Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #258

As some have said, when one chapter ends another begins. And folks, the chapter that is Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes ends here. This is the final issue in the series before DC dropped Superboy from the book and the numbering continued simply as the Legion of Super-Heroes. Though this is definitely the end of one era, the title change meant that the Legion of Super-Heroes received their own title for the very first time. How special is that?

But is this the end of the blog? Is this my last ever write-up as we examine every issue of Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes? The answer is a defiant NO! We will cover the next issue because Superboy officially departs the team during the first issue of the new title. Which makes #258 the first of a two-parter…and a bit anti-climactic. And if we, as comic book lovers and collectors, are anything, it is that we are completionists.

But that’s not all! Because we will have a final ad interim as both the Legion of Super-Heroes and Superboy make one final appearance at the end of 1979 that fits in the Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes continuity.

So grab a tissue and wipe those tears from yours eyes! We still have more to come! So plop on that flight ring and brace yourself for…

The Mind-Attack of the Psycho-Warrior! 

Picking up right after the last issue, the Legion Espionage Squad calls a meeting with R.J. Brande and the rest of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brande is in absolute shock as he sees the person who is responsible for his bankruptcy–the President of Earth!

Brande sits down at the request of Chameleon Boy. Wildfire and Shadow Lass declare they will confront the President but Superboy reminds them all that they obtained the tape illegally because Brande’s penthouse is under official United Planets Interdict during the course of the bankruptcy investigation. In fact, he would not be surprised if–

And right on cue, the Science Police raids the room. Or what appears to be the Science Police anyway for Saturn Girl scans their minds and discovers they are imposters and are out to kill the Legion. Lightning Lad calls for ‘situation eighteen, execute option B,’ and the Legionnaires move into formation. Karate Kid calls ‘option B’ as an all-out attack against enemy forces while Shrinking Violet acknowledges ‘situation eighteen’ as a challenge by imposters. She shrinks down and races to the call panel to reach the real Science Police. Sun Boy uses a solar flare to provide her cover and she reaches the button and presses it just before a ricocheting ray-blast hits her.

We leave the scene and move to the Caribbean Island of St. Croix, the late ‘home’ of a non-recovered Brainiac Five, and still an asylum for a thousand other lost souls. A couple of orderlies survey the premises in the maximum security section. Suddenly, a door opens and a villainous figure enters and blasts them both with a ray gun. He was able to escape his room and now he can pursue his vengeance against the Legion of Super-Heroes. He knows what he needs to do and he makes his way to the Psychological Profile Computer, which holds the results of the tests which all he Legionnaires were required to take under United Planets Law. 

We return to Brande’s penthouse with the real Science Police arriving as a result of Shrinking Violet’s call. They alight their craft and see the Legionnaires standing over the imposter Science Police. Now it is time to confront the President. 

Later that afternoon, and in the General Assembly Hall of the Earth Planetary Council, a hasty meeting has been called to consider a charge of criminal misappropriations. Chameleon Boy stands before the council and tells the story on how they were able to back track the authorization of withdrawals that forced Brande into bankruptcy and learned who was behind the whole operation…the President of Earth Kandru. Chameleon Boy asks Kandru if he denies the accusation, which he does not. Everyone is in shock and Brande asks him why would he want to destroy his empire. The President simply states that after the Khund War Earth was broke and they badly needed funds to rebuild. He saw a future of hopeless poverty, with children starving in the ruins and whole populations dying of despair. He was desperate and thought of Brande with his fortune. The President asked himself, what was the fate of one man compared to the fate of billions? He stole his fortune and he tells the Council and everyone present that he would do so again. Everyone is silent and the only sound is the sobbing of a broken man as he is taken away. A council member stands up to make a formal apology to R.J. Brande but Brande stops her. Even though what the President did was illegal, he was absolutely right. Brande tells them he has lived too long on his private Planetoid and he forgot that, he too, is a human being. He tells the Council to keep the money and he walks away. Everyone in the General Assembly Hall stands up and applauds. 

Simultaneously, as the shadows slink across the sunlit shadows of St. Croix, the villainous figure dresses himself in his old Space Survival-Suit that was confiscated when he was rescued. He glares at a monitor screen depicting the four Legionnaires he hates the most: Superboy, Sunboy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl. The psychological computer gave him a list of all their weaknesses and he recorded it on a microchip for use in his suit’s own survival computer. And before he can finish that thought, the door explodes, and the staff of the asylum rush in. The villain blasts the staff and mocks them for thinking they could simply take him down. He built his survival suit to battle the native menaces of his home planet, which happens to be the most dangerous and deadliest world in the galaxy. Now he is strong and free, and soon, his enemies will die. As the orderlies pick themselves up they see what he was looking at on the monitor…the four Legionnaires.

A short time later, at the ruins of the once-proud Legion Headquarters, R.J. Brande makes his apologies to the Legionnaires and wishes he had the funds to help them rebuild once more. Lightning Lad strikes down that apology and tells Brande it is the Legion itself who needs to apologize. Brande gave them their start so long ago and they should be offering him help instead of asking it. Lightning Lad then tells Brande they will work together to help him rebuild his fortune. Each Legionnaire will take a leave of absence so it will not be in conflict with the Legion Charter. 

For perhaps the first time in his long life, Rene Brande is stricken dumb; with an effort, he opens his mouth to speak but the substance of his reply will have to wait, because a thick, black, oozy looking shadow starts to engulf Sun Boy. Sun Boy absolutely freaks out because he is terrified of the dark. Superboy and Wildfire rush in to help him. Sun Boy tries to frantically burn it away and Superboy notices Sun Boy is losing control. Wildfire concentrates an energy blast on the dark shadow and the shadow dissipates, freeing Sun Boy. They quickly deliberate to figure out where the shadow came from, when Saturn Girl cries out that so many voices and people are invading her thoughts. Lightning Lad rushes to help his wife and she passes out in his arms. Chameleon Boy quickly notices a micro-chip telepathic transceiver suction attached to her temple and tears it off. 

He examines it and surmises that Saturn Girl’s one fear was not being able to shut out the minds of the world around her. The Legionnaires then hear someone crying. They turn around and see Lightning Lad who is in hysterics, thinking that Saturn Girl has crumbled to dust in his arms. He cries out. Everyone is confused because Saturn Girl is still there. Chameleon Boy quickly comes to the conclusion that someone has identified their worst fears and is using it against them. But who is he and where is he? And when will this Pscyho-Warrior Strike again?

And which one of them will he drive mad next?!

“The answers to these and other questions about the mysterious Psycho-Warrior will be answered in our shocking next issue, in a story titled –“Psycho War!” On sale Oct. 25th!

Creative Team

What an interesting, albeit weird way to end the classic Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes series by creating a two-part story that did not really have any immense ramifications for the team as a whole. We do not even have an indication or hint that Superboy will leave the team other than the letters pages. Nevertheless, Gerry Conway finally wraps up the B-Plot and we see how Rene Brande handled the revelation that the President of Earth stole his money. And I must say I really enjoyed it. Brande is the richest man in the universe and it was interesting to see his character come around full center and return to Earth. Also, once again Conway is not afraid to use contributions from other writers to further the characters. Paul Levitz had Brande stand up to the main villain back in issue #237. Brande was frustrated that the Legion was only focused on saving him and was not trying to stop the villain from destroying the galaxy. Brande decided to escalate the situation and force the Legion’s decision by putting himself in harm’s way. And here, Brande accepts the situation and reasoning of the President but has enough confidence in himself that he will regain his fortune. But, most importantly, he comes to the realization that with Earth devastated by the Khund attack, he should have played an active role during the war and especially after when the planet needed vital resources. I suppose one could argue this was the last loose end of Earthwar and a surprising one too. I do wonder how many Legion fans were wondering where Brande was or what he should be doing. I do not think there were many, but Conway wondered and showed us why it was important.

The only weak point in this plot is the main antagonist. We do not really know who he is and what his name is, other than a bit of monologue describing how he was rescued, his suit taken away, and he was placed in the asylum. Why does he want to kill these four Legionnaires? I suppose we will find out next issue but it would have been nice if that piece were set up here. We do know Superboy is leaving the team next issue, so I do wonder if it will be tied to Superboy in some way. 

What does save the issue is the interesting method the Psycho-Warrior employs to take down the team. It is interesting that Conway decided to focus on the main fears of each team because it also allowed us to have more of an insight into the characters. Of course Sun Boy would be absolutely terrified of complete darkness and Saturn Girl being bombarded by all the thoughts in the universe. Some of these might be a bit too on the nose, but it made the whole premise interesting nonetheless. Either way, I do hope that the Psycho-Warrior will not turn into a ‘villain of the month,’ much like what happened in the Karate Kid series.

In terms of the art, I think Joe Staton really flexed here. I do not know if it was Dave Hunt’s inks, but I think this was the most ‘mature’ style that Staton employed so far. Perhaps he received feedback from Jack C. Harris who had an eye on the letters pages and did not want to divide the fans much like they were on the Karate Kid book. Either way, Staton and Hunt did a great job, especially the scenes where our antagonist is going crazy and simply walking through the asylum, blowing things up for no reason. Staton’s layouts were well done and it allowed the scene to move and really allow his characters to act. I do think this was Staton and Hunt’s strongest issue so far.

All in all, a very interesting issue that wraps up the B-Plot and sort of, kind of, marks a new beginning of the Legion of Super-Heroes. I do not know if assigning a Legionnaire to help Brande regain his fortune constitutes a reason for launching a new book. But that does make the issue a bit of a weird one and this aspect surprised me most of all. There is no big, bold, cliffhanger that might result in the destruction of the Legion, a character, or even Superboy. It is just simply a first of a two-part story.

If we, as comic book collectors, are anything, it is that we are completionists. So I need to know the end of the story and the end of Superboy being an active member of the Legion in this era. Thus, it is no surprise that we will be covering the first issue of the Legion of Super-Heroes, which will continue the numbering to #259. Let us see, together, how this will end!

And that is not all! There is one more story and the final edition to our ad interim that has both Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes back. Stay tuned to find out what that is. 

Legion Outpost

In this last issue of Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, we have three letters. One of which is from Leigh Eubanks who tells them she wrote a script and wonders how she can break into the business and write the Legion of Super-Heroes. The reply below is in full, showing how hard it still was at that time to get a gig in comics but also how things have changed:

“As we have said many times in the past, The Legion of Super-Heroes receives more mail than any other DC title. A large percentage of that mail is from would-be writers and artists who want to begin their comic careers on the Legion. Unfortunately, most of those unsolicited submissions must be discarded. The Legion of Super-Heroes is not open to freelancers. None of the super-hero books are since they are scripted and drawn only by those who have proven they can plot, script, draw, etc, by past performance on other books. Breaking into comics is difficult and no one these day scan do so by trying to come in at the top run of the ladder.

Unfortunate that the editors cannot take the time to read and critique al the story and art submissions we receive. We appreciate your efforts, but al of our time is taken up creating new comics for you to enjoy. –JCH”

And now it seems that every writer and artist working at the big two is a freelancer! 

Sadly, doing a quick search on the internet it does seem that Leigh Eubanks was not successful in breaking into the business, at least anything that I could find. Though they will forever have a writing credit right here in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #258! 

Finally, I will end, serendipitously, with a letter from fellow Missourian Mark Ryan from St. Louis. He wrote in praising the series but did have a complaint:

“Personally, I really wish that you cut down on Superboy a bit. I, for years, was hoping he would win the Leadership of the Legion. But now I am sick of Super-everything.”

To which Jack C. Harris responds:

“We ARE “cutting down” on Superboy, as you put it, but in a most unique way! On sales September 27th is a NEW book entitled THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY. And, our title changes to THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES– making this book the LEGION’S own! It’s the first time in their long history that the LEGION has had their own title featuring all-new adventures. Don’t you think it’s about time?”

And what a fitting way to end the Legion Outpost for Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes.

The Legion Medallion of Merit

We come to the final Legion Medallion of Merit in the Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes book where we award the Medallion to a Legionnaire who went above and beyond the call of duty and made a difference in the story. 

It should be no surprise that our benefactor and founder, R.J. Brande is deserving of the Medallion. The richest man in the galaxy found himself bankrupt and was hell bent on finding out who was behind it. When he found out it was the President of Earth who stole his money out of desperation to help rebuild Earth after it was devastated by the Khunds, he could have simply demanded his money back and ruin the President. But instead, he agreed with the President and knew he should have been more proactive in playing a role to help his home planet. That not only took guts, it took humility. And for that, he is deserving of the Medallion.

Congratulations R.J. Brande! May you wear this Medallion proudly for your sacrifice and generosity in helping rebuild Earth and helping those in need. We know you will get your fortune back and we hope when you do, you will continue to put it to good use. 

And that is it fellow Legionnaires! This is our last analysis of the main book, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes. What a ride it has been. I will create a very last post, reflecting on the series as a whole, and the journey that we undertook together. We still have more to come though. We will cover the ‘first’ issue of the Legion of Super-Heroes as well as a short story as the final installment of our ad interim series. But until then, as you greet your fellow humans and hope that billionaires around the world would act as honorably as our dear R.J. Brande had, always remember to say, with confidence, and without any doubt whatsoever…

LONG LIVE THE LEGION!