The Great Darkness Saga
"The Great Darkness Saga" | |
---|---|
Publisher | DC Comics |
Publication date | August – December 1982 |
Genre | |
Title(s) | Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, #287, #290–294, Annual #1 and #3, Booster Gold #32 |
Main character(s) | ISBN 0930289439 |
"The Great Darkness Saga" is a five-issue American comic book story arc featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes. It was written by Paul Levitz, with art by Keith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt. Published by DC Comics in 1982, the arc first appears in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, #290–294.[1] It is notable for featuring appearances by virtually every living past and present Legionnaire as of 1982,[2] as well as most of the team's 30th-century allies, including the Legion of Substitute Heroes, the Wanderers, the Heroes of Lallor, and the 20th-century Kryptonian refugee Dev-Em. The heroes battle an immensely powerful being shrouded in darkness, ultimately revealed to be the ancient ruler of Apokolips, Darkseid.
Plot
This section's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (August 2014) |
In the 30th century,
Through
Dream Girl's
In the midst of the crisis, the Legion holds its long-delayed election, choosing Dream Girl as its new leader. She leads a squad of Legionnaires to the
The Legionnaires manage to locate the Master's homeworld. Engaging the Servants in battle,
Brainiac 5 is the only Legionnaire (other than Mon-El) with any knowledge of Darkseid or his homeworld,
As the humanoid child inexplicably ages at an accelerated rate, the White Witch casts a spell transporting the people on Daxam to Apokolips and vice versa. She is forcibly aided by a powerful unknown entity. When Darkseid tries to seize the child, the entity completes the aging process and reveals itself to be Darkseid's ancient enemy Izaya,
Epilogue
Months later, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad have a child, Graym. During the delivery, Darkseid secretly kidnaps the other child, Garridan; transforms him into Validus; and sends him years into the past, where he would encounter the Legion, unrecognized by his parents or anyone else.[14] Thus, Darkseid declares triumphantly that his curse is fulfilled.[15][16]
Continuity
Following the events of the Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! mini-series, this storyline and all other Legion stories predating October 1994 were removed from continuity. However, a new incarnation of the original Legion was introduced in 2007, in "The Lightning Saga" storyline in the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America titles. DC writer Geoff Johns later stated that this incarnation of the Legion shares the same history as the original Legion up to the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths,[17] including the events of "The Great Darkness Saga".[18] Moreover, when DC released its post-Infinite Crisis version of Darkseid's origin in 2008, "The Great Darkness Saga" was listed as one of the character's "essential storylines",[19] strongly suggesting that the events of this tale were included in post-Infinite Crisis continuity. Additionally, a subsequent Legion tale explicitly referred to "The Great Darkness Saga" in general, and Darkseid's victory over Mordru (on the planet Avalon) in particular.[20]
Validus and the other Fatal Five members were among the villains in Superboy-Prime's incarnation of the Legion of Super-Villains, as seen in the Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds mini-series. However, Garridan Ranzz (the infant who was abducted by Darkseid in the original continuity) was recently depicted as a young child living with his parents Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad, and his twin brother Graym.[21] Thus, it appears that Validus and Garridan are not the same being in current continuity.
During one of his missions to protect the timeline, Booster Gold arrived on Daxam at the beginning of the Great Darkness Saga—he was meant to arrive there three days before the war began, but misread his instructions—in order to recover the helmet of Doctor Fate to prevent Darkseid acquiring it. He departed Daxam along with Rani, an orphan girl who became his adopted daughter.[22]
In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, there appears to have been little (if any) effect on this story arc, and the tale is still firmly within current continuity. In a New 52 Legion story, a Daxamite official remarked that the people of his world "still mourn how Darkseid used us for violence",[23] an apparent reference to the events of "The Great Darkness Saga". In a subsequent tale, the Legion was confronted with a massive interplanetary crisis. Cosmic Boy described it by exclaiming that "[t]he Legion hasn't faced anything this awful on so many worlds since the Great Darkness!" In her response to his statement, Shadow Lass similarly mentions Darkseid, the Servants and the rampage of the enthralled Daxamites.[24]
Collected editions
Parts of this article (those related to TPB) need to be updated.(August 2014) |
The story is collected in the
A hardcover "Deluxe Edition" was published in November 2010 (
Reception
Gizmodo has stated that the story "made the Legion of Super-Heroes one of the best-selling franchises of the early '80s".[27]
References
- ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
- Kid Psycho and Insect Queen, nor honorary members Rond Vidar, Pete Ross, and Elastic Lad. Additionally, Shrinking Violet does not appear, but is impersonated by the Durlan actress Yera, as revealed in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, #304–305 (October–November 1983).
- Validus in Superboy#203 (July/August 1974).
- ^ Jacques Foccart acquired the power of invisibility and joined the Legion in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, Annual #1 (1982).
- ^ Talok VIII is Shadow Lass' homeworld. – Adventure Comics #365 (February 1968).
- ^ Computo took possession of Danielle Foccart's body in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, Annual #1 (1982). Brainiac 5 spent many months trying to separate Computo from Danielle, finally succeeding in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, #311 (May 1984).
- ^ The true Lydea Mallor does not make her first appearance until L.E.G.I.O.N. '89 #8 (September 1989).
- ^ Mordru was imprisoned beneath the rubble of his castle on Avalon by the Legion. – Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, #276 (June 1981)
- ^ The Time Trapper depicted in this story is actually an imposter, as later revealed in Legionnaires 3 #1 (February 1986).
- ^ The Phantom Zone, a dimension used by the planet Krypton as a prison, was introduced in Adventure Comics #283 (April 1961). Phantom Zone inmates do not age, do not require sustenance to survive, and are able to observe events occurring anywhere in the regular universe.
- ^ Mon-El spent a thousand years in the Phantom Zone to avoid dying after being exposed to lead, which is fatal to natives of the planet Daxam. – Superboy #89 (June 1961); Adventure Comics #305 (February 1963).
- ^ The first in-continuity appearance of gold kryptonite occurs in Superman #157 (November 1962). In pre-Crisis continuity, it robs Kryptonians of their powers permanently. Following the Infinite Crisis limited series, the effect is only temporary, wearing off after fifteen seconds. – Action Comics Annual #11 (2007); Supergirl vol. 5, #37 (March 2009)
- ^ The prophecy of Darkseid's death at the hands of Orion is first mentioned in Mister Miracle #9 (August 1972).
- ^ Validus first appears in Adventure Comics #352 (January 1967).
- ^ The birth of the twins and the second twin's abduction and transformation into Validus occurs in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, Annual #3 (1984), by Paul Levitz (co-plotter/writer), Keith Giffen (co-plotter/artist), Curt Swan and Romeo Tanghal (artists).
- ^ Some time later, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad discover Validus' true identity, and Darkseid restores him to normal. – Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3, Annual #2 (1986).
- News Corporation. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ^ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3 (April 2009)
- ^ Countdown to Final Crisis #2 (April 16, 2008).
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 6, #4 (October 2010).
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 6, #1 (July 2010).
- ^ Booster Gold vol. 2, #32 (July 2010).
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 7, #3 (January 2012).
- ^ Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 7, #18 (May 2013).
- ^ "Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga Deluxe Edition". DC Comics. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ^ "DC Comics' JANUARY 2014 Solicits: FOREVER EVIL & NEW 52, BEYOND THE NEW 52, More". Newsarama. October 14, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ^ "Must Read: Legion of Superheroes: The Great Darkness Saga". Gizmodo. 2007-10-24. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
External links
- "The Great Darkness Saga" at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)