The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol 2 #278
Continuing on with the re-reads of the classic Legion of Super-Heroes stories. This time out: Grimbor the Chainsman's revenge plot continues, and the second part of the Reflecto storyline ramps up the stakes. Enjoy! :)
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol 2 #278
August, 1981
"Tragedy At The Top of the World!"
Plotter: Gerry Conway
Scripter: Roy Thomas
Penciller: Jimmy Janes
Inker: Bruce D. Patterson
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colourist: Gene D'Angelo
Cover: George Perez (signed)
Editor: Mike W. Barr
Mission Monitor Board:
Shadow Lass, Mon-El, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf, Star Boy, Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet, Wildfire, Element Lad, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Cosmic Boy, Phantom Girl, Blok
Guest Stars:
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy; Reflecto; Earth President Marte Allon
Supporting Cast:
Charma (holographic image)
Opposition:
Grimbor the Chainsman
Synopsis:
The story continues from the previous issue. Up above Earth's atmosphere, Legionnaires Lightning Lad, Light Lass, Saturn Girl, Mon-El, Shadow Lass and Timber Wolf investigate the energy chains that are slowly strangling the planet. Mon-El insists on the plan that he be the one to strike the energy chains first, believing he's got the best chance of surviving impact with them, but Shadow Lass insists that she's coming with him to be at his side. With the Legion's battle cry of "Long Live the Legion!", Mon-El strikes the chain and there is a massive energy feedback explosion that knocks both Mon-El and Shadow Lass unconscious. Saturn Girl and Timber Wolf save the two heroes from falling. Light Lass shouts at Lightning Lad, asking how he could let Shadow Lass endanger herself that way, and questions his leadership, demanding that he do better. He tells her that the decision was Shadow Lass's to make, which she did, and then tells her that he knows she's still upset about Ultra Boy's death, but that she needs to focus on the mission for now. The Ranzz twins then try to use their powers against the energy chains but to no avail, and suffer a recoil blast that renders them useless for a few moments. Ayla apologizes to Garth for what she said, but he dismisses it, saying that she's said nothing that he hasn't been thinking about himself lately. The other four Legionnaires join them, Mon-El and Shadow Lass having recovered. Mon-El offers to strike the chains again, but Lightning Lad orders him not to do so. Seeing that Saturn Girl has been using her mental powers, Lightning Lad asks her for her report. She tells him that while she couldn't find any direct mental link between anyone on Earth and the energy chains, she detected some super-powerful thought emanations directed towards the chains from the North Pole. Saturn Girl thinks that is where Grimbor's hideout may be, and so Lightning Lad has the six Legionnaires head there.
At the Earth Council tower, in the private offices of President Marte Allon, Legionnaires Wildfire, Star Boy, Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet and Element Lad are serving to liase with the President of Earth, who tells them that she has not heard from Grimbor since he first appeared and revealed his insane demands for not crushing the planet with the energy chains. Shrinking Violet gets in touch with Karate Kid and Princess Projectra back at Legion HQ, and he tells her that Lightning Lad's group had no luck attempting to damage the chains, though fortunately no one was killed. A hologram of Grimbor the Chainsman appears before the President, and after insulting Wildfire by calling him a "deflatable sack of radiation with delusions of humanity!", who loses his temper and merely blasts one wall of the chamber, tells them why he's appeared. Colossal Boy angrily tells Grimbor that the Legion was not responsible for his dead girlfriend's death, but Grimbor dismisses that argument, and President Allon reinforces the notion that Grimbor is there to deal with her, not the Legion. Grimbor tells President Allon that he has decided to reduce his demand, giving Earth only one hour instead of twenty-four! He insists that he is made dictator of Earth and that the Legionnaires are handed over to him, or his energy chains will destroy all life on Earth. Grimbor's holographic image fades away.
In Grimbor's castle headquarters at the North Pole, Grimbor pines somewhat for Charma, his dead girlfriend. However, the anger that he feels re-asserts itself, and Grimbor lashes out with his hand-held chains. However, he's distracted from his anger and stifles his feelings when his monitors indicate the arrival of the six Legionnaires who were in space. Grimbor sets about preparing to kill them, allowing them to be the first to feel his wrath.
