Legion of Super-Heroes #99

When the Reign Comes

Your guides to the 20th century:
Tom Peyer Co-Plotter/Scripter
Tom McCraw Co-Plotter/Colorist
Lee Moder & Derec Aucoin Pencillers
Ray Kryssing Inker
Pat Brosseau Letterer
Frank Berrios Assistant Editor
KC Carlson Editor

Our cover by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer, the last of our Faces series, shows the Legionnaire known as Triad. Impulse has already has several encounters with the Legion of Super-Heroes, but he hasn't directly with her. Basically, all you need to know is that she can split into three people — obviously. But why was she chosen for this cover? Because she kind of inadvertently becomes the bad guy in this issue.

So apparently Brainiac 5 got a bit desperate and experimental in his efforts to return to the 30th century. He designed a super computer conveniently called C.O.M.P.U.T.O. Unfortunately, Brainiac's machine turned out to be too advanced and moody. It did open a time portal for the Legion of Super-Heroes as instructed, but then it soon realized it wouldn't be needed after they left. So C.O.M.P.U.T.O. basically threw a tantrum, took over Triad's body, and began doing everything it could to prevent the Legion from returning to the 30th century.

Oracle picks up some weird computer activity coming from Happy Harbor, Rhode Island, the Legion's new headquarters, so she orders Robin to go check it out. Meanwhile, the Legion tries and fails to stop C.O.M.P.U.T.O. Realizing the evil machine knows everything about them, Cosmic Boy suggests they call in some heroes C.O.M.P.U.T.O. doesn't know anything about. Brainiac 5 agrees this is a good idea, so he uses his telepathic earplug he gave to Impulse a long time ago to call in the fastest teen alive. The rest of the Legionnaires complain about this, but Brainiac points out that speed is of the essence here since their time portal will only remain open for three more hours.

Cosmic Boy calls in Superboy, and they all head over toward the Happy Harbor nuclear power plant, which is being attacked by C.O.M.P.U.T.O. Robin headed straight to the power plant and is the first hero on the scene. But Impulse arrives soon after, and is thrilled to be teaming up with the Boy Wonder once again.

Impulse races Robin into the power plant, saying the last one in is Max Mercury, which is a very odd thing to say, but oh well. Robin reluctantly follows Impulse inside, while Brainiac 5 communicates with Impulse en route. Brainiac deciphers Impulse's thought-pictograms as C.O.M.P.U.T.O. destroying the plant's systems. But this confuses Brainiac since his machine is a creative force, not a destroyer. Impulse then has to rush Robin out of the plant before it collapses, but they soon see that the building's not collapsing, but transforming. Turns out Brainiac was right after all, and C.O.M.P.U.T.O. transformed the power plant into a massive tank.

Impulse thinks this is pretty cool, but Robin insists it's very uncool. The tank soon launches a large missile out of its main gun, and Impulse is unable to reach it. Luckily, Superboy arrives just in time to catch it and tease Impulse. The Legion of Super-Heroes start to demolish the tank, and Impulse and Robin each get a hit in on C.O.M.P.U.T.O., knocking it down momentarily. Brainiac 5 tries to reason with his creation, but is quickly takes over Cosmic Boy and teleports away.


Impulse, Robin and Superboy together at last! It's amazing! Of course, these guys are merely the guests here, so we don't get to see too much interaction between the three biggest teenaged heroes of the time. But it was still wonderful to have them all together in the same comic book that wasn't also some large crossover event such as Genesis, Final Night or Zero Hour. Overall, I thought this was a very fun comic book, building up to the Legion's climactic 100th issue. Unfortunately, the art was pretty crappy, taking a lot of the enjoyment out of it.

Well, that's it for 1997. Before we can send the Legion of Super-Heroes home, let's take a look back at this very busy year for Impulse and hand out some rewards.