The Legion of Super-Heroes poster 1983 - a classic by Keith Giffen

[icon_uk]

Other people will remember Keith Giffen for his work on the "Bwha-ha-ha!" incarnation of the Justice League, or maybe Ambush Bug or... well, any one of dozens of others titles he worked on or created.

But back in the day he made his mark with the Legion of Superheroes



His work on this title was transformational. He took what had become slightly dated since the early 70's (which is not to diminish Dave Cockrum and Mike Grell's contriibutions to that era) and made it new and 80's.

From new, or updated, costumes, to flashier tech, to a swanky new Headquarters. Even finally giving Cosmic Boy's magnetic powers their own distinctive "signature" effect



(Okay, that's a minor one, but I always liked it)

But this poster was any Legions nerds absolute MUST HAVE object in 1983 (And yes, I am speaking from experience, and I still have my original copy... and I just realised that means it's 40 years old, and I may have to go and have a lttle lie down when I consider my age)



It has everyone, the Legion, their allies (The Substitute Heroes, the Reserve Legionnaires, the Wanderers, the Heroes of Lallor), their enemies (The Legion of Super Villains, the Fatal Five, Mordru, Darkseid and his Servants of Darkness, the Super Assassins, even Doctor Mayavale!)

Failed applicants... successful applicants... the Science Police and...

Well, put it this way, if you need to ask "But does it include..?"

Yes.. yes it does.

Comments

[justsotired]

Giffen was an old crank and sometimes he could just be capital-M Mean. To the readers, to his characters. At his worst, he was an almost sadistic writer. But at his best, he was brilliant.

[michael_ellis_day]

The person who did the colors on that poster was a fellow named Carl Gafford, who was then the colorist on the Legion comic. When he worked on this poster, he brought a giant photostat of the black-and-white artwork to a gathering of LSH fans at a convention in New York City. He asked the fans present to help identify the characters he hadn't been able to identify himself. Imagine receiving this artwork in black and white with no guide as to who everyone was and what colors their costumes were!

But he was a fan himself, and over the course of his career he colored something over 150 comic books starring the Legion, so Gafford did get the work done. And his technical mastery of coloring was next level, and the printer delivered a product that did justice to both of them. Having seen this art in black and white and then the finished product in color, it's clear that everyone involved was inspired to outdo themselves by what Giffen had created.

[icon_uk]

I did not know that story, thanks!

I can imagine that an LSH convention was about the only place in 1983 to identify everyone. And also made more difficult by the fact that Giffen had redesigned some of them too.

[mazway_75]

I have that poster, came with the original trade paperback for the Great Darkness Saga.

[beyondthefringe]

I liked Giffen’s earlier style. Not always so much a fan of his later evolution, though it was quite distinctive and suited the more alien elements of the Legion and their world.

This poster is Perez levels of extensive with so many characters! I’ve even read Who’s Who in the Legion and I still couldn’t name a lot of these…