Random Happenstance

I don't know that younger comics readers would even know of a time when Legion of Super-Heroes was even a reasonably-selling book, let alone the hotness. This issue may have been the peak, or close to it, and what the heck, He-Man probably didn't hurt either! From 1982, Legion of Super-Heroes #293, "Within the Darkness..." Written and plotted by Paul Levitz, plot and pencils by Keith Giffen, inks by Larry Mahlstedt.

This was part four of "the Great Darkness Saga," which might've been the Legion's longest story in its then-24 year history; and is still regarded as a high-water mark for the title. This issue has the big reveal of the bad guy behind everything, and he would make a big splash on the next issue's cover--and the covers for the trades seem to spoil it as well--but I'm not sure a lot of readers guessed it. The "Servants of Darkness," while including a simulacrum of Superboy, were shadowy versions of DC characters; the clues were there!

Calling Superboy back into active service, the Legion scores their first victory against the Servants; with Element Lad using Gold Kryptonite to depower the faux-Superboy, and Timber Wolf destroying it. But the Master has been more than a step ahead, swapping his own world, "so long dead and forgotten," with Daxam; bringing it under a yellow sun--and bringing more than three billion Kryptonian-level beings under his control! Using their newfound powers, the brainwashed-but-devoted Daxamites carve their world into the distinctive shape of their Master's head...

Also this issue: a 16-page Masters of the Universe preview, "Fate is the Killer" Written by Paul Kupperberg, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Dave Hunt. And as long as we have Curt Swan, might as well get Superman in there, too! He-Man and all had earlier appeared in DC Comics Presents #47 with Supes as well. The faces will be familiar, but I don't think all of the MOTU mythology was nailed down yet; and He-Man throws a sword at Skeletor, which is probably more violence than would be allowed again for them for decades. In official media anyway; I suppose kids playing with them could do whatever they wanted, right?