Tag: Synapse Syndrome

Welcome back to a very special issue of Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes. Why is it so special? Because we have the return of Mike Grell and this issue would be his last contribution to this series. But do not worry! He will be back for the Treasury Edition, which was released in December of 1977 and that we will be able cover in a few weeks time.

And not only do we have the return of Mike Grell, but we also have a ‘newcomer’ to the series in the form of the legendary George Tuska! For those of you not in the know, George Tuska was a Marvel artist, a personal favorite of Stan Lee who asked him to join shortly after the company launchd its own line of super-heroes. Tuska would contribute to quite a few of the super-hero books during the way, but of course my, and the world’s favorite, is his work on Iron Man. Which is incredible. His early Iron Man stuff is collected in the Iron Man Vol 2 Omnibus and I can heartily recommend it. So it is with a fan-boy glee that we can put his name in the credits for this one. Welcome to Legion HQ George!

We are back with the two-story format, with the backup story helping us follow the events from what went down in issue #234, all in a very suspenseful court-room drama setting. Does that sound confusing? Yes, but we do have an explanation in Legion Outpost as well as some hints of things to come.

Sharpen those eyes, and face-front true believers, because they need to be clear and ready for Mike Grell’s glorious return, as we learn about…

The Legion’s Super-Secret 

We open on Superboy, sitting in a char with some form of helmet clasped around his head. Brainiac Five is at the controls with Cosmic Boy, Light Lass, and Timber Wolf looking on with very concerned faces. And Superboy lets out one big scream as the machine is activated. 

Superboy continues to be in pain as Cosmic Boy admits that he does remember doing this to him as well when he was leader, but is it still necessary? Brainy reminds him that and concedes that it is getting difficult with each year because Superboy continues to fight the brain-washing. He then asks Cosmic Boy to step aside in order to ensure that his magnetic powers do not damage the machine.

Timber Wolf places a solemn hand on Cosmic Boy’s shoulders and reassures him that these treatments are necessary and they do not have any choice. Cosmic Boy knows this but questions their justification as well as the need to lie to Superboy, who thinks this is simply a routine pscyho-medical exam.

Meanwhile: A circuit-breaker registers an overload from Superboy’s struggle and sends the load elsewhere. 

Brainy is struggling with the controls and comments that as Superboy becomes older, he becomes more difficult to program. Also, it is a pity that historical inevitability forces them into these sessions because it would be fascinating to see how his mind would cope with the truth. 

Meanwhile: A second circuit-breaker overloads as other equipment drains its power source, and the hypnochair tries to compensate for an alert from the monitor board, warning the Legionnaires of a class-alpha emergency. 

The team looks at the board and it looks like the Sklarians have returned to try to steal more technology. Superboy awakens and is dazed despite the treatment not having reached its conclusion. He asks Brainy what that was all about, and Brainy responds that it was just a routine examination until they were interrupted by the monitor board. 

Superboy jokes that he would hate to see what an emergency procedure is like and even Tharok, the leader of the Fatal Five, probably thought up this examination. Brainy shushes him and continues to examine him just to make sure there were not any side-effects left over from the disruption. Timber Wolf takes Light Lass into action and Superboy grows impatient and quickly joins them. Brainy tells them he will follow shortly but he just needs to check something. And to his dismay he confirms his suspicions; the brainwashing did not take. He warns Cosmic Boy to be careful because anything could trigger his surpressed memories to come to the surface and they cannot imagine what would happen then. 

With the speed of their flight rings, they quickly arrive at the source of the trouble; an artificial island anchored in the north sea and currently under assault by the Sklarians (who you might remember we first met in Superboy #233!). The Sklarians are using a tractor beam to pirate the life institute’s unique equipment while keeping the Science Police penned in with their aerosleds. Superboy quickly goes into action and grabs a piece of equipment currently beaming up. However the tractor beam is too powerful and it pulls away much to Superboy’s surprise. How could the Sklaraians come up with something so powerful? 

