Superboy & the Legion of Super-Heroes #244
Published and © by DC, October 1978
Title: “The Dark Circle That Crushed Earth”
Synopsis: The Legion converges on Earth to free the planet from the Dark Circle – only to discover a greater foe!
Writer: Paul Levitz
Penciler: Joe Staton
Inker: Joe Giella
Review: Much as with the previous issue (see review), this “Earth War” installment falls prey to increasing blandness. While Paul Levitz continues to up the stakes with each chapter, the escalating tension is undermined by weak characterization. Levitz would later become a master of juggling and differentiating this series’ expansive cast, but here the Legionnaires feel almost interchangeable. On the art side, Joe Staton’s style leans cartoony and just isn’t a good fit for the Legion’s futuristic milieu. And inker Joe Giella makes things worse by rendering Staton’s work generic. Sadly, the promising “Earth War” saga is limping to its conclusion.
Grade: C+
Second opinion: Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: The “Earth War” arc started strong …
Not-so-cool factor: … but is starting to run on fumes.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a Whitman variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “You are a fool, Superboy – all of you are fools!” – The final member of the Dark Circle, who is actually …
Editor’s note: This review was written Sept. 25, 2024.
