LSH v4 #17 annotations: The Last Battle

Annotations for Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #17

• On sale date: February 12, 1991
• It's OK, I'm a Senator: https://itsokimasenator.livejournal.com/10034.html
• Legion of Substitute Podcasters episode 572 (September 30, 2019)
• Timeline: approximately March 22-28, 2995

There's someone named "Lareina" in here, anyone know if that's a reference to someone in Legion fandom?

• Cover is part 3 of a triptych with issues 15 & 16

• Page 2: Brainy’s eye is getting better, in the last issue it was completely covered with a bandage. Some time has passed since the last issue.
• Page 5 panel 9: RIP Jed “Power Boy” Rikane
• Page 6 panel 5: Looks like Glorith has been taking fashion tips from Emma Frost
• Page 7 panel 5: the villain monologing their master plan – Glorith plucks some weapons from the past as a ruse to allow her to gain access to magical artifacts (though we don’t find out what the plan is, what the artifacts are, or what happens to the artifacts)
• Page 11: RIP Kiritan, sent on a suicide decoy mission Page 12 panel 7: that’s a miscolored Brainiac 5, note the patches near his right eye. The colorist darkened the hair (supposed to be blond) and the beard (supposed to be just scruff).
• Page 18 panel 5: Galt escapes, maybe to fight another day. I don’t think we ever see Galt again, so add this to the list of dropped plot threads, along with “all the probes are spies of Mordru’s” and “Is Devlin O’Ryan a member of the Dark Circle?”
• Page 20 panel 2: the “chronal howitzer” was last seen being thrown by Roxxas at Jo Nah back in issue 10, which caused him to go back in time.
• Page 22: Don and Dawn Allen are arrested on Saturday, put on trial Sunday, and executed on Monday. Article is from Tuesday. The twins were age 29, putting their births in 2965 (revised timeline).
• The Sourcebook has this at 3/27/95 (which is a Friday, not a Monday)
• Also born in 2965: Atmos, Chemical King, Porcupine Pete, and Tyroc
• Page 23 panel 2: the Allen twins were executed in retaliation for Iris Allen exposing the Dominators’ links to Earthgov and Roxxas.
• Page 24 panel 6: Don Allen’s rescue of his sister was just a hallucination, he was executed while in custody next to her
• Page 24 panel 8: this is one of the three biggest character assassinations that the writers performed in this series (the others being Proty/Garth and Sean Erin), essentially turning Dirk into a traitor. This isn’t the sort of thing he’d do after leaving the Legion, he’d never turn his back on his friends, former teammates, and his home planet. So NOW he’s having second thoughts about joining up with Earthgov?
• Page 25 panel 4: Lareina mentioned (named after ???)
• Page 25 panel 6: last we saw Devlin, he was traveling with Bounty, Jan, and Celeste back to Earth (back in issue 15, which was about 2 months ago). Apparently he’s been busy since then, since he’s now working as part of the Resistance with Shvaughn and Jacques.
• Page 25 panel 9: credits are missing for the first part of the issue (pencils by Brandon Peterson, inks by Carlos Garzon, pages 1-21)

The timeline is fuzzy as to when the events of these three issues happen. The only dates we know come from the Sourcebook and bookend this 3-parter, so we can't know the specifics of what happened when except for these two events:

• 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)
• Sun 3/22/95 – the Khunds are driven back to pre-2995 borders, and the Legion concludes its participation in the war against Khundish encroachment (LSH v4 #17)

And now, a long digression on the history of Iris Allen, the Tornado Twins, Impulse, and XS. They are all retconned multiple times over the next decades, spinning in and out of events of this issue.

