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Legion of Super-Heroes Archives #2
Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, Vol. 2
Collects tales about the Legion of Super-Heroes and its most legendary member, Superboy.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 1998
About the author
Jerry Siegel
625 books87 followersJerome "Jerry" Siegel, who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S. Fine, was the American co-creator of Superman (along with Joe Shuster), the first of the great comic book superheroes and one of the most recognizable icons of the 20th century.
He and Shuster were inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.
He and Shuster were inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 13, 2016
In the second volume of the Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, writer Ed Hamilton introduces, over just twelve issues, so many concepts that became the bedrock of the Legion for years to come. The density of ideas is amazing, compared with modern comics. One issue alone might give the reader ten separate, new concepts. Hamilton's imagination was really something, but not surprising considering his early days as a writer of pulp sci-fi stories.
One of the most enduring ideas was the introduction of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, a group of rejected applicants to the Legion who formed their own Legion, with the purpose of taking the Legion's place on earth when the LSH was off world. Operating in secret at first, eventually they came to the attention of the main Legion, proving that the Subs were not mere rejects, but strong heroes in their own right. The Subs continued to be constant presence in the Legion books for many years afterward, with a few of them eventually becoming members of the main Legion.
Hamilton also began planting the seeds of future Legion romances: Lightning Lad/Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl/Ultra Boy, Cosmic Boy/Night Girl, and Star Boy/Dream Girl. Fortunately, mostly these are not super sappy, but fairly natural developments. This volume also saw the introduction of Lightning Lass, sister of Lightning Lad, who is dead at the beginning of the book but is brought back to life later on; the loss of Lightning Lass's powers and her gaining of the power of making things super-light; the introduction of Dream Girl and her sultriness and the jealousy of the other female Legionnaires; new Legionnaire Element Lad; the first mention of the Time Trapper (who's not seen). So many ideas that were cornerstones for the Legion going forward.
Hamilton tended to use only a few Legionnaires at a time, a core group of Saturn Girl, Bouncing Boy, Mon-El, Cosmic Boy, and Sun Boy. Few of the female members other than Saturn Girl have much to do here, and even when they do appear, they don't participate much in the adventure. Matter-Eater Lad and Star Boy only show up in the last story, and Colossal Boy is also underused. It's like he didn't know how to write stories that used more than just five or six Legionnaires, and this is unfortunate, because there was such a wide depth of possibilities here.
Artist John Forte draws most of these stories, and his static style has a lot of fans, but not me. I have to say, though, because of his long association with the Legion, he helped give the Legion a certain style that later artists like Curt Swan adopted and incorporated into their own vision of the 30th century. Forte had his "era" just like Swan, Dave Cockrum, Mike Grell, Kieth Giffen, Steve Lightle, and Greg LaRoque would have later on. So I give the man great respect for that.
I like this time of the Legion, and I can imagine that someone reading this series when they first came out in the early 1960s would have been excited just because anything seemed to happen, and each story brought something new. Although I don't think current comics would be so well served by most of the early stylistic hindrances of comics during the Silver Age, the current crop of comics writers could take some great lessons from these writers, who certainly knew how to pack a lot of story into just 12 pages.
There are 13 volumes of the Legion archives, so I'll be looking forward to continuing this journey through the Silver Age Legion.
One of the most enduring ideas was the introduction of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, a group of rejected applicants to the Legion who formed their own Legion, with the purpose of taking the Legion's place on earth when the LSH was off world. Operating in secret at first, eventually they came to the attention of the main Legion, proving that the Subs were not mere rejects, but strong heroes in their own right. The Subs continued to be constant presence in the Legion books for many years afterward, with a few of them eventually becoming members of the main Legion.
Hamilton also began planting the seeds of future Legion romances: Lightning Lad/Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl/Ultra Boy, Cosmic Boy/Night Girl, and Star Boy/Dream Girl. Fortunately, mostly these are not super sappy, but fairly natural developments. This volume also saw the introduction of Lightning Lass, sister of Lightning Lad, who is dead at the beginning of the book but is brought back to life later on; the loss of Lightning Lass's powers and her gaining of the power of making things super-light; the introduction of Dream Girl and her sultriness and the jealousy of the other female Legionnaires; new Legionnaire Element Lad; the first mention of the Time Trapper (who's not seen). So many ideas that were cornerstones for the Legion going forward.
Hamilton tended to use only a few Legionnaires at a time, a core group of Saturn Girl, Bouncing Boy, Mon-El, Cosmic Boy, and Sun Boy. Few of the female members other than Saturn Girl have much to do here, and even when they do appear, they don't participate much in the adventure. Matter-Eater Lad and Star Boy only show up in the last story, and Colossal Boy is also underused. It's like he didn't know how to write stories that used more than just five or six Legionnaires, and this is unfortunate, because there was such a wide depth of possibilities here.
