Difference between revisions of "Adventure Comics 497"

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==The Story Behind the Stories==
 
==The Story Behind the Stories==
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The two Legion reprints included in each issue of the digest-sized Adventure Comics were the feature attraction. As an added bonus to Legion fans, a running commentary about that issue's reprinted Legion stories was provided each month by [[Paul Levitz]], who was the writer of the Legion's current series while the Adventure digests were being produced. Years later, these commentaries are the primary point of interest (other than the reprinted stories themselves), so the full text is provided below:
 
The two Legion reprints included in each issue of the digest-sized Adventure Comics were the feature attraction. As an added bonus to Legion fans, a running commentary about that issue's reprinted Legion stories was provided each month by [[Paul Levitz]], who was the writer of the Legion's current series while the Adventure digests were being produced. Years later, these commentaries are the primary point of interest (other than the reprinted stories themselves), so the full text is provided below:
  
:''As we continue our chronological reprinting of the Legion of Super-Heroes stories, we come to the seventh and eighth adventures... neither from ADVENTURE COMICS as these still pre-date the start of the Legion's series of adventures in this title. ''
+
:''At last, this issue's installment of the chronological reprinting of the Legion of Super-Heroes brings us to the beginning of their series, the true dawn of Legion fandom. But first, one more pre-series tale needs to be mentioned:''
  
:''"Superboy's Big Brother" (from [[Superboy v1 89|SUPERBOY #89]], June, 1961) has no internal evidence that it was planned as any part of the Legion saga. The character of [[Mon-El/Pre-Crisis|Mon-El]] as featured in the story was an interesting addition to editor [[Mort Weisinger|Mort Weisinger's]] concept of a "Superman family" of characters that appeared and reappeared in the various Superman-related titles, and it seems clear that that's the sole role the unknown author planned for him. Even the original end tag of the story plugged a future issue of SUPERMAN in which the Man of Steel would visit the [[Phantom Zone]].''
+
:''"The Boy With Ultra-Powers" (from [[Superboy v1 98|SUPERBOY #98]], July, 1962) was typical of its period of Legion stories, serving mainly to introduce one new Legionnaire. And, like so many early Legion tales, it only told '''part''' of the character's story. As we now know, [[Ultra Boy/Pre-Crisis|Ultra Boy]] really gained many powers when trapped in the energy beast - virtually all of [[Superboy/Kal-El/Pre-Crisis|Superboy's]] abilities, although he could only use one power at a time. In this story, however, only his vision powers are shown by writer [[Jerry Siegel]].''
  
:''Mon-El was not connected to the Legion until over a year later, when he joined the team in their very first series story in [[Adventure Comics 300|ADVENTURE COMICS #300]]. We include this story as part of the canons of the Legion, however, because it served to introduce him and set up other elements important to future Legion stories: Mon-El's presence in the Zone would be an important plot factor in at least two Legion solo stories, his acquaintenceship with [[Lana Lang]] would show up again, and finally, the planet [[Daxam]] itself would be pivotal to the current storyline in the Legion (which you're still in time to get in on the epic conclusion of, if you keep your eye's out for [[Legion of Super-Heroes v2 294|#294's]] sensational double-size issue!)''
+
:'' It's interesting to note that the theme of initiations for Legion members crops up again here, for the last time in early Legion history. And [[Pete Ross/Pre-Crisis|Pete Ross']] appearance presages his being awarded honorary memberhship, sometime between this story and when he next appeared with the Legion (never mind logical questions like how a 30th Century coin could get him to the 30th Century.) The final curiosity is [[Marla Latham|Marla]], the Legion's advisor, who would not reappear until Ultra Boy got in trouble in [[Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes 239|SUPERBOY/LEGION #239]]... sixteen years later.''
  
:'' More interesting to the Legion mythos is our second selection, "The Legion of Super-Villains" from [[Superman v1 147|SUPERMAN #147]], August, 1961. Not only did this introduce one of the most important Legion villain teams, but it also began the long [[Adult Legion]] debate. This (and a series of subsequent stories culminating in [[Adventure Comics 354|ADVENTURE COMICS #354]]-[[Adventure Comics 355|355]]) established destinies for the Legionnaires unhinted at in the current stories.''
+
:''Now, for something completely different. [[Adventure Comics 300|ADVENTURE COMICS #300]] (September 1962) introduced '''Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes''', a regular monthly series of stories about the LSH in the back of the comic. Present day fans should understand that then (as now) ADVENTURE was going through a difficult period, changing formats and trying to find an identity. '''Superboy''' had been the lead series for twenty-five years, but back features had changed from '''Aquaman''' and '''Green Arrow''' to '''Congorilla''' to the short-lived '''Tales of the Bizarro World''', which the Legion replaced, retaining the same creative team - Jerry Siegel and [[John Forte]]. The magazine was still selling well - twice as well as strong titles such as JUSTICE LEAGUE or FLASH, in fact, but it was in a creative muddle.''
  
