posted
To celebrate the rerturn of Paul Levits to the Legion, I took it upon myself to reread all the Legion's adventures. My goal was to be up to Magic Wars by the time the new Legion hit the stands.
Sadly, I didn't quite make it as I am just now at the Great Darkness.
Levitz had just returned to the Legion and already things were happening. Timber Wolf had his human face restored! Cham reacts badly to Brande being his dad! Dream Girl uses her flight ring in new and different ways! Projectra is now Queen. I could go on, but these are just examples to show that Levitz was in no way slacking before the annual came out.
Our story once again begins with Shvaughn Erin arriving at Legion HQ. Just like last time, she runs into Wildfire and Dawnstar and just like the last time, they have no time for her, leaving her to fend for herself.
After a quick runin with the security system, she meets up with Element Lad, who wants to give her a tour. Their first stop is the Medical Center. It is here that we are introduced to Jacques and Danielle Foccart. It seems that Brainiac 5 is trying to cure Matter Eater Lad of his insanity and is trying a new approach, using Danielle as a test subject.
The big problem with that? He is using some of the same type of technology that he used when he created Ultron. Opps, I mean Computo.
Sure enough, Computer possesses Danielle and havok ensues. The next set of scenes are where we check inon the various Legionnaires as their own home turns against them.
Cosmic Boy is admiring himself in his new pink and black costume. Apparently, Light Lass made it for him. Those two really do have a freaky realtionship. He gets attacked and has to deal with becoming a living magnet.
Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl. Apparently, they have already kissed and made up following her indiscretion with Timber Wolf. She was even making him dinner when Computo attacks. At the time, this confused me. Why was Ayla so mad when Garth seemed to be fine. To this day, I still do not understand.
Anyway, various Legionnaires are shown fighting against their own Headquarters. We are reminded about Luornu's third body being destroyed by Ult... I mean, Computo. Her husband, Bouncing Boy seems to have no clue that this ever happened or what it did to her, which seems like the biggest contrivance ever in order to get her to reveal what happened to her. Surely, in the time they had been married, they had discussed this? It's kind of a big deal and makes Chuck look dumb and insensitive.
Finally, Brainiac 5 comes up with a plan that involves Jacques Foccart taking Lyle Norg's invisibility serum. His convoluted paln works, and Jacques saves the day!
Jacques is now the new Invisible Kid and joins the Legion!
This story, although as I noted before was not Levitz's first, it seemed to raise the stakes. This is where I truly, madly deeply fell in the with the series. There was a lot going on, but it didn't feel rushed at all. This story marked the beginning of my favorite Legion run off all time, and the excitement wasn't about to stop, because next would be the Great Darkness Saga!
This was also the first time I really noticed Giffen's art. It was, perhaps for the first time, that I actually enjoyed looking at. It's a shame that he eventually changed styles but man, when he was good, he was great.
Was the Annual perfect? No. But I didn't need it to be. It captured my imagination and I knew at this point that I would ALWAYS be a Legion fan.
-------------------- Touch the magic...
From: Morganfield, KY | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Great review, Matt! I remember how excited I was when I first bought this comic book. The first Legion Annual!! I was so thrilled that they got an annual!! I loved Jacques immediately and I loved all the cameos throughout the story! The only thing I disliked was Element Lad's perm.
From: elizabeth,nj | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
One of my favorite comic books of all time. the story is thrilling, every Legionnaire ist featured and the conclusion back then was surprising and fit well with Legion history (a new Invisible Kid to solve the problem - genius!).
I also very fond memories of Annual #1 cause it was among the last Legion stories published in Germany before everything went into limbo with the publisher stutting down its superhero line...
Best of the best in my eyes. If Levitz manages to write a Legion story that good now, he would have accomplished a great feat.
From: Bamberg, Germany | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
I only read this recently, having decided to try to complete my collection of Levitz's pre-Baxter issues. This is definitely one of the high points, for all the reasons already listed.
One unsung hero of this issue IMO is inker Bruce Patterson. I think he made Giffen's art a lot more eye-pleasing than Larry Mahlstedt. Nothing personal against Mahlstedt, who went on to do fine work for Marvel on the early years of New Warriors, but I think Giffen/Patterson meshed like Byrne/Austin or Perez/Marcos.
Does anyone know why Patterson didn't stick around?
posted
This was the last of the Levitz issues I needed to complete the collection and I finally got it a few years back. It really is a terrific comic--a fine example of great story-telling and part of the 'growing sense of awesome' that encompassed Paul's earliest issues on his 2nd Legion run.
So many characters, subplots and moments where Legionnaires are *doing something* are worked in.
You make me want to reread!
Maybe Paul can bring back Danielle? I hope he still has a soft spot for her!
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I agree that much of Giffen's success had more to do with his inker than with his actual pencils.
Yes, I do hope we get to see more of Danielle.
I am going to forego reviewing Great Darkness because it has been done by so many other and I think the story stands on its own. Next up, I may try reviewing something that was not as successful as soon as I finish it.
Omen and the Prophet, anyone?
-------------------- Touch the magic...
From: Morganfield, KY | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Let's see if it is as bad as I remember it...
-------------------- Touch the magic...
From: Morganfield, KY | Registered: Jul 2003
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cleome46
or you can do the confusion 'til your head falls off
posted
I remember reading a letter in a comics mag that trashed the hell out of the Computo story, and kind of trashed the entire concept of the Legion by extension.
It's a good thing I eventually learned to think for myself, and not pay attention to that kind of thing.
-------------------- Hey, Kids! My "Cranky and Kitschy" collage art is now viewable on flickr. Drop by and tell me that I sent you.
From: Vanity, OR | Registered: Dec 2008
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