Elsewhere, in one of the great metropolises of the Middle East, Cosmic Boy has led Phantom Girl, Blok, Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel in an attempt to track down what Grimbor stole from the freight company, hoping this information will help them to stop him. They are conferring with a supervisor of the freight company who is being reluctant to help them. Before Phantom Girl can phase into one of the warehouses to see what's inside, the supervisor attempts to stop her, but he is halted in his tracks by Reflecto. Cosmic Boy says that while they're grateful for his saving Tinya earlier, Reflecto shouldn't interfere in Legion business here. Duo Damsel and Bouncing Boy have a whispered conversation, in which they both feel that Reflecto is somehow... familiar to them. Cosmic Boy loses his temper with Reflecto, but is hurled away by the mystery redhead effortlessly. Cosmic Boy attempts to use a crane to grab Reflecto, but the mystery man use super-strength and smashes the crane to pieces. Blok grabs Reflecto from behind, but the latter uses his flight to lift Blok (which normally takes three flight rings!) and invulnerability, super-speed and super-strength to get Blok to release him and toss him away like a rag doll. Bouncing Boy uses his powers to attack him, but Reflecto uses his heat-vision to ignite some super-hot air, and propel the former Legionnaire away. He strikes the two Duo Damsels, rendering them stunned on the ground. Confronting Phantom Girl, he tells her he's not there to to conquer her or harm her, but to worship her, and kisses her hand in a gallant manner. Frustrated by the Legionnaires' attitude towards him, he flies off once more.
Phantom Girl and Cosmic Boy engage in some heated words about Reflecto, but reminding him of the urgent mission at hand, Phantom Girl phases through the walls of the plasteel shed, and manages to open the doors so the other Legionnaires can enter. Inside, they find a massive power crystal (Quintile crystal), one that a fraction of that size could power an entire continent. They can see the broken housing for a second crystal like that one, and realize that Grimbor must have stolen it. The space chains are virtually invulnerable to attack because they're being energized by one or more of the giant power crystals. Cosmic Boy reports their find to Karate Kid and Princess Projectra, who tell them that they've lost touch with Lightning Lad's group that rushed off to the North Pole. Cosmic Boy and his group decide to follow suit.
As the Legionnaires depart the Middle East, they are being watched from concealment by Reflecto, who flies off after them.
Meanwhile, some time earlier, Lightning Lad and his team of Legionnaires arrive at the North Pole and find Grimbor's castle amidst the ice and snow. As they start to move towards the castle, Saturn Girl is grabbed by leg manacles that emerge from the snow. When Lightning Lad attempts to use his powers to get the chains to release her, his bolts are diverted through Saturn Girl's body, causing his wife to scream and collapse unconscious. While Garth attempts to free Imra from the chains, Mon-El and Shadow Lass fly towards Grimbor's castle. A full-size cage springs up around Mon-El, even as he flies, trapping him. The cage seems to take his own strength and hurl it back at him, draining him. Shadow Lass, knowing that she has no powers with which to fight Grimbor, uses her darkness powers to not allow him to see the success of his attacks on the Legionnaires. True to her reasoning, Grimbor loses his temper, shooting out beams of light from the castle that dissipate the darkness. Before she can react, an energy draining shaft is fired from the castle, striking her in the face and stinging her into unconsciousness. Timber Wolf reaches the prone Shadow Lass, and tells Mon-El that she's alive even though she shouldn't be. Meanwhile, Light Lass uses her powers to make the fortress super-lightweight. Even as the castle's stones shudder and start to lift, a secret opening in the castle wall opens and a chain-sprouting collar shoots out at terrific speed and locks itself around Light Lass's throat. Timber Wolf reaches her, and can only watch helplessly as Ayla is rendered unconscious. The angered Timber Wolf races towards the castle, but his animal cunning serves him well. He avoids several traps, and finally makes his way up the outside of the structure and into the castle. However, his elation at having entered is his undoing; Timber Wolf activates a trap that causes jets with chains attached to bind him at super-speed.
Screaming his frustration, Timber Wolf shouts for Grimbor to face him. The Chainsman does just that. Timber Wolf says that if Grimbor destroys the Earth, he'll die along with it. Grimbor tells the Legionnaire that he doesn't want to escape. He's content to die with the planet of his birth, and even if a few Legionnaires don't perish with the planet, they will not have escaped his wrath, for they'll bear the guilt of the death of billions of people...
Back at Legion Headquarters, Karate Kid and Princess Projectra realize that it's becoming harder to breathe every minute. The two Legionnaires are dismayed to see that the energy chains are quickly approaching the atmosphere. Most definitely to be continued in the next issue.
