Welcome back fellow Legionnaires to another landmark issue that is Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #226! Let us all give a roaring welcome to future Legionnaire and fan-favorite, Dawnstar as we enter the year 1977!

We also have another backup story and golly, if the above credits are any indication this book is getting crowded! But we have two worthy stories for the Legion of Super-Heroes as we dive deeper into the majestical waters of Paul Levitz.

With that said, let us see how Dawnstar obtained her humble beginnings and get to our first big cracker of a story!

The Dazzling Debut of Dawnstar

An escape-proof prison has never existed, but the cells within LSH Headquarters is more formidable than most, for most prisons do not have super powered sentinels.

Sun Boy and Star Boy race through the prison as they are alerted of a group of Raiders (from last issue) that have escaped their cell. They catch up with them, when one of the Raiders picks up a heavy computer console and hurls it at the two Legionnaires. Sun Boy quickly turns it into slag, and Star Boy makes a monitor that is hanging above the group super heavy, forcing it to crash down and block the doorway and their escape.

With their escape blocked, Sun Boy and Star Boy finish off the group by hand, and drag them back to their cells. They hope that Lightning Lad was able to figure out the location of the Raider base, despite the Raiders’ boss ensuring to mind wipe the entire group.

Later as our Legionnaires are sitting around the Legion round table, Lightning Lad expresses his frustration that he still cannot find them and there is not even a cosmic dust mote in light-years’ range within the coordinates the captured Raiders mentioned. Wildfire suddenly strides in and immediately suggests that perhaps it is simply because Lightning Lad cannot track the coordinates properly. He knows the course coordinates must be accurate because the Raiders were put under a truth serum at the time. Saturn Girl jumps to the defense of Lightning Lad and is confident that he can do it.

Wildfire probably smiles (it is hard to tell in his suit) when he says he has a better way. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Dawnstar to Legion HQ! Wildfire asks the rest of the group to join him and Dawnstar and with much grumbling and even threats of impeachment, the rest have no choice but to follow. The gang, with their new passenger, board a Legion Cruiser and Lightning Lad and Sun Boy ask what role Dawnstar will be playing, navigator or pilot? Dawnstar says neither and says she is only their guide and launches into outer space, completely shocking everyone except for Wildfire. How is she able to fly a computer generated course in space? And not only can she fly the course but she can do it fast, and she easily outpaces the Legion Cruiser. Lightning Lad has trouble keeping up with her and the Legion Cruiser’s computer just manages to calculate the course collections to keep her in view.

Wildstar then reveals this is exactly why he asked her for help. She is a mutant, a freak (his own words) who can hunt and track anything anywhere, even across a galaxy. If anyone can find the Raiders, she can.

And moments later, near the orbit of Pluto, Wildfire’s words are proved true as Dawnstar announces that they have arrived at the location they gave her. But there is nothing there. Not so, chimes Saturn Girl, because she can read the thoughts of the crew who are showing immense fear due to being attacked. Superboy joins Dawnstar outside the Cruiser and realizes the captive Raiders did not give them the course to their base, it was actually the course of their next raid!

Quickly the Legionnaires find themselves in a middle of a fierce battle taking place between Raiders and a group of helpless ships. Superboy tries his best to help the defenseless ships and is amazed that Dawnstar has joined the fight. He tells her this is not her fight but she replies that there is evil here and she cannot ignore it. She is making this fight hers.

Wildfire draws his two blasts of energy on a Raider craft, which then begins to glow until, finally, it yields a nova-like explosion shattering everything away from it. The Legionnaires observe the remaining Raiders in full retreat and, before they go, the Raider crafts tell the Legionnaires they have frustrated their plans for the last time. And the next time they meet it will be a time and place of their choosing and it will be their death. Dun dun dunnnnn.

Wildfire orders Superboy to grab them before they can but Superboy is too busy collecting the stranded crew from the ships that were blasted by the Raiders. He needs to place them in another ship before their air runs out and they suffocate. Once that is done Superboy uses his telescopic vision and announces that there is no trace of them, they must have used a space warp device. Saturn Girl states that they are back to square one again without even a lead. 

