ÒTHE PASTÉSEEN DARKLY.Ó They come from across the galaxy, super-powered youths who have banded together to form the mightiest fighting force of all time! Now they must search their past for a clue to the future...a search that will unlock SECRETS OF THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES!

The greatest heroes of the 30th century star in these classic stories that set the stage for “The Great Darkness Saga,” one of the most beloved tales in Legion history! First, the Legion-including Mon-El, Brainiac 5, and Phantom Girl-takes on a Circus of Death! Then, the villainous Dagon strikes, kidnapping several Legionnaires’ parents for ransom. And the Fatal Five return-now working for the Dark Man! Plus, find out startling new information from the pasts of the Legion and their ally R.J. Brande. This title collects Legion of Super-Heroes #260-271 and Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes #1-3.

ÒR.J. BRANDE IS DYING!!Ó The Legion and R.J. BrandeÕs dark past exposed!

First appearance of the Legion of Super-Heroes! Superboy encounters the Legion of Super-Heroes—super-powered teens from the future who want to initiate the Boy of Steel into the group. But can Superboy pass the tests put before him? Plus two additional stories!

"As DC's 30th century super-team, the Legion of Super-Heroes had always stood as a shining example of futuristic optimism--but that changed in 1989 with a new Legion of Super-Heroes series that brought the timeline forward five years. In this even further future, the United Planets became a darker place, with familiar characters changed and the Earth overtaken by alien invaders--and the team reunited to take on these dangerous new threats. Now this bold and controversial part of DC history is finally collected in an omnibus edition, from the creative team of DC legend Keith Giffen and Tom and Mary Bierbaum!"--

Teenager Clark Kent is brought to the future by a team of superheroes, and learns about his destiny to become Superman and lead the Legion of Super-Heroes.

The central and later decades of the twentieth century have not only been marked by the popularity of fantasy in general but of fantastic graphics in particular. As a literature relatively new to academic consideration, however, fantasy lacks a universally accepted definition, and no previous author has adequately studied the genral differences between the literalness of realistic illustration and the paradoxes of fantastic illumination. In "Illuminated Fantasy," James Whitlark presents a detailed analysis of the significance of picture/text discrepancy - its history, its various forms, and its psychological complexities.

Essential Comics Values! From the authoritative stuff at Comics Buyer's Guide, the world's longest running magazine about comics, Comic Book Price Guide is the only guide on the market to give you extensive coverage of more than 150,000 comics from the Golden Age of the 1930s to current releases. In addition to the thousands of comic books from such publishers as Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image, this collector-friendly reference includes listings for comic books from independent publishers, underground publishers, and more! This indispensable guide features: • Alphabetical organization by comic book title • Thousands of detailed photos • An exclusive photo grading guide to help you determine your comics' conditions accurately • Current values for more than 150,000 comics Comic Book Price Guide is the reliable reference for collectors, dealers, and anyone passionate about comic books!

The bible of the comic book industry is updated for 2002 with Web site information, tips about grading and caring for comics, and more than 1,500 black-and-white photos.

No other guide on the market covers the volume of comic book listings and range of eras as Comic Book Checklist & Price Guide does, in an easy-to-use checklist format. Readers can access listings for 130,000 comics, issued since 1961, complete with names, cover date, creator information and near-mint pricing. With super-hero art on the cover and collecting details from the experts as America's longest-running magazine about comics in this book, there is nothing that compares.