:''[[Lex Luthor/Pre-Crisis|Luthor's]] belief in the existence of the [[Legion of Super Villains|Super-Villains]] harkens back to his meeting with [[Lightning Lad/Pre-Crisis|Lightning Lad]] in [[Superboy v1 86|"The Army of Living Kryptonite Men"]], which we reprinted [[Adventure Comics 492|two issues ago]]. This would be his only meeting with the Adult villains, but his descendent would play a critical role in defeating them years later.''
+
:''The first story, reprinted in this issue, treated the Legion like the Bizarros - as a Superman family spin-off. Superboy's presence was front and center, the villain turns out to be built by [[Lex Luthor/Pre-Crisis|Luthor]], and [[Mon-El/Pre-Crisis|Mon-El]], previously seen only in SUPERBOY, joins the Legion from the [[Phantom Zone]]. But the beginnings of the mythos were becoming clearer - membership was more definitely identified (though the Hall of Heroes neglected then-members [[Duo Damsel/Pre-Crisis|Triplicate Girl]], [[Phantom Girl/Pre-Crisis|Phantom Girl]], [[Colossal Boy/Pre-Crisis|Colossal Boy]], [[Supergirl/Pre-Crisis|Supergirl]], [[Brainiac Five/Pre-Crisis|Brainiac Five]], Ultra Boy and [[Star Boy/Pre-Crisis|Star Boy]]), Superboy visits the future under his own power for the first time, the World-Wide Police which would later be renamed [[Science Police]] appear again, and best of all, the Legion battles as a team against a villain for the first time ever.''
  
:''More interesting was the origin detail revealed in the story. This was the first place we learned of the [[Lightning Monsters]] of [[Korbal]], or the fact that Lightning Lad had a [[Lightning Lord|brother]]. It would be another two years before it would be revealed that sister [[Light Lass/Pre-Crisis|Ayla]] was present too. The '''un'''similarity between [[Cosmic King|Cosmic King's]] origin and [[Cosmic Boy/Pre-Crisis|Cosmic Boy's]] has never made a lot of sense, but clearly it does foreshadow [[Element Lad/Pre-Crisis|Element Lad's]] existence. Finally, the fact that [[Saturn|Saturn's]] rings cancel out criminality and that its inhabitants are all mentalists of one sort or another has also become pivotal in the mythos.''
+
:''It had taken four and a half years, but the Legion had arrived. They would take over ADVENTURE page by page, dominating the comic for eighty-one issues. In the next few ADVENTURE COMICS DIGEST issues, we'll trace the Jerry Siegel-scripted era of the series, and watch the magic begin to happen. If you missed it the first time around, be sure to stick with us.''
  
:''The peculiar costumes of the Adult Legionnaires are easier to explain than the fact that they still rely on the cumbersome [[Legion jetpack|jet-packs]]. This was one of the last times when the costumes were drawn wildly incorrectly (as opposed to typical small errors that creep into many stories), whereas the "stalled" technology of the future relates to the fact that neither the writers nor the artists could foresee the [[Legion flying belt|flying belts]] or [[Legion flight ring|flight rings]] which would change the whole look of the Legion.''
+
::'' – Paul Levitz''
  
:''Finally, and most importantly, this story introduced a new artist to the Legion: [[Curt Swan]], who would later draw their series for several years (coming in third on the list of all-time number of Legion stories pencilled after [[John Forte|Forte]] and [[Mike Grell|Grell]]), and who drew most of the Superman family covers featuring the Legion as well.''
 
