Legion of Super-Heroes v4 5

Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #5 "Mordruverse" Story title untitled Previous story Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #4 Next story Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #6 Cover date March 1990 Creators Writer(s) Keith Giffen Al Gordon Tom Bierbaum & Mary Bierbaum Penciller(s) Keith Giffen Inker(s) Al Gordon Letterer(s) Todd Klein Colourist(s) Tom McCraw Editor(s) Mark Waid Cover artist(s) Keith Giffen (pencils) Al Gordon (inks)

Origins

In Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #4, Mon-El battled the Time Trapper. During the battle, the Time Trapper explained that because he created the Pocket Universe from which Superboy had come, he created the conditions under which the Legion of Super-Heroes came to be. If not for the Time Trapper, Superboy would not have put Mon-El into the Phantom Zone, to be revived in the 30th century, and the Legion would no longer have Superboy as its inspiration. When Mon-El destroyed the Time Trapper in battle anyway, the Time Trapper vanished "from reality, past and present." The timeline ceased to be.

In its stead, a new timeline formed. In this timeline, the Legion of Super-Heroes as it had been no long existed. As a result, when Mordru tried to take over the galaxy in 2976, he succeeded. Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #5 depicts events in this new universe, dubbed by fans the "Mordruverse."

Synopsis

As the story opens, Mordru had "liberated" Earth 17 years prior, yet a small resistance to his rule persists. Andrew Nolan, part of this resistance, meets secretly with Mysa Nal, one of Emperor Mordru's concubines. Mysa relays stories that Mordru tells of an alternate timeline in which Mordru didn't come to power. Nolan shares this information with Rond Vidar, who is also with the resistance.

Meanwhile, Mordru's "First-Wife" Glorith asks Mano to put Mysa under surveillance.

Vidar begins to put together the pieces: One timeline has Mordru coming to power. In another, shaped by a "Puppet Master," neither Mordru nor the Puppet Master achieved total power. However, the Puppet Master and his handiwork were destroyed, and only the first timeline remains. Vidar believes that it may be possible to restore the Puppet Master's changes so that Mordru never takes over the galaxy. He enlists Mysa's help in forging a mindlink with the sleeping Mordru so Vidar can learn the full details of this other timeline.

However, Glorith is one step ahead of Vidar. She has him secretly under surveillance as well, and she knows about his plan. She observes him as the mindlink begins to form, and covertly gives him a little "help."

In the mindlink, Vidar finds out more information about events in this other reality (see The Knights of the Thirty for details). The mindlink is broken when Mordru awakes, and Glorith rescues Vidar before he is killed. She wants to know more about his plan.

Meanwhile, Mano discovers that Mysa has been meeting with the resistance, and he tracks her down. Nolan is trying to get to his family, but when he realizes that Mysa is in danger, he turns back toward their secret meeting place.

Glorith convinces Vidar that he needs her to take the place of the Puppet Master, that his powers are not great enough to fulfill that role. She begins a spell that will restore the old timeline: The legendary source of inspiration must be replaced, the Daxamite strength must be restored, and the financier must be delivered. Some pieces of this puzzle are missing, so Vidar and Glorith create their own and hope that the spell works.

Mano arrests Mysa and leads her through the streets toward Mordru. Nolan leaps from above to rescue her. The spell is complete, and its cost is Glorith's life. A Durlan disappears in the 20th century and is replaced by a woman in white and black. Mordru awakens and realizes what has happened. And the timeline fades from existence.

The Knights of the Thirty

Only Mordru can remember the timeline from before, when the Time Trapper created the Legion. He tells Mysa stories of this other timeline. These stories include the following information:

"...[T]he Puppet Master delivered the mercantile power of the Durlan knight." This Durlan knight played a "crucial role in creating the team that brought the mighty Mordru down."

Additionally, the Puppet Master "delivered a shape-shifter to those 'Knights of the Thirty'" who had something to with "mercantile power, leadership, organization". This Durlan played a key role in forming this team that fought Mordru and the Puppet Master himself.

Mysa also recounts what appears to be the story of the Sun-Eater:

In a time that never was, of freedoms that didn't die.
Where castles of gleaming steel still rose to touch the sky.
A demon attacked in Earth's darkest hour. His mission most monstrous our sun to devour.
The Knights of the 30, under the sign of the jewel, united they stood 'gainst the death-cloud so cruel.
One knight, whose face was kept hidden from all, with courage of iron did enter death's maw.
To destroy the demon, they'd forged a device that would deliver great fire at the cost of a life.
The sacrifice was his, the knight with no face. The fire's awful glow filled the great silent place.
His firey remains in the heavens did stay.
Above the sweet world who survived that dark day.

Familiar names and faces

Andrew Nolan wears a mask that is similar to a mask he wore in the other timeline as Ferro Lad.

Nolan mentions other members of the resistance who have disappeared or died: "Gavril, Celeste, Ives, Jacques, Douglas, Foxmoor." Celeste may possibly be Celeste McCauley. Jacques may be Jacques Foccart, the second Invisible Kid. Douglas could be Douglas Nolan, Andrew's twin brother.

On page 3, a figure that could be Brek Bannin appears in a doorstep.

Mano of the Fatal Five appears to be a leader in Mordru's military.

On pages 6 and 7, Mano talks about fighting rebels on Lallor. These rebels "had aligned with the Winathian clan that hurls lightning," presumably alternate versions of Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, and Lightning Lord. In this battle, the "cute one with the red hair" (Garth?) died, along with the rest of the paranormals.

Speculation and interpretation

According to Vidar's research, the formation of the Legion is contingent upon the following factors:

• A Puppet Master manipulates events to create the right conditions.
• A Durlan with business skills and organization forms the team.
• A legendary hero inspires the team.
• The team includes "Daxamite power" to bolster its strength.
• Neither the Puppet Master nor Mordru achieves enough strength to seize absolute power. The two powers provide a check on each other, and the Legion helps keep both from taking over.

In Mordru's memories of the pre-Glorithverse, obtained via the mindlink, the Time Trapper sent the Durlan from L.E.G.I.O.N. to the future. The comic does not explicitly identify the Durlan as R.J. Brande, but it is implied. In the 20th century, Tinya Wazzo replaces the Durlan, becoming Phase. Similar events appear to have occurred in the post-Mordruverse timeline, as shown briefly at the end of the issue. However, Phase was Enya Wazzo, Tinya's cousin, rather than Tinya herself.

Presumably, the missing pieces of the spell that Glorith and Vidar added led to the other changes in the post-Mordruverse timeline, including Valor and Laurel Gand.

Notes

The reshifting of the whole timeline in Zero Hour would render some of the aspects less important or wholly unneeded - the Time Trapper would deliberately take a back seat, R.J. Brande was a telepath rather than the Durlan (although a Tinya Wazzo would still trade places with him), Mordru would be imprisoned in the 29th Century by Lady Mysa and remain so until after the Legion's foundation, and the Legion would be inspired by the Justice League rather than a single, legendary hero - although Valor-worship would still play a significant role in the wider 30th Century.