The Legion of Super-Heroes #296
Published and © by DC, February 1983
Title: “What Do You Do on the Day After Doomsday?”
Synopsis: In the aftermath of their epic battle with Darkseid, the Legionnaires find their downtime interrupted by nuclear terrorists.
Writers (plot): Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen
Writer: Levitz
Penciler: Giffen
Inker: Larry Mahlstedt
Review: This issue should have been Legion of Super-Heroes #295 (see review of the actual LoSH #295). Given the scope of “The Great Darkness Saga” (see reviews), it’s easy to see why the creative team needed an extra month to catch its breath. But this issue – built around the question that serves as the story’s title – is an excellent coda for that epic. Both Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen shine when the series’ soap-opera elements come to the fore, and this issue is rich with such character-driven moments. Of note: The terrorists-with-nukes plots has extra resonance in today’s post-9/11 world.
Grade: A-
Cool factor: Great, character-driven issue.
Not-so-cool factor: Terrorists with nukes are never cool.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 75¢ Canadian variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “C’mon, pal – are you the guy who likes to watch people burn?” – Sun Boy, a little fiery while coercing a confession
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Sequential Reaction (Vol. 1) on Jan. 3, 2017.
