly fake gore, and all the subplots are about the Legion being horny. I’m very sad it’s a Levitz.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #285 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Bruce Patterson, Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt, Pat Broderick, Romeo Tanghal. It feels a little like a Saturday morning cartoon. It’s very sci-fi adventure, not superhero. But everyone’s in their goofy outfits. So cartoonish. The Legion is trying to save a spaceship repair yard. The art does better match the script tone, but neither are great. Levitz’s script is too horny and Broderick’s expressions are dismal.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #286 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Bruce Patterson, Keith Giffen, Pat Broderick, Romeo Tanghal. The feature has some Legionnaires on R.J. Brande’s vacation planet when a villain decides to attack them. Broderick’s pencils are occasionally almost okay. But they always take a major dip. Some good dramatics in the script. Then the backup story is Princess Projectra and Karate Kid on her home world, where she’s got to defend the crown.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #287 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Bruce Patterson, Keith Giffen, Romeo Tanghal. The feature has the Legion in political peril and a leadership crisis. Previously ignoring Lightning Lad’s resignation subplot, Levitz races through here. But the real danger is for the undercover Legionnaires on an ill-advised, unauthorized mission. The backup promises the next big story arc with a mystery villain, but LEGION always does mystery villains. Better art than usual.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #288 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Bruce Patterson, Keith Giffen, Romeo Tanghal. Levitz’s got a nice device for checking on brewing subplots. He intentionally checks on them. It’s very straightforward and helps keep track of all the various Legionnaires’ storylines. The main one this issue has a Legion team saving Princess Projectra and Karate Kid. The art’s a little better too. There’s a lot of good action. Solid issue.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #289 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Bruce Patterson, Carmine Infantino, Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. It’s mostly a downer issue. Not entirely, but so much of the Legion is lost or injured, it’s not a fun read. Levitz is really putting them through the paces. Chameleon Kid’s ill-fated espionage mission arc gets the most time. Giffen’s pencils (and layouts) are giving the book visual character, even if Patterson’s inks aren’t right.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #290 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Frank Giacoia, Larry Mahlstedt. Strong start to “The Great Darkness Saga.” As the mystery villain plots, the Legionnaires can’t stop his minions from stealing magical artifacts. Fine layouts from Giffen. The art’s better at the action and sci-fi, not so much the frequent soapy talking heads scenes. Also, almost all the male Legionnaires say something sexiest, like Levitz was tallying.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #291 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Howard Bender, Larry Mahlstedt, Rodin Rodriguez, Romeo Tanghal. It’s an interesting issue–Levitz splits the action between feature and backup stories. The feature has the Legion bickering over the election for leader while the mystery bad guy goes after supervillains to drain on them. The election story and the captured enemy get resolved in the backup. The other big change is the art; the backup’s got real personality.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #292 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. It’s the best issue of “Great Darkness” so far. Levitz and Giffen choreograph these intricate and elaborate fight scenes between the Legion and the Servants of Darkness (the minions). There’re some discoveries and reveals, though the answers are still asking more questions. Levitz manages some character work, albeit patronizing, but the action’s the point. And the plotting. So good.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #293 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. The penultimate issue and the mystery villain reveal. The Legion also figures out how to defeat the Servants of Darkness–well, some of them; maybe. Lots of good exposition work–Levitz checks in on characters and lets them catch each other up. Good device–keeps the book moving. Great layouts from Giffen. The art’s fine but those layouts are choice.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #294 [1982] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. The “Great Darkness Saga” ends in a mix of LEGION sci-fi done right and Kirby homage. It’s big and bold, with Levitz racing to keep the story on track. It’s like he’s guarding it on the way to the basket. And he never slips. Wonderfully evil Darkseid too. Kirby but scarier. The finale’s rushed, but the epilogue’s strong.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #295 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Dave Hunt, Howard Bender, Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Mostly flashback issue with Bender handling the pencils for those pages. Giffen takes it easy in the present. Timber Wolf and Blok watch an old Legion tape. It’s supposed to give Timber Wolf insight into girlfriend Light Lass’s ultimatum. It does not. The art’s bland and Timber Wolf’s a dip. Blok’s great. Not enough to save but close.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #296 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Levitz stumbles towards the end but otherwise it’s a very successful concept issue covering the Legion post “Saga.” They have two page adventures, sometimes interconnected. There’s a nuclear explosion and investigation subplot, so the Legion can be a little fascist. Just a little. Lots of righteous fury. And horny Legionnaires as usual. Low okay art but good layouts.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #297 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Cosmic Boy goes full fascist instead of the regular Legion-size fascist. He’s after the criminals who nuked his family and he won’t stop until they’re dead. The bad guys not the family. Cosmic Boy choses violence over checking their conditions. There’s some fine writing by the ending stinks. And the art gets way too design-y.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #298 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. It’s another “all Legionnaires are problematic” issue. They’re sexist, xenophobic, and cause wanton private property damage. Except Blok. He’s okay. He’s on a mission to a mining colony with Wildfire, who crap mouths him, their fellow Legionnaires, the mission, and rhe people they’re helping. All the dudes hate having a lady leader. Iffiest art in a while too.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #299 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. You know, outside the Legionnaires being testy towards one another, I don’t think there’s any undue hostility. There’s some good action against the space barbarian troll. Invisible Kid is still trying to find Wildfire, unaware of his teammates’ trouble. Plus there’s some light “starfighter” action. Overall, fun enough to overcome overtly patriarchal blather. Then the art’s bland but thoughtful.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #300 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Curt Swan, Dan Adkins, Dave Cockrum, Dick Giordano, Frank Giacoia, Howard Bender, James Sherman, Joe Staton, Keith Giffen, Kurt Schaffenberger, Larry Mahlstedt. Brainiac Five spends the anniversary issue sifting through alternate reality versions of Legions as he tries to save a mystery patient. The guest artists on each reality vary. None are ever particularly standout. It all seems rushed. Levitz does a little work on some of the ongoing threads. And despite Supergirl cameoing, sadly no cutesy for her and Brainy.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #301 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Chameleon Boy and his estranged father go to their nightmarish home planet so Cham can get his powers back. They run into trouble with their country-people, who consider them traitors. Then the rest of the Legion is hanging out, but mission assignments let the boys talk about how the female leader is the wrong thing ever. Good grief.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #302 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Lighting Lord comes to fight his brother to find out where their sister went. It feels like it takes a dozen Legionnaires to slow him down, but it’s really how Levitz is dragging it out. Then there’s conspiracy suspense with Element Lad and his science cop line interest. Plus more mystery villain reveals throughout, all for the forced cliffhanger.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #303 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Brainiac Five and Supergirl turn out to be the excellent pair I was expecting. They’re trying to stop a rogue artificial planet from crashing into a spaceship fleet. They’re not alone, but the other Legionnaires are just filling pages on the mission. Really uneven art this issue. Never very good but often really middling. Nice enough layouts, weak detailing.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #304 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Levitz uses his worst plotting device a few times this issue–keep something secret from the reader because it’s unknown to a handful of characters (but not necessarily most of them). It’s all for dramatic effect and always fumbles (here at least). The Legion trainees bicker with the girls cat fighting in lingerie. The art’s getting worse too.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #305 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Kurt Schaffenberger, Larry Mahlstedt. The Shrinking Violet mystery no one knew was a mystery until a couple issues ago gets resolved quite nicely here. Despite some yikes machismo from Levitz throughout, it’s a tense, compelling read. The Legionnaires’ investigation takes them unknown and unexpected places, with very strong plotting. And Colossal Boy not being a dipstick for once. Unfortunately, the art’s still sliding.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #306 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Curt Swan, Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Wow. It’s all about Star Boy hoping his girlfriend loses her re-election bid for Legion leader because she loves it more than him. Star Boy’s whining his life story to Wildfire as the results come in. The flashbacks have a lot of charm thanks to Swan, even if they’re about an abjectly tepid character. Call him, Narcissism Lad!