Commentary:
This issue is the second part in the "Reflecto" storyline, and proves to be an entertaining read, marred only by a few things. Starting with the marvellous George Perez cover, the story this issue begins with a bang as Mon-El attempts to destroy the energy chains around Earth, and the tale proceeds from there will some fine scenes. The decision to split the Legionnaires available into teams at the end of last issue pays off here, as each sequence with the Legionnaires allows some of their personality to emerge and the plot to develop in an even manner. Yes, there are some problems concerning the characters (see below), but these are attributeable to the newness of writer Roy Thomas and editor Mike W. Barr to the Legion title and its assortment of characters, but the dialogue of the characters is snappy and relationships between Legionnaires are clearly established and developed here for the most part.
When it comes down to it, the pacing of the story is pretty good (more to the credit of the writer than the plotter, methinks) and the teams of Legionnaires seemingly accomplish their goals in some ways and not so much in others. I didn't expect Lightning Lad's team to be able to affect, let alone destroy, the energy chains surrounding Earth, but they definitely gave it a good shot. The team with Colossal Boy liasing with the United Planets did what had to be done, and it was also good to see both Element Lad and Shrinking Violet there, the latter having more to do and say than the former. Cosmic Boy's team learned a little bit about what Grimbor stole, but it wasn't anything to do with the cargo from the freighter in the last issue. Finally, in a scene that was reminiscent of the attack on the alien fortress of Throon in Adventure Comics Vol 1 #319, the Legionnaires attack Grimbor's fortress and fall to his traps one by one. There is some very good interactions between the Legionnaires in the issue's various scenes, though some that is a bit out of character (see below).
But when it comes down to it, nothing really happens this issue. We knew who (Grimbor) was responsible for the energy chains encircling Earth, where (the North Pole) his hideout was, why (Charma) he was doing this, and we knew the stolen cargo was being used to do this. We know Reflecto was there to protect Phantom Girl. By the end of the issue, the reader knew the same things and a few added details: Reflecto is a little older than the Legionnaires, the stolen cargo was a power jewel, and six Legionnaires were captured. These are pretty minor things because while the third may seem major, the reader knows the Legionnaires are going to win out in the end.
If I have any reservations about this issue's story, it concerns the characters involved. Lightning Lad takes five other Legionnaires with him into space to investigate the energy chains. That group includes Shadow Lass and Timber Wolf, two Legionnaires who are pretty much guaranteed of having no effect against the chains. And to be honest, I'm not sure why he brought Saturn Girl with him on this mission, either. Element Lad, who might have been able to convert the chains to some other element, or Wildfire, whose anti-energy powers might have destroyed the chains, or even Phantom Girl, who might have been able to phase through the chains and unlock them, would have been better choices. Granted that Lightning Lad is having doubts about his leadership and is in the middle of resigning as Legion leader, but you would think this long-serving Legionnaire would know what his teammates can do and which Legionnaires are appropriate for the mission.
Speaking of not knowing what your team can do... Why does Lightning Lad console his sister, Ayla, because of the death of Ultra Boy? Surely, as has been established, Phantom Girl was Ultra Boy's girlfriend (this is inferred later in the story, for those who are not long-time Legion fans), but it smacks of bad plotting on the part of Gerry Conway, rather than Roy Thomas, who is still new to the Legion. Or perhaps new editor Mike W. Barr is still getting up to speed on stuff. Furthermore, Cosmic Boy has been one of the cooler, level-headed characters in Legion continuity these last 20-plus years, so his flying off the handle and starting the fight with Reflecto seems totally out of character. However, I can let that go as I'll give new writer Roy Thomas and new editor Mike W. Barr some time to get accustomed to the characters they're dealing with.
The sub-plot involving Colossal Boy and his relationship with his mother is developing quite nicely. His concern over President Allon seeming to be anti-Legion of Super-Heroes, or whether it's all in his imagination because of who she is, is interesting to watch, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this storyline develops and whether the animosity is real or whether there's something else going on here. Lightning Lad's resigning as Legion leader is dragging out a bit here, as various Legionnaires chip in their thoughts on the matter. This issue it's his sister Light Lass who gives him a bit of a hard time, and while it's not been mentioned in this story, part of her problem at the moment isn't the (seeming) death of Ultra Boy but rather the matter of the relationship she has with Timber Wolf and his potentially leaving the Legion in the future. I also liked the continued impulsive and hot-headed nature of Wildfire in the story, though he was certainly goaded by Grimbor to act as he did. And there's the final sequence of this issue that I felt was a bit off. The six Legionnaires who attack Grimbor at his castle in the snow and ice do so individually, needless to say falling to Grimbor's traps relatively easily. That struck me as being not right, since the Legionnaires are known for their team-work. I guess we'll have to wait and see how that shakes out next issue, but it seemed so...unlike the Legion.
