I found this at my LCS the other day at a reasonable price. I've only read a couple other issues from Levitz's brief 70s run. This was the first one to really impress me. The story more than justifies its 34-page length, with the Legion working on evacuating a doomed planet while at the same time battling the Fatal Five, who want the planet's sun to go nova. James Sherman's art is phenomenal -- detailed, dynamic, and atmospheric. I especially like the full-page battle spread on page 23.
Who else has read this issue? Like it? Dislike it?
Posted by Jerry on :
This is a great issue. It was the perfect use of the extra size format, and, I think, one of the best single issue Legion stories of the 70s.
Sherman did great work. Important note, though. Mike Nasser did the pencils on the second half of the story and wasn't given credit in that issue. He did great work also, and one hardly notices the change in style while reading the story. Huge editorial mistake. They gave him credit in the letter column of a later issue.
[ October 03, 2009, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: Jerry ]
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
I have had this issue twice. I wore the first one out and it fell apart. guess how I feel about it. Posted by superboymddjr on :
that was my FIRST Legion issue that I BOUGHT it with my own money (from hard earned allowance from my parents). I saw it on the rack through the window at 7-11 after I begged my Dad to take me there. I was the happiest kid on the whole block that I bought it! Posted by He Who Wanders on :
I have the issue, but I don't remember the story all that well. The F5's previous appearance in # 219 stands out more to me.
I agree that Sherman was a phenomenal artist; unfortunately, for most of his run he was paired with unsuitable inkers who reduced the detail in his artwork, rendering it cartoonish. I don't know if this is true for # 231 (I'm too lazy to check), but Sherman's earlier issues, particularly # 225 (Wildfire's election as leader) stand out as highlights of his run.
Posted by Stealth on :
Thanks for the behind-the-scenes tidbit, Jerry. I like Nasser's uncredited work on this issue better than I like most of what I've seen of his other work.
I forgot to mention Mike Grell's cover. Considering that at that point Grell had not long ago burned out on the Legion, this is IMO one of his better pieces of Legion art from the second half of the 70s.
Posted by MLLASH on :
This issue always finds itself in my list of top 10 fave single-issue LSH stories.
Now I want to re-read it...
LSH book club, anyone? Everyone who wants to re-read it this week, we meet back here this weekend and post?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I don't think I've ever read this.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Great, great story. Lash first told me about this story years ago and I finally bought it the day I met Pov in 2004. It's a perfect example of a done in one story done completely right. Tension, character dynamics, a sense of a journey throughout--and fantastic art.
Highly recommended.
Posted by MLLASH on :
You really should back-issue bin it... It's an oversize tale, and totally worth the equivalent of what you might pay today if it was coming out new ($5-$6?). I really have no idea what LSH backissues cost anymore...
One thing I like about it, is it makes the Fatal 5 BADASSES.
SEMI S P O I L E R S . . . . . .
I mean, Mano, the Persuader and Validus stomp all over Colossal Boy, Shadow Lass, Saturn Girl, Ultra Boy, Mon-el AND Superboy. That's an ALL-STAR lineup getting pulped.
That's just 3 of the 5.
The issue is Levitz' most finely choreographed battle sequence EVER... it made me want to write a fight-scene as well as he did...
Posted by MLLASH on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: It's a perfect example of a done in one story done completely right. Tension, character dynamics, a sense of a journey throughout--and fantastic art.
Highly recommended.
This should go on the inside cover of the prestige reprint DC should do of it.
Posted by superboymddjr on :
Fatal Five being "bad-assed"? Well I thought that it was Karate Kid who stole the spotlight - he kicked the Titanium steel door and faced the Five all alone! He truly kicked the ass! my gosh.
Posted by Sketch Lad on :
I like that there was a LOT going on within the framework of a tense bigger plot. Excellent characterization.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
I liked the entire issue. Can't think of a single thing that was disappointing about it. The art was fantastic. Direct, Simple, Clean, yet not amatuerish in any fashion. If someone had handed this book to the director of Batman and Robin and said "this is why there appears to be neon on everyone, its using light and coloring to give shading and depth you idiot" I think that would have some Shumacker what he was getting wrong.
I even liked the concept of the axe cutting gravity. Don't think anyone has had persuader fly since using the axe.
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I don't think I've ever read this.
Did you read it yet?
Posted by Power Boy on :
Funny story:
This was reprinted, I think along with a new story in the 80s ... It was one of my first Legion reads ... if not the first ... (but I remember being really disappointed that it was not the current storyline when I started getting the legion ...however now those issues from the mid 80s are some of my absolute favorites. )
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