365 Days of Defiance, Day 292: We Are Legion, Day Seven: The Boys Are Back in Town

At last, the climax and centerpiece of LSH #294: just when it seems like all is going well against the shadow hordes, the boss himself, That Jerk Darkseid™ shows up to undo all their good work and triumphs and replacement arm surgery. Darkseid, yer a jerk, and you always were. Ya bum.
Panels from Legion of Super-Heroes (1980 series) #292 (December 1982), co-plot and script by Paul Levitz, co-plot and pencils by Keith Giffen, inks by Larry Mahlstedt, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza
But even as Light Lass falls, there's one Legionnaire — Shadow Lass — who will protect the mysterioius Child (oh yeah, forgot about him) from being captured and corrupted by Darkseid. Hey, does this two-page spread remind you of anything?

(Click picture to big-ass-darkness-size)
Hey, does this two-page spread remind you of anything?

The Creation of Adam (1508–1512), pencils, inks, and colors by Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, scripter unknown but probably Stan Lee
In all his millennia, including all those kick-ass Jack Kirby stories, Darkseid has never heard so much impudence as he's getting right now from Tasmia Mallor! To be fair, he's pretty old now and is at the equivalence of yelling "YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN." He's just so darn cranky. But Shadow Lass will not give up that child! Well, it's a stalemate, Darkseid, right? Ehhhh, maybe not. WHO WILL DEFY HIM NOW?!?


OH YEAH BABY IT'S THE FREAKIN' NEW GODS (CREATED BY JACK KIRBY)


Darkseid sure is in for a world o' hurt now, huh? Eh, you'd be surprised. Tune in tomorrow!

Today in Comics History, June 13, 2000: There came a time when the old gods died and it was reported in the local newspaper

from Orion #2 (DC, July 2000); script, figure pencils, and inks by Walt Simonson; background pencils by Cliff Chiang; colors by Sherilyn van Valkenburgh; letters by John Workman

365 Days of Defiance, Day 75: If I could buy back the years, oh, oh, Orion

ORION HAS A POSSE, and just to continue the meme created by Shepard Fairey...


Page portion from "Orion" in Who's Who in the DC Universe (1985 series) #17 (July 1986); text by a whole lotta writers; pencils by Jack Kirby; inks by Greg Theakston; colors by Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, and Tom Ziuko
...Orion is 6'1" and 195 pounds. Unless you happen to subscribe to Peter David's weird-ass retcon that the New Gods are actually giants, and that when you come and go through a Boom Tube it shrinks or embiggens you as needed. In which case Orion is 306'1" and whoa cut down on the cheeseburgers pounds.


Panels from Supergirl (1996 Series) #29 (February 1999); script by Peter David; pencils by Leonard Kirk; inks by Robin Riggs; colors by Gene D'Angelo; color separations by Digital Chameleon; letters by Pat Prentice
I personally do not accept that as part of my personal DC canon. Mister David, I say it's spinach and to hell with it.

Anyway, Orion has a posse of ordinary people, just regular civilians, but they're willing to throw down to fight Darkseid. Just some guys in suits and sweaters and a girl in a green dress. Say, where do you get a gr...wait, that doesn't work. Anyway: they will fight for the right to stop Darkseid!




Panels from The New Gods (1971 series) #2 (April-May 1971), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta, letters by John Costanza
Hey, if these average joes (and josephine) can stand up to and defy Darkseid, there's hope for us all.

Hey, special Bully Thank Yous and Encyclopedic Knowledge No-Bull Prizes go to Alex Adrian and to Mark Hale for helping me remember where that riDONKulous idea of Millennium-type Giant New Gods came from. I shake my hoof at thee, Mister So-Called Peter David!

365 Days of Defiance, Day 36: You know we'll have a good time then, Dad

Panels from Orion #3 (August 2000); script, figure pencils, and inks by Walt Simonson; background inks by Cliff Chiang; colors by Sherilyn van Valkenburgh; letters by John Workman