The artwork this issue bears mentioning here. The cover by George Perez is simply magnificent, the vibrancy of the energy chains standing out, with the Legionnaires attacking them, though with no effect. The interior art this issue is the best it has been in some time. Jimmy Janes's pencils are once more adequate, but the inking by Bruce D. Patterson brings out the "finished" effect on Janes's pencils this issue. There also seems to be more embellishments on the backgrounds, and I would hazard a guess this was also due to Patterson's inks. I also have to credit colourist Gene D'Angelo here, especially for his work on the Aurora Borealis at the North Pole where the colours are simply stunning.
Overall, this is a solid issue with a few matters under the hood, and while not really a Reflecto story per se, was entertaining in its own way. Will the Legionnaires find a way to defeat Grimbor? Will Earth survive? The next issue will tell the tale, and set up an even neater mystery...
Final Notes:
The story continues in the next issue...
This is the second part of the Reflecto storyline, and continues the Grimbor tale of revenge...
Reflecto appears on the magnificent George Perez cover, but he does not actually investigate the energy chains as illustrated...
Dream Girl and Brainiac 5 are both listed in the Roll Call on the splash page, but neither appear in the story this issue...
Reflecto's name is still a non-issue, as he does not actually "reflect" anything in the story. His powers include flight, super-speed, invulnerability, super-strength, and heat-vision, as noted on pages 13 and 14. Sound familiar?...
In this story, the reader learns that it takes three Flight Rings to allow Blok to fly...
In the scene in the Middle East, since it seems that Grimbor stole the second power crystal there from the company storage warehouse, what did he steal from the cargo freighter at sea in the previous issue?...
The scene when the Legionnaires attack Grimbor's castle amidst the ice and snow is reminiscent of the Legionnaires attack on the fortress of Throon way back in Adventure Comics Vol 1 #319.
Next Issue: The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol 2 #279
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol 2 #278
August, 1981
"Tragedy At The Top of the World!"
Plotter: Gerry Conway
Scripter: Roy Thomas
Penciller: Jimmy Janes
Inker: Bruce D. Patterson
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colourist: Gene D'Angelo
Cover: George Perez (signed)
Editor: Mike W. Barr
Mission Monitor Board:
Shadow Lass, Mon-El, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf, Star Boy, Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet, Wildfire, Element Lad, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Cosmic Boy, Phantom Girl, Blok
Guest Stars:
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy; Reflecto; Earth President Marte Allon
Supporting Cast:
Charma (holographic image)
Opposition:
Grimbor the Chainsman
Synopsis:
The story continues from the previous issue. Up above Earth's atmosphere, Legionnaires Lightning Lad, Light Lass, Saturn Girl, Mon-El, Shadow Lass and Timber Wolf investigate the energy chains that are slowly strangling the planet. Mon-El insists on the plan that he be the one to strike the energy chains first, believing he's got the best chance of surviving impact with them, but Shadow Lass insists that she's coming with him to be at his side. With the Legion's battle cry of "Long Live the Legion!", Mon-El strikes the chain and there is a massive energy feedback explosion that knocks both Mon-El and Shadow Lass unconscious. Saturn Girl and Timber Wolf save the two heroes from falling. Light Lass shouts at Lightning Lad, asking how he could let Shadow Lass endanger herself that way, and questions his leadership, demanding that he do better. He tells her that the decision was Shadow Lass's to make, which she did, and then tells her that he knows she's still upset about Ultra Boy's death, but that she needs to focus on the mission for now. The Ranzz twins then try to use their powers against the energy chains but to no avail, and suffer a recoil blast that renders them useless for a few moments. Ayla apologizes to Garth for what she said, but he dismisses it, saying that she's said nothing that he hasn't been thinking about himself lately. The other four Legionnaires join them, Mon-El and Shadow Lass having recovered. Mon-El offers to strike the chains again, but Lightning Lad orders him not to do so. Seeing that Saturn Girl has been using her mental powers, Lightning Lad asks her for her report. She tells him that while she couldn't find any direct mental link between anyone on Earth and the energy chains, she detected some super-powerful thought emanations directed towards the chains from the North Pole. Saturn Girl thinks that is where Grimbor's hideout may be, and so Lightning Lad has the six Legionnaires head there.