Cosmic Boy answers that they could not, but he can. He uses his magnetic powers to cancel out all their tractor beams and carefully sets the equipment safely on various platforms. Superboy sees that with their tractor beam disabled, the Sklarians are attempting to escape back into space. On the ground, Timber Wolf and Light Lass prove that they are an effective duo and quickly plow through the standing Sklarians. But perhaps too quickly because they missed one who takes the opportunity to grab a powerful heat blaster from the floor and makes a hole in the wall of the institute that allows her to enter. She finds a bunch of scientists trying to hide, and decides to use the ray to knock them unconscious so she can kidnap them. But as she shoots the ray it is blocked by an invisible barrier, courtesy of Brainiac Five’s force field belt, who also recognizes her as the Sklarian Captain. She escapes back through the hole and Brainy calls out to his Legionnaires to watch out for her. 

Light Lass is the first to encounter her, but the Sklarian Captain strikes her, forcing Timber Wolf to come to Light Lass’ aid. This gives the Captain time to escape in the Sklarian strship that had just returned. As the ship ascends into the atmosphere Superboy does a quick scan and sees the Science Police’s Earthwatch already waiting for the ship and there is no need for him to chase it. He returns to the scene and asks the scientists if everything is okay. The scientist starts to reply but is quickly cut off by Brainy before he can divulge any specifics. This makes Superboy suspicious and he wonders if Brainy is trying to keep anything from him. Also perhaps this is related to the strange examination that he had to do earlier? Ignoring it for the moment, Superboy continues to help the scientist with the equipment and asks him what they are doing here anyway. The scientist is surprised that Superboy has not heard of the Center of All Biological Research. Superboy confirms that he has not, and sees Brainy urgently whisper something to the scientist that is like a shout to his super-hearing. Something fishy is going on. 

Later, a Legion Cruiser joins the Science Police patrolling Earth’s outer atmosphere on the alert for new Sklarian Raiders. Sun Boy is at the controls and asks Brainy if he is certain the Sklarians are after the Life Institute’s Serum stock? Brainy answers in the affirmative even though they thought the location of the serum was a secret because now it does appear not to be the case. Cosmic Boy chimes in that if it is not a secret, perhaps they can stop using the hypnochair on Superboy? Unfortunately Brainy feels that it is impossible to stop. If Superboy were ever to take back the knowledge of the thirtieth century to his time, the temptation would be too high and he might just destroy the twentieth century in the process. They have no choice but to continue to use the hynochair to brainwash him.

But unknown to Brainy Superboy is listening to his comments thousands of miles away and he is interrupted by a hard throw by Timber Wolf that he just manages to catch. Shadow Lass is able to take advantage of his distraction and steals the ball, before Superboy gets it back to score in some futuristic game they are playing. However he suddenly jets to the sky, which is immediately followed by a monitor board alert. Timber Wolf signals Light Lass and Shadow Lass to scramble for a cruiser because that signal means the alert is in Earth-proximity space. 

We then move to outer-space and see Technos, which is one of the most important spearheads of man-kind’s quest for new knowledge, a laboratory that sits on an asteroid. And at this moment, it is also the latest part of the Sklarians quest to obtain the knowledge Earth already possesses. Here the Legion Cruiser is dueling with the Sklarian mother ship while the Science Police force the smaller Sklarian ships to the ground. Yet the battle is an uneven one because the Legionnaires must attack with restraint while the Sklarians have no such scruples. The Sklarian ship fires a deadly blast at the cruiser that is intercepted by Superboy’s body. He grabs the Sklarian ship, spins at super-speed and hurls it away and toward the asteroid below. Yet even as a second Legion Cruiser appears in the star-dappled voice, nine small Sklarian aero-sleds come flying out of the wrecked hull, for the Sklarians dare not surrender with their prize so near at hand.

Brainy leads the charge with Timber Wolf, Sun Boy, and Cosmic Boy. He cautions them to not damage any of the equipment when capturing the Sklaraians and warns Superboy to stay out of the Life Sciences section entirely. Superboy agrees, for now. The vast halls of Technos’ laboratories have been silent witness to many momentous events in the decade since the asteroid became Earth’s first permanent orbiting lab, but certainly none as awesome as that which now fills its halls; a handful of super-powered youths defending the massive machinery against a force of Sklarians with all their varied powers and with determination. 

