The Legion of Super-Heroes after Superboy first left…
Generally speaking, you think about the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 1980s and your mind immediately goes to Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen’s The Great Darkness Saga. And rightfully so. Tt was an era-defining epic and still widely considered the high-water mark of the 30th Century.
But there were plenty of other exciting Legion tales to be told and in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Gerry Conway steered the Time Bubble. Now, DC plans to collect a swath of them with Legion of Super-Heroes: Before the Darkness Vol. 1, due in February 2021.
Dig the official description from an Amazon listing, along with a Dick Giordano cover from Conway’s run:
Legion of Super-Heroes: Before the Darkness Vol. 1
Pivotal early-1980s Legion of Super-Heroes stories, set just before the epic “Great Darkness Saga,” are now available in the first volume of an all-new collection!
The greatest heroes of the 30th century star in these classic stories that set the stage for “The Great Darkness Saga,” one of the most beloved tales in Legion history!
First, the Legion–including Mon-El, Brainiac 5, and Phantom Girl–takes on a Circus of Death! Then, the villainous Dagon strikes, kidnapping several Legionnaires’ parents for ransom! And the Fatal Five return–now working for the Dark Man!
Plus, in Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes, find out startling new information from the past of the Legion and their ally R.J. Brande!
This volume collects Legion of Super-Heroes #260-271 and Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes #1-3.
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A few thoughts:
— I’m hoping this is a draft description because the first issue this collection should start with is #259 — in which Superboy left the Legion, re-setting the status quo that the rest of this edition chronicles. That was a big deal at the time, by the way.
— I’m fairly certain all of Conway’s earlier Legion stories have been collected already, but feel free to correct me in the comments if I’m wrong, Legion fans.
— By the way, I haven’t a clue what the cover will look like. The Amazon listing mistakenly uses a cover from the current Brian Michael Bendis run.
— The 401-page hardcover lists for $49.99. It features art by several illustrators but mostly Jimmy Janes.
— Standard caveat: This has not been solicited by DC yet, so nothing is official until it’s official. Even then, things can change. Just keep coming to 13th Dimension for updates.
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MORE
— DC Plans LEGION: FIVE YEARS LATER Omnibus. Click here.
— Why MIKE GRELL Was Happy to Work on LEGION — and Even Happier to Leave It. Click here.
July 12, 2020
I’d have to look to confirm, but as it was the second part of a two-part story issue 259 is in volume 2 of the recent Superboy/Legion Hardcover that picks up after the Archive editions.
July 12, 2020
I just finished reading Superboy and the Legion Vol. 2 and yes, #259 is included there. The Great Darkness collection starts with #284, so a second volume of this could include #272-283 and a couple more DCCP issues.
July 12, 2020
So, two volumes will link the Superboy/Legion volumes with the Great Darkness Saga? Cool – that’s a must buy for me!
July 12, 2020
The math works out, so I hope that’s the plan. I’ve just been reading the issues that will be in this volume via DC Universe, but will be happy to have them collected. Secrets of the Legion #1 was my first, quickly followed by #272.
July 12, 2020
I find this piece of news to be pretty fantastic.
July 13, 2020
The thirteen Legion Archives were followed by the two SLSH volumes, which will now be followed by what we hope is two volumes of this run, linking up with the “Great Darkness Saga” and “The Curse” hardcovers, followed by the “Eye for an Eye” and “More Things Change” paperbacks. That collects 1958 through 1985 of Legion history! (I hope the “Tales of the Legion” issues by Dan Jurgens, et al., will be collected one day, and maybe the rest of the “Karate Kid” solo series, too.)
July 13, 2020
Man, this is great news! I have the first two volumes and was bummed they weren’t going to continue it. That hardcover format is actually really awesome… I love the matte finish, thin paper, and the size of the book, overall. It’s a weird hybrid of TPB and hardcover… the signatures are bound by glue, like a TPB, and have a hardcover attached. Very sturdy and very affordable.