This volume of the Legion of Superheroes covers the issues from 1974 to 1975.
"Massacre by Remote Control" reveals Invisible Kid's secret- he's fallen in love with a girl he met in the world he sees when he's invisible, named Myla. He loves her and wants to be with her, but recently passed out when he was with her. Still, when the pieces of Tharok's computerized Brain summon Validus to the Legion's HQ to get it back for his master, only Invisible Kid can save the clubhouse. But will it be at the cost of his own life?
"The Legionnaire Nobody Remembers" begins with the Legionnaires finding a picture in their files of a member nobody remembers- Anti-Lad. So who was he and where did he come from? The story is told for the first time, of a Legionnaire who could turn everyone's own powers against them. But who was he, really?
"Brainiac 5's Secret Weakness" shows Brainy finally taking a vacation after becoming burnt out by overwork, but when he meets Supergirl on a vacation planet, she wants them to run off and be together, so he agrees. But is it really Supergirl Brainy is running off with? And if not, who is she?
"The Legion of Super-Assassins" has Superboy taking Lana Lang to the Future for her birthday. But they arrive to find Ultra-Boy gone mad, and while Superboy goes to fetch the cure, the Legion try to execute Ultra Boy and Lana. Who is controlling the Legion to make them do this? And do the only sane ones, Ultra Boy and Lana, have the power to overcome the villain on their own?
"The Legionnaires Who Haunted Superboy" has Superboy being surprised in Smallville by the arrival of Ferro Lad and Karate Kid- both of whom died saving others. But as he confirms with his X-ray vision, they are real and alive. But when a violent robot comes to destroy Samllville, can they destroy it to prove themselves before telling the rest of the Legion they're alive, even if it might kill them?
"Welcome Home, Daughter... Now Die!" has Princess Projectra returning home after a bout with Rigel Fever. But when she returns home, her father has been overthrown, and the new Ruler orders her thrown to a Monster called the Morgu. But when Karate Kid suddenly shows up, is he there to help her- or harm her?
In "The Rookie Who Betrayed the Legion" a SP named Dyron joins the team to help hunt down Universo. But why does he let Universo escape? Why did he betray the Legion?
"Lightning Lad's Day of the Dead" has Lightning Lad taking a Legion Cruiser to the place where his parents died crashing into a space meteor. But when he shows up, so does his antagonistic brother, Mekt. But is he there to kill his brother, or does he have something else in mind?
"Vengeance of the Super-Villiams" has the Legion guarding a prize to be given to a Dr. Lars Kenrick. But Superboy, Mon-El and Ultra- Boy are delayed by their own parents, who have delayed the heroes from the ceremony. But who is behind it, and what are they plotting?
"Who Can Save the Princess?" has Princess Projectra suffering from a horrible disease called "the Pain Plague". The only way to save her is for Timber Wolf, Saturn Girl, Karate Kid and Superboy to take her pain for the remaining hours of the disease. But the pain is so vicious and virulent, can even the heroes survive it?
"Hero for a Day" Has Legion welcooming their greatest fan, a boy named Flint Brojj. But when someone sends a Tilvanian Witch-Wolf, "Deadliest Beast in the Solar System" in a cage, can the Legion take it on? Or will its deadly radiation kill the entire Legion, and their greatest fan?
In "Soljer's Private War", Lightning Lad accidentally resurrects a soldier killed in World War VI. But the Lightning and Gamma Bomb that killed him filled him with a strange energy that can create phantom weapons with real effects, enough to even affect Phantom Girl! How can the Legion overcome this unliving figure of destruction?
"The Lair of the Black Dragon" has Karate Kid seeking the death of the man who killed his father. But when he learns the truth about what happened, will he still want revenge?
"The Ultimate Revenge" concerns Element Boy. When the Legion takes down a known haven of Pirates and Outlaws, Roxxas, the man who killed Element Lad's parents and all his people, is among them. And seeing him alive when all his people are dead drives Element Lad crazy. Can the rest of the Legion stop him before he kills, and will be forced to leave the Legion?
"The Legion's Lost Home" brings Cosmic Boy and Shadow Lass to the old Legion Clubhouse to search for a missing weapon from the Legion's Arsenal, but are they really the Legionnaires? When the Legion of Substitute Heroes shows up, there might just be a fight!
"Last Fight for a Legionnaire"- When Magno-Lad is rejected by the Legion for having a power that Cosmic Boy already has, he joins with other Legionnaires rejected for the same reason decide to challenge the Legionnaires with their powers to a fight, can the Legionnaires defeat the newcomers? And Matter-Eater Lad gets drafted by his homeworld!
"Deathstroke at Dawn"- When Shadow Lass discovers Night Girl of the Substitute Legion being held captive by Criminals, she blasts in to help, and the two discover how well they work together. They even end up saving Cosmic Boy- and he returns the favor!
Here again are some defining moments for the Legion: Matter-Eater Lad leaving to join his planet's leaders, the death of Invisible Kid, and evem the introduction of Flint Brojj, who was an homage to two Legion fans, Mike Flynn and Harry Broertjes. His character would continue to reappear in the Legion for almost 20 years. The costumes continue to change, along with the looks of some of the characters. For example, Karate Kid looks awfully like Bruce Lee in the Black Dragon story- though he was half-Japanese in his background, he'd always been drawn as caucasian-looking before, and I'm not sure if it's Mike Grell's art to blame!
Timber Wolf continues with his more Wolverine-ish looking form, and while he was originally more human-looking, later he became a real Wolverine clone- but I'm not sure who appeared first in print. The stories here show a strong 70's influence in costume and hair style, and makeup as well. The stories continue to improve, though they are once again almost all one-shots.
I liked this volume, and if you are (or were) a fan of the Legion, you'll like and remember them too, very well. Highly recommended.
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