For me... v4 #17 on my Kindle. Conclusion of the Khund War/Red Terror arc, which was a pretty weak storyline after the first awesome year of v4. Deaths of Power Boy and the Tornado Twins. Two pretty cool moments with Chuck Taine snapping Mysa out of her funk and helping her to prep a spell to defend against the Khunds, and with Vi/Laurel taking out Glorith with a chronal howitzer. Probably close to ten years since I read it last. The nice thing about re-collecting these v4 issues digitally is that I'm actually reading them in order with no gaps, whereas when I read them the first time I pretty much just picked up randomly from the back issue bin, and there's a at least a few issues that I never got.
Feel free to post about your most recent Legion read/re-read. Be as detailed or as brief as you like.
Posted by He Who Wanders on :
The last new issue of a Legion series I read was the first issue of Levitz's relaunch.
The last issue I re-read was probably v.4 # 38, which I reviewed two years ago for this thread.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
The Legion #24 - "After Dark: Spotlight on Umbra."
God, if only DnA had been more consistent and come out with more issues like this one! And if only Shadow Lass-by-any-other-name were this well-written more often! And...and if only Steve Lightle could produce 20-something pages plus cover on a monthly basis! If only, if only!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
^^Agreed about that issue, Fickles. DnA were at their best when focusing on self-contained stories, with a smaller number of characters, and lots of world-building.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
Thanks, EDE.
My second favorite thing that DnA did was the 12-issue Legion Lost, which, as it happens, I'm about to start re-reading. I'll post about it here, issue by issue. Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Looking forward to it!
The reason I started this thread is that while we get some discussion of the latest issue every month (though people hardly seem over-enthusiastic in talking about them these days), I was really curious to what extent people are still revisiting the "classics", whether or not they are keeping up with the current Legion or not.
I figure most people aren't going to want to start a thread saying "Hey, I just read Adventure #342 for the thirteenth time!", but this thread might encourage people to post about what Legion books they are reading.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Legends of the Legion 2, the issue focusing on Spark.
And
LSH v4 Annual 6, which included the origins of XS, Leviathan and Kinetix.
I realize now that one reason I really loved the Postboot Legion was because I grew up with them, so to speak - they were being published while I was a preteen/teen, after all.
From Spark's drive to be "the good kid", to XS' uncertainty and struggle to be courageous, to Leviathan's shattered view of the Science Police, to Kinetix's desire to be useful... I could relate to every single one.
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
Legionnaires #2
The SW6 Legion infiltrates a terrorist gang, led by Mano, on New Earth. Mano gets the upper hand in the encounter, but more Legionnaires arrive to save the day and Mano is carted off to SP Chief Sean Erin.
Something strange is in the sewer tunnels....Leland McCauley steals The Persuader's axe... Saturn Girl flirts with Cosmic Boy, which angers Live Wire...and Legion Tryouts! X-Bomb Betty, Plaid Lad and the unfortunate Cera Kesh, whose pudgy body makes her the target of insults from some Legionnaires and members of the public. The Emerald Eye, however, finds her particularly interesting.
I reread this issue for Cera Kesh's story and was surprised at how much else was going on. The Fatal Five is regrouping. There was a lot of character interaction; the Legionnaires seemed more like a newly-formed team getting to know one another than a team that had been put into hibernation by the Dominators. (I guess at the time we didn't know that they were supposed to have been the original Legion team.) The tryouts were a nice homage to the Adventure-era rejections. Brainy wasn't a jerk. Inferno was.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
^^Love that era!
Posted by Future on :
Seconded. Love the SW6 era and how much was going on in those books between the character moments and the subplots that developed.
I was actually re-reading the recent 'Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes' arc from Action Comics a few years back. Whether this team fizzled or not for people with 3 Worlds and the sixth Legion volume, I felt the "retroboot" had a terrific start with this story arc! Lots of homages to the past, great moments for traditionally minor Legionnaires, and at the end of the day it was still a strong Superman story for the regular Supes reader.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
They did have a lot of nice drama going on during that era. Ferro and Tenzil catching Computo dressing up and her thinking, "Why do boys always stare..." SW6 Tenzil was a fave. So were the strong-willed women on the team like Andromeda, Apparition, Gossamer...
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
Okay, here we go...
