The Great Eclipso Yada Yada part 2: Valor Gets Named in the DC Event of 1992

This series of 18 Annuals and 2 bookends runs roughly 1100 pages total: I read it so you don’t have to. This event leads into Valor’s new book, and put Valor in the 20th century along with Timber Wolf. You’ll recall that both books were huge successes which set up both characters to have decades-long runs where they have ended up as popular as Superman and Wolverine. In part 1, which you can listen to in episode 638, I covered the first 10 chapters of DC’s big crossover event of 1992, which came out May 21 through July 7. The second half (which you can listen to in episode 651) covers July 14 to August 25. The entire series came out between LSH v4 #31 and 34 (Jan & Shvaughn, the explosion of the Weisinger Chambers, Kid Quantum, the battle for Earth begins & Laurel captures Pinnacle Command). The Legion’s Annual that year did not take part in the crossover – recall it was the Winath/Timber Wolf issue.

• Trivia: Eclipso was the big DC-wide crossover event of 1992, but there was another mini-crossover event which took place only within that family of books. What was it? 
• The 8-part “Superman: Panic in the Sky” in the 4 Superman books.
• Note: “Justice League: Breakdowns” was 1991-1992 and “Death of Superman” started in December but was a 1993 event

Where we left off: Eclipso, formerly a second-rate villain, decided he wanted to be an A-lister. Over the course of the summer of 1992, Eclipso managed to take over a bunch of heroes and a few villains, controlling them from his base on the moon, because instead of just one black diamond, he’s got 100. Valor is the only hero he captured who is on the moon with him, everyone else is back on Earth. Unfortunately, Valor spends nearly the entire series as a statue, and I’ll remind you that this is a drinking game theme today.

In this 20-part story, we have:

• 10 chapters in the main storyline with Superman x4 (Superman: Man of Steel, Superman, Action, Adventures of Superman), GL, L.E.G.I.O.N., JLA, & JLE, plus the 2 bookends - which are in boldface
• a separate 2-parter with Deathstroke and the Titans
• a separate 3-parter in the Batman family books (Detective, Robin, Batman)
• 5 separate one-shots (Demon, Flash, Green Arrow, Hawkworld, Wonder Woman)

In the last issue, Superman got eclipsed. Booster, Fire, and Ice are ineffective at fighting him, naturally, but they distract him long enough for Captain Marvel to show up. The fight has destroyed the town of Crater Bay, and Superman escapes.

Picking up with part 2 of this recap....

11) Robin Annual #5 (Alan Grant & John Wagner writers, Tom Lyle pencils; Scott Hanna inks), on sale 7/14/92

Continued from Detective Annual 5. Robin finds that Anarky has stolen some black diamonds, and confronts him, but Anarky escapes and gives one diamond to an angry homeless man who conjures an eclipsoid. Robin uses his handy solar flashlight to banish it but Anarky escapes. Anarky tries to blackmail the mayor, and then purposely gets himself eclipsed so he can destroy a bridge, using a solar flare to declipse himself. He tries again the next day to destroy a telecom tower, but loses the diamond and someone ends up summoning an eclipsoid dinosaur. The dinosaur destroys a tower and an amusement park but Robin uses a convenient solar-powered car to stop it. Robin captures Anarky and the remaining diamonds. To be concluded in the Batman annual later.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Superman

12) Hawkworld Annual #3 (John Ostrander writer; Luke McDonnell pencils; Roy Richardson inks), on sale 7/14/92

Katar and Shayera fight an eclipsoid pterodactyl, and trace it to a museum and one of the curators, Dr Kaslak. Shadow Thief steals a black diamond for Kaslak, who gifts it anonymously to Shayera. On the moon, Eclipso walks silently past the statue of Lar Gand (#7). Katar has a fight with his girlfriend Mavis, which makes him late for the tv show that Shayera goes to alone. The host angers Shayera and she gets eclipsed, and goes on a rampage. She defeats Katar and tries to kill him, but he gets angry and creates an eclipsoid hawk monster with one of the diamonds. On the moon, Eclipso monologues with himself, speaking through Lar Gand (#8) (he moves for the first time). At dawn, the eclipsoid escapes. Katar gets a solar collector to use at night using moonlight and fries the eclipsoid, but Shayera escapes.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Superman, Shayera

13) Deathstroke Annual #1 (Marv Wolfman, David Cody Weiss writers; Gabriel Morrissette, Phil Jimenez pencils; Ian Akin, John Statema, Charles Barnett III inks), on sale 7/21/92

Deathstroke is on a mission with the female Vigilante to rescue a Japanese tech businessman. They succeed but lots of people get killed and the tech is lost. Captain Hall (Titans character) receives a diamond, and is then accosted by Councilwoman Alderman, who accuses him of being too nice to the Titans. He gets mad and gets eclipsed. Deathstroke is hired to go after the tech by the guys who hired him in the first place. Hall calls Vigilante so that he can eclipse her, and she tries but fails to eclipse Deathstroke. Slade goes to Salvagion, which has discarded and salvaged tech, and runs into Nightwing, who’s looking for spare parts for Cyborg from the recently destroyed Titans Tower. Eclipsed Vigilante attacks, but she’s declipsed by solar lasers. The guys who ransomed the Japanese businessmen come looking for the tech, and escape with it. They plan to send it to Alderman. Continued in New Titans Annual.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Superman, Shayera, Captain Hall

14) New Titans Annual #8 (David Cody Weiss, Marv Wolfman writers; Phil Jimenez, Curt Swan, Gabriel Morrissette, Iota Subotici pencils; Ray McCarthy, Ken Branch, Andrew Pepoy, John Statema, Charles Barnett III, Mike DeCarlo inks), on sale 7/28/92

Trying to repair Cyborg, damaged during the fight with Wildebeest. The Titans go to rescue people from a helicopter but are accosted by Alderman. On the moon, Eclipso decides to capture the Titans next, and uses Capt. Hall to eclipse Red Star, who then remote controls Cyborg and kidnaps him. Changeling goes into Salvagion and calls Nightwing (as seen in the Deathstroke story), who goes there while the others look for Red Star and Cyborg. Changeling finds Red Star, who eclipses him, and then the three of them find Pantha and Starfire. One of Starfire’s blasts cures Capt. Hall, but he’s injured protecting civilians, and Pantha and Starfire are captured too (they get eclipsed off panel). Nightwing and Vigilante hire Deathstroke to go to STAR Labs where they’re met by Alderman’s robot, but they escape. They trace Cyborg’s signal to a museum, but it’s a trap, all of the eclipsed Titans are there. They get Deathstroke eclipsed, then they all leave.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Superman, Shayera, Red Star, Changeling, Pantha, Starfire, Deathstroke

15) L.E.G.I.O.N. Annual #3 (Barry Kitson writer; Mike McKone pencils; John Dell, Jack Torrance, Peter Gross, Bob Smith, Jimmy Palmiotti inks), on sale 8/4/92

Vril Dox and Lady Quark are in NYC looking for black diamonds. The L.E.G.I.O.N. delegation is at the UN, and Phase explains how they want to bring Earth closer to the family of civilized planets, but that’s all a ruse so Dox can go after the diamonds. He finds one and gives it to Quark to hold, but Lobo gets it and gets eclipsed. He chases after Zena, leaving the diamond behind. She manages to blast light at him to declipse him, but Lady Quark has found the diamond and after getting mad at Dox, she’s eclipsed. They all fight in the hotel they’re staying at, but the fight leads outside. Lobo attacks her, but then Booster Gold, Fire, and Ice show up, and Lady Quark escapes.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Superman, Shayera, Red Star, Changeling, Pantha, Starfire, Deathstroke, Lady Quark

16) Wonder Woman Annual #3 (William Messner-Loebs writer; John Dennis, David Johnson pencils; Ande Parks inks), on sale 8/11/92

A terrorist set loose a device in Boston, which brings out The White Magician, aka Asquith Randolph, to help WW. He invites her to his house for dinner, and gives her a black diamond to take back to Hippolyta (giving off creepy vibes). On Themyscira, Diana finds that the island has been turned into a tourist trap for thirsty men – by Randolph. But it turns out that she had just been hypnotized by Randolph, and gotten her angry at him, so that Wonder Woman gets eclipsed. He wants to siphon Eclipso’s powers through her. She breaks free of his holding spell, they fight, and she escapes. I guess she forgot about Eclipso back in the JLA Annual (back in part 6).

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Superman, Shayera, Red Star, Changeling, Pantha, Starfire, Deathstroke, Lady Quark, Wonder Woman

17) Justice League Europe Annual #3 (Gerard Jones, Will Jacobs writers; Tim Hamilton pencils; Romeo Tanghal inks), on sale 8/11/92

Eclipsed Flash (from part 8) & GL (from part 3) make it to London to find the JLE. Power Girl gets mad at Crimson Fox and Elongated Man (remember she has rage issues, fueled by artificial sweeteners in diet soda) because everyone is telling her what to do. Kilowog arrives and fills them in on what’s been going on, which they didn’t know about because the UN and USA have declared an emergency and didn’t want to cause a worldwide panic. GL and Flash attack Kilowog, Dr Light, Crimson Fox, and Aquaman, but they leave after dropping a handful of diamonds. Power Girl arrives and picks one up and gets eclipsed, but Kilowog manages to trap her. A bright light appears and tells Dr Light and Kilowog to come with them, but when Kilowog leaves, Power Girl escapes, leaving the other Leaguers to die. Fortunately, Metamorpho arrives and saves them. Eclipso monologues that he has collected nearly all the bodies he needs. Sue and Catherine determine that the eclipsed people are all headed to Arizona, where there is a gathering to watch an upcoming lunar eclipse.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Superman, Shayera, Red Star, Changeling, Pantha, Starfire, Deathstroke, Lady Quark, Wonder Woman, Power Girl

18) Batman Annual #16 (Alan Grant, John Wagner writers; Vince Giarrano pencils/inks), on sale 8/18/92

Continued from Robin Annual. Batman is looking for Joker (from back in part 4). Someone who saw Commissioner Gordon summon an eclipsoid tells Joker about it and where to get the diamonds. Joker sends his goons to get them and one creates a bat-monster eclipsoid. Batman uses Bruce Gordon’s solar flare gun to stop it. He finds Joker, who gets eclipsed, and Batman figures the only way to stop him is to get eclipsed himself. They fight until the sun comes up, then both are declipsed and Batman captures Joker.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Superman, Shayera, Red Star, Changeling, Pantha, Starfire, Deathstroke, Lady Quark, Wonder Woman, Power Girl

19) Adventures of Superman Annual #4 (Robert Loren Fleming writer; Bob McLeod pencils & inks), on sale 8/18/92

Hawkman fruitlessly looks for the eclipsed Superman in the skies over Metropolis, while the L.E.G.I.O.N. looks for his Fortress in the Arctic and in Antarctica, and Nightwing checks the Batcave. Black Canary, Crimson Fox, and Elongated Man can’t find him in the sewers of NYC. In the JLA HQ, Booster has been looking along with Fire, Ice, Bloodwynd, and Baby Wildebeest, and Booster finds Superman in Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Aquaman and Metamorpho will meet them there. Hawkman and Dox argue over who’s going to lead, and then Guy Gardner shows up with his Sinestro ring. Half the group goes into the volcano. Metamorpho causes the volcano to explode and expel Superman, but it’s too late, it’s night. On the moon, Eclipso monologues to the statue of Lar Gand (#9) that once the lunar eclipse is complete, he’ll be unstoppable. While Lobo attacks Superman, the rest try to rescue the local villagers. Guy Gardner comes back with a scoop full of solar material he got from the sun and dumps it on Superman, because that’s how solar physics works, but it’s enough to declipse Superman. Eclipso monologues to Lar Gand (#10) that he has lost Superman but still has a Daxamite. All of the eclipsed powered heroes gather in Arizona (except for Klarion), and they pretend to attack Starman so the non-eclipsed heroes can “rescue” him. Superman and Nightwing hunt for Bruce Gordon and other scientists who are missing, including Emil Hamilton, Will Magnus, and Ted Kord/Blue Beetle. Superman tracks them down to an abandoned planetarium but is caught in a bright flash of light.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Shayera, Red Star, Changeling, Pantha, Starfire, Deathstroke, Lady Quark, Wonder Woman, Power Girl

Are you ready for the finale?

20) Eclipso: The Darkness Within #2 (Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming writers; Keith Giffen, Bart Sears pencils; Mark Pennington, Randy Elliott, Ray Kryssing inks), on sale 8/25/92

Continued from Adventures of Superman annual. The eclipsed heroes face off against the non-eclipsed heroes. The lunar eclipse is complete, and “in the tunnel of utter darkness which now stretches from the Earth to the Moon [his] power reigns supreme!” Eclipso teleports his eclipsed people to the moon. Vril Dox wants to gather heroes, while Starman (who’s eclipsed but pretending not to be) tries to convince them to go to the moon now. Eclipso tries to absorb those who are eclipsed and their powers, starting with Deathstroke. The gathering of heroes moves to Las Vegas where they pick up the Challengers of the Unknown, Atom, Blue Devil, and Bronze Tiger and Nightshade from Suicide Squad. The plan is to fit everyone into the L.E.G.I.O.N. cruiser and Maxima’s ship (piloted by Hawkman) and go to the moon, where Eclipso is busy absorbing everyone except for Lar Gand because he’s the most powerful. He attacks the L.E.G.I.O.N. ship but Guy Gardner gets everyone down safely, landing near Eclipso’s palace. Starman gets the heroes to walk in the front door, when they realize he’s been eclipsed all along. They’re all irritated at having been deceived, but in his base on the moon, Eclipso is powerful enough to eclipse all of them. Eclipso releases Mona Bennett, but then Superman appears with a coalition of solar powered heroes and scientists who specialize in solar power: Chunk, Blue Beetle, Professor Hamilton, Lex Luthor II, Will Magnus, Dr Light, Kilowog, and Bruce Gordon. The bright flashes earlier were Bruce making sure that the person he chose was not Starman in disguise. While the heroes fight, Eclipso sends Lar Gand to fight Superman – he’s not a statue any more, finally, he’s a real boy! One by one, the heroes get declipsed: Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan, Creeper, Guy Gardner, then Flash, who super-speeds and declipses everyone in 32 seconds. Superman has managed to defeat Lar Gand, but then Eclipso causes his whole base to come alive and attack. Everyone gets out, and Eclipso is a giant – “that ridiculous costume was part of my masquerade, it served to lull you into believing you faced a mere super-villain!” Starman explodes himself and nearly kills Eclipso, and Bruce Gordon sets off his solar bomb. Lar Gand can still hear Eclipso and knows what is happening, so he zooms in and rescues Gordon in the nick of time. Everyone goes back home, but in the aftermath, there’s still at least one black diamond on the surface of the moon. 

Lar Gand takes his super-hero name from Superman's speech

Coming soon: Eclipso #1 and Valor #1!

The Great Eclipso Yada Yada part 1: I read 1100 pages so you didn't have to

This one's not so much an annotation but a recap. For the podcast, we're up to the point where the "Eclipso: The Darkness Within" event of summer 1992 is taking place, and we covered it in two episodes (638 and 651) because it spins off Valor into his own series. The first half of that Valor series is just a standard space super-hero book, but starting with issue #11 Mark Waid became the writer and the series became a third monthly Legion book. So in a few weeks we'll do Valor #1-5 and then #6-11, before dropping it into the rotation.

Anyhoo, here's part 1 of the Eclipso recap, on sale May through August 1992. Or read a shorter version on Wikipedia.

Note the glued-on plastic purple diamond

Summer 1992’s annuals were tie-ins to this overall Eclipso story, which started with “Eclipso: The Darkness Within” #1, cover-dated July 1992 and concluded with issue #2, cover dated October 1992, with the 18 annuals spaced a week apart in between. Issue 1 has a plastic copy of Eclipso’s black diamond glued to the cover, which was also offered without the diamond – making the diamond version automatically not mint condition. Must have driven the fanboys crazy! Issue 1 came out the same day as LSH v4 #31 (the Sean Erin issue), and ended the week after issue #34 (the battle for Earth begins, and Laurel captures Pinnacle Command). Fortunately, the Legion’s annual didn’t cross over (Annual #3, the Winath/Timber Wolf focus, came out the week before). This series of 18 Annuals and 2 bookends runs roughly 1100 pages total: I read it so you don’t have to. This event leads into Valor’s new book, and put Valor in the 20th century along with Timber Wolf. You’ll recall that both books were huge successes which set up both characters to have decades-long runs where they have ended up as popular as Batman and Harley Quinn.

Brief history of Eclipso: he first appeared in House of Secrets #61 (August 1963) and was created by Bob Haney and Lee Elias. Eclipso's early comics debut is tied to his host, Bruce Gordon, a scientist specializing in solar energy (and whose name, I’ve read, was an homage to Bruce Wayne and Commissioner Gordon!). While in the jungle to view a solar eclipse, Gordon was attacked by a tribal sorcerer named Mophir. Before plunging to his death off a cliff, Mophir wounded Gordon with a black diamond. Afterwards, Gordon transformed into the villainous Eclipso whenever an eclipse occurred (which happened way more often in the Silver Age DCU). A blue-gray or purple circle covered the rightmost two-thirds of his face, resembling a partial eclipse. Gordon experienced many Jekyll-and-Hyde transformations and misadventures in House of Secrets. During this period, Eclipso was portrayed as a conventional super-villain, possessing super strength, partial invulnerability, and eye blasts (aided by his black diamond). Eclipso's transformations were later altered so that any type of natural eclipse, lunar or solar, would cause Eclipso and Gordon to split from one another, while an "artificial eclipse" -- an object blocking out a light source -- would merely transform Gordon to Eclipso. Any bright flash of light would banish Eclipso back into Bruce Gordon's body or reverse the change.

However, this Darkness Within miniseries modified the character to be an evil and megalomaniacal entity. Eclipso's character laments the power he once had as a spirit of divine vengeance. For this series, I had to make up some of my own terminology – it’s generally established that a passive person will evoke what I call an eclipsoid or a separate being, while an aggressive person will get eclipsed, which might follow with them being healed or declipsed; this was not strictly followed, so it was more like if you’re a civilian you invoke one but if you’re a super, then you become one.

• There are some vague rules they tried to generally follow, like how you get eclipsed because you’re angry at someone when you’re holding the black diamond and then when you’re not angry anymore, you become an extension of Eclipso. Eclipso can declipse you, and you can also get declipsed by sunlight.
• Most (but not all) of these issues end with one or more heroes eclipsed. It doesn’t really matter who gets eclipsed or not, there’s no big payoff to a particular character being eclipsed, except for Valor.
• There are a few story arcs contained within the Annuals:
• 10 chapters in the main one with Superman x4 (Superman: Man of Steel, Superman, Action, Adventures of Superman), GL, L.E.G.I.O.N., JLA, JLE, plus the bookends - I've put these chapters in boldface
• a separate 2-parter with Deathstroke and the Titans
• a separate 3-parter in the Batman family books (Detective, Robin, Batman)
• 5 separate one-shots (Demon, Flash, Green Arrow, Hawkworld, Wonder Woman)

With that, let’s dive into the first book, which is the opening bookend.

1) Eclipso: The Darkness Within #1 (Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming co-plotters; Giffen breakdowns; Fleming script; Bart Sears pencils; Randy Elliott, Mark Pennington inks), on sale 5/21/92

In 1890, the fabled Heart of Darkness black diamond was found by two explorers in Africa, one of whom killed the other out of greed. The explorer takes the diamond to a jeweler in London to have it cut into 1000 identical pieces. On the moon in 1992, Lar Gand notices a structure that he hasn’t seen before. He finds Eclipso, who manages to take over Lar’s body. He realizes that superhumans are actually a resource for exploitation and says he’s done hiding, and has Lar Gand go stand in a corner and be a statue (this will be a recurring theme in these annuals, let’s keep track of how many times we see it and take a drink each time – and you’ll need a refill before this is over). A week later, Eclipso takes over the Creeper. Bruce Gordon has figured a way to use his piece of the black diamond to make a diamond tracking compass, and finds one at a Metropolis mall, where a kid creates an eclipsoid monster. Superman flies to the mall and fights the creature. Bruce has a handy solar flare gun that causes the creature to vanish. On the moon, Lar Gand remains a statue (#2).

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper.

2) Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #1 (Roger Stern plot; Robert Loren Fleming dialogue; Chris Wozniak pencils; Brad Vancata inks), on sale 5/28/92

Bruce reveals to Superman that Eclipso isn’t really a normal super-villain, but the God of Vengeance who previously had been keeping a low profile. The eclipsed Creeper breaks in to steal Bruce’s second diamond. Superman grabs the diamond and is briefly eclipsed but fights it off. Creeper escapes. Remember Will “Starman” Payton? Prior to this, in the last 4 issues of his own series, which ended right before this event started, it appeared that Eclipso had been responsible for Starman’s origin (that was later retconned in James Robinson’s Starman series to have been Prince Gavyn, who died in the Crisis on Infinite Earths; recently retconned again post-Rebirth to be related to the Totality, as seen in the 2020 Justice League series). In Central America, an undercover Starman is captured by Eclipso for his shapeshifting abilities. Starman swallows a diamond, making it invisible to Bruce’s diamond detector. Back in the US, the mall kid’s monster reappears. Superman finds him and they fight. Bruce gets his solar gun to Superman just in time. Starman flies back home to Phoenix and gets a diamond to Kitty Faulkner, aka Rampage. Superman shows up and de-eclipses Rampage, but Starman gets away without anyone knowing he’s working for Eclipso. On the moon, Lar Gand remains a statue (#3).

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman.

3) Green Lantern Annual #1 (Gerard Jones writer; Andy Smith pencils; John Beatty inks), on sale 6/4/92

Eclipso decides he wants a Green Lantern, so he sends Starman out to find him. Starman gets Guy Gardner eclipsed, who then gets Carol Ferris eclipsed as Star Sapphire. She fights GL/Hal Jordan with the help of Starman, but Hal summons Kilowog before he’s beaten and eclipsed. Bruce Gordon zaps Guy with his solar gun, and declipses him. Kilowog arrives with a bunch of rookie GLs. Eclipsed Hal & Star Sapphire fight John Stewart, Kilowog, and the GLs, but they escape.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand (who is Sir Not-Appearing-in-This-Comic), Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire.

4) Detective Comics Annual #5 (Alan Grant, John Wagner writers; Tom Mandrake pencils; Mandrake, Jan Duursema, Rick Magyar inks), on sale 6/9/92

Barbara Gordon calls up her dad on the anniversary of her shooting (Killing Joke). Batman finds a black diamond, and takes it back to the Batcave to study it. Joker breaks out of Arkham. Bruce Gordon goes to Commissioner Gordon and tells Batman he’s tracked a diamond to Gotham. (By the way, Bruce Gordon got his name as a combination of Bruce Wayne and James Gordon!) The Commish gets one of the diamonds and because he’s mad at Joker, creates an eclipsoid monster, which goes to the place where Joker is holed up. Batman and Gordon defeat the monster. Joker gets away. Continued in Robin Annual #5 later.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire.

5) Superman Annual #4 (Dan Vado writer; Scott Benefiel pencils; Trevor Scott inks), on sale 6/16/92

Bruce Gordon helps Superman track down a diamond to a guy who said that when he was eclipsed, he felt like someone was controlling him from the moon. Meanwhile, Lois is on assignment in Crater Bay, when she’s handed a black diamond by a disguised Starman. On the moon, Eclipso monologues past the statue of the eclipsed Lar Gand (#4). Gordon heads out to where Lois is to find a diamond, they find an eclipsoid monster, and Superman arrives to help but Gordon’s solar blaster gets broken in the fight. They run into Lois, who has gotten eclipsed. Gordon’s girlfriend Mona Bennett gets eclipsed too. Superman makes them fight until sunrise, an Lois gets declipsed but not Mona, who gets away. Superman says that he needs help.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett

6) Justice League America Annual #6 (Dan Mishkin writer; Dave Cockrum pencils; Jose Marzan inks), on sale 6/23/92

Eclipso monologues on the moon past the statue of Lar Gand in the corner (#5) about how he wants all of the powers. Guy Gardner is back with the JLA and back as a GL while Hal is eclipsed. Superman tries to recruit Wonder Woman to help the JLA, but she’s not ready to join a group, until she finds someone who’s been eclipsed, then she offers to help. Maxima is jealous of WW and quits, but Starman finds her and eclipses her. She fights the JLA. Blue Beetle has tried to help Gordon fix the solar gun, but Eclipso finds him. Maxima mind-controls WW but Superman rescues her, and she escapes. Beetle defeats Eclipso, who turns out to have been Starman. Beetle disappears, and Gordon is missing.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima.

7) Demon Annual #2 (Alan Grant writer; Joe Philips, David Johnson pencils; John Dell inks), on sale 6/23/92

Jason Blood is in San Francisco when he’s attacked by a non-eclipsoid monster. Klarion the Witch Boy is nearby and is intrigued. Blood tracks the monster to the place of a guy who has a diamond fragment. Klarion finds the diamond and gets eclipsed. Klarion and Demon fight, Klarion gets away. No other heroes appear.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion

8) Flash Annual #5 (Mark Waid writer; Travis Charest pencils; Dan Davis inks), on sale 6/30/92

Golden Glider convinces the Rogues (Trickster, Weather Wizard, Captain Boomerang, and her boy toy Chillblaine) to join her in a museum heist to steal a black diamond fragment. They run into Flash, but she double-crosses them and escapes with the diamond. Golden Glider gets eclipsed, and then Eclipso uses her to eclipse Flash instead in her place.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash

9) Green Arrow Annual #5 (Sarah Byam writer; Trevor VonEeden pencils; Frank Springer inks), on sale 6/30/92

Oliver Queen finds a black diamond that had been transformed into a Native American blackbird necklace, lost on the street, after being stolen and then hunted by Eclipso. On the moon, Eclipso monologues to Lar Gand (#6) the story of the necklace and how he used it to wipe out a Native village. Oliver gives the necklace to Dinah, who gets eclipsed and breaks his arm, and then seeks out the only survivor of that village, eclipsing her and her son (Gan and Wren). Oliver calls in Batman for help. Together, they manage to keep Dinah busy until sunrise when she’s declipsed.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren

10) Action Comics Annual #4 (Dan Vado writer; Chris Wozniak pencils; Karl Altstaetter, Trevor Scott, Karl Kesel, Steve Mitchell inks), on sale 7/7/92

Talking to Fire, Ice, and Booster Gold, Superman decides to offer himself to Eclipso in exchange for the return of everyone eclipsed in Crater Bay. They go to Professor Hamilton and Lex Luthor (when he was a red-head) for a new solar flare weapon. Superman goes back to Crater Bay and gets himself eclipsed, but of course the townies don’t get declipsed. Booster, Fire, and Ice are ineffective, but they distract Superman long enough for Captain Marvel to show up. Cap and Superman fight, while the others hold off the townies. The solar flare thingy works to cure the townies, but all the fighting has destroyed their town. Eclipsed Superman escapes.

• Currently eclipsed: Lar Gand, Creeper, Starman, Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, Mona Bennett, Maxima, Klarion, Flash, Gan & Wren, Superman

That's it for part 1, come back later for part 2! I know you can't wait!

Legionnaires #4 annotations: If Looks Could Kill

 Annotations for Legionnaires #4

• On sale 5/11/93 
• It's OK, I'm a Senator: https://itsokimasenator.livejournal.com/27267.html
• Legion of Substitute Podcasters episode 650 (March 29, 2021)
• Timeline: June 15, 2995

Notes:

• Page 2 panel 1: “Just a day ago I was a fat, scared little girl”, so this takes place the day after the tryouts (which were on Sun 6/14), making this Monday 6/15.
• Page 2 panel 4: If she’s a fan of the Legion, shouldn’t she know who the Emerald Empress and the Emerald Eye are? She was around from 2978-2989.
• Page 5: Even if you go back to the Silver Age, Garth was never like this even if you accept that after he died it was really Proty.
• Page 8 panel 1: the guy in the orange shirt with the “G” on his sleeve must be someone – Giffen? And the purple haired guy at the table looks specific too.
• Tom Bierbaum: “Chris drew Keith Giffen plain as day into one of the Purgatory backgrounds, complete with a Giffen “G” patch on his sleeve.”
• Page 11 panel 5: Cos is sending Catspaw and Tenzil to take out Mano, with Computo right there telling him what trouble they had getting him locked up in the first place?
• Page 13 panel 5: That’s Magpie, last seen being captured in Tales #320
• Page 14 panel 1: wonder who Keating is?
• Tom Bierbaum: “There’s a background sign for “Keating Ale,” which would seem to be a reference to our late Interlacker friend Keating DuGarm, who had a rather famous fondness for beer.”
• Page 21 panel 1: ANOTHER Emerald Empress? Where did the other Eye come from?
• Page 22: so McCauley will not be taking the Tharok role as we speculated last issue! We haven’t seen Tharok since he disappeared when confronting the Dark Man, way back in LSH v2 #271 (Jan 1981), though somehow he appeared in “The Monitor Tapes” in Crisis #10 (1986 – but that’s easily handwaved by being plucked out of time by the Monitor).

---

Here's what we know of the timeline to date. I'm color coding them based on whether the date appeared in the 2995 Sourcebook (yellow; text in yellow is as written in the Sourcebook), it's a confirmed date that was given in the comic (green), or an estimated date based on keeping track of events and days (cyan). Bold text is something new added this issue. Italics are unknown dates.