 
::'' – Paul Levitz''
 
-->
 
 
[[Category:Reprints (Pre-Crisis)]]
 
[[Category:Reprints (Pre-Crisis)]]

Revision as of 11:56, 3 September 2006

Adventure Comics #497
Preboot » Pre-Crisis
Reprint
Adventure497.jpg
Cover by Gil Kane
Story title Various
Previous story Adventure Comics #496 (previous chronological reprints)
Next story Adventure Comics #498 (next chronological reprints)
Cover date March 1983
Creators
Writer(s) n/a
Penciller(s) n/a
Inker(s) n/a
Letterer(s) n/a
Colourist(s) n/a
Editor(s) Carl Gafford/Nicola Cuti
Cover artist(s) Gil Kane

Background

Adventure Comics was the birthplace of the Legion and its longtime home. After almost 500 issues of publication, it became primarily a series of reprints. Featured each month was a chronological re-presentation of the Legion's earliest tales, two in each issue, beginning with their first appearance. This issue presents the 13th and 14th appearances in that chronology.

Reprinted material

Original publication source is noted for each.

  • The Challengers of the Unknown in "All Together Now!" - New material
  • Superboy and Ultra Boy in "The Boy with Ultra-Powers!" – Superboy v1 #98 (July, 1962)
  • Aquaman in "The Explanation!" – Aquaman #46 (July/August, 1969)
  • Shazam in "The Mighty Marvels Join Forces!" – The Marvel Family #1 (December, 1945)
  • The Legion of Super-Heroes in "The Face Behind the Lead Mask!" – Adventure Comics #300 (September, 1962)
  • The Spectre in "Stop That Kid, Before He Wrecks the World!" – The Spectre #4 (May/June, 1968)

The Story Behind the Stories

The two Legion reprints included in each issue of the digest-sized Adventure Comics were the feature attraction. As an added bonus to Legion fans, a running commentary about that issue's reprinted Legion stories was provided each month by Paul Levitz, who was the writer of the Legion's current series while the Adventure digests were being produced. Years later, these commentaries are the primary point of interest (other than the reprinted stories themselves), so the full text is provided below:

At last, this issue's installment of the chronological reprinting of the Legion of Super-Heroes brings us to the beginning of their series, the true dawn of Legion fandom. But first, one more pre-series tale needs to be mentioned:
"The Boy With Ultra-Powers" (from SUPERBOY #98, July, 1962) was typical of its period of Legion stories, serving mainly to introduce one new Legionnaire. And, like so many early Legion tales, it only told part of the character's story. As we now know, Ultra Boy really gained many powers when trapped in the energy beast - virtually all of Superboy's abilities, although he could only use one power at a time. In this story, however, only his vision powers are shown by writer Jerry Siegel.
It's interesting to note that the theme of initiations for Legion members crops up again here, for the last time in early Legion history. And Pete Ross' appearance presages his being awarded honorary memberhship, sometime between this story and when he next appeared with the Legion (never mind logical questions like how a 30th Century coin could get him to the 30th Century.) The final curiosity is Marla, the Legion's advisor, who would not reappear until Ultra Boy got in trouble in SUPERBOY/LEGION #239... sixteen years later.
Now, for something completely different. ADVENTURE COMICS #300 (September 1962) introduced Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes, a regular monthly series of stories about the LSH in the back of the comic. Present day fans should understand that then (as now) ADVENTURE was going through a difficult period, changing formats and trying to find an identity. Superboy had been the lead series for twenty-five years, but back features had changed from Aquaman and Green Arrow to Congorilla to the short-lived Tales of the Bizarro World, which the Legion replaced, retaining the same creative team - Jerry Siegel and John Forte. The magazine was still selling well - twice as well as strong titles such as JUSTICE LEAGUE or FLASH, in fact, but it was in a creative muddle.
The first story, reprinted in this issue, treated the Legion like the Bizarros - as a Superman family spin-off. Superboy's presence was front and center, the villain turns out to be built by Luthor, and Mon-El, previously seen only in SUPERBOY, joins the Legion from the Phantom Zone. But the beginnings of the mythos were becoming clearer - membership was more definitely identified (though the Hall of Heroes neglected then-members Triplicate Girl, Phantom Girl, Colossal Boy, Supergirl, Brainiac Five, Ultra Boy and Star Boy), Superboy visits the future under his own power for the first time, the World-Wide Police which would later be renamed Science Police appear again, and best of all, the Legion battles as a team against a villain for the first time ever.
It had taken four and a half years, but the Legion had arrived. They would take over ADVENTURE page by page, dominating the comic for eighty-one issues. In the next few ADVENTURE COMICS DIGEST issues, we'll trace the Jerry Siegel-scripted era of the series, and watch the magic begin to happen. If you missed it the first time around, be sure to stick with us.
– Paul Levitz