Artist John Forte draws most of these stories, and his static style has a lot of fans, but not me. I have to say, though, because of his long association with the Legion, he helped give the Legion a certain style that later artists like Curt Swan adopted and incorporated into their own vision of the 30th century. Forte had his "era" just like Swan, Dave Cockrum, Mike Grell, Kieth Giffen, Steve Lightle, and Greg LaRoque would have later on. So I give the man great respect for that.
I like this time of the Legion, and I can imagine that someone reading this series when they first came out in the early 1960s would have been excited just because anything seemed to happen, and each story brought something new. Although I don't think current comics would be so well served by most of the early stylistic hindrances of comics during the Silver Age, the current crop of comics writers could take some great lessons from these writers, who certainly knew how to pack a lot of story into just 12 pages.
There are 13 volumes of the Legion archives, so I'll be looking forward to continuing this journey through the Silver Age Legion.
June 17, 2020
I was surprised to see an early introduction to the Legion of Substitute Heroes in this volume and then their regular appearances. Apparently, just one or two teams wasn't enough, as we also get a Legion of Super Monsters as a villain for one story.
This is also the turn from Superboy and Supergirl stories featuring the Legion to stand-alone two part Legion tales, often with a strong dose of the goofy and incomprehensible plot explanation. Not once, but twice do we get deaths explained away because we "saw" lifeless stand-ins die instead. But we also get the first appearance of Lightning Lass and the resurrection of Lightning Lad (goodbye Proty I!), and the cast gets stronger and stronger in terms of regular showings by everyone.
This is also the turn from Superboy and Supergirl stories featuring the Legion to stand-alone two part Legion tales, often with a strong dose of the goofy and incomprehensible plot explanation. Not once, but twice do we get deaths explained away because we "saw" lifeless stand-ins die instead. But we also get the first appearance of Lightning Lass and the resurrection of Lightning Lad (goodbye Proty I!), and the cast gets stronger and stronger in terms of regular showings by everyone.
March 28, 2021
It's hard to rate this in modern day, I personally have read a large amount of Silver Age comics, and this is a volume of very typical Silver Age SF tales. Much of Mystery in Space, Adam Strange and so on reads like this. Even a lot of Superman does.
I've also digested a lot of Captain Future and Edmond Hamilton prose SF so I guess I'm very much the target demographics for classic LOSH and I get a kick out of revisiting this style of story telling. This is also my favourite incarnation of the Legion. I don't much like the aged-up versions, especially the costume changes to some characters like Saturn Girl (though the Star Boy one would be much improved in the future).
That said, I don't know that current day children would enjoy this all that much.
I've also digested a lot of Captain Future and Edmond Hamilton prose SF so I guess I'm very much the target demographics for classic LOSH and I get a kick out of revisiting this style of story telling. This is also my favourite incarnation of the Legion. I don't much like the aged-up versions, especially the costume changes to some characters like Saturn Girl (though the Star Boy one would be much improved in the future).
That said, I don't know that current day children would enjoy this all that much.
December 31, 2020
The future continues to coalesce. Nearly all of the stories in this volume (covering 1963 and into 1964) were written by Edmond Hamilton, and in reading them it looks like Hamilton decided it was time to provide some roots for this newer feature. The Legion of Super-Heroes had started as a throwaway idea, but fan response made it into a going concern.
Many popular characters (Element Lad, Polar Boy, Dream Girl), concepts (the Science Police, the time bubble, the setting of the 30th Century) and interpersonal connections (including four romantic relationships) that would serve the series well in the decades that followed were set up here by Hamilton, who also began to liberally use references to prior stories and hints at those to come (the prior references might not have been accurate, but this was the Silver Age).
And Stone Boy gets some respect! In any super-hero personality/type quiz, he'd be my answer.
Many popular characters (Element Lad, Polar Boy, Dream Girl), concepts (the Science Police, the time bubble, the setting of the 30th Century) and interpersonal connections (including four romantic relationships) that would serve the series well in the decades that followed were set up here by Hamilton, who also began to liberally use references to prior stories and hints at those to come (the prior references might not have been accurate, but this was the Silver Age).
And Stone Boy gets some respect! In any super-hero personality/type quiz, he'd be my answer.
May 30, 2019
Goofy foolishness. Unlimited fun. Makes you remember why you liked comics in the first place. Definitely for kids, or 40-year-old kids. (Not given a higher rating because it's so ridiculous.)
January 24, 2016
Classic stories from the early days of the long-running space opera. A couple of dozen ideas per story with beautiful art by Curt Swan and the wonderful John Forte.
February 26, 2016
I am a huge LOSH fan. These collected volumes are prefect to be able to go back and read the older adventures of this Silver Age superhero team. Very recommended
November 15, 2017
A few gems here: "Secret Power of the Mystery Super-Hero!", "Return of Lightning Lad!", "Legion of Super-Monsters!", "Doom of the Super-Heroes!", & "Super Sacrifice of the Legionnaires!".
February 13, 2018
1950's optimism 1000 years in the future.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews