Legion of Super-heroes: The Great Darkness Saga (Deluxe Edition) [ハードカバー]

Much like what the Dark Phoenix saga over at Marvel did for the X-Men, so did The Great Darkness Saga elevate The Legion of Superheroes to a level of excellence in the early eighties that rival comics would find hard to match. Of course, much of the story-line's success should be attributed to writer Paul Levitz, who went on to become possibly the greatest scribe to ever pen the Legion. This mammoth hardcover includes at least 400 pages of action, intrigue, horror and suspense, along with stunning art from a variety of pencillers that bring the Legion's 30th century setting to vivid life. As a bonus extra comics were included from before and after the main story that gives new readers a pleasant introduction to a wide variety of interesting superheroes. In total it collects 13 Legion issues, from #284 to 296 of the first series, including a massive annual filled with pulse-pounding superhero battles.

Even with all the awesome extra material, the main story is the real diamond that, in my humble opinion, should be read by every comic book fan on the planet. Not only does it feature one of the most dangerous villains in the DC Universe (trust me, even newcomers to the Legion would know him), but it also contains in-depth character development of all the individual Legionnaires, no small feat when a writer has to juggle dozens of characters. Superboy, Supergirl, Karate Kid, Mon-El, Ultra Boy, Invisible Kid, Blok, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Wildfire, Dawnstar...all of them and many more become characters you care about once the stakes are raised and the universe threatens to go BOOM.

As an earlier reviewer mentioned, the only critique that could apply to this collection is the blatant reveal by the publishers and online stores of the main villain's identity that left readers of the original comics flabbergasted 30 years ago. The entire Saga was originally written with the sole intention of keeping the mystery baddie's identity secret until the very end. However, just one look at the image solicited by Amazon on the product page gives away that revelation that I so enjoyed as a kid reading LSH #293 in my dad's study ages ago.

In spite of this, this collection still garners 5 stars. It is simply one of the greatest comic book stories ever printed. Buy it, and I'm sure you'll agree.

The Legion of Super-Heroes had been pushed to the brink before, but things were never so dire as when Darkseid, the fearsome God of Apokolips, opened his eyes in the 30th Century and set out to invade the United Planets. This is the Great Darkness Saga, one of the most defining story arcs of the 1980s and in Legion history and, for most people's money, it's what established Paul Levitz as a truly relevant Legion writer.

In the far-flung future, in the 30th century, the United Planets have seen a time of great enlightenment and prosperity. But, even in this wondrous era, there are monsters. And so the Earth-based Legion of Super-Heroes, a group of youths endowed with incredible abilities, patrols the spaceways and planets, troubleshooting and working with the Science Police to keep the peace and safeguard the many alien inhabitants of the known universe.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: THE GREAT DARKNESS SAGA Deluxe Edition collects issues #284-296 and LoSH Annual #1 (featuring Computo). Note that issue #284 coincides with Levitz's return as series writer. The Great Darkness Saga itself takes place in issues #290-294, which means we get about 200 pages of lead-in stories. Bonus material consists of a new intro by Paul Levitz, a reprinting of Levitz's plot directions for Giffen for issues #290 (Chapter One of the Great Darkness Saga) and #294 (final chapter of the Great Darkness Saga), Keith Giffen & Larry Mahlstedt's cover to the original trade collection, Lee Bermejo's variant cover to ADVENTURE COMICS #12, Giffen's rough sketches of eight Legionnaires, and bonus art which served as a full-paged ad for the double-sized issue #294.

If you have the original trade collection (from 1989?), two things really stand out: This deluxe edition doesn't have the 5-paged foldout art which featured relevant characters in the LoSH universe circa 1983 (and its accompanying identification key), and it also doesn't have the epilogue to LoSH Annual #3 which reveals the nature of Darkseid's curse.

Getting to the Great Darkness Saga now, and even though this arc is three decades old, here's the SPOILERS alert.

Ever since their first appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #247, the Legion had successfully countered some of the most formidable villains the galaxy had ever seen. But these young adventurers face their stiffest test in the shape of Darkseid, who has just woken from a millennium of sleep and now seeks to reclaim his birthright of conquest and destruction. The Great Darkness Saga starts ominously with a drifting dead planet which boasts defenses daunting enough to cow even Mon-El. Then the Legionnaires are confounded by mysterious creatures who end up stealing away with various mystical artifacts, including the legendary sword Excalibur. The Legionnaires learn that these formidable thieves are merely servants of a shadowy presence. So there's serious concern. And when that same presence easily dispatches Mordru and the Time Trapper and siphons off their powers, well, no one puts it better than the cold and analytical Brainiac 5, who somberly tells his fellow heroes: "I am suddenly very cold, my friends, and quite scared."