And in the Life Sciences section, Sun Boy engages a pair of Sklarians and Superboy swoops in to offer assistance. But Sun Boy blasts him, telling him that Brainy told him to stay back. Superboy is shocked because Sun Boy never acted like that before. And although Sun Boy feels bad, he knows that it is of vital importance for him to stop the Sklarians himself. Meanwhile, Superboy grabs quite a few aero-sleds and wraps them around each Sklarian, making a makeshift cage. As he observes the battle he starts to put the pieces together a bit more and he does not like what he is seeing. 

Elsewhere, Timber Wolf leaps toward another Sklarian force and quickly dismantles the aero-slid in mid-air. The Sklarian pleads and asks him if his homeworld was ever like Sklaria, a happy world at the dawn of real civilization just about to make the first jump into space. Could they not have used the technology of Earth? Light Lass and Superboy join him and she informs him that they wrapped up the rest of the Sklarians. With Brainy, Sun Boy, and Cosmic Boy joining them, the Sklarian makes one final plea. The technology that the United Planets gave their homeworld was just enough to put their world and civilization on the brink of chaos. They need the rest of their knowledge and technology to put it back together. Brainy disagrees and remarks that many worlds do not have all the United Planets’ Science, but they cannot all be built to ultra-modern technical levels at once. The shock would be too great. He suggests that Sklaria give the United Planets time and to stop stealing what cannot be given.

The Science Police have arrived and take the Sklarians away. Cosmic Boy watches them be handcuffed and remarks that he surely would not call them pirates anymore. He then remembers when Braal, his homeworld, joined the United Planets. It was still in the pre-atomic age and suddenly they received starships. It drove their people crazy, especially knowing the United Planets was still holding out. Brainy puts a stop to the debate and tells him to save it until they get back to Legion HQ. He also wants to finish Superboy’s ‘exam.’ But Superboy tells him to stuff it where the sun does not shine because he figured it out. The secret must be related to something that both Earth and Krypton had not discovered, and that is obviously the secret of creating life. Cosmic Boy admits that he is right and Brainy gives in. The United Planets Scientists learned to create artificial life shortly after the Legion was formed and they need to guard that secret. Otherwise the universe would be thrown out of balance by countless artificial beings who need to be fed and take up resources. Just as Sklaria is not ready for the secret, neither is Earth in Superboy’s time. The hypno-block is a safeguard in place to stop him from accidentally revealing the secret in the twentieth century. Superboy tells him not to worry, he had to head back now but when he returns he will let him use his silly mind machine on him next time.

After he leaves Doctor B’Relden appears and commends the Legionnaires on their successful deception. For the serum that he created does not create life but merely extends it. And its application could mean the secret to immortality. Perhaps Superboy does wonder why his fellow Legionnaires are still called “Boy” or “Kid,” even though they are well into their teenage years by twentieth century standards. Brainy remarks that it is a pity that they have to withhold this discovery from some of the worlds but the Doctor answers that it is slowly being given to more planets each year. And it is with his hope that the whole universe will be ready for true immortality, when they find it. 

Trial of the Legion Five

Live from Metropolis Square, morning of a chill autumn day in 3077 and the earth Council Supreme Court has been called into special session by the request of councilman Marko Chang. Chang has long been an opponent of the Legion, and has accused five Legionnaires of certain unspecified high crimes. As the Legionnaires arrive, they are met with a hostile crowd who show their displeasure in their special status of enjoying a form of extra-legal standing. Inside the courtroom Marko Chang stands before the group of Legionnaires, and accuses Timber Wolf, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Shadow lass, and the absent Brainiac Five with willfully causing the death of his son and accuses them all of murder in the first-degree. 

In the stands, Superboy, Chameleon Boy, and Saturn Girl are concerned for their friends but they have no choice but to go along with the proceedings, otherwise that might help Marko Chang’s cause and put more fuel to the fire. If they did what Marko claims, then they could very well be guilty as charged.

The court honors Marko Chang’s accusation and asks him to testify under the truth tube. He agrees and as the truth tube surrounds him, that will verify whether or not he is telling the truth, he begins his story over his son’s lifeless body, encased in a see-through coffin.

“My son lies before you, his lifeless body frozen in a stasis cylinder as required by custom. He died from an obscure, previously incurable disease called the Synapse Syndrome, the slow destruction of all electrical activity in the victim’s nervous system. My son was brave, yet I was not, and scoured the universe for a cure until I found one.”