At the Earth Council tower, in the private offices of President Marte Allon, Legionnaires Wildfire, Star Boy, Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet and Element Lad are serving to liase with the President of Earth, who tells them that she has not heard from Grimbor since he first appeared and revealed his insane demands for not crushing the planet with the energy chains. Shrinking Violet gets in touch with Karate Kid and Princess Projectra back at Legion HQ, and he tells her that Lightning Lad's group had no luck attempting to damage the chains, though fortunately no one was killed. A hologram of Grimbor the Chainsman appears before the President, and after insulting Wildfire by calling him a "deflatable sack of radiation with delusions of humanity!", who loses his temper and merely blasts one wall of the chamber, tells them why he's appeared. Colossal Boy angrily tells Grimbor that the Legion was not responsible for his dead girlfriend's death, but Grimbor dismisses that argument, and President Allon reinforces the notion that Grimbor is there to deal with her, not the Legion. Grimbor tells President Allon that he has decided to reduce his demand, giving Earth only one hour instead of twenty-four! He insists that he is made dictator of Earth and that the Legionnaires are handed over to him, or his energy chains will destroy all life on Earth. Grimbor's holographic image fades away.
In Grimbor's castle headquarters at the North Pole, Grimbor pines somewhat for Charma, his dead girlfriend. However, the anger that he feels re-asserts itself, and Grimbor lashes out with his hand-held chains. However, he's distracted from his anger and stifles his feelings when his monitors indicate the arrival of the six Legionnaires who were in space. Grimbor sets about preparing to kill them, allowing them to be the first to feel his wrath.
Elsewhere, in one of the great metropolises of the Middle East, Cosmic Boy has led Phantom Girl, Blok, Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel in an attempt to track down what Grimbor stole from the freight company, hoping this information will help them to stop him. They are conferring with a supervisor of the freight company who is being reluctant to help them. Before Phantom Girl can phase into one of the warehouses to see what's inside, the supervisor attempts to stop her, but he is halted in his tracks by Reflecto. Cosmic Boy says that while they're grateful for his saving Tinya earlier, Reflecto shouldn't interfere in Legion business here. Duo Damsel and Bouncing Boy have a whispered conversation, in which they both feel that Reflecto is somehow... familiar to them. Cosmic Boy loses his temper with Reflecto, but is hurled away by the mystery redhead effortlessly. Cosmic Boy attempts to use a crane to grab Reflecto, but the mystery man use super-strength and smashes the crane to pieces. Blok grabs Reflecto from behind, but the latter uses his flight to lift Blok (which normally takes three flight rings!) and invulnerability, super-speed and super-strength to get Blok to release him and toss him away like a rag doll. Bouncing Boy uses his powers to attack him, but Reflecto uses his heat-vision to ignite some super-hot air, and propel the former Legionnaire away. He strikes the two Duo Damsels, rendering them stunned on the ground. Confronting Phantom Girl, he tells her he's not there to to conquer her or harm her, but to worship her, and kisses her hand in a gallant manner. Frustrated by the Legionnaires' attitude towards him, he flies off once more.
Phantom Girl and Cosmic Boy engage in some heated words about Reflecto, but reminding him of the urgent mission at hand, Phantom Girl phases through the walls of the plasteel shed, and manages to open the doors so the other Legionnaires can enter. Inside, they find a massive power crystal (Quintile crystal), one that a fraction of that size could power an entire continent. They can see the broken housing for a second crystal like that one, and realize that Grimbor must have stolen it. The space chains are virtually invulnerable to attack because they're being energized by one or more of the giant power crystals. Cosmic Boy reports their find to Karate Kid and Princess Projectra, who tell them that they've lost touch with Lightning Lad's group that rushed off to the North Pole. Cosmic Boy and his group decide to follow suit.
As the Legionnaires depart the Middle East, they are being watched from concealment by Reflecto, who flies off after them.
