The tragic conclusion to this two-part story by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan must have been terribly shocking when it came out, irrespective of the major hint given 2 issues earlier. Along with the first part of this tale, Adventure 353 (Feb 67) was a ground-breaking story, and another that proved that Legion of Super-Heroes was a team like no other.
When the Fatal Five first meet each other it is anything but harmonious. It was quite wise of Superboy to split everyone up almost immediately, having the two teams form a V shaped gauntlet in the Sun-Eater’s path.
Tharok uses his scientific knowledge to boost the power levels of everyone, even Superboy, but none of them have any effect on the creature.
And then, the big finale. Tharok devises a bomb that will absorb the Sun-Eater’s powers, which Ferro Lad steals and flies off with.
A mere 7 issues after being introduced, Ferro Lad sacrifices himself.
While the death of Lightning Lad was hinted almost immediately to be reversable, and the death of one of Triplicate Girl’s bodies left the other two intact, there was no question that the death of Ferro Lad was permanent. The rest of the Legion show up for the funeral – but what in the world were they doing during the big battle?
Babblings about DC Comics 
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