We then flash back to him explaining the cure to his son. He found the answer in the Psycho-Beast that resides on Titan. There is only one left and as it is about to die it produces an uncanny radiation, which revitalizes destroyed energy-paths, such like those in his son Redvik’s neural cells. Redvik is uneasy that something must die in order for him to live, but Marko ignores him and leaves for Titan. When he lands he finds the Legion also on the planet, also after the same beast. He begged the Legion for assistance but the so-called ‘human’ with the computer mind, Brainiac Five (his words), refused. He begged them further but they would not listen and attacked him. He resisted with all his skill, but Timber Wolf moved quickly and he could not defend himself and he was knocked unconscious. When he regained consciousness, Brainiac Five was gone and the Psycho-Beast had vanished with him. He summoned the Science Police to arrest the murderers and to learn Brainiac Five’s whereabouts but by the time he returned to Earth, his son had died. 

The truth tube confirms that Chang spoke the truth as he understands it. The court then calls the first defendant to justify, and names Saturn Girl who is the ranking Legionnaire. Saturn Girl switches places with Chang in the truth tube and tells her story.

“To cover the background, your honor, we have to go back several days. Our leader, Wildfire, had just sacrificed himself to save my life and the lives of three other Legionnaires (from last issue, finally!). He was dying, having absorbed too much energy for even his system to control. We brought him to the Legion clubhouse, where Brainiac-5 performed an exhaustive series of tests, attempting to revive Wildfire to no avail. Wildfire was dying, his whole energy structure disintegrating with every passing hour. It was a process remarkably like the Synapse Syndrome but in Wildfire’s case, more than his nervous system was collapsing, his whole from was literally breaking apart.

“Watching it was like torture. We wanted to help but we were helpless. For days we remained in the clubhouse like sentinels, and then I remembered an ancient legend of my people. I told Brainiac-5 about the Psycho-Beast and he checked it with the Legion’s computers. It was a slim hope but we were ready to grasp at anything.”

The truth tube confirms that Saturn Girl told the truth as she believed it and the court needs more information. Shadow Lass volunteers to go next and switches places with Saturn Girl. As Shadow Lass begins her testimony, a distraught Lightning Lad has some inner turmoil and begins to doubt their actions. Have they become murderers?

Meanwhile, a restless crowed starts to grow into an angry mob outside of the courthouse and is watched by two unseen figures from a rooftop nearby. The two figures make it to a side entrance that is hopefully unguarded. They make it to the door and kick it in and are met with members of the Science Police. It looks like their hope was misplaced.

While, in the courtroom Superboy waits for Shadow Lass to begins her testimony and he also wonders where Brainy is and wishes he was there. If only he had not disappeared. But his thoughts are interrupted as Shadow Lass begins.

“As the team scientist, Brainiac-5 organized the mission and he chose the mission-members with care. He picked Saturn Girl because Titan is her home, Timber Wolf because of the Psycho-Beast’s treacherous habitat, Lightning Lad, because of his energy-related powers, and me, because of my night-sight. Titan was entering its dark-phase, as the planet Saturn passed between Titan and the Sun. I was to act as scout, finding the path while Saturn Girl probed for the Psycho-Beast telepathically. 

“The pace was hypnotic, and I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever find the beast, when I turned a rocky corner and found myself facing a lumbering horror. Before any of us could move, the beast struck, sending a wave of psychic force tearing through me. I passed out and I didn’t regain consciousness until that awful Marko Chang arrived some time later.”

The court finds Shadow Lass’ testimony inadmissible going forward because they require direct testimony. Lightning Lad then stands up and volunteers to give that direct testimony and switches places with Shadow Lass. Chang is becoming annoyed and cannot understand why the tribunal are having so much trouble recognizing the Legion’s guilt. His son is dead because the Legionnaires set themselves up as Gods.

Meanwhile, in a corridor not far from the courtroom, a desperate struggle begins. A Science Police Officer repeatedly hits one of the figures with his energy-baton but it does absolutely no damage and seems to hit an invisible wall. The other knocks him out and with the obstacles removed, they continue moving toward their goal. 

We return to Lightning Lad who gives his testimony, picking up where Shadow Lass left off.

