Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, Vol. 7

Legion of Super-Heroes Archives #7

by Jim Shooter, Curt Swan (Illustrator), Pete Costanza (Illustrator)

In the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES ARCHIVES VOL. 7, the mighty teen super-heroes of the 30th century continue to defend the universe from a multitude of menaces and destructive terrors. Containing stunningly reprinted tales from the late 1960s, this astonishing book features the Fatal Five's disastrous return and conquest of Talok VII, a rebellion by the Legion of Super-Pets, the destruction of the Legion's clubhouse, Mantis Morlo's devastating attacks on the Legionnaire's home worlds, and the addition of Rond Valor and Shadow Lass to the group of super-heroes.

Genres: Comics, Comic Book, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Graphic Novels

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

James Charles Shooter was an American writer, editor and publisher in the comics industry. Beginning his career writing for DC Comics at the age of 14, he had a successful but controversial run as editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics, and launched comics publishers Valiant, Defiant, and Broadway.

Reviews

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the seventh volume of classic Legion of Super-Heroes stories, the pace is a bit off from the previous one. There are a couple of weak stories. The first is a two parter about Dr Mantis Morlo, a mad scientist out in space whose experiments are creating a smoky substance that makes its way to earth across millions of miles. That's weird. Then the scientist manipulates crises on three different homeworlds of Legionnaires, and although it's not terrible, the story just seems to have too many coincidences and it ends up being kinda meh. The best part is that we see a lot of Princess Projectra's homeworld of Orando, which is still medieval in social structures. Her father plays roles in future Legion stories, and this is the first time we see an inkling of Karate Kid's affection for the Princess.

The other weak story is about the Super-Pets. Ok, I accept the Super-Pets as part of the charming Silver Age of Mort Weisinger's Superman, but this wasn't the best story about them. Basically, they get a mad-on because they're treated like pets and end up falling under the thrall of space criminals, who use them against their human master. Ha. Yeah. Anyway, I love Krypto, so I got through that story. Streaky gets on my nerves, though. :(

The rest of the book is great. The first part deals with the Legion returning to Earth, only to find out they've been outlawed and forbidden to use their powers. When they save a falling sky train, they're arrested and many of them are sent off to work for a corrupt warden, doing hard labor mining rare space gems. Meanwhile, the Legionnaires left on Earth have to figure out the mystery of what's going on. They eventually do, and find out which older foe is manipulating events. It's also got great Curt Swan art, who keeps the Legionnaires distinctive from each other even when they're forced to wear "civvies" in order to evade the police. This was the second classic Legion story I read as a kid, as it was reprinted in a regular issue of the title back in 1977 or so.

Near the end, there's something weird happening on Talok VIII, a planet whose champion Shadow Lass was foreshadowed to be a member (and eventually die) back in the Adult Legion story. Here, however, she has blue skin, not white. There's the legend that writer Shooter wanted Shadow Lass to be the first black Legionnaire, but this was nixed by the editor because he was afraid of distributors in the South refusing to carry the comic, so she ended up with blue skin instead. Not sure if that is true or not, but this was in 1968, so very possible. Either way, an awesome tale that brings back the Fatal Five, who trap the small squad of Legionnaires in this story in some very interesting traps. Shooter is pretty inventive in how he gets the Legionnaires free. Shadow Lass becomes the latest (and not the last) member to be inducted in the heat of battle, and she became my favorite female Legionnaire much later when I started reading the book.

So, overall a very good collection of stories. Even the weaker stories aren't terrible, just not as exciting to read as the others.

[T.J. Alexian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More magic, in many ways, even better than the previous volume. Except for the silly story about the Super Pets, that is. How did Shooter get roped into writing that? There are times that I think I simply can't enjoy comics the way I used to when I was younger. Then I read the Legion of Super-Heroes, Shooter era, and I am completely taken back. This is tremendously entertaining stuff. And, a great look at the evolution of comics, as it transitions away from the Silver Age. The best story involves the return of the Fatal Five and a look at the new Legion headquarters.

[Murphy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these (as I recall; you know how inaccurate old memories can be) over a single summer break during my middle school years. I loved them, and the Jim Shooter era was my favorite!! I think this volume 7 (I recognize the epic cover) was a particular favorite 😍

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I discussed in the review for The Legion of Superheroes Omnibus Vol. 2 (actually I mentioned it in the review for Vol. 1 as well), I've been a huge fan of the Legion of Super-Heroes since John Byrne and Paul Levitz collaborated on a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths Superman/Action Comics and Legion of Super-Heroes crossover to explain how Superboy was a member of the Legion even though in Byrne's post-Crisis retcon, Superboy never existed. The idea that there was a futuristic galactic super-team appealed to me, and as a new DC reader (I had followed Byrne from Marvel) I was intrigued. Only later would I get more of an idea of the Legion and their precarious existence as a futuristic team trying to maintain the present DC continuity through their very dedicated creative teams, be it Jim Shooter (who I was familiar from his time as Marvel's editor-in-chief), Paul Levitz, Tom and Mary Bierbaum, Tom Peyer (who provides the introduction to this volume), what have you.

Since it is unapparent if there will be a Legion of Super-Heroes Omnibus, volume 3, I've been using my library card to try and track down the now out of print DC Archives editions to continue the Shooter run. Unfortunately where the Legion Omnibus Vol. 2 leaves off is what I would consider not Shooter's strongest work on the Legion, as the strongest stories are likely the two issues included in this volume that close Omnibus Vol. 2. Yes, some "classic" Legion elements are here, as the Fatal Five make a return and the Dark Circle make their first appearance in the last issue in the collection, but that story contains such an egregious deus ex machina that I find it to less than stellar storytelling (perhaps Shooter can be forgiven here--he was only 16 at the time! What's Grant Morrison's excuse for using the same deus ex machina?)

The real target for this collection should be the dyed-in-the-wool Legion fans and completists. I think that perhaps some of Shooter's work is viewed in more glowing terms than it should be based on how later Legion writers expanded on his concepts. I know that the next volume introduces the Legion adversary Mordru into the rogue's gallery, but I'm not sure how his introduction compares to some of the later work (including JSA that presents Mordru as a bad ass.) But everyone's got to start somewhere, right?

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gems include "Outlawed Legionnaires!" 2-parter, "The Unkillables!", "Chemoids Are Coming!" 2-parter, "Revolt of the Super-Pets!", & "Escape of the Fatal 5!" 2-parter.

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Shooter wove several youth themes from the late 60s sort of analogously into his stories. I really liked Swan and Klein’s art in the latter episodes.