• 6/11/1992 - Aria tries to take the dying Brin Londo back in time to prevent his father from administering the first Zuunium injection, but accidentally dumps them both in the 20th century (LSH v4 Ann 3 part 1).
• 2/12/75 –  The inhabitants of the planet Trom are exterminated by the pirate Kivun Roxxas. The sole survivor is 12 year-old Jan Arrah (LSH v4 #31).
• 3/26/2978 Dark Circle obtained updated cell samples from when Dr. Zan Orbal restored bodies and powers to Matter-Eater Lad, Lightning Lad, and Bouncing Boy on Tartarus, to complete their collection (LSH v4 #22).
• 10/78 Doppelganger substitution during Dark Circle invasion (LSH v4 #22).
• 2/17/89 – Mekt admitted to Labyrinth Penal Institute (LSH v4 #10).
• 6/23/89 – Magic Wars end (LSH v3 #63)
• 9/89 – Polymer shield around Earth removed, Earthgov debt soars (LSH v4 #30)
• 10/89 – the Great Collapse
• 11/2/89 – Tayla Wellington elected President (LSH v4 #30)
• 1/19/90 – Mutual assistance pact signed with the Dominion; Earthgov officially secedes from the United Planets (LSH v4 #30)
• 4/13/90 – Communique from Earthgov President Wellington, trying to legally disband the Legion, with Imra, Rokk, and Cham “currently out of the picture” (LSH v4 #1).
• 4/90 – Validus Plague ravages Winath; former Legionnaire Brainiac 5 helps (LSH v4 #3).
• 6/7/90 – Legion Academy closes (LSH v4 #16).
• 7/6/90 – Former Legion Academy heads Chuck and Luornu Durgo Taine open the United Planets Militia Academy (LSH v4 #16).
• TBD 2990 – Earthgov secedes from the United Planets, and the Science Police Earth splits from the Science Police Proper (LSH v4 #2). Since then, “resistance forces have opposed Earthgov since the introduction of repressive measures… but with little success to date.” (LSH v4 #13)
• 4/12/91 – Tinya goes missing; she was secretly sent back in time by Glorith (LSH v4 #2).
• 5/8/91 – Search for Tinya called off; Jo resigns; Sun Boy is leader (LSH v4 #2).
• 5/27/91 – Mekt released from Labyrinth, rehabilitated (LSH v4 #10).
• 6/9/91 – Planned date of wedding of Tinya and Jo (LSH v4 #2).
• 7/91 – Reported threats regarding Earthgov failure to pay debts (LSH v4 #30).
• 8/12/91 – Black Dawn; Timber Wolf is seriously injured, Wildfire is lost; Starfinger II (Char Burrane) and the Khunds are somehow involved (LSH v4 #12, #28).
• 8/14/91 – It is now postulated that full Domination of Earthgov began at this time (LSH v4 #30).
• 8/15/91 – Blok, Dawnstar, and Dream Girl resign (LSH v4 #28).
• 8/17/91 – Crystal Kid resigns (LSH v4 #28).
• 8/23/91 – Element Lad resigns (LSH v4 #28).
• 9/1/91 – Impulse resigns (LSH v4 #28).
• 9/4/91 – Echo and Tellus resign (LSH v4 #28).
• 9/14/91 – Sun Boy resigns and appoints Polar Boy as unofficial temporary leader (LSH v4 #28).
10/8/91 – Imsk sets off the Damper weapon on Venado Bay on Braal-13 during the Imsk/Braal War. Rokk lost his powers, Loomis lost an arm. Salu was head of security on the damper project and knew what it would do, but fought against it (not hard enough, in her admission). Imsk won, as the army is occupying Braal (LSH v4 #1). She says that Braal attacked Imsk, and they were just defending themselves (LSH v4 #10).
• TBD 2991 – Garth and Imra, having left the Legion, start the Lightning Ring Plantation (LSH v4 #3).
• 1/21/92 – Rebirth Summit (LSH v4 #1).
• 7/6/92 – LSH leader Polar Boy disbands the Legion, mentions Black Dawn which “cost” the Legion (LSH v4 #1); Mordru coronated as the Supreme Teacher of Sorceror’s World (LSH v4 #6).
• TBD 1992 – Down and out, Dirk is rescued by Shvaughn Erin, who warns him not to trust Earthgov, but he doesn’t trust her. Dirk is later recruited by Circe (LSH v4 #28)
• 8/22/92 – Brek Bannin arrested for insurrection (LSH v4 #11).
• 9/9/92 – Dirk joins Earthgov as a spokesman and liaison (LSH v4 #28)
• 4/11/93 – Announcement of upcoming wedding of Grev Mallor (of the City People) to Kahnya Nahtahnie (Lady Memory of the Hill People) on Talok VIII.
• 8/14/93 – wedding of Grev Mallor and Kahnya Nahtahnie.
• 1/17/94 – Marzal reappears over Africa and the corrupt Earthgov destroys it, but not before Tyroc escapes (LSH v4 #16).
• 10/22/94 – Raid on anti-government terrorists, but ringleader Vidar (aka Universo) is not captured; Cham tells Marla he’s leaving (LSH v4 #1).
• 10/23/94 – Cham begins to recruit members for the new Legion, first approaching Rokk; Vi leaves the Imsk army for Winath; Dominator agents help Roxxas escape from Labyrinth (LSH v4 #1).
• 10/25/94 – Attack on Jo and Kono on Rimbor; Loomis and Lydda en route to Kathoon (LSH v4 #2).
• Fri 11/21/94 – Blok is killed by Roxxas the Butcher (LSH v4 #3).
• Thu 11/27/94 – Mordru crushes Rond Vidar’s ring; Rokk and Cham finally meet up with Jo and decide to go to Tharn to rescue Mysa; Dominators and Shvaughn Erin watch the tape of Roxxas and Blok, whose body is delivered to Winath; Mon-El resurrected (LSH v4 #3).
• Fri 11/28/94 – Mon-El goes to Talok VIII, then Shadow Lass and Mon-El visit Brainiac 5, then Mon-El destroys the Time Trapper (LSH v4 #4).
• Sat 11/29/94 – Mordruverse (LSH v4 #5).
• Sat 11/29/94 – Cham, Rokk, Jo, Kono, and Furball arrive on Tharn and are captured by Mordru; after being hired by Earthgov to find Blok’s killer, Celeste, Devlin, and Bounty leave for Trom (LSH v4 #6).
• Sun 11/30/94 – Celeste, Devlin, and Bounty meet Jan on Trom (LSH v4 #6); with the help of Laurel Gand, Rokk’s crew rescues Mysa and Rond from Mordru but are teleported to Grocz; Celeste, Devlin, Bounty, and Jan leave Trom for Winath (LSH v4 #7); Earthgov links to Roxxas reported, riots ensue (LSH 4 #30).
• Mon 12/1/94 – Rokk, Cham, Jo, Kono, Furball, Rond, Laurel, and Mysa travel from Grocz to Zirr (LSH v4 #8).
• Tues 12/2/94 – Rokk, Laurel, and Rond take some R&R time on Zirr with baby Lauren, while the others go to Winath; Marla reminisces (LSH v4 #8); on Cygnus IV, Roxxas watches a holo of Laurel Gand; Celeste, Devlin, Bounty, and Jan arrive on Winath (LSH v4 #9).
• Wed 12/3/94 – Rokk and Rond arrive in the morning, having left Laurel behind on Zirr; everyone (Rokk, Rond; Cham, Jo, Kono, Furball, Mysa; Celeste, Devlin, Bounty, Jan; Brainy, Garth, Ayla, Vi, Imra) is on Winath when Roxxas attacks; Bounty, Mekt, Cham, and Celeste are seriously injured, while Jo disappears and is presumed dead; Earthgov linked to Roxxas; Tenzil arrives on Earth (LSH v4 #10).
• Thu 12/4/94 – On Winath, Roxxas is on the loose, and kills a doctor and nurse in the Bloomfield Free Clinic. On Earth, Tenzil participates in the Batcave dig, meets with Shvaughn and Brek (who is released for the first time since incarceration 2 years prior), has dinner with Prosecutor Jakobi, then falls asleep. (LSH v4 #11).
• Fri 12/5/94 – Tenzil and Brek in court; Holo Scene news article on the trial (LSH v4 #11); Celeste is healed by a green glow; the former Legionnaires team up to capture Roxxas, who reveals Dominion control of Earthgov (LSH v4 #12).
• Wed 12/10/94 – All-points bulletin on Persuader, who meets Kent Shakespeare in on Quarantine trying to attack Char Burrane Jr. (LSH v4 #12). Persuader is defeated by Kent and SP Captain Gim Allon, who then takes Kent to Toonar (LSH v4 #13).
• Thu 12/11/94 – Kent leaves Toonar for Winath; Laurel fights Khunds in deep space; Tenzil and Brek on Gnogg. (LSH v4 #13).
• Sun 12/14/94 – The Legion is formally reinstated.
• Mon 12/16/94 – Tenzil, Brek, and Calorie Queen are taken to Tartarus by Prince Evillo; Tenzil banished to the Realm of Darkness (LSH v4 #14).
• Thu 12/25/94 – Garth, Cham, and Rokk remotely survey Talus (LSH v4 #14).
• Fri 12/26/94 – Tenzil and Sugyn return from the Realm of Darkness, only to hear that Tenzil has been declared dead and his Senate seat vacated (LSH v4 #14).
• Sat 12/27/94 – Loomis writes his report on Talus’ suitability for being the new HQ; Tenzil leaves Brek behind on Tartarus and heads for Winath (LSH v4 #14).
• Sun 12/28/94 – The reformed Legion establishes headquarters on the asteroid world of Talus.
• Sat 1/3/95 – Tenzil Kem rejoins the Legion.
• Sun 1/11/95 – Orando falls to the Khunds (LSH v4 #15).
• Mon 1/12/95 – The Legion agrees to team with the United Planets Militia to beat back a Khundish invasion that threatens the heart of the United Planets (LSH v4 #15).
• Exact date unknown – Cham meets with a Khundish double agent; Venegar falls to the Khunds, who then make a deal with the Hill People of Talok VIII; the UP Militia tries to decide if Xolnar or Talok VIII will be attacked next; Valor and Shadow Lass appear on Talok VIII; Khunds attack Xolnar; Circe wants Dirk to give a pro-Dominator speech (LSH v4 #15).
• Exact date unknown – Last stand on Xolnar; introduction of the Resistance on Earth (LSH v4 #16).
• Fri 3/13/95 – SP Officer Roon Dvron’s police report on Sussa Paka (LSH v4 #22, 23, 27).
• Sat 3/14/95 - Sussa Paka escape SP custody, steals Starfinger's helmet for Molock Hanscom on the way out (LSH v4 #27).
• Sun 3/22/95 – Khund decoy fleet arrives at Talok VIII, while the main fleet attacks Xolnar, leading to the death of Jed “Power Boy” Rikane; after destroying the Talok fleet, the Legion and the UP Militia arrive at Xolnar to finish the Khundish fleet; Glorith sent to the end of time; the Khunds are driven back to pre-2995 borders, and the Legion concludes its participation in the war against Khundish encroachment (LSH v4 #17).
• Wed 3/25/95 – Don and Dawn Allen are arrested by Earthgov (LSH v4 #17).
• Thurs 3/26/95 – Don and Dawn Allen are put on trial (LSH v4 #17); Sussa Paka steals Earthgov Artifact J-1-WRTZ for Molock Hanscom (LSH v4 #27).
• Fri 3/27/95 – Tensions increase on Earth with the execution of Legion friends Don and Dawn Allen. (Note that 3/27/95 is a Friday, while the comic says it happened on a Monday) (LSH v4 #17); additional riots, and martial law is instituted (LSH v4 #30).
• Sat 3/28/95 – Daily Planet article on the Allen executions (LSH v4 #17).
• Exact date unknown – Valor and Shadow Lass help counter a Dark Circle attempt on Queen Projectra’s life on Orando, then remove the Dark Circle cultists from Carggg; Universo and Jacques meet; holo studio bombing allegedly by one of the Resistance groups (LSH v4 #18).
• Thu 4/9/95 – Valor and Shadow Lass leave Carggg on their way to some R&R in deep space (LSH v4 #22).
