Here’s a cover image chosen at random from my collection.
Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #268 by J. M. DeMatteis (w), Steve Ditko (a), Bob Wiacek (i), John Costanza (l), Gene D’Angelo (c), and George Pérez & Terry Austin (cover)
Here’s yet another issue of a comic that I hadn’t read until the randomizer picked it. At least this little project of mine is getting me to read some older comics! Anyway, notice the pretty good looking cover by Pérez and Austin. A pity Mr. Pérez wasn’t asked to do the interior art. I’m committing sacrilege, perhaps, by admitting that I do not like Steve Ditko’s art. I never have. This is the fourth Legion issue of his that I have read, and my dislike of Ditko hasn’t deterred. I find his art inconsistent in this issue, especially when it comes to proportions and perspective–that may be good on a character like Shade, the Changing Man, but not on the Legion. Because I was curious why Ditko was doing work for DC during this time, especially for the Legion issues that he did, I did a little digging and found that he and the editor were frequent collaborators. The bad news? I have three other issues in my collection that I haven’t read yet.
The story doesn’t fair much better. Mr. DeMatteis is coming across like he had just read a bunch of Starlin’s cosmic stuff, and wanted to emulate that. The wording is shading towards purple with every page. I know I’m nitpicking now, but why did Mr. D’Angelo decide to color the villain’s extra arms green?! The art and story do not mesh well together.
While this is Dr. Mayavale’s only appearance, I would like to see some future Legion scribe revisit this Magus wannabe and close the loop on why exactly the bad doctor had it in for Chameleon Boy, Karate Kid, and Dream Girl. Plus, why is he so evil that he laughed maniacally for an hour after he had gassed the Legionnaires unconscious? That’s one bad-ass bad guy. ;)
Longbox Review 