The Magic Wars...or what came before.

What happened to the Legion of Super Heroes?  Why are we 5 years later?  What happened to the last series?

The Magic Wars happened.  That’s what.  The Magic Wars was a four issue story arc that ran through issues 60, 61, 62 and 63.  The last four issues of Volume 3 of the Legions comic.

Legion of Super Heroes V4 #60 - Cover art by Steve Lightle

 

In issue #60, Sensor Girl (Queen Projectra) and Timber Wolf have been elected Leader and Deputy Leader respectively.  Sensor Girl does not really want the job, and Polar Boy is essentially complaining that he did not get elected again.  He really laments the fact that if she steps down, Timber Wolf gets the job.

It’s interesting to note that Paul Levitz had turned Brin (Timber Wolf) into a seemingly brainless idiot over the course of his run.  He may have never been the smartest of the Legionnaires, but he was never as doltish as Paul made him.  That may be just my opinion of what I saw happening, but there it is.

Brin tracks her down and suggests that even though neither one of them knows why they were elected…they need to do their jobs now.  Which starts immediately.  Something under Sorcerers World is stirring.  Sarvise, from Sorcerers’ World shows up with a warning.  Science is going to fail.  As Projectra hears the warning, the lights across the globe go out.

Legion of Super Heroes V4 #61 - Cover art by Steve Lightle

Issue #61 shows the aftermath of the modern technology of the future failing.  Riots, mass hysteria, etc.  Magic now rules supreme, and technology has failed.  In deep space, Mon-El apparently dies from injuries sustained while fighting the Time Trapper.  Sensor Girl receives warnings from passed Legionnaires by way of a Séance. The thing below Sorcerers’ World gets free. 

Legion of Super Heroes V4 #62 - Cover art by Steve Lightle

Issue #62 sees the team in smaller groups.  Some are trying to deal with the chaos, and one group ois trying to get to Zerox (The Sorcerers’ World.)  They are meeting challenge after challenge trying to get there.  Whether the threats are real or not is debated…but they are dangerous if nothing else.

The final thing standing in their way requires a sacrifice to pass through.  A giant locked sphere is around Zerox and a keyhole is the only way in.  As they debate what to do, Magnetic Kid makes the choice for them and launches himself towards the keyhole.  In part, Pol (Megnetic Kid) does this to prove to his brother (the Legionnaire known as Cosmic Boy, a founder of the Legion,) that he proved he belonged in the Legion.  Once he is gone, the final obstacle fades and something even worse is waiting for them underneath.

Legion of Super Heroes V4 #63 - Cover art by Steve Lightle

Issue #63, the final issue of the arc and the series, sees the Legionnaires gather all of the members they can for the final assault on the thing destroying Zerox.  Ultra Boy breaks the news to Cosmic Boy about his brother, and Rokk dons an older suit in honor of Pol. 

The Legion finally defeats the monster…or rather, in destroying Zerox, the creature trapped therein destroys itself.  In the end, the Legion stands reunited and ready to face what comes next…or are they?

We will see over the course of this blog what happened between them standing proud and united and where they end up 5 years later in the opening pages of Volume 5.

This last four issue arc featured a story by Paul Levitz, art by Keith Giffen, Al Gordon and Mikle DeCarlo.  They also feature covers by the great Steve Lightle.  There are a ton of things I could go into about this “Magic Wars” arc, but maybe in a different blog some other time.  For now, this sets the stage for what happens next.