• Sat 4/11/95 – Luna is destroyed, ravaging Earth (LSH v4 #19) and causing powerspheres to detonate across the globe, with a death toll in the billions and widespread environmental devastation (LSH v4 #30). The mysterious “SW6" Legionnaires awaken in an underground Dominion chamber on Earth. (LSH v4 #20, 25) Earthgov authorizes executions. (LSH v4 #25).
• Sun 4/12/95 – Jo Nah returns from an extended journey through time (LSH v4 #19) and is added to the reformed adult Legion team; the SW6 Legion encounters Devlin O’Ryan (LSH v4 #20); all outside aid to Earth is rejected (LSH v4 #30).
• Mon 4/13/95 – Dacey and Doritt Ranzz are born to ex-Legionnaires Garth and Imra Ardeen Ranzz. Rokk recalls the events of Venado Bay as the Dominators start executing Science Police Earth officers who are revolting against the Dominators. Mysa Nal is contacted by the spirit of Amethyst (LSH v4 #20). After being exposed to the null radiation from the detonation of Metropolis' powersphere on the 11th, Devlin is getting worse. (LSH v4 #25).
• Wed 4/15/95 – Furball meets Aria on Zuun, unaware that she’s being hunted by Darkseid; Atmos revealed to have been killed by Project Champion; the Dominators begin harsher punishment of insurrectionists on Earth (LSH v4 #21).
• Fri 4/17/95 – Jo, Celeste, and Kent on the way to Zuun to get Brainy and Furball; on Talus, Kono reads Nura’s unanswered messages to Mysa; on Altair, Valor finds troubling news from a Dark Circle computer (LSH v4 #22).
• Sat 4/18/95 – Disease and rebellion reported widespread on Earth; Dominators performing mass executions (LSH v4 #30).
• Exact date unknown: members of the Dark Circle recount the history of Valor (LSH v4 Annual 2).
• Mon 4/20/95 – Devlin is healing and appears to have powers just like Reflecto of Rimbor (LSH v4 #29).
• Tues 4/21/95 – Jo, Celeste, and Kent arrive at Zuun (LSH v4 #22).They are briefly detained but they escape to the surface and meet up with Brainy and Furball, but Lobo captures and leaves with Aria; during the escape, Celeste generates a burst of intense green energy. On Earth, Resistance leader Jacques has Laurel and Bounty meet up with Circe, who has turned against the Dominators and Earthgov. Valor leaves Shady to go to Earth to check into what he found (LSH v4 #23).
• Wed 4/22/95 – Lobo brings Aria to Darkseid, followed by Jo, Kent, Celeste, Brainy, and Furball. Lobo is revealed to be merely a probe and Darkseid vanishes him, and then turns Furball back into Brin. The Gemini Matrix activates and Aria turns into an adult Gemini and blasts Darkseid, per his secret wish, who then disappears. Back on Earth, BION discovers the adult Laurel Gand while looking for the SW6 version, and the SW6 Legionnaires reveal themselves to Devlin (LSH v4 #24). The SW6 Legionnaires and Devlin escape the tunnels and link up with Universo and the Earth Resistance (LSH v4 #25), and then quickly go to the Resistance HQ in New Mexico. The Subs and Universo’s Resistance team capture the Weisigner Chambers from the Dominators, while BION follows Laurel to Talus (LSH v4 #26).
• Thu 4/23/95 – Garth and Imra decide to hold the christening of their new twins next week, on Saturday May 2 (LSH v4 Ann 3 part 2).
• Sat 4/25/95 - Legionnaires in Africa with the Resistance and the SW6 Batch become aware of each other; the Subs and Grin’s resistance team discover others in the Weisinger Chambers; Rokk, Kono, and Loomis manage to subdue BION on Talus (LSH v4 #27). Dirk Morgna’s pod is discovered (LSH v4 #28).
• Sun 4/26/95 – On Talus, Brainiac 5 studies BION, and Valor suggests that the adult Legionnaires may be clones. Monica Sade is released from the Weisinger chambers, and then Dominator troops temporarily gain control of the Chambers. Circe and Bounty plan to take out Pinnacle Command, while the Dominators prepare mind-wiped agents to attack the Subs (LSH v4 #29).
• Thu 4/30/95 – Tensions on Earth reach the breaking point when President Tayla Wellington is assassinated by the Dominion during a live broadcast (LSH v4 #29, 30). Aria tries to take the dying Brin Londo back in time to prevent his father from administering the first Zuunium injection, but accidentally dumps them both in the 20th century (LSH v4 Ann 3 part 1). Legionnaires begin to arrive on Winath for a reunion to attend the christening of Dacey and Doritt Ranzz (LSH v4 Ann 3 part 2).
• Fri 5/1/95 – On Earth, the Subs battle mind-wiped Dominator agents; the Dominators and UP fleets meet up in orbit around Earth (LSH v4 #30). More Legionnaires arrive on Winath for the christening; the Naltor Dreamers defeat the Winath Jaybirds 6-1, clinching their first pennant since 2980 (LSH v4 Ann 3 part 2).
• Sat 5/2/95 – Dacey and Doritt's christening; Pol Jath Krinn is born to Rokk Krinn and his wife Lydda; Ayla Ranzz learns that Garth is really Proty I, inhabiting her brother's re-animated body (LSH v4 Ann 3 part 2).On Earth, Jan helps Shvaughn Erin and sees his SW6 self, while in space the adult Valor meets his SW6 counterpart (LSH v4 #31).
• Wed 5/6/95 – Cham begins a search for R.J. Brande; on Earth, Circe and Bounty capture Spider Girl; the Subs escape from the Weisinger chambers with the help of the SW6 Legion, but Grinn sets off a self-destruct mechanism that destroys all the chambers; SW6 Chameleon Boy, Karate Kid, and Princess Projectra are killed fighting Dominion troops (Note: the Sourcebook says this happened on 5/15, but that's too much time since the christening) (LSH v4 #32).
• Thurs 5/7/95 – Cham arrives on Yal and finds Brande; the Dominators get intel on the Soul of Antares (LSH v4 #33).
• Fri 5/8/9 – Adam Orion arrives on Yal to capture Brande, but fails; the Antareans are hijacked by someone using the Emerald Eye; the SW6 Legionnaires find Crystal Kid still alive, along with Catspaw, Dragonmage, and Computo (LSH v4 #33).
• Fri 5/15/95: The battle for Earth begins, with fighting on the ground and in the skies. SW6 Laurel Gand and the UP capture Pinnacle Command. King Jonn declines the adult Legion’s offer for help from off-world, but asks them to be prepared to defend the UP from other outside threats (LSH v4 #34).
• Sun 5/17/95: The crippled Dirk Morgna encounters his SW6 counterpart; the Dominion fleet is defeated by the U.P. militia with the aid of the SW6 Valor; Pinnacle Command orders his troops to surrender; Earth is liberated and Jacques Foccart is named the new acting President of Earth; on Gallan, Universo and Leland McCauley raise a toast to their imminent conquest of Earth (LSH v4 #35).
• Tues 5/19/95: Circe kills Dirk Morgna and then takes her own life; Bounty is badly wounded in a fight with Sade; the Bounty entity leaves its host body, who the Legionnaires realize is Dawnstar (LSH v4 #36).
• Wed 5/20/95: Jan Arrah takes his leave from Jacques now that the fighting is over (LSH v4 #36).
• Fri 5/22/95: Nura propositions Thom on the eve of the Galaxy Series finale; Saturn Girl is kidnapped (LSH v4 #37).
• Sat 5/23/95: Naltor Dreamers beat the Toonar Pilots to win the Galaxy Series; SW6 Brainiac 5 arrives on Earth and sends SW6 Valor back to 2978 (LSH v4 #37).
• Sun 5/24/95: The Tokyo sinkhole opens up (LSH v4 #38).
• Tue 5/26/95: The two Brainiac 5s report that the Earth is doomed (LSH v4 #38).
• Wed 6/3/95: Seismic disturbances spur Foccart to order the takeoff of the cities equipped for it. Of the 480 cities with escape domes, only 94 make it to safety in the Bgztl Buffer Zone (LSH v4 #38).
• Thu 6/4/95: The Great Terran Disaster – the Earth explodes, killing the two billion people who could not be evacuated in time. The cities that were saved joined together in the moon's former orbit as New Earth (LSH v4 #38).
• Sat 6/6/95: After Jan gives a speech to the evacuees, the adult Legionnaires head back to New Earth (LSH v4 #39).
• Sun 6/7/95: Several SW6 Legionnaires rescue the kidnapped Cham, RJ Brande, Kid Quantum, and the Proties from Leland McCauley IV (LSH v4 #39).
• Tue 6/9/95: SW6 and Adult Legionnaires battle mind-wiped Dominator agents from the Weisinger Chambers; Nura enlists the help of J’onn J’onzz to help Mysa; and the old and young Legions finally get together (LSH v4 #40).
• Thu 6/11/95: Sean Erin becomes Chief of the Science Police for New Earth. Reep Daggle resigns from the reformed adult Legion to organize and lead the youthful Legionnaires. Jacques Foccart resigns as president of New Earth to rejoin the reformed adult Legion and names vice president Troy Stewart to succeed him. Catspaw, Dragonmage, and Computo II join the SW6 Legion (LSH v4 #41).
• Sat 6/13/95: The new group, "The Legionnaires," is deputized, with its membership consisting of the youthful versions of the original Legion and several new recruits. Computo stops the Djakarta dome from colliding with the Melbourne dome, Cosmic Boy is elected leader and names Computo deputy, and then the Espionage Squad encounters Mano (Legionnaires #1). The Legionnaires capture Mano (Legionnaires #2).
• Sun 6/14/95: The Legionnaires hold tryouts, while Leland McCauley IV and a green-haired woman steal the Persuader’s Atomic Axe (Legionnaires #2). The Legionnaires confront Mordecai in the tunnels below Metropolis, Persuader breaks out of prison, and Cera Kesh becomes the new Emerald Empress (Legionnaires #3).
• Mon 6/15/95: Some Legionnaires fight the new Emerald Empress while others try to prevent Persuader from breaking Mano out of prison. The two men meet Mordecai and Leland McCauley, who reintroduces them to yet another Empress as well as Tharok (Legionnaires #4).
• Sat 6/20/95: "The Lore of the Legion" timeline printed in "Our Times: A Review of Contemporary News"
• Fri 6/26/95: Luornu, Rond, Laurel, and Brainiac 5 are all captured by Glorith, who has returned from the End of Time, with the assist of the previously-thought-dead Luornu’s second body. They defeat Glorith and bring Luornu-2 back to Talus (LSH v4 #41).
• Sat 6/27/95: Back on Talus, Brainiac 5 reveals that he gave Luornu a force field power. She reunites with Chuck and accesses her personal journal (LSH v4 #41).
• Wed 7/29/95: Jacques and Drura join the team; Mysa is possessed, and goes to Tharn to confront Mordru (LSH v4 #43), but she is defeated and is absorbed into Mordru. Using this power, he raises armies of the dead in a number of worlds in both UP and Khund space. The Legion agrees to help the Khunds, but they insist that the Legion take on four new Khundish members (LSH v4 #44).