Meanwhile, some time earlier, Lightning Lad and his team of Legionnaires arrive at the North Pole and find Grimbor's castle amidst the ice and snow. As they start to move towards the castle, Saturn Girl is grabbed by leg manacles that emerge from the snow. When Lightning Lad attempts to use his powers to get the chains to release her, his bolts are diverted through Saturn Girl's body, causing his wife to scream and collapse unconscious. While Garth attempts to free Imra from the chains, Mon-El and Shadow Lass fly towards Grimbor's castle. A full-size cage springs up around Mon-El, even as he flies, trapping him. The cage seems to take his own strength and hurl it back at him, draining him. Shadow Lass, knowing that she has no powers with which to fight Grimbor, uses her darkness powers to not allow him to see the success of his attacks on the Legionnaires. True to her reasoning, Grimbor loses his temper, shooting out beams of light from the castle that dissipate the darkness. Before she can react, an energy draining shaft is fired from the castle, striking her in the face and stinging her into unconsciousness. Timber Wolf reaches the prone Shadow Lass, and tells Mon-El that she's alive even though she shouldn't be. Meanwhile, Light Lass uses her powers to make the fortress super-lightweight. Even as the castle's stones shudder and start to lift, a secret opening in the castle wall opens and a chain-sprouting collar shoots out at terrific speed and locks itself around Light Lass's throat. Timber Wolf reaches her, and can only watch helplessly as Ayla is rendered unconscious. The angered Timber Wolf races towards the castle, but his animal cunning serves him well. He avoids several traps, and finally makes his way up the outside of the structure and into the castle. However, his elation at having entered is his undoing; Timber Wolf activates a trap that causes jets with chains attached to bind him at super-speed.
Screaming his frustration, Timber Wolf shouts for Grimbor to face him. The Chainsman does just that. Timber Wolf says that if Grimbor destroys the Earth, he'll die along with it. Grimbor tells the Legionnaire that he doesn't want to escape. He's content to die with the planet of his birth, and even if a few Legionnaires don't perish with the planet, they will not have escaped his wrath, for they'll bear the guilt of the death of billions of people...
Back at Legion Headquarters, Karate Kid and Princess Projectra realize that it's becoming harder to breathe every minute. The two Legionnaires are dismayed to see that the energy chains are quickly approaching the atmosphere. Most definitely to be continued in the next issue.
Commentary:
This issue is the second part in the "Reflecto" storyline, and proves to be an entertaining read, marred only by a few things. Starting with the marvellous George Perez cover, the story this issue begins with a bang as Mon-El attempts to destroy the energy chains around Earth, and the tale proceeds from there will some fine scenes. The decision to split the Legionnaires available into teams at the end of last issue pays off here, as each sequence with the Legionnaires allows some of their personality to emerge and the plot to develop in an even manner. Yes, there are some problems concerning the characters (see below), but these are attributeable to the newness of writer Roy Thomas and editor Mike W. Barr to the Legion title and its assortment of characters, but the dialogue of the characters is snappy and relationships between Legionnaires are clearly established and developed here for the most part.
When it comes down to it, the pacing of the story is pretty good (more to the credit of the writer than the plotter, methinks) and the teams of Legionnaires seemingly accomplish their goals in some ways and not so much in others. I didn't expect Lightning Lad's team to be able to affect, let alone destroy, the energy chains surrounding Earth, but they definitely gave it a good shot. The team with Colossal Boy liasing with the United Planets did what had to be done, and it was also good to see both Element Lad and Shrinking Violet there, the latter having more to do and say than the former. Cosmic Boy's team learned a little bit about what Grimbor stole, but it wasn't anything to do with the cargo from the freighter in the last issue. Finally, in a scene that was reminiscent of the attack on the alien fortress of Throon in Adventure Comics Vol 1 #319, the Legionnaires attack Grimbor's fortress and fall to his traps one by one. There is some very good interactions between the Legionnaires in the issue's various scenes, though some that is a bit out of character (see below).
But when it comes down to it, nothing really happens this issue. We knew who (Grimbor) was responsible for the energy chains encircling Earth, where (the North Pole) his hideout was, why (Charma) he was doing this, and we knew the stolen cargo was being used to do this. We know Reflecto was there to protect Phantom Girl. By the end of the issue, the reader knew the same things and a few added details: Reflecto is a little older than the Legionnaires, the stolen cargo was a power jewel, and six Legionnaires were captured. These are pretty minor things because while the third may seem major, the reader knows the Legionnaires are going to win out in the end.
