After a brief respite, Legion Blogpost is back and shall continue to go strong! For installment number three, I’m talking about one of my all-time favorite single issues, #300 of the original Legion of Super-Heroes run. We will acknowledge at the outset that it is indeed a bit of a cheat; indeed, the book was Superboy and then Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes until issue #259. Nevertheless, it was a landmark issue celebrated in grand style.
For one thing, the 1983 issue boasted 55 pages of story, a spine, and a jam cover with a variety of artists composing a shot of the entire then-current roster. Some readers have occasionally had difficulty with the book’s frequently enormous cast. Honestly, that’s never troubled me. I think that one of the appeals of the book is the fact that there is a literal legion. In part, this issue functions so well because of the team’s size and rich history.
As for the “variety of artists” on the cover, it’s an absolute murderer’s row of talent. If I may quote the Grand Comic Database at Comics.org:
Carmine Infantino (Supergirl); Paris Cullins (Invisible Kid); George Perez (Colossal Boy); Joe Kubert (Dawnstar); Kurt Schaffenberger (Superboy); Jose Luis Garcia Lopez (Sun Boy); Don Heck (White Witch); Jim Aparo (Karate Kid); Jan Duursema (Queen Projectra); Gene Colan (Timber Wolf); Dave Cockrum (Phantom Girl): Walter Simonson (Blok); George Tuska (Star Boy); Jim Sherman (Dream Girl); Howard Chaykin (Brainiac 5); Curt Swan (Ultra Boy); Howard Bender (Wildfire); Keith Giffen (Cosmic Boy, Proty); Dick Giordano (Saturn Girl); Larry Mahlstedt (Lightning Lad); Gil Kane (Mon-El); Trevor von Eeden (Element Lad); Joe Orlando (Chameleon Boy); Ross Andru (Shadow Lass); Ernie Colon (Duo Damsel); Joe Staton (Bouncing Boy) (Pencils) Bob Oksner (Supergirl); Paris Cullins (Invisible Kid); George Perez (Colossal Boy); Joe Kubert (Dawnstar); Kurt Schaffenberger (Superboy); Joe Luis Garcia Lopez (Sun Boy); Don Heck (White Witch); Jim Aparo (Karate Kid); Jan Duursema (Queen Projectra); Frank Giacoia (Timber Wolf); Dave Cockrum (Phantom Girl); Walter Simonson (Blok); Mike DeCarlo (Star Boy); Jim Sherman (Dream Girl); Howard Chaykin (Brainiac Five); Curt Swan (Ultra Boy); Dave Hunt (Wildfire); Larry Mahlstedt (Cosmic Boy); Dick Giordano (Saturn Girl); Keith Giffen (Lightning Lad); Gil Kane (Mon-El); Trevor von Eeden (Element Lad); Joe Orlando (Chameleon Boy); Dan Adkins (Proty); Romeo Tanghal (Shadow Lass); Ernie Colon (Duo Damsel); Joe Staton (Bouncing Boy) (Inks)
That, people, is a COVER. And the story, by Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen, and a truckload more, is, well, awesome.
The tale on the inside deals with Brainiac 5, Rond Vidar, and the Chronarch attemping to help Douglas Nolan, the twin brother of the late Ferro Lad. Ever since Ferro Lad died (he herocially sacrificed himself years earlier to save Earth), Douglas had been subject to nightmare visions of other worlds. An invention allows Brainiac 5 and the others to see Douglas’s visions. This results in six terrific alternate reality tales (plotted by Levitz and Giffen) that show what could have happened to the Legion at various points in their history.
Though the Elseworlds concept might seem shopworn now, this was an invigorating burst of creativity steeped in the stories that book had spent building into its own interior universe. Each vision came with an era appropriate pencil artist: Kurt Schaffenberger, Howard Bender, Curt Swan, Dave Cockrum, James Sherman, and Joe Staton. The framing sequences, about 23 pages of story, showcased art by the then-current Legion team of Keith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt. Though the spiritual father of this book was Justice League of America #200 from a couple of years previous, which also used a framing sequence and character-appropriate artists for the intra-League battles, this was an amazing achievement in terms of title history.