“There wasn’t much we could do but fight back. The Psycho-Beast gave us no choice. Timber Wolf leaped in to protect Shadow Lass and the creature swiped at him viciously. I sent a Lightning Bolt ripping his way, but that just got him mad. Next thing I knew, I was caught in a miniature avalanche and only Brainiac-5’s force field kept me and the others from being flattened. Everyone was safe except Timber Wolf. 

“I’ve encountered bravery in my life but I’ve never seen anything like what Brin (Timber Wolf) did then. He lunged, caught the beast by its horns, and rode him like a bull. The Psycho-beast went wild. Holding the Beast’s horns, Brin completed a circuit so the beast couldn’t use his energy-bolts without harming himself. Instead, he tried to crush. Brin against the cliff and just as we were leaping for the beast, trying to save Brin, Brin struck with all his might and the best fell, stunned. We were standing there, breathing hard, when Marko Chang arrived. Chang told the truth about Brainiac-5 refusing him, but as for the rest about us attacking, well your honor, that’s an out and out lie!”

The truth tube confirms his story just as it did with Marko Chang. However, the court asserts that nothing he said can assuage him of his guilt and he must call the last witness for the defense, Timber Wolf. But before Timber Wolf can take Lightning Lad’s place, Wildfire bursts in the courtroom and rushes to Redvik’s body. Marko Chang screams for someone to stop him but his shout is drowned out in a roar of energy, as countless ergs of power pour into the dead youth’s frozen body, power that seems to stir the static form, causing the chest to suddenly heave with an indrawn breath, the rising of Redvik. Chang cannot believe it but his son is indeed alive. 

The courtroom is in shock but the judge calls it to order. He asks Brainiac Five to explain otherwise he will be found in contempt. Brainy states that he knew Marko Chang’s irrational hatred of the Legion, and he thought it best to perform this dramatic act so there would be no doubt in the Legion’s intentions. Brainy admits that he refused Chang’s demand but not to kill his son but to save him. He took the Psycho-Beast to a secret lab and used the Beast’s death-energy to revive Wildfire. Knowing that wildfire is pure energy, he knew he would retain some of the Beast’s powers that could be used to revise Redvik. Brainy knew both men could be saved, but Wildfire had to be saved first. 

The judge is satisfied with the answer and he declares the charges void and the case dismissed. And so it ends. A trial is over, though in many ways the questions raised remain unresolved, truth is like that in life. Let there is one man present who will never forget this day. And for the rest of his life, Marko Chang will wonder how much of his truth is a lie. 

Creative Team

After four full-length narratives that took advantage of the new Giant-Size format, we have our first one with two stories in one issue. It does get a bit confusing because the backup story from Gerry Conway is actually a continuation from the cliffhanger of #234’s The Composite Legionnaire. That is not necessarily a bad thing but the placement of the stories does make it a bit wacky. However, this was definitely because Mike Grell returned to the issue and of course they wanted this return to be front and center. But still.

Paul Levitz continues doing an excellent job with the Legion’s Super-Secret. He is really weaving some nice tales and incorporating B and sometimes C-plots in the story. This helps bring a lot of stakes and strengthens the world-building. This is very apparent here with the return of the Sklarians that we saw briefly in #233, in particular their need for new technology. It is cleverly applied and we also get an understanding of the role of the United Planets acting as a sort of regulatory body when disseminating advanced technology. This of course does immediately bring to mind ethical questions but it is interesting how Levitz corelates Brainy’s restriction of technology to the Sklarians with the need to ensure that Superboy forgets or does not see too much of what the thirtieth century can do. If anything Levitz continues to use science fiction as a tool for conflict within the Legion and it does make us think. The story is well told and everything is pretty much wrapped up by the end, albeit a bit too easily when Superboy just simply returns to Smallville.

What does make this issue a bit of a landmark, is that both stories really focus heavily on Brainiac Five and is pretty much the first time that we really get an insight into Brainy’s personality that will be leaned upon during Levitz’s run. The decisions we see Brainy make are always put into question because we wonder if he does it because he cares about his teammates, or is it because he has a scientific hypothesis that needs answering? At least in the first story it does feel like that latter. 

