Review by Frank Plowright
Between 1972 and 1974 Dave Cockrum’s imaginative art and the quirky plots of Cary Bates raised the Legion of Super-Heroes back from obscurity into headliners once again. Cockrum’s biography notes creative differences as the reason for his departure, not mentioned in his introduction Volume 10, and he only provides cover illustrations here.
At first glance replacement artist Mike Grell has a superficially similar style, but that’s deceptive. His greatest influence is Neal Adams, and while Grell can manage the graphic layouts, he lacks the basic anatomical knowledge, meaning people stretched into impossible poses, and not looking right if they’re not on their feet. Unlike Cockrum, Grell’s not keen on backgrounds if they can be avoided, but the fans of 1974 generally enjoyed his art.
As Mike Flynn notes in his introduction to Volume 12, the plots Bates supplies can hinge on really obscure details. Here Superboy is alerted to shenanigans by a knot tied in a particular way, and a shape-shifting villain who could transform into a fly instead concocts a ridiculously elaborate scheme to infiltrate the Legion’s spacious headquarters. However, despite these moments and still having a fondness for threats duplicating the Legionnaires’ powers, Bates also concocts interesting scenarios that still captivate. The stories of a guy from the future who has to rectify history, a tragic death and a science police officer accompanying the Legion retain their drama.
With the Legion up and running again, a fan tracked down Jim Shooter, writer of their greatest stories as a teenager (see Archives 5-9). Having left comics several years previously and now working, he was persuaded to return, and his opener is strong, with Legionnaires having to save a team-mate’s life by absorbing an hour of absolute agony. However, the remainder in this volume tend to focus on single characters and feature illogical emotional moments, exemplified by Cosmic Boy’s tantrum in the final story.
This era is still fondly remembered by Legion fans, but lesser art makes this a poorer selection than Archives 10. The content is also available in black and white as Showcase Presents Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 5.