The resolution to Douglas’s situation turns out to be, well, somewhat sweet and heartwarming. And really, this issue is a good exhibit in the case for an open-ended multiverse. The wonder possible in the DCU is on full display. Levitz, Giffen and the gang totally nailed it. I was ten when this came out, and it remains a personal favorite to this day. Other thoughts on this one? Was a particular vision particularly effective for you? Smallville? EarthWar? Let’s hear it.
January 13th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
This is one of my favorite issues as well. I found it a little confusing when I first read it as a kid, but I warmed up to it strongly as I got older.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
The resolution of the story was great. I remember thinking that this would have been a story that could only be told in the DC universe. In most every DC book, there was and remains an inherent optimism about what could be that comes from using Superman as your anchor.
Compare this with say, Marvel and the notion that nothing is safe, nothing is sacred, which comes from using Spider-Man as the anchor.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Brian- Your ideas are intrguiging to me. I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I had known about the Legion for years and their general history for years before getting this issue in a back issue bin for a $1. I mostly got it because of the neat cover with the cavalcade of artists. Thank goodness the story inside was also great: touching, accessible to a newbie despite the vast tracts of legion history, and (as I later discovered) respectfully wrapped up the problem of the Adult Legion stories so that future authors wouldn’t be constrained by them. Remains one of my favorite LSH issues still.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
I loved the bringing together the different artists and styles. I am fortunate to have a Cockrum and Giffen page from that story. I agree with Brian, it was an Anniversary storyline that had a happy ending. The Legion was always a source of optimism for me
January 13th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
LOVED THE ORIGINAL LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES!
Hopefully they’ll get a return to their own title when Legion of 3 Worlds wraps!
Thanks for a great remembrance of a classic issue…I have to go dig mine out of storage.
G.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Legion 300 was an amazing issue.
I had started collecting during The Great Darkness Saga and the issues leading up to 300 kept the quality of the story high.
I long for the return of the real legion.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
The thing that I like best about this issue (in retrospect, anyway) is that it freed the Legion from the necessity of conforming to the Adult Legion future timeline that had been assumed to be the Legion’s future future up until then. Douglas Nolan’s visions provided an explanation for just what the Adult Legion stories *were*, and Shadow Lass survived the Science Asteroid.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I’ve always wanted to see like a crossover or team book where each character is drawn by a different artist
January 13th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
3 of the first 8 comments are from various “Matt”s… and here I am, a 4th Matthew (in disguise) posting, as well! Are we suddenly owners of a ridiculously popular first name?
I love this issue, and the JLA # 200 that’s referenced as well. In each case the art choices are inspired AND they manage to tell a thrilling story in the process. I wish we got more comics like that today (rather than decompressed and/or gloomy work that leaves one feeling empty).
P.S. I really, really wish the powers that be could get the Word Press error fixed that requires me to double- or triple-post any comment each time I have anything to say. Very annoying.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
My god. I have that! Somewhere, in one of my many boxes not seen in years, is that book!
I’mma have to find it!
January 13th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
One of my favorite, for sure. And I’m particularly fond of the Cockrum chapter!
January 14th, 2009 at 1:19 am
…This is still one of my favorite issues, and is a great way to show those who think the “Threeboot” debacle was any good just how totally wrong they are.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:31 am
I’ve been a huge fan of the Legion since the days when they headlined Adventure Comics under the guidance of young Jim Shooter.
Couple of thoughts on a great topic:
• As already noted by previous posters, the real significance (and genius) of LSH 300 was the deft escape from the creative straight-jacket of Shooter’s (in)famous Adult Legion story — while still keeping said story in continuity.
In those days before reboots were a dime a dozen, the validity of the Adult Legion story — and the events depicted therein — was a hot topic. Many longtime fans were antsy to start seeing some of those events come to pass (“When is Quantum Queen going to join?”). Meanwhile, Levitz, Giffen & company were understandably reluctant to fully endorse a story that spoils the fate of a significant portion of their then-current cast. LSH 300 was their solution. (Perhaps Mr. Giffen might offer some behind-the-scenes insights…)
My reaction at the time was a mixture of sadness — that something special had been lost — crossed with an appreciation for an elegant compromise.
• While I also appreciate the concept behind the cover and the massive logistical effort that it must have taken to coordinate so many artists, the execution is a bit disappointing. The composition is very static, with little or no interaction between the characters. It feels as if the individual figures were done separately and then pasted together (most of them probably were). In addition, many of the contributions are far from the artists’ best work; the figures from Aparo, Colan and Simonson are completely generic. At the moment, I can’t think of a similar “jam” cover for comparison — but contrast this with any of the many character-heavy covers George Perez has done over the years. (I know that’s not apples to apples, but still…)
January 14th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Great issue – Loved it the moment it came out and love it still to this day (especially the James Sherman chapter – always loved his stuff).
I’ve got it in a box somewhere and it may be on the net for someone to find, but Joe Stanton did a comedic spoof of his chapter that is incredible.
And count me in as one who was never particularly fond of the cover. Great concept, but I wish it could have worked like they did for DCU jam a few years later (http://namtab.com/aquablog/dcuhistory2.gif).
January 14th, 2009 at 7:44 am
I got this comic when I was 10 and it confused the hell out of me at the time. But those characters were amazing and left me intrigued. I was getting New Teen Titans at the time and couldn’t afford a second title. I still have that issue and I find myself pulling it out from time to time to marvel at all those fabulous characters.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am
This was possibly the first comic I bought as a kid. I remember thinking I knew Superboy and Supergirl but had no idea who the other, more prominent heroes were… plus they were a Legion! I picked it up and then the next one, realized I’d missed something huge in the Great Darkness Saga and scoured my local stores for back issues… and as a kid in the middle of nowhere in Canada, there was no LCS. That’s what started me buying comics. And I still have this issue, tattered and well-read.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:54 am
As part of my celebration of the Legion’s 50th I’ve started rereading my entire Legion run starting with #266 and have just reread #300 about a week ago. I think I was about 12 or so when this came out so I’m in the same boat as the rest of you but I was still a newbie. I knew Ferro Lad had died but nothing more so the story surrounding his brother was something new for me. That framing story though was very poignant as you said. What I thought interesting was how much I didn’t like the Mon-El/Shadowlass story on the first read but have now come to appreciate how much the tone of that subplot helped steer the Legion clear of an impending future and set the tone of hope that I have come to cherish about the team.
While I had scattershot issues of the LSH from the past, I had only just jumped aboard LSH with on a monthly basis starting with #293 (yup, that’s right. One of the most confusing, compressed, and crowded comics ever written roped me in.) so some of the eras depicted didn’t mean anything to me personally but I loved the different takes on the characters and I thought it interesting how each one seemed to get worse and worse as the story progressed. My personal favorite was the Earth/War story because it was one of only a handful of LSH issues, heck any issues back then, that I had at the time.
Great memories. Keep em coming.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:28 am
One of my all-time favorite comics, I got this when I was 11 and I still read it at least once a year.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I bought this issue back in the mid 80s and read it the night before I was leaving to live in Spain for two months, and it IMMEDIATELY hooked me into its story, art, characters, and sense of both impending dread and absolute wonder.
The resolution of Ferro Lad’s brother’s dilemma was so touching, it almost brought a tear to me eye.
Anyway, I was all set to bring that comic with me to Spain but I forgot it on my desk at home. I spent much of the next two months thinking about that story, how it was just about as amazingly great as a superhero comic book could be.
The night I came back home from Spain, one of the first things I did was grab that comic and re-read it immediately. It was even better than I remembered.
I *still* have that comic. It’s more than a bit beat-up over time, but I treasure it highly.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Good anniversary issue!
I liked how it addressed that old Superman story showing what happened to the Legionnaires as adults. “Shadow Woman” who hadn’t even been introduced yet as a member of the teen team — was shown as being killed in action on the science asteroid. Sure enough, she and Mon-El traveled to it in this story — and she came “this” close to meeting her maker.
The Cockrum chapter is really well done. Dave was still at the top of his game then — though his style was a bit more gritter than his 70s work — which made it very appropo for this story. No one could draw Wildfire like Dave.
January 14th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
“…This is still one of my favorite issues, and is a great way to show those who think the “Threeboot” debacle was any good just how totally wrong they are.”
Well, I think they’re *both* good. Not equal to each other, but one comic book being good will never be a reason for me not to like a different comic book.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
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