Five Years Later, annotated

Here's a chronological listing of the annotations for the entire Legion of Super-Heroes volume 4 "Five Years Later" series (or it will be when we're done) that I've been putting together in support of the weekly Legion of Substitute Podcasters episodes. This will eventually include the "LSH v4" series plus the "Timber Wolf", "Legionnaires", and "Valor" series that weave in and out, as well as odd bits that were in the same time period. This series began five years after the end of Paul Levitz's "LSH v3" (aka "Baxter") series in late 1989 and ends at Zero Hour in mid 1994. This will be pinned over on the left side of the blog.

And if you don't have the issues, you can buy the upcoming Five Years Later Omnibus vol. 1 (out now!) and follow along by re-listening to the podcasts!

Each week (more or less), the Subs recap and discuss an issue of the series. Some of us are fans, others not so much so. There are some good things and some not so good things, some drinking games, and shenanigans (as much as five guys can chime in and shenanigate). We also recap the new Bendis issues and have an occasional interview (Phil Jimenez, Mark Waid, Steve Lightle, Paul Levitz, Tom Bierbaum, and more), but I'm not tracking those here.

The links below take you to my annotations, and in each entry has a link to the relevant podcast episode as well as Tom Bierbaum's recollections on each issue (which are required reading as he explains what was going on behind the scenes for each issue, from what DC Editorial wanted to who created who to why certain things happened to certain characters). If you don't see a cover below, we haven't done that issue yet.

Since the comics often give a real date, I am tracking that as well, supplemented by the 2995 Sourcebook. That's the colored section at the bottom. If you are new to the series, be forewarned that there are spoilers in there!

LSH v4 Preview	LSH v4 #1	LSH v4 #2	LSH v4 #3
LSH v4 #4	LSH v4 #5	LSH v4 #6	LSH v4 #7
LSH v4 #8	LSH v4 #9	LSH v4 #10	LSH v4 #11
LSH v4 #12	LSH v4 #13	LSH v4 Annual #1	LSH v4 #14
LSH v4 #15	LSH v4 #16	LSH v4 #17	LSH v4 #18
Superman: Time &  Time Again part 1	Superman: Time &  Time Again part 2	LSH v4 #19	LSH v4 #20
LSH v4 #21	LSH v4 #22	LSH v4 #23	LSH v4 #24
LSH v4 Annual #2	LSH v4 #25	LSH v4 #26	LSH v4 #27
LSH v4 #28	LSH v4 #29	LSH v4 #30	LSH v4 Annual #3 Part 1: Timber Wolf Part 2: Winath
LSH v4 #31	LSH v4 #32	LSH v4 #33	LSH v4 #34
LSH v4 #35	LSH v4 #36	Timber Wolf #1-5	LSH v4 #37
LSH v4 #38	LSH v4 #39	LSH v4 #40	LSH v4 #41
Legionnaires #1	LSH v4 #42	Legionnaires #2	LSH v4 #43
Legionnaires #3	LSH v4 #44	Legionnaires #4	LSH v4 #45
Legionnaires #5	LSH v4 #46	Legionnaires #6	Valor #11
LSH v4 #47	LSH v4 Annual #4	Legionnaires #7	Valor #12
LSH v4 #48	Legionnaires #8	Valor #13	LSH v4 #49
LSH v4 #50	Legionnaires #9	Valor #14	LSH v4 #51
LSH v4 #52	Legionnaires #10	Valor #15	LSH v4 #53
Legionnaires #11	Valor #16	LSH v4 #54	Legionnaires #12
Valor #17	LSH v4 #55	Legionnaires #13	Valor #18
LSH v4 #56	Legionnaires #14	Valor #19	LSH v4 #57
LSH v4 Annual #5	L.E.G.I.O.N. Annual #5	Legionnaires #15	Valor #20
LSH v4 #58	Legionnaires #16	Valor #21	LSH v4 #59
Legionnaires Annual #1	Legionnaires #17	Valor #22	LSH v4 #60
Zero Hour #4	Legionnaires #18	Superboy v3 #8	Valor #23
Zero Hour #3	Zero Hour #2	Zero Hour #1	LSH v4 #61
Zero Hour #0

---

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). Brin spends a few weeks in 1992 before returning to 2995 (TW 1-5).
• 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).