If I have any reservations about this issue's story, it concerns the characters involved. Lightning Lad takes five other Legionnaires with him into space to investigate the energy chains. That group includes Shadow Lass and Timber Wolf, two Legionnaires who are pretty much guaranteed of having no effect against the chains. And to be honest, I'm not sure why he brought Saturn Girl with him on this mission, either. Element Lad, who might have been able to convert the chains to some other element, or Wildfire, whose anti-energy powers might have destroyed the chains, or even Phantom Girl, who might have been able to phase through the chains and unlock them, would have been better choices. Granted that Lightning Lad is having doubts about his leadership and is in the middle of resigning as Legion leader, but you would think this long-serving Legionnaire would know what his teammates can do and which Legionnaires are appropriate for the mission.
Speaking of not knowing what your team can do... Why does Lightning Lad console his sister, Ayla, because of the death of Ultra Boy? Surely, as has been established, Phantom Girl was Ultra Boy's girlfriend (this is inferred later in the story, for those who are not long-time Legion fans), but it smacks of bad plotting on the part of Gerry Conway, rather than Roy Thomas, who is still new to the Legion. Or perhaps new editor Mike W. Barr is still getting up to speed on stuff. Furthermore, Cosmic Boy has been one of the cooler, level-headed characters in Legion continuity these last 20-plus years, so his flying off the handle and starting the fight with Reflecto seems totally out of character. However, I can let that go as I'll give new writer Roy Thomas and new editor Mike W. Barr some time to get accustomed to the characters they're dealing with.
The sub-plot involving Colossal Boy and his relationship with his mother is developing quite nicely. His concern over President Allon seeming to be anti-Legion of Super-Heroes, or whether it's all in his imagination because of who she is, is interesting to watch, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this storyline develops and whether the animosity is real or whether there's something else going on here. Lightning Lad's resigning as Legion leader is dragging out a bit here, as various Legionnaires chip in their thoughts on the matter. This issue it's his sister Light Lass who gives him a bit of a hard time, and while it's not been mentioned in this story, part of her problem at the moment isn't the (seeming) death of Ultra Boy but rather the matter of the relationship she has with Timber Wolf and his potentially leaving the Legion in the future. I also liked the continued impulsive and hot-headed nature of Wildfire in the story, though he was certainly goaded by Grimbor to act as he did. And there's the final sequence of this issue that I felt was a bit off. The six Legionnaires who attack Grimbor at his castle in the snow and ice do so individually, needless to say falling to Grimbor's traps relatively easily. That struck me as being not right, since the Legionnaires are known for their team-work. I guess we'll have to wait and see how that shakes out next issue, but it seemed so...unlike the Legion.
The artwork this issue bears mentioning here. The cover by George Perez is simply magnificent, the vibrancy of the energy chains standing out, with the Legionnaires attacking them, though with no effect. The interior art this issue is the best it has been in some time. Jimmy Janes's pencils are once more adequate, but the inking by Bruce D. Patterson brings out the "finished" effect on Janes's pencils this issue. There also seems to be more embellishments on the backgrounds, and I would hazard a guess this was also due to Patterson's inks. I also have to credit colourist Gene D'Angelo here, especially for his work on the Aurora Borealis at the North Pole where the colours are simply stunning.
Overall, this is a solid issue with a few matters under the hood, and while not really a Reflecto story per se, was entertaining in its own way. Will the Legionnaires find a way to defeat Grimbor? Will Earth survive? The next issue will tell the tale, and set up an even neater mystery...
Final Notes:
The story continues in the next issue...
This is the second part of the Reflecto storyline, and continues the Grimbor tale of revenge...
Reflecto appears on the magnificent George Perez cover, but he does not actually investigate the energy chains as illustrated...
Dream Girl and Brainiac 5 are both listed in the Roll Call on the splash page, but neither appear in the story this issue...
Reflecto's name is still a non-issue, as he does not actually "reflect" anything in the story. His powers include flight, super-speed, invulnerability, super-strength, and heat-vision, as noted on pages 13 and 14. Sound familiar?...
In this story, the reader learns that it takes three Flight Rings to allow Blok to fly...
In the scene in the Middle East, since it seems that Grimbor stole the second power crystal there from the company storage warehouse, what did he steal from the cargo freighter at sea in the previous issue?...
The scene when the Legionnaires attack Grimbor's castle amidst the ice and snow is reminiscent of the Legionnaires attack on the fortress of Throon way back in Adventure Comics Vol 1 #319.
Next Issue: The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol 2 #279