For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working on pieces about the Legion and some of the problems it has faced over the years. And, I thought I was done, for now. But, admittedly, I could talk a lot about the Legion because I am that big of a fan. Although it’s not in the spotlight much now, in the past, it had some iconic stories, despite significant interference from DC about what the Legion could and could not do.
I decided to dive back into Legion lore for something that I feel is one of the best Legion stories and also serves as a sequel to the Legion’s Great Darkness Saga, where the Legion defeated Darkseid. Still, he, in the end, leaves with some cryptic words. Shortly after, we get a look at Darkseid’s hidden revenge in The Curse arc.
A bold and wide-reaching continuation of the 30th-century epic, The Curse resumes the story in the wake of the acclaimed Great Darkness Saga. Penned by Paul Levitz and brought to life by Keith Giffen’s dynamic artwork, this collection—spanning Legion of Super-Heroes #297–313 and Annuals #2–3—explores layered character arcs, galactic political tensions, and the rise of formidable cosmic threats.
Part of what makes it so good is how Levitz and Giffen go back nearly twenty years in Legion lore and tie something into the current lore that is brilliant and actually makes a lot of sense. See, one of the best things about the Legion is that things actually happen. Heroes grow, die—and even get married. There was seldom, at first, any glossing over of things that had happened in the past.
Back in the mid-1970s, two of the founding members of the Legion got married: Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl. In 1984, in The Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #3, a pregnant Saturn Girl gives birth. And here’s the twist: they were supposed to have twins. However, Darkseid intervened and, unknown (obviously) to anyone, stole one of the twins.
That “lost twin” was reformed and sent into the past to become a member of the Fatal Five, Valdius, who first appeared back in 1967, within the pages of Adventure Comics 352. This was when Jim Shooter, who later accomplished many things and recently passed away, was a 14-year-old boy writing some of the best Legion stories. How he ended up as a writer is something any fan should look up. It’s pretty cool.
Validus was a colossal, fearsome figure among the Fatal Five, endowed with overwhelming strength, near-impervious durability, and the power to emit destructive mental lightning blasts. He recently appeared in the Superman special this past summer. How Levitz and Giffen retold the story made all those past stories shine in a different light. Being the son of Legionnaires Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl, Garridan Ranzz, kidnapped and transformed by Darkseid as part of a cruel curse, made all the past stories more tragic.
The ”lost twin” didn’t stay lost forever. Garridan Ranzz was reunited with his family in Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #3 (1992), bringing closure to a deeply emotional and long-standing mystery. The storyline honored the rich legacy of Legion continuity and delivered a satisfying resolution that resonated with longtime fans.
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