My pick of the best LEGION run is LEGION OF SUPERHEROES 287-306. The stories in this series are pretty easy to follow, and many of these issues have origins that explain the previous continuity up to this point.



For me, these issues by writer Paul Levitz and artist Keith Giffen, are the best scripted, best illustrated, most intelligent and definitive version of the Legion ever done (published between 1982-1984).




Issues 296-297 in particular give a review of the earliest forming of the Legion, within a two-part story.
There are checklists of every previous appearance by the Legion in the lettercolumns of 298, 299, 301, 302, and 305 (a 5-part chronological checklist of all appearances up to that point, in 1983)



Beginning in 1958, Legion began as a series running in ADVENTURE COMICS (1958-1969, issues 247-380),

then moving to ACTION COMICS (1969-1970, issues 377-392),

then to SUPERBOY (1970-1980, issues 191, 193, 195 and 197-258),
with issue 197 re-named SUPERBOY STARRING THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES.

Then finally the title was renamed LEGION OF SUPERHEROES ( 2nd series, beginning in 1980, issues 259-313 )

( The 1st series was a 4-issue reprint series in 1973, reprinting a few issues of the 60's run from ADVENTURE COMICS, reprinting in order: ADVENTURE 328, 333, 340, and 341 )


The Levitz/Giffen LEGION issues (285-306, from 1982-1984) are very true to the Legion and its history, and was the beginning of the more developed, more science-fictional universe of the Legion.

Levitz began writing the Legion for several broken stints in the mid-70's but wrote the longest continuous run on LEGION from (2nd series)284-326, and on through (third series) 1-63 (from 1984-1989).

And Giffen gradually took over the direction of the Legion from Levitz, toward the end of the 3rd series.



The "Five Year Gap" (in 4th series, issues 1-61, from 1989-1994), is a darker storyline where the United Planets is falling apart economically, and being over-run by invading alien empires. But the Legion remain a symbol of hope in a dark universe.
These issues are difficult to read if you don't already know the past continuity and if you don't have extreme familiarity with the Legion character names. So I'd save this run for last.

The "Five Year Gap" storyline (by Tom and Mary Bierbaum, and Keith Giffen) picks up the Legion saga five years after the volume 3 storyline ended, with a lot of changes and un-answered questions about what occurred during the years in between. The storyline deals with time travel and alternate realities for the Legion (trying to explain the changes to the future created by the CRISIS-related changes and annihilation of Superboy and Supergirl, who were instrumental in the formation of the Legion).
The 4th series storyline several times begins in one direction, and then an issue or two later, that timeline is obliterated and replaced by an alternate present the next issue, and all the characters you just got to know are completely changed. It's confusing and challenging to read, and I both liked and didn't like it.

The "Five Year Gap" storyline ended with issue 61, in a cross-over event called "Zero Hour", at which point the previous 35 years of continuity were abandoned, and a new pre-pubescent junior-high-school-ish LEGION replaced it.

The continuity has been abandoned and replaced (or "re-booted") many times since, and this is very unpopular with many longtime Legion fans.


But for me things start and end with the Levitz and Giffen issues (LEGION 285-306).

Other very popular Legion runs:

Dave Cockrum art(SUPERBOY 197-201)
Mike Grell art (SUPERBOY 201-228)

Steve Lightle art (LEGION 3rd series, 7-16)
Greg Larocque art (LEGION 3rd series, 17-48)



All of the above, I think, cements LEGION's place in the W T F Hall of Fame !!




You can view covers at:

  • ADVENTURE ( 1958-1969, issues 247-380)
    HERE

    ACTION (1969-1970, issues 377-392)
    HERE

    SUPERBOY/LEGION (1970-1980, series begins in issue 197)
    HERE

    LEGION, 1st series (1973, 4 issues, all-reprint)
    HERE

    LEGION OF SUPERHEROES, 2nd series (1980-1984)
    HERE

    LSH, 3rd series (1984-1989)
    HERE

    LSH, 4th series (1989-2000, "Five Year Gap" series in 1-61)
    HERE

    LEGIONNAIRES (1993-2000)
    HERE

    LEGION LOST (2000)
    HERE

    LEGION (2001 series, Abnett/Lanning)
    HERE

    LEGION (2004-2005 series, Waid/Kitson)
    HERE