Reprint collections predictions for 2022

Lots of reprint collection talk in this one! "Before the Darkness vol 2" was announced, coming 1/25/22, reprinting LSH v2 272-283 plus Best of DC Digest 24. Unfortunately, none of the guest star spots (Superman Family 207, Brave & Bold 179, DC Comics Presents 43, World’s Finest 283-284) were on the list of reprinted stories.

Legion of Super-Heroes: Before the Darkness Vol. 2 by Gerry Conway, Steve Ditko, Paul Levitz, Carmine Infantino, 25 January 2022, 352 pages

Experience the Legionnaires' far-flung adventures leading up to the great darkness saga! The second volume of the Legionnaire's incredible run is here! Discover the answers to these intriguing mysteries in Legion of Super-Heroes: Before the Darkness, an astonishing collection of action-packed episodes from acclaimed talents Gerry Conway, Paul Kupperberg, E. Nelson Bridwell, J.M. DeMatteis, Jim Janes, Steve Ditko, Jim Sherman, Frank Chiaramonte, Dave Hunt, and more! This second and final volume collects The Legion of Super-Heroes #272-283, The Best of DC: Blue Ribbon Digest #24.

Speaking of reprints, I tried to use historical data to predict how many new reprint volumes will come out in 2022, and which ones. In 2021, we have “Before the Darkness vol 1” which already came out, Bendis vol 2 in April, and the tabloid reprint in December, so I don’t expect anything else in 2021 as they’re already coming out with 2022 books. 

Let's dive into things and see what we can come up with . DC has put out the following Legion reprint collections over the last few years:

4 in 2017: 1 Silver Age, 1 Bronze Age, 2 Reboot

5 in 2018: 2 Silver Age, 1 Bronze Age, 2 Reboot

0 in 2019

3 in 2020: 1 Silver Age, 1 5YL, 1 Rebirth

3 in 2021: 2 Bronze Age, 1 Rebirth (scheduled)

1 in 2022: 1 Bronze Age (scheduled)

Given that, I'd expect maybe 2-3 more books to come out in 2022. Thoughts:

SILVER AGE

• The "LSH: The Silver Age Omnibus" line is complete in three volumes, covering Adventure 247 to Action 392. But they also had one volume just called “LSH: The Silver Age vol 1” in 2018, even though the same year they put out “The Silver Age Omnibus vol 3”, so who knows. The Omnibus vol 1 reprinted up to ADV 329, while the non-Omnibus reprinted up to ADV 310. Since the 3 Silver Age Omnibus books came out 2017-2020, I’m not inclined to think that we’ll see another Silver Age non-Omnibus.