To balance the epic main storyline Paul Levitz allows various sub-plots to stew in the pot. Firstly, tension mounts as several Legionnaires throw their hats in for the upcomiing election of the new Legion leader. And, as Lightning Lad lies ill, questioning eyes are cast toward Saturn Girl and Timberwolf and that alleged thing going on between them. A disgraced Chameleon Boy is slated to go to trial on charges of treason and life endangerment. Meanwhile, new and French-talking Legionnaire Invisible Kid II is still feeling his way, and, on the Sorcerers' World, a potential Legionnaire is drawn into the fray.

But the side stories get swept away when Darkseid finally makes his big move. Fans of LoSH know that Mon-El, when exposed to a yellow sun, developed super powers to rival the Man of Steel's. Mon-El is from the planet Daxam. This becomes significant once Darkseid gains psychic control over the natives of Daxam and sends them to conquer the United Planets. And there's nothing quite as scary as three friggin' billion Daxamites on the warpath, each as powerful as Superman. With villainy on this scale, it'll take everyone who has ever been a Legionnaire to put up a good fight. Me being a fan of the pre-Crisis Supergirl and of Polar Boy and the Substitute Heroes, this turn of events comes as very cool news.

Salvation arrives, perhaps, embodied in a strange infant summoned forth by the mages on Sorcerers' World. But is that enough? How formidable is Darkseid? Because, even when the Legion and its allies bring their full power to bear, the God of Apokolips isn't defeated as much as temporarily stymied. Darkseid actually has the last laugh with his parting curse (and what a truly messed-up curse it is).

End SPOILERS alert.

I remember the palpable sense of excitement I felt when I read the Great Darkness Saga years and years ago. Re-reading these issues today, I think it's only natural that the story has lost some of its mojo, and for several reasons. First, it's thirty years old, far removed from what's currently going on with the Legion. Second, the revelations which dropped like a bag of hammers on the reader oh so many years ago are now pretty much old news. That sustained element of suspense which kept me so riveted isn't as present now. You look at the trade cover and you instantly identify the Big Bad. And who by now doesn't know Validus's origin? Third, there's some confusion as to whether this arc even falls into today's continuity, what with all the Crisis-y snafus.

But I look at this as a time capsule, to a time when Paul Levitz was just starting his second run at the LoSH. Levitz's strength is that he's able to nicely juggle such a vast assembly of characters, and into this futuristic setting, no less. Yet it doesn't feel claustrophobic or rushed. There's a sense of continuity and a solidity in time and place. Despite the big doings, Levitz throws in little character moments here and there which define each Legionnaire. Levitz writes these stories so that there's that sense of pre-existing history among the characters. Keith Giffen is key in maintaining a visual consistency in the 30th century. His artwork is very decent here, this being before he got all weird with his penciling style.

When you're in the barbershop and talking about the most memorable Legion arcs, the Great Darkness Saga first springs to mind. I like the Legion, but I don't know that I'd call myself a hardcore fan, not having consistently followed this series. But I read the Great Darkness Saga when it came out in the early '80s, and back then it wowwed me, the scope of the story and the sheer sense of adventure and the big, big peril which Levitz injected into it.

In 1982, Paul Levitz took over writing duties on DC Comics' "The Legion Of Super Heroes" for the second time. The result made comics history. Under Levitz's pen, the Legion soared as never before, or since. Fully embracing a cast of over twenty main characters, innumerable supporting players, and an array of locales as vast as space itself, Levitz turned the Legion into one of DC's top titles. Only "The New Teen Titans" rivaled it for sales and acclaim. With penciler Keith Giffen, he found the ideal partner to illustrate his vision of the 30th century. Giffen's sure hand gave life to a fantastical array of otherworldly creations. This volume, which collects issues 284-296 and Annual #1, allows the reader to experience the renaissance of the Legion as it happened.

These issues are famous for including "The Great Darkness Saga". That story arc is notable for molding Darkseid into the preeminent villain of the DC Universe. Previously, his appearances were confined to stories where The New Gods played a central role. After his appearance in "Legion" he began popping up everywhere, including the "Super Friends" cartoon show!

The Legion themselves are portrayed as individuals, whereas before they were often depicted as heroes with little personality. The stories are packed with multiple plots in each issue. Some are resolved quickly, while others fester for a while before reaching their ultimate conclusion. In fact, many sub-plots introduced in this volume are not completed at all. Hopefully, DC will continue to release the Levitz era issues in future volumes.

This collection is highly recommended. The stories are wonderful, and have never looked better. The colors simply pop off the page. This is a must-buy for every comics fan. Long Live The Legion!