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #307 [1984] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Despite the best art in ages, the issue plays busy and rushed. Levitz is kicking off the next epic and the big bad is a religious figure called The Prophet. One Legion team is tracking him (or his energy trail), while another hangs out at his target–an enemy world where the Legionnaires are playing bodyguard. It’s too unfocused.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #308 [1984] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. Besides some quick action, the feature is padding with the new big bad. He got space magic powers after the destruction of his science outpost. Unclear when the religious fanaticism came in. Levitz finds time for the boys to complain about girls not being demur enough. Then the backup is Colossal Boy’s mom being racist to his wife. Neat.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #309 [1984] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt, Mike Decarlo, Pat Broderick. The backup this time is Princess Projectra and Karate Kid’s honeymoon. All these backups just seem like too overdue character development. The feature is more with bad guy Prophet being able to kick all the Legion butt. Yawn. There is some checking in on simmering subplots, but nowhere near enough to compensate for the main event. This arc’s flopping.

Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #310 [1984] W: Paul Levitz. A: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. I hadn’t been expecting much from this story arc and Levitz, Giffen, and company deliver even less. Giffen and Mahlstedt’s art has stabilized. It’s kind of a messy riff on Kirby. Fine if it’s your bag. But the action’s busy for busy’s sake. There’s a big unrelated surprise at the end, which feels like Levitz has just given up.

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (1982) #1 W: Paul Levitz. A: Bruce Patterson, Dick Giordano, Keith Giffen. Even with some big bumps, Levitz, Giffen, and sometimes Patterson deliver a phenomenal annual. Brainiac Five messes up and an old enemy comes back to wreak havoc, turning HQ against the team. Levitz does it like a disaster movie. Also, he brings back the underutilized female science police officer from ages ago to strong result. It’s an outstanding book.

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (1982) #2 [1983] W: Paul Levitz. A: Dave Gibbons, Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt. It’s supposed to be Princess Projectra and Karate Kid’s wedding issue but instead it’s all about Dream Girl and her team getting stuck in the past. They go to Ancient Greece and find out the gods are just aliens. Evil ones. Gibbons’s guest art mostly disappoints. His figures are too bulky here. It reads well but it’s lukewarm overall.

Monkey Prince (2021) #6 [2022] W: Gene Luen Yang. A: Bernard Chang. While technically a bridging issue, enough happens it never feels like one. Yang takes the action from Marcus’s new school troubles to Black Manta’s schemes (involving Marcus’s parents), to the Trench, to Atlantis, with a flashback to the Monkey King’s hijinks as well. Oh, and there’s some Darkseid (because Monkey King fought him). Really good Chang art this issue too. So much fun.

Monkey Prince (2021) #7 [2022] W: Gene Luen Yang. A: Bernard Chang. The Aquaman… not guest spot, not crossover—stopover? Anyway, it continues swimmingly. As usual, Yang emphasizes the fun in this arc. Monkey Prince and Shifu Pigsy have to escape Aquaman to recover Monkeys magic staff. Except Black Manta comes looking to start trouble, with his cronies along for the ride. Those cronies are, of course, Monkey Prince’s parents. It’s another good one.

Monkey Prince (2021) #8 [2023] W: Gene Luen Yang. A: Bernard Chang. Awesome resolution to the cliffhanger, with Monkey finally conquering some of his self doubt to save the day. There’s also great payoff with the arc’s supporting cast, very unexpectedly in some cases. Only Yang punts the parents are science goons resolution until later, which is lessening the effectiveness of the arc… and Marcus’s character development.

Monkey Prince (2021) #9 [2023] W: Gene Luen Yang. A: Bernard Chang. Marcus and family head to Metropolis for this arc, but Yang skips through the setup. Instead, the issue opens with the big bad arriving on Earth and killing Marcus’s mom (or does he?). Marcus “discovers” some of his parents’ secrets, leading to him fighting Supergirl to protect them. It’s a rough start, but the cliffhanger reveal is outstanding.

Monkey Prince (2021) #10 [2023] W: Gene Luen Yang. A: Bernard Chang. Yang is able to fit PRINCE into the company-wide crossover without being derailed. It’s LAZARUS PLANET (the crossover). The issue spends little time on it, instead staying focused on Marcus’s experiences—teaming up with Supergirl, fighting villainous granddad, talking to his crush, birthing some clones. The usual. Great double page spreads from Chang.

Monkey Prince (2021) #11 [2023] W: Gene Luen Yang. A: Bernard Chang, Haining. Well, I was sort of wrong about crossover success, sort of not. Monkey does go off to LAZARUS PLANET issues, while Dad and Grandad stay here. There’s some big reveals, with a Justice League cameo in the flashback, but it definitely feels like Yang lost the momentum and had to jump start it going again. It’s high grade fine.

Monkey Prince (2021) #12 [2023] W: Gene Luen Yang. A: Bernard Chang. Yang masterfully pulls off the finish, which opens with some more LAZARUS PLANET debris before recommitting to MONKEY. Monkey discovers the truth about himself—well, from a particular point of view—and goes into crisis just when his friends need him most. Yang sends to think there’s going to be a sequel, but stays non committal. Some fine Chang art too.