BRONZE AGE (which for the purpose of this discussion I'm saying goes through the end of v2)

• I'd expect the Bronze Age Omnibus series to start. The Silver Age books were an average of 630 pages each, meaning that this hypothetical volume 1 would cover Superboy 172-224, which are what's covered in Archives 10-12 (reprinted in 2000, 2002, and 2003)
• "The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition" (392 pages) and "The Curse Deluxe Edition" (522 pages) both came out in 2011 and are due for re-release, especially since those are the next ones chronologically following "Before the Darkness".

V3/BAXTER RUN

• After "The Curse" came "An Eye for an Eye" (2007, LSH v3 1-6) and "The More Things Change" (2009, LSH v3 7-13), but neither contained the "Tales of the LSH" stories that were published concurrently with the first year of v3. I would recommend either a volume that has issues from both, since each makes reference to stuff going on in the other title, or put the v3 issues together in one volume and the 12 issues of "Tales" in a second volume. But those likely wouldn't come out until after "The Curse" gets reissued.

FIVE YEARS LATER

• The 5YL Omnibus vol 2 should come out, with LSH v4 #40 to the end, plus the Legionnaires series and half of the Valor run. Depending on what they put in there (like the Secret Origins issues or the Legion entries in Who's Who), it could run anywhere from 1300-1800 pages.

REBOOT

• The Reboot had volume 2 last published in 2018, so it's due for the next volume. I estimate there are up to 11 volumes (depending on size) before we hit the Abnett/Lanning run which has already started to get reprinted.
• The Abnett/Lanning vol 2 reprinted “Legion Lost” in 2018, but there are still 6 issues of Legion Worlds, 38 issues of The Legion, some Secret Files, and some Titans/Legion stories left, which I estimate would take up another 4 volumes. Legion Worlds should be next, as a 6-issue series (and was originally solicited but cancelled in 2013).

THREEBOOT

• Threeboot (LSH v5) was complete in 2007-2009, with volumes published concurrently with the title. I don't see a clamor for re-releases.

RETROBOOT

• The Retroboot was reprinted concurrently with the v6 series in 2008-2011, but only about half of the Adventure series has been reprinted (the Legion Academy stuff has not) and a handful of random stories from various books (about 200 pages worth). Not expecting this anytime soon.

NEW 52

• New 52 was all reprinted concurrently with the v7 series and Legion Lost in 2012-2015. Not expecting a re-release any time soon.

REBIRTH

• Volume 2 already coming out in April 2021, while the Future State books will be reprinted elsewhere. 

So here are the 5 candidates for reprinting in 2022. With one book already on the schedule, I'd bet on any 2 or 3 of these coming out (listed in chronological order of original printing):

1. Bronze Age Omnibus vol 1: reprinting Superboy 172-224, last reprinted 2000-2003 in Archives 10-12; the last Silver Age Omnibus volume came out in 2020
2. The Great Darkness Saga re-release: reprinting LSH v2 284-296, last reprinted 2011, though if this came out I expect it would be at the end of the year since "Before the Darkness vol 2" will come out in Jan 2022
3. 5YL Omnibus vol 2: reprinting LSH v4 #40-63, plus the Legionnaires series and half of the Valor run, all of which has never been reprinted; vol 1 came out in 2021
4. Reboot vol 3: reprinting LSH v4 #74-80 and LGS #31-37 plus the Superboy crossover, and continuing the naming for this reprint series as "Legionnaires", all of which has never been reprinted; volume 2 came out in 2018
5. Legion Worlds: issues 1-6 never reprinted, although solicited but cancelled in 2013; last Abnett/Lanning volume 2 came out in 2018

Legion sales figures, Nov 2020-Feb 2021 (issues 11, 12, FS1, FS2)

It's been a while since we had any sales figures for the Legion: back in October for issue #10. Due to the pandemic and DC's changes in distributors, it's been tough to get actual numbers (for both DC and Marvel).

Comichron finally has obtained relative sales data for DC comics sold since the last time I did a report. Diamond has not released details for Marvel sales in that time, so all we have at the moment are sales of DC comics in relation to each other and not overall sales for the industry. The numbers given are how many issues of Legion were ordered for every 100 issues of Justice League, Comichron’s benchmark. Also included are the top and worst seller at comic shops for DC that month, relative to Justice League.

Here’s a summary:

November:

#1	Dark Knights Death Metal #5	198
#9	Justice League #56	100
#28	Legion of Super-Heroes #11	48
#49	Scooby Doo, Where Are You #106	7

Selling more than LSH:

• 12 Batman family, 4 other event or miniseries, 1 Rorschach, 2 Justice League, 2 Superman family, 1 Hellblazer, 2 WW, 2 Flash, 1 GL

Selling less than LSH:

• Catwoman, Young Justice, Justice League Dark, Suicide Squad, Hellblazer, American Vampire, Aquaman, Hawkman, Red Hood, Batman Beyond, Teen Titans

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Issue #12 of LSH was delayed out of the December charts and into January. For completeness, here are the top and bottom sellers for December:

#1	Batman #104	219
#12	Justice League #58	100
#51	Scooby Doo, Where Are You #107	7

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January's chart has two LSH issues, LSH v8 #12 and Future State LSH #1.

#1	Dark Nights Death Metal #7	141
#6	Future State Justice League #1	100
#28	Future State Legion of Super-Heroes #1	46
#34	LSH v8 #12	34
#42	Looney Tunes #258	5

• There were 9 non-Future State books above FS:LSH: Dark Nights Death Metal, 3 Batman family, DCeased, Rorschach, Strange Adventures, and Generations Shattered.
• Future State Legion of Super-Heroes was the #20 Future State book out of 25, outselling FS Aquaman (45), Shazam (44), Robin Eternal (44), Kara Zor-El Superwoman (44), and Superman vs Imperious Lex (37).
• LSH v8 #12 outsold only one Future State book (Superman vs Imperious Lex). And all of the books that had been cancelled earlier (Hawkman, Suicide Squad, etc.) are finally not on this list.
• Since this was almost all Future State this month, you can’t compare the LSH book’s #34 ranking out of 42 with November’s #28 of 49.

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February’s chart is back to one LSH issue, Future State #2. 

#1	Future State Next Batman #3	131
#6	Future State Justice League #2	100
#29	Future State Legion of Super-Heroes #2	51
#42	Scooby Doo Where Are You #108	6

• Note that FSLSH #2 sold better relative to FSJL #2 than the issue #1s did – my take is that the FSJL title had a bigger drop from #1 to #2 (relatively speaking) than FSLSH did.
• FSLSH #2 outsold 3 Future State books (compare to 5 books from issue #1): FS Suicide Squad (51), FS Superman vs Imperious Lex (48), and FS Kara Zor-El Superwoman (47).

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LSH v8 sales and rank

Issue	Total sales (all covers)	overall #	DC #	Total DC	Percentage	#1 book
1	75,611	10	3	114	2.6	138,434
2	35,653	50	17	95	17.9	117,926
3	34,732	44	15	112	13.4	167,377
4	30,675	51	18	88	20.4	190,568
5	29,058	59	18	80	22.5	142,089
6	TBD	23	17	65	26.2	TBD
7	TBD	41	18	49	36.7	TBD
8	Est. 38,000	46	22	57	38.6	Est. 300,000
9	Est. 29,500	Tie 62	Tie 20	55	36.4	Est. 207,500
10	Est. 31,000	Tie 66	Tie 24	51	47.0	Est. 215,000
11	TBD	TBD	28	49	57.1	TBD
12	TBD	TBD	34	42	80.9	TBD
FS 1	TBD	TBD	28	42	66.7	TBD
FS 2	TBD	TBD	29	42	69.0	TBD

Looking at the Percentage column (DC # divided by Total DC issues put out), you can see that it looks like it’s falling to the back of the pack as the series goes on, but the DC # looks fairly consistent after the return from the pandemic, suggesting that DC is cutting books below it in the sales figures. Over a year ago, DC was publishing over 100 titles; last month it only published 42.

And that’s pretty much it until the next issue (or series) comes out.