Lightning Lad then points to Dawnstar out of frustration and blames the mishap on her. She led them into a battle that they were not prepared for. Wildfire tells him they will find the Raiders and he should not place the blame squarely on Dawnstar. But Dawnstar simply states she did not lose anyone because she can still track them. Even space warps do not interfere with her powers. And once again Dawnstar leads the Legion of Super-Heroes, hoping that this time the Raiders retreated back to their own base. And now they will have the opportunity to finish them once end for all.

Our heroes instigate their warp drive and begin their travel between dimensions, and are able to side-step across the stars that conquered time. Accompanying the Cruiser is once again Dawnstar, who continues her search even within this mysterious realm. She stops the Legion Cruiser and announces that this is where the trail ends. Superboy is stunned, for they have returned to Earth!

All this time they were chasing them across the galaxy and the Raiders were in their backyard the entire time. And not just anywhere, but the Siberian Hydroponic Gardens to be precise. They descend on their location and as they near their base, Sun Boy announces they have been spotted and sees a group of Raiders bearing down on their position. Wildfire gives the command to take them, and a battle ensues. One Raider chases Dawnstar and chastises her. He calls her insane that they decided to challenge them here where their power is greatest.

Dawnstar simply tells them they are wrong and leads the Legionnaires inside the base. A voice broadcast appears and we finally learn of the Raiders’ objective. They want to wipe their entire system clear of all of its resources. And they can only have them back, if they live as their slaves.

Dawnstar identifies the source of the voice and leads Sun Boy and Superboy to a split intersection, showing two tunnels. They can either go right or left. Superboy suggests he take the left while Sun Boy take the right. But before Dawnstar can warn them, they both hit an invisible wall. Dawnstar informs them they were both wrong. Both directions were merely an optical illusion and the real passageway is actually right down the middle. As she enters the tunnel, Sun Boy asks Superboy to go after her because he still needs to wait for everything to stop spinning.

Dawnstar enters a large room with massive bio-electronic consoles. And at its center is a large brain, housed in an ominous looking glass jar, immersed in fluids. It is the Raider Chief who is able to use this room as one giant weapon control center. He is flabbergasted when he sees Dawnstar because no one has ever penetrated his defenses. But the brain tells her it is pointless, because without the Legionnaires she will be powerless to stop him. Dawnstar then shouts out to Sun Boy and Superboy her location and that she has found their leader. And out explode our two teenage heroes who quickly use their powers to take down an entire room’s defense system and then separate the inhuman Raider chief from his weapons’ control panel. With the room down, the Raiders should be no trouble to mop up.

And indeed, several minutes later, the victorious Legionnaires survey the work they did. Saturn Girl looks to Dawnstar and offers her apology as well as her gratitude. She should never have doubted her and she was a great help in cracking this case. Dawnstar replies that she hopes to work again with the Legionnaires because the work was very rewarding and a nice distraction from her usual tasks. Star Boy announces that the next time they work together they will be sure to welcome her with open arms. 

Wildfire then walks over to Dawnstar and states they will indeed work together again. Because he hopes she accepts his invitation to join the group…

As a full-fledged Legionnaire! And Dawnstar is moved to tears. 

Five Against One

Brainiac 5 informs his fellow Legionnaires that he is currently on Zerox, the sorcerer’s world, outside the citadel of Mordru, the Master Mage. Just as he was when his mission for Stargrave began.

As he stands by the entrance he thinks to himself that he is lucky that Mordru does not permit anyone else on Zerox to have great magical powers, which should allow his penetration into the stronghold to be a breeze. He then recounts for us the past events that led him here. How he met Strargrave, a very powerful being who transformed himself into Pulsar Stargrave, the deadliest villain of the galaxy. And who told Brainy that he was his father. Pulsar Stargrave convinced him that he should help him defeat Mordru, who is an even bigger threat to the entire universe. In fact, they might have a chance in defeating him if they are able to acquire the Star Stone, which is on Zerox and why Brainy is here.

Brainy finds himself facing a guard and quickly brings up a rouse that there is an intruder. The guard responds with a mystical onslaught of lightning. Brainy dodges and then attacks, telling the guard that it is obvious he has not learned any martial arts from his master Mordru. But he was taught by the greatest martial artists of all, Val Armorr! Karate Kid!

With the guard quickly disposed Brainy enters the vault and knows that he must prepare for more tricks and traps, for it cannot be this easy. And sure enough as he progresses, the furniture in the room suddenly springs to life and the steel bands from the table ensnarl him. He breaks free but when he turns a large Black Tomcat faces him, and then quickly changes into a mountain lion. Brainy picks up a vase from the floor, hurls it upward at the creature, and turns on his force field belt for more protection. 

But a familiar voice rings out, telling him that a force field cannot help him here. No shield can protect him…from himself! And Brainiac 5 stares at an exact likeness of himself, albeit an evil one. But as his evil clone laughs Brainy understands that though this thing wears his body and his face, it cannot possibly be him. Indeed, that degree of evil that stares him in his face has never been within his soul. It must be Mordru’s magic, made real. But as he concentrates further, it is not Mordru’s magic, but an object within Brainy’s reach, an object with immense power. The power of the Star Stone!

Then the Star Stone speaks:

“I am commanded to defend myself with five maneuvers: First, natural energy, the lightning power I grant my only guard. Then physical elements, a living creature and the invader’s own form. These defenses you have passed. So now you face my last barrier..the truth!

“You came here seeking me on the command of Pulsar Stargrave, the man you call father! But he is not your father, nor is he even human! He is the original android computer, Brainiac One, Superman’s foe from the twentieth century. He has been catapulted to this era, and is determined to make it his own! He has used you!

“Within your soul you know I speak true. Now take me if you still would.”

Brainiac 5 leaves the room, not answering the sorcerous Star Stone that had altered his destiny. He did not need an answer. Brainy then informs his Legionnaires that he has decided to find Brainiac One, alias Pulsar Stargrave…and kill him!

As the visa-monitor turn off, Superboy grimly states that their duty is obvious. Lightning Lad agrees. They must comb the universe for Stargrave, and find him before Brainiac 5 does. For if Brainy finds him first and manages to kill Stargrave without being slain as well, he will be expelled from the Legion. For murder!

Continued next issue, on sale February 17!

Creative Team

Once again we have two stories, with the lead being the debut of fan-favorite Dawnstar. Paul Levitz did an adequate job of bringing on a new Legionnaire and it is noteworthy that he did so in his second issue. I do think he understood the recipe for success on a team book like the Legion of Super-Heroes. There is a need to create and introduce new characters that now only diversify the team but give fans something new as well as to love before killing it off. In our spin-off series, the Karate Kid, David Michelinie is employing the same concept, albeit with new villains and also to mixed results.

Dawnstar already proved herself to be a worthy addition and a definite plus of her characterization is her power set. Her powers are already easier to explain than that of Tyroc, who was the most recent addition before she arrived. And of course she more or less saves the day and if it were not for her, the Legion probably would not have been as successful as they were in finding the Raiders. My only qualm is that the debut of Dawnstar was definitely wasted with Mike Grell not providing the art as probably what was initially intended. He is still given creator credit in the issue itself. Nevertheless, James Sherman does an adequate job with her, but I still think back to that explosive depiction of Tyroc when he literally flew on the scene for the first time in issue #216. Here her introduction is a little bit more restrained and conservative, and I think Grell would have provided a bit more explosive movement in her reveal.

Regardless, James Sherman is still shaping up to be a worthy successor to Mike Grell. He is apt at depicting all the various characters and he can definitely handle the fight scenes very well. However, I am not a fan of the Raiders’ design, and it is still not clear why they are there or why they are a threat. It does feel a bit forced but maybe we will get some more insight into why they are hanging around on Earth and have undertaken the daunting task of stealing every resource in the galaxy in future issues. But hey, the battles allowed the Legionnaires to work together, show off their powers, and, of course, Dawnstar to shine the whole issue.

One final remark of the last story, the last page was just so crammed full of sequences that the abrupt wrap-up on this one page was jarring. This is further proof that the two-story concept with a seventeen page count just does not work but also more evident that Sherman is great at problem solving. If you gave this task to a lesser capable artist, it would have felt even more crammed and less satisfying. But Sherman gets everything that is needed there and even gives us a good glimpse of the main villain with a great design, a giant brain.

As for the back-up story it was well done and I think for the first time in the new series relaunch, the backstory actually served a purpose. It furthered the overall Stargrave story along and even acts as a B-plot of sorts while giving us the needed refresher of Jim Shooter’s final issue which had a hard hitting reveal. I do not know if this is the direction Shooter had in mind (probably not), but Levitz definitely did a good job of making it interesting while anchoring it into a vital player in Superman’s world, effectively connecting the two time periods together.

To conclude, we have two stories, one with an introduction of a new Legionnaire that felt crammed at the end, and the other serving a vital purpose in moving an interesting overarching plot forward in a dynamic way. We have definitely crossed the threshold to something new and interesting and I am looking forward to what Levitz has in store for us.

Super-Talk

In this issue’s Super-Talk we have a complete about face from what was previously mentioned, compliments for Mike Grell, and more insight into what the heck Mike Nasser is still doing on this book.

First up, regular letter hack at the time Scott Gibson remarks that they have not had a new costumed villain since Tyr (remember him?). But the wait was definitely worth it with ole Grimbor coming to the scene. This was something I did not realize but Gibson is right! I do remember the introduction of Try being hot on the heels of the introduction of Wildfire so it is a pity that they did not keep that line of thought going.

And then he ends the letter by praising Mike Grell, and how it seems that each story is fresh and innovative as his first, and that he must not get tired of drawing the Legion! The editor replies:

“Your compliment to Mike is doubly appreciated, because he has been tired of the Legion for some time and his professionalism hasn’t let it show in the work…Mike is taking the opportunity to move on—to Batman, which he and Bob Wiacek will be illustrating beginning with the issue on sale February 10th.

“James [Sherman]’ pinch-hit last issue was so synonymic that he’s staying on, ably assisted by Jack Abel—who also inked the Legion during the 60’s. And Mike Nasser will remain our regular back-up penciller, with Paul Levitz continuing as the series’ chronicler.”

So there you go. The promise of Mike Grell drawing every issue from last issue’s Super-Talk is quickly put to rest. As we know we have more or less two issues out of Grell left, one of those being the gigantic Treasury Edition depicting Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad’s wedding that is coming soon. And boy I cannot wait to read that again!

Then the rest of the letters are standard fare, with both praises and complaints on the formulaic nature (or not so formulaic) of issue #221. 

Finally, they do a nice little send-off at the very bottom, fully representing the revitalized energy of the book:

Next month, Stargrave—and after that, the death of a Legionnaire! Stick with us, LSH fans—the best is yet to come! Denny & Paul

The Legion Medallion of Merit

To wrap up each issue we take the time to focus on one Legionnaire who went above and beyond the call of duty and then award them the Legion Medallion of Merit. Isn’t that nice of us?

For this issue it of course goes to Dawnstar. Wildfire probably did her a disservice in the way he brought her in, which was a very top down approach. It brought a lot of suspicion from the other Legionnaires who have already been doubting Wildfire’s leadership since he was elected. But, Dawnstar knew her task and definitely knows what she is capable of. And despite that fierce opposition, she accomplished the Legion’s goal and saved the mission in the process. And come on, who else is able to track a group of people through a very weird, unexplainable dimension of space?

Congratulations Dawny on your first medallion and may it serve as a reminder that we are all capable of great things and have value. May this always be a reminder to your fellow Legionnaires to look at new members with respect and not judge a book by its cover (even though we do this with comics).

And that is it for this week’s installment in the Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes blog! May your senses stay sharp, and your tracking abilities up-to-date, as we call out to the universe with the only glorious chant that instills hope throughout the galaxy and fear into a giant brain…

LONG LIVE THE LEGION!