| "The Great Darkness Saga" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Publication date | August – December1982 |
| Genre | |
| Title(s) | Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, #287, #290–294, Annual #1 and #3,Booster Gold #32 |
| Main character(s) | Legion of Super-Heroes Darkseid |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Paul Levitz Keith Giffen |
| Penciller(s) | Keith Giffen Larry Mahlstedt |
| Inker | Larry Mahlstedt |
| The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga HC | ISBN 978-1-4012-2961-0 |
| The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga TPB | ISBN 0930289439 |
"The Great Darkness Saga" is a five-issueAmerican comic bookstory arc featuring theLegion of Super-Heroes. It was written byPaul Levitz, with art byKeith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt. Published byDC Comics in 1982, the arc first appears inLegion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, #290–294.[1] It is notable for featuring appearances by virtually every living past and present Legionnaire as of 1982,[a] as well as most of the team's 30th-century allies, including theLegion of Substitute Heroes, theWanderers, theHeroes of Lallor, and the 20th-centuryKryptonian refugeeDev-Em. The heroes battle a powerful being shrouded in darkness who is ultimately revealed to beDarkseid, the ancient ruler ofApokolips.
In the 30th century, theLegion of Super-Heroes investigate attacks on the Museum of the Mystic Arts and theTower of London by a group of thieves, who manage to steal a mystical wand and the swordExcalibur. At his base of operations, the Master absorbs the artifacts' power. One of the thieves is captured and taken back to the Legion's headquarters.
Throughgenetic testing,Mon-El andDream Girl determine that the captured Servant is a clone of Lydea Mallor,Shadow Lass' 20th-century ancestor.[b] Meanwhile, on the planet Avalon, the fourth Servant freesMordru.[c] Just as Mordru is about to destroy the Servant, the Master appears and defeats him. Shortly thereafter, on the prison planetTakron-Galtos, the Legionnaires discover that the Master has drained the abilities of theTime Trapper.[d]
In the midst of the crisis, the Legion holds its long-delayed election, choosingDream Girl as its new leader. She leads a squad of Legionnaires toZerox, where they repel an attack by the Master and several Servants. Mon-El confronts the Master directly and recognizes him from events he witnessed while in thePhantom Zone.[e][f]
The sorcerers of Zerox cast a spell intended to defend them against the Master, but instead conjure a humanoid baby. Meanwhile, on Earth,Cosmic Boy,Saturn Girl, andLightning Lad determine that two of the Servants are clones of Superman and one of theGuardians of the Universe. In response, they send out an alarm calling all Legionnaires to duty.
The Legionnaires manage to locate the Master's homeworld. Engaging the Servants in battle,Wildfire destroys the Guardian clone, whileTimber Wolf destroys the Superman clone.Brainiac 5 recognizes the Master's homeworld and deduces his identity. Meanwhile, the Master travels toDaxam and remakes it in his image, revealing him to beDarkseid. Darkseid sends theDaxamites to conquer the universe.
Dream Girl sends out a second alarm to all of the Legion's super-powered allies, includingSupergirl and theLegion of Substitute Heroes. ThroughoutUnited Planets territory,Dev-Em, theHeroes of Lallor, theWanderers, the Substitute Heroes, and the Legionnaires struggle to hold back the Daxamites.
Meanwhile, the humanoid child rapidly ages intoHighfather. He transforms the last remaining Servant into a clone ofOrion, who is destined to destroy his father Darkseid.[g] Before fading away, Highfather summonsSuperboy and Supergirl toApokolips, with his power allowing them to maintain their abilities under ared sun. Darkseid destroys the Orion clone and returns Superboy to the 20th century. He becomes preoccupied with battling Supergirl and the other Legionnaires and loses control of the Daxamites, who make their way toward the planet. Realizing that he cannot defeat the Daxamites, Darkseid admits defeat and retreats, taking Apokolips with him to an unknown location.
Months later, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad have a child, Graym. During the delivery, Darkseid secretly kidnaps the Graym's twin Garridan, transforms him intoValidus, and sends him years into the past, where he would encounter the Legion, unrecognized by his parents or anyone else. Darkseid declares that his curse has been fulfilled.[h]
"The Great Darkness Saga" was initially rendered non-canon followingZero Hour: Crisis in Time!, which rebooted the Legion's continuity. The story's events are later restored to continuity, but Validus is depicted as a separate entity from Garridan Ranzz.[2][3][4]
The story is collected in thetrade paperbackLegion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga (ISBN 0930289439). First printed in 1989, it includes a 7-page prologue from issue #287 and the epilogue fromAnnual #3, and a replica of a team poster from the same period. A second printing was released in August 2002.
A hardcover "Deluxe Edition" was published in November 2010 (ISBN 978-1401229610), including issues before and after the main "Saga" (#284–296 andAnnual #1), but excluding the epilogue story and poster.[5] The hardcover also includes the script for the first part and character designs by Giffen. DC announced atrade paperback edition shipping February 2013.[6] In September 2024,Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga ([ISBN 1779527764) graphic novel was released, collectingLegion of Super-Heroes #287, #290-294, andLegion of Super-Heroes Annual #3.[7]
Gizmodo has stated that the story "made the Legion of Super-Heroes one of the best-selling franchises of the early '80s".[8]
