The Legion of Super-Heroes #293
Published and © by DC, November 1982
Title: “Within the Darkness …”
Synopsis: The Legion holds their own against the Servants of Darkness, but the Master enslaves three billion super-powered reinforcements.
Writers (plot): Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen
Writer (script): Levitz
Penciler: Giffen
Inker: Larry Mahlstedt
Review: Pacing? Action? Characterization? Check. Where this chapter falls short is suspension of disbelief. If “The Master” is strong enough to control the minds of three billion Daxamites and relocate two planets with just the power of his mind, why would he need the Daxamites in the first place?
•••
Title: “Fate Is the Killer”
Synopsis: Superman is drawn to Eternia where he teams with He-Man to foil the evildoings of Skeletor.
Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Penciler: Curt Swan
Inker: Dave Hunt
Review: Back then, apparently, nobody knew “The Great Darkness Saga” was destined for greatness – and shouldn’t be interrupted by He-Man.
Grade (for the entire issue): B
Second opinion: “The reveal at the end of this issue … ranks with many other surprise endings in comics as one of the best. … 3 out of 4 stars.” – Brent Frankenhoff, Comics Buyer’s Guide #1668, August 2010 … Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: Loving “The Great Darkness Saga” …
Not-so-cool factor: … but that Masters of the Universe story reads like Kirby light.
Notable: Includes a 16-page Masters of the Universe preview with an uncredited interior cover. … Also includes a full-page “Next Issue” Legion teaser. … “The Roll Call” continues, with short bios on Legionnaires from Element Lad to Saturn Girl.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 75¢ Canadian variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Hmmm … it seems I have caused a bit of a … disturbance.” – The “Master” (of understatement, apparently)
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Sequential Reaction (Vol. 1) on Sept. 20, 2016.