• Pre-Crisis
• Iris Allen was originally born in the 30th century, but was sent back in time (see Flash 203) to live in the 20th century. There, she met and married Barry Allen, and right before Crisis on Infinite Earths they left the 20th century for the 30th (see Flash 350). They lived happily ever after, for a while, until Barry died in the Crisis, but not before knocking up Iris.
• In the Silver Age, Don and Dawn were descendants of Barry Allen, and that was pretty much all we ever saw of them. They had one story (ADV 373), and then made a couple of non-speaking cameos later in the Bronze Age.
• Post-Crisis, Pre-Zero Hour
• In the 5YL continuity, Dawn Allen was unmarried and Don Allen was married to Carmen Johnson and had a son Barry II (as seen in this issue). This was not followed up in the Legion book, but was in Flash's book (by this time, Wally West). The article in this issue says the Tornado Twins’ brief career was 14 years ago, or 2980-81; their first appearance was in late 2978 or early 2979 (revised timeline), 16 years ago, so they must have been active for about 2 years, putting their retirement around the time they appeared on Mars for the wedding of Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel (SBOY 200).
• Just a few months before the Zero Hour reboot, Iris came back to the 20th century to ask Wally West to help her with Bart (Flash #92). She told Wally the story of Don and Dawn, how they sacrificed their lives to help protect the Earth from the Dominators, who took Bart (Don’s son) and experimented on him. Iris rescued him and brought him back to Wally. Bart soon became Impulse in the 20th century. Iris stayed in the 20th century. Impulse is pre-Zero Hour, so they had to retcon him for the post-Zero Hour reboot.
• Reboot/Post-Zero Hour
• In the Reboot continuity, Dawn was married to Jeven Ognats and they had a daughter Jenni (later known as XS). Don was married to Carmen Johnson, who we found out later had changed her name from Meloni Thawne, and their son Bartholomew (aka Barry II) later became Impulse. Post-Zero Hour, the Dominator invasion occurred about 15 years before the Legion's existence (which is why Jenni was the right age to be a Legionnaire), so Impulse and XS were contemporaries of the Legion in this timeline as opposed to their parents being the Legionnaires' contemporaries in the pre-Zero Hour timeline. President Thawne, a corrupt descendant of the supervillain Professor Zoom, arranged for the Twins' murder several months after their children's birth.
• Retroboot
• In Legion of 3 Worlds #3, it was revealed that Iris, Don, and Dawn had traveled from the New Earth (home of the Retroboot Legion) to Earth-247 (the parallel Earth where the Reboot Legion lived). After Barry's death in the original Crisis, the Twins and their families (Bart and Jenni having already been born) became the target of Professor Zoom, who was attempting to sabotage Don and Meloni's marriage. Both families escaped to Earth-247, and the Twins died soon after in unknown circumstances. Both cousins were reunited with their grandmother Iris, and both also rapidly aged to teenagers within days. After Wally’s apparent death in Infinite Crisis, Bart grew up and became Flash IV. He too was apparently killed but he was revived as a teenager in Legion of 3 Worlds, and spent time with the Titans.
• After Legion of 3 Worlds, XS leaves her Earth-247 teammates to stay with the Retroboot Legion, but doesn’t really do anything (as far as I remember). Hasn’t been seen in New 52 or Rebirth yet.
• New 52 & Rebirth
• In the New 52 universe, Bar Torr from the future came back to the 21st century, and the Legion Lost team recognized him (Legion Lost #9).
• Wikipedia doesn’t help me understand what’s going on with Bart in Rebirth continuity.
• Iris was rejuvenated and youthened due to close contact with the resurrected Barry, and since Rebirth she’s remembering her pre-Flashpoint life (it’s all complicated and I’m not reading it so I only know what Wikipedia says).

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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), it's a confirmed date that was given in the comic (green), or an estimated date based on keeping track of events and days (blue). Bold text is something new added this issue.

• 2/17/89 – Mekt admitted to Labyrinth Penal Institute (LSH v4 #10)
• 6/23/89 – Magic Wars end (LSH v3 #63 – date as given in the 2995 Sourcebook)
• October 2989 – the Great Collapse
• 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) 
• April 2990 – 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 (LSH v4 #2)
• 5/8/91 – Search for Tinya called off; 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)
• 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 2992 – Brek Bannin arrested for insurrection (LSH v4 #11)
• 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 [Sourcebook] (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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Date unknown – Last stand on Xolnar; introduction of the Resistance on Earth (LSH v4 #16). 
• 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)
• 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)
• Sat 3/28/95 – Daily Planet article on the Allen executions (LSH v4 #17)
• April 2995 – Imra & Garth’s twins due (LSH v4 #3)

Unknown dates:

• Black Dawn: something big and bad happened. Polar Boy says “you know what that cost us”. Sun Boy was a previous leader. By the time it happened, Chameleon Boy had left the Legion and “watched everything fall to pieces” (LSH v4 #1). Timber Wolf was irradiated during Black Dawn, eventually turning him into Furball. Char Burrane (Starfinger II) was somehow involved. (LSH v4 #12)
• Rokk and Loomis are injured at Venado Bay on the Braal side, and Rokk lost his powers. Salu was somehow involved on the Imsk side. Imsk won, as the army is occupying Braal. (LSH v4 #1) She says that Braal attacked Imsk, and they were just defending themselves. She was head of security on the damper project and knew what it would do, but fought against it (not hard enough, in her admission). (LSH v4 #10)
• Kent Shakespeare and Gim Allon are both ex-Legionnaires, but it’s unknown when or under what circumstances they left. (LSH v4 #12)