But what about Mike Grell? It was an absolute joy to see him back on the book, and what fitting way than to give him a very centric Superboy story. When Grell first exploded on the scene as the sole artist, you quickly saw how much care and detail he brought to Superboy as a character. He depicted him very much as a teenager, was able to employ a bit of playfulness to him, such as when he would sit in Lana’s bedroom window talking to her. Also Grell was a master at depicting his movement. Whether it be flying, landing, or taking off, it was impressive, especially since it was before Superman the Movie was released. I really liked his art, but unfortunately it was a bit spoiled from some of Vince Coletta’s inking choices, which were heavy-handed at times and also you could see he was a bit lost. Also, I have to be extremely critical of the book’s colors by Jerry Serpe. There are numerous color bleeds, especially with Superboy’s ‘blue’ hair to his skin, and for some reason they decided on a darker green for Brainiac Five’s skin color, which just looks off and in consequence was just too distracting.  

As for the second story, Gerry Conway continues to channel Cary Bates, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Trial of the Legion Five is interesting in that it does show the repercussions of the Legion’s special status and reveals that not everyone loves the Legion of Super-Heroes, which is probably the major difference between what has occurred before. It is nice that Conway uses Wildfire as a major plot resolution device and also he employed the nice wording of ‘erg’ that was a callback to his origin. 

George Tuska did an admirable job, which must have been tough since this was basically a courtroom drama. The scenes where he excels of course are when each members are telling their side of the story and we see them battle the Psycho-Beast. Tuska did what was needed and it was nice having him here for a spell. 

My only complaint with the two stories is the interchanging between Brainiac Five’s spellings. Levitz uses Brainiac Five and Gerry Conway Brainiac-5. These little details make it a bit distracting but perhaps you might feel that is a bit of an over-reaction. Either way I prefer Brainiac Five if you were wondering, though if you read the earlier posts I think I did use Brainiac-5. Oh well, nerd rant over. 

All in all it is a strong issue especially with Mike Grell’s return. We only have one more outing from him left in this series and that is the big Treasury Edition, which we will look at in about three weeks or so. This will be his last hurrah on this particular series and I am very much looking forward to covering and reading it in continuity. 

Legion Outpost

We have some interesting tidbits in this issue’s Legion Outpost. First we finally get the results for the contest to be next Legion leader! The editorial staff asked readers to vote on who they would like to become the next leader and Lightning Lad one with 14% of the vote. The runners up, with 10% each, were Element Lad and Mon-El, which is interesting since we have not seen a lot of those two recently. 

Also they officially welcome Al Milgrom as editor to the issue who replaced Denny O’Neil (we spotted this already) and they say that Denny went on to other writing assignments. And then we have some insight into future plans:

“Al’s current plans call for Jim Sherman, Mike Nasser and Joe Staton to be the three main men for the LSH, and writer Paul Levitz is using his summer vacation to get back on schedule so that after next issue he can have a lengthy uninterrupted run.” Which is funny because this time the Outpost is written by Paul Levitz himself.

So there you go. With the backstory being a continuation of last issue and with the JLA crossover being more or less lead by Martin Pasko, and perhaps even Karate Kid not being written by Paul Levitz at all, it is because he was on vacation. 

Finally, we arrive at the “bottom of the page department” where Levitz asked what would the readers prefer? The 34-page epics or a two-story per issue format? He also admits that the formula will be a 34-page epic followed by a two-parter and they will continue to alternate, which is interesting. As you know, I prefer the 34-page epics but I will admit that with the increased page count being devoted to two stories, it is enough to do both justice. 

The Legion Medallion of Merit

We have two stories that we can use in order to choose the Legionnaire who went above and beyond the call of duty and is deserving of the Legion Medallion of Merit. With a courtroom drama on one hand, and Brainiac Five trying to wipe out Superboy’s mind in the other, the choice is a bit difficult. But I am going to have to hand it to Superboy. Despite his initial suspicions of Brainy and what he was doing, he still put his feelings aside and helped the Legion out, which must have been very difficult. Also, he did understand why they felt they needed to brainwash him, or rather why they believed it was right to do so. Superboy could have used his powers and destroyed the place but instead he worked through it and used the super-power of communication. And for that he is deserving of the Medallion.

Wear it proudly Superboy. I do hope you are not subjected to any future mind wipes but we also know that we should not underestimate the consequences of playing with time.

And that is it for this week’s installment for the Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes blog. Until we meet again be sure to slip in normal conversation the truest words ever spoken by any form of intelligent life…

LONG LIVE THE LEGION!