Retro Review

Legion of Super-Heroes went through a period of great controversy in the early 90s, and no issue was more controversial than#31, the issue in which a long-standing fan question about Element Lad’s sexuality was answered, and another character, Shvaughn Erin, was changed in a very significant way. Dealing as it did with gender identity and sexuality, the revelations of this issue were considered shocking by many, even though, at least according to Al Gordon, not as shocking as they could have been. Some people hated the issue, even citing it as the reason they dropped the title, but for me, LSH #31 had a very beautiful message about love and life.

 The story is part of the “Five Years Later…” storyline, which ran through the first 61 issues of the 1989 relaunch of Legion of Super-Heroes, and included a lot of changes that long-time fans did not like. The team had disbanded in the wake of intergalactic economic collapse, and the universe was a darker place, with war, crime and strife abundant. I had started reading LSH with the last issues of the previous volume, which were in a similar tone, and not having any more history with the book, I appreciated the stories for what they were, without a sense of something having been changed or damaged. #31 is part of a long arc about the battle to decide the fate of the Earth, a planet isolated from the rest of the United Planets thanks to the machinations of the Dominators and corrupt Earthgov officials. Things are coming to a head, the world is in chaos, and those left on Earth are struggling, barely able to get enough food, let alone any luxuries. For Shvaughn Erin, who has been taking a certain medication for years, this means a huge change is ahead, one she is not sure she can face, even with the help of the man she loves, Jan Arrah, aka Element Lad.

 Legion of Super-Heroes #31 doesn’t make much sense if read in isolation. While the main story of the issue is self-contained, and the relationships of the characters clearly explained, everything else that goes on in the background would be confusing to someone who hadn’t read any of the surrounding issues. Even the ending of that main story refers to an event that would leave a newbie scratching their heads. At the time of the story, there are two versions of the Legionnaires in existence: an adult and a teenaged version of each. One set may be clones, or versions displaced in time, or there may be some other explanation. One of the teenagers has a part to play in the main story of #31.

 That all said, I feel sections of LSH #31 would be of interest to gender studies majors and those interested in seeing how even mainstream comic book stories can tackle difficult issues. There’s a lot to this issue, and its story will certainly resonate with people who’ve had questions about their own sexuality or gender identity, and with people who’ve had to or tried to live a lie.

 Part of the point of the Random Reviews is to determine whether or not I’ll keep the issue I’ve pulled at random from my collection, or pass it on to someone who’d enjoy it more. Legion of Super-Heroes #31 isn’t going anywhere, and I didn’t need to re-read it to know that. Even if LSH wasn’t one of the titles that I’m collecting in its entirety, as I love the concept, and have found something to enjoy in every era of the book, I wouldn’t part with this issue. Thought-provoking and moving, this is a great issue of a comic book that was, at the time, pulling no punches in its story-telling.

 Legion of Super-Heroes #31, from DC Comics, by Keith Giffen and Tom and Mary Bierbaum, with art by Keith Giffen, Colleen Doran, Curt Swan, Al Gordon and Karl Kesel. A if you’re reading the whole arc, B if read in isolation, because a lot of the background details could prove confusing. Only available as a back issue - the storylines have not been reprinted in trade paperback form.

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