LEGION LOST #1 OF 12
A masterful set-up issue, kicking off with a generous helping of action as Shikari flees the Progeny and finds the remains of the Legion Outpost. The exposition which follows is refreshingly brisk, especially considering that many people reading this story for the first time are likely unfamiliar with the earliest DnA Legion stories which immediately preceded it (I still haven't read them myself.) And the splash-page cliffhanger of the Progeny mothership is magnificent.
Posted by Power Boy on :
oh man ... I loved these ... Can't wait to read the rest of your reviews! squeeeee!!!
Legion of the Damned is quite good F.L. you may want to pick em up ... They brought me back to the Legion after many many years. They also made me fans on this new (new to me) Legion.
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Fat Cramer: Legionnaires #2
The SW6 Legion infiltrates a terrorist gang, led by Mano, on New Earth. Mano gets the upper hand in the encounter, but more Legionnaires arrive to save the day and Mano is carted off to SP Chief Sean Erin.
Something strange is in the sewer tunnels....Leland McCauley steals The Persuader's axe... Saturn Girl flirts with Cosmic Boy, which angers Live Wire...and Legion Tryouts! X-Bomb Betty, Plaid Lad and the unfortunate Cera Kesh, whose pudgy body makes her the target of insults from some Legionnaires and members of the public. The Emerald Eye, however, finds her particularly interesting.
I reread this issue for Cera Kesh's story and was surprised at how much else was going on. The Fatal Five is regrouping. There was a lot of character interaction; the Legionnaires seemed more like a newly-formed team getting to know one another than a team that had been put into hibernation by the Dominators. (I guess at the time we didn't know that they were supposed to have been the original Legion team.) The tryouts were a nice homage to the Adventure-era rejections. Brainy wasn't a jerk. Inferno was.
Loved these early Legionnaires issues too!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
A few weeks ago I reread the Dr. Landro / Meglaro story, as its one of my favorites. Two things stand out: the sheer amount of stuff going on, and the phenomenal glamorous John Forte art. Tenz plays a major part in the story, naturally, but I was reminded by how big of a star Dirk was throughout the first few years (and how he was clearly Garth's best friend).
Meglaro, with his crazy look, should have definitely returned!
And it's always interesting to recall spies being akin to terrorists even as late as 1962-63.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
The other one I read that really stuck out in my mind was "the Secret of the Seventh Super Hero" (Adv 290). I was surprised by not remembering that the Legion / Sun Boy are almost incidental in the story and that's it's really a superb story about Tom Tanner (and Superboy). Tom Tanner is a really great character and within 12 pages goes through a complete character change. He emerges with a hunger for learning and community, as well as knowing what it feels like to be loved an appreciated via living as Clark for a day.
I really wish he showed up again. (Or did he?)
A really charming Silver Age Superboy story that accomplishes its optimistic message quite well.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Not sure if Tom Tanner showed up again, but the story is apparently a rewritten version of "The Two Clark Kents!" from Adventure #191. Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Hm! Either I never knew that or just plain forgot! I wonder who was in the Sun Boy role?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I have no idea, but I'm betting that whole side-plot is basically left out, since as you said its almost incidental to the story.
Posted by cleome46 on :
I can't even remember, but it was the one that came out at least six months ago.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
"The Untold Legend of Arm-Fall-Off Boy" from Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #16.
Every few months my daughter makes me take this one out and read it to her, and man, am I glad when she does. She. her brother, her sister and I all laugh ourselves silly. I can practically hear my wife rolling her eyes from the other room.
The book is truly one of the best written comedic gems in all of Legiondom, right from the get go at Floyd's birth, up through the last page when the flight ring stops working. And the use of Starfinger as the villain was a stroke of genius (love the scene in Starfinger's "lair").
The Shawn McManus art is great and he really captures both the comedic and sympathetic moments.
I was really disappointed we never got to see Floyd again before the book was cancelled.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
GREAT issue. I agree with every word. Terrific children's story. It's perfect. Uplifting. Clever. It should have won awards.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
quote:Originally posted by Power Boy: oh man ... I loved these ... Can't wait to read the rest of your reviews! squeeeee!!!
Legion of the Damned is quite good F.L. you may want to pick em up ... They brought me back to the Legion after many many years. They also made me fans on this new (new to me) Legion.
Thank you, Peebs, for the kind words and for the recommendation.
LEGION LOST #2 of 12
It's awesome to see the Legionnaires stand up to bastards like the Progeny and come out on top, even if they've won only the battle and not yet the war. What's not so awesome, in my humble opinion, is this issue's focus on Monstress (each issue is from the point of view of a different character.) Not being familiar with her pre-Legion Lost appearances, I don't know whether previous writers tried quite as hard to make her loveable as DnA seem to be doing here. Given her ultimate fate several issues later, it's understandable that the writers would want us to like her, but I just feel like they're trying too hard and it's leaving me cold. I'd be interested to know what other people think about this.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Agree with Power Boy's reco on Leigon of the Damned (suggest you also pick up Legionnaires 78) and the Widening Rifts storyline that followed immediately after
Given how Monstress was portrayed as almost sickeningly sweet before DNA took over, her protrayal under them was a welcome change IMO. I'd say her origin showed why she was so sweet - perhaps as a way of protecting herself from the hurt? Or perhaps I liked her more because she remained sweet despite her sad past. In any case, Legion Lost made me a fan of not only her, but several other Legionnaires I found lackluster before they took over - Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Umbra, Kid Quantum.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Legionnaires 48-50, the conclusion of the Emerald Violet/Mordru plot.
Definitely one of the better storylines of the Postboot Legion. The Legion loses horribly against Mordru on Sklar, causing the planet's destruction and the sidelining of Element Lad, who is transformed into crystal.
RJ Brande sends out a call for super-powered beings to assault Mordru. Backed by allies and the UP Fleet, the Legion tracks Mordru only to find that he had caught up with Violet and the Emerald Eye and is trying to take control of them. The Eye/Violet stall him by merging into one and offering themselves in marriage.
After getting thrashed, the Legionnaires finally succeed in separating Violet from the Eye. Just when they rally though, it seems Mordru has killed them all...
Only for us to realize a couple of pages later that the Legionnaires only tricked Mordru into thinking so, and have successfully trapped him again without his knowledge. The Legion returns home to deal with their losses.
Pros:
The plotting and pacing are tight enough that I didn't even notice some of the absurdities until now (wait, big power-hungry Mordru actually took the time to "negotiate" with Eye/Violet instead of just dominanting them? Guess the low-cut, frilly dress worked wonders here, and even ancient wizards heed the call of the flesh). In hindsight though, having Vi and the Eye merge was a brilliant plot device as it allowed the writers to use the rest of the Legionnaires in battle vs. Mordru, while Mysa's team freed Violet. We'd have missed out on a great battle if not.
The writers managed to let nearly two dozen characters shine. All the task force members (including non-Legionnaires) got something to do, and almost each one contributed to Mordru's defeat. Even supporting characters like RJ Brande and Admiral Everett played their parts.
The story managed to throw in a lot of character growth during the battle as well - Umbra showing some compassion, Invisible Kid presiding over a genius battle plan, Andromeda slowly winning over her xenophobia, Sensor successfully encouraging Violet, Kinetix no longer wanting to use the Eye for herself, Live Wire learning some restraint.
Cons:
Element Lad's transmutation would lead him to become "spacy" and distracted, not a welcome change. Pacifist Jan I find interesting, spacy and vague Jan not at all.
I remember a fan writing in to complain that, besides Magno, all the big casualties of the battle were non-Legionnaires. That's true, and I found it harder to mourn for people like Atom'x, Blast-Off, Dragonmage and Radion. So Radion loses part of his face? I feel bad for a couple of seconds and move on, since we hardly ever saw him again.
Also controversial at the time was the induction of Monstress, who IMO did not contribute as much to the battle, nor had powers as interesting as, Mysa or Kid Quantum II (and a recent poll I ran here shows these two as far more "deserving" of membership!).
As a Kinetix fan, I do wish they'd explored her growth a bit more. Although it's telling that she whole-heartedly tried to convince Violet to turn away from the Eye, whereas before she'd have been tempted to use it herself.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
Will add Legionnaires 78 to my list. Thank you, IB.
I think her origin was well done, but otherwise I felt like...I'm not sure, like DnA were overselling her to the readers. At the same time, I confess I feel almost guilty for not warming up to her given the horrific tragedy that's just around the corner for her.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
LEGION LOST #3 of 12
As with the previous issue, there's a lot to like here. I love the Kwai, and was really happy that DnA let them escape the Progeny instead of going the melodramatic cliche route. That they escape thanks to the Legion's competent job protecting them makes it even sweeter.
And again, as with the previous issue, there's a focus on a character that I find somehow lacking, in this case Kid Quantum. I think she's kind of bland, not very well defined, and just...there.
The return of Drake and the stinger at the end with the mysterious pyramid are icing on the cake.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
LEGION LOST #4 of 12
This issue gives the characters a chance to catch their breath and the writers a chance to focus on the characters. For all their reputation for action over characterization, which comes mainly from their later, lesser Legion work, DnA prove here that they actually could give the Legionnaires individual voices and sharp character moments, stressing the importance of teamwork and unity.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Did Legion Lost 4 give you a better impression of Monstress and Kid Quantum II, FL?
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lady: [QUOTE]
LEGION LOST #2 of 12
It's awesome to see the Legionnaires stand up to bastards like the Progeny and come out on top, even if they've won only the battle and not yet the war. What's not so awesome, in my humble opinion, is this issue's focus on Monstress (each issue is from the point of view of a different character.) Not being familiar with her pre-Legion Lost appearances, I don't know whether previous writers tried quite as hard to make her loveable as DnA seem to be doing here. Given her ultimate fate several issues later, it's understandable that the writers would want us to like her, but I just feel like they're trying too hard and it's leaving me cold. I'd be interested to know what other people think about this.
It was nice to see the Legion outside of their huge political universe and in a position to get back to Legion-ing. I thought it was convenient and clever of DNA to deconstruct their galaxy and then leap ahead by taking this cast out of the context. When we jumped back, things had been cleaned up haha.
I wasn't aware of Monstress' fate going into this the first time around ... and this was the first time I got to know the vapid She-Hulk knock off. I liked her, especially after 12 issues Click Here For A Spoiler of her being the rock of the Legion Lost crew, everybody's best friend and voice of sanity .. . I was bummed and well manipulated. haha
Umbra also comes alive during Legion Lost.
Legion of the Damned was nothing short of heroic, especially the portrayals of Saturn Girl, X-S, Cham and others .... Unfortunately the issues created in Legion of Damned are the foundation of what the characters are dealing with and growing from in Legion Lost.
Posted by Power Boy on :
Kid Quantum comes a LONG way in Legion Lost.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Legion Lost did something few other comics have done after, or had done before. The series made me cry twice... in Legion Lost 11 and Legion Lost 12.
Damn!
Posted by Power Boy on :
awwww. 12 was tough. 11 was more of a shocker for me.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Power Boy: Kid Quantum comes a LONG way in Legion Lost.
And then she got really annoying in The Legion!
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Panel hog syndrome. I grew tired more quickly of Saturn Girl and Ultra Boy, though. I didn't mind seeing Kid Q (all hips and lips, to quote Chuck Taine) and Brainy.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I think it was the "artificially forced upon us as leader" thing that was the real problem. Plus the increasing vagueness of her powers.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Cosmic Boy's "I took the initiative to recommend you to everyone" didn't help, either. Nor did the two of them locking lips all of a sudden!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I seem to recall there was one bit of dialogue by her not long before she became leader that just seemed to come completely out of nowhere, but was clearly intended to set her up as the leader. I remember at the time thinking that it seemed like it should've been something Vi said instead of her.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Legion issue 6, where Kid Q (and Violet) both speak up against Cosmic Boy's decision to pursue Ra's al Ghul while ignoring the civilians being affected by hypertaxis.
I think it wasn't so much Kid Q making a speech, but that DNA had Violet plead with Cos first (We have to help Metropolis, Cos), then Cos being bull-headed (This is Ra's! We can't just...), then Kid Q make her strong speech (... let people die? I'm sorry cosmic Boy, but the Legion I know has never sanctioned the idea of acceptable losses) - I remember fan discussion before that it would have been more effective, story-wise, had the order been reversed. Especially since Violet had more tenure and knew Cos much better than Kid Q did.
Posted by Blacula on :
Kid Quantum II was one of my favourite Legionnaires coming out of Legion Lost.
The Legion turned her into a character that I never wanted to read about again.
But she was hardly alone in that regard after that series. DnA are pretty unique among comic book writers in that I consider them both one of the best and one of the worst writers to ever pen a run. And their high and low were in such a close period of time to one another too.
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester:
quote:Originally posted by Power Boy: Kid Quantum comes a LONG way in Legion Lost.
And then she got really annoying in The Legion!
so much Kid Quantum hate!
Maybe a symbiotic life form replaced her personality off panel around issue #11 of Legion Lost.
Or a demon possession ... a demon that liked short hair.
She did come too far in my opinion, from bad attitude to leader, maybe it shoudl've just been from bad attitude to dependable member ... mainstay. etc.
I've always been confused because Quantum is a measurement ... not an energy or time. Kