Written by (See Credits Below)
Art by (See Credits Below)
Cover Art by Keith Giffen & Romeo Tanghal
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for September 1982, this 100-page digest-size issue compiles various reprints with more recent material – specifically, the Shazam! story is labeled as “brand new!” Among the reprints, only Superboy’s first encounter with the Legion of Super-Heroes identifies its original source, which is Adventure Comics # 247. The sequel is referenced as having been published twenty months later. Co-edited by Dick Giordano and Carl Gafford, these seven tales are:
- Shazam! The Confederation of Hell (Part I): Written by E. Nelson Bridwell, with art by Don Newton; F. Chiaramonte; Philip Felix; & Adrienne Roy. On a hiking trip with Kid Eternity, the Marvel Family (in their civilian identities) is taken captive and seemingly rendered powerless by a quartet of Satan-spawned villains: Ibac, Sabbac, Master Man, and Darkling. Even if the heroes can escape, another demonic threat awaits them.
- Superboy – The Legion of Super-Heroes: Written by Otto Binder, with art by Al Plastino & Jerry Serpe. Wearing one-time only costumes, the debuting Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, and Cosmic Boy visit 20th Century Smallville to recruit Superboy to join their 30th Century ‘super-hero club.’ However, it may not be as easy as it sounds.
- Aquaman – Sorcerers of the Sea (Parts I-III): Written by Steve Skeates, with art by Jim Aparo. Beneath the sea, Aquaman and Aqualad desperately search for an abducted Mera.
- Black Canary – Untitled story (Part I): Written by Denny O’Neil, with art by Alex Toth & Tom Ziuko. Told in partial flashback, an unemployed Black Canary (Dinah Drake Lance) accepts a judo training gig, only to meet with a nasty surprise.
- Sandman – The Man Who Couldn’t Sleep: Script & Art by Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, & Nansi Hoolihan. A nocturnal crime wave pits the purple & yellow-clad, Golden Age Sandman and his teen partner, Sandy, against a new foe plagued by permanent insomnia.
- Superboy – Prisoner of the Super-Heroes: Script: Unknown, with art by George Papp & Jerry Serpe. Now wearing their traditional costumes, the three original Legionnaires return to Superboy’s 20th Century Smallville to thwart supposed crimes he hasn’t yet committed.
- Spectre – War That Shook the Universe! (Parts I-II): Written by Gardner Fox, with art by Murphy Anderson & Anthony Tollin. Released from limbo after twenty years, the Spectre aids his alter ego, Gateway City Police Captain Jim Corrigan, on a demonic case that threatens the cosmos.
Note: The tales for Black Canary, Aquaman, and Shazam! conclude in Adventure Comics # 492.
REVIEW:
While the art teams contribute solid visuals that aren’t hampered by the compact digest size, the seven storylines are more a mixed bag. Standing out are the exciting Shazam! and Black Canary cliffhangers, which are underrated instances of DC storytelling from that era.
Just slightly less so are the lengthy Aquaman and Spectre stories, though they become increasingly readable. The Sandman caper is a Golden Age noir-style goodie, but its unremarkable script could have just as easily have substituted in Gotham City’s Dynamic Duo. Even so, Simon & Kirby’s take on the first Sandman offers fans a fun old-school read.
Despite the nostalgic value re: the Legion of Super-Heroes, the two Superboy tales are the weakest here on merit. Aside from the problem that the condescending Legionnaires come off as snotty, countering them with an easily dejected Superboy isn’t an answer, either.
Of these initial Legion stories, at least the first one sports an okay ending, even if it defies basic sci-fi ‘don’t-interfere-with-history’ logic. Still, this first tale is a satisfying read by comparison to its sequel’s ridiculous script. Suffice to say, the sequel’s intriguing premise falls far short in a best-left-forgotten outcome.
Sporting five out of seven winners (as the other two are Silver Age relics), Adventure Comics # 491 proves a minor gem.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Images of the original covers aren’t included. On the back inside cover, DC Vice President-Operations Paul Levitz elaborates re: the selection of the first two Legion of Super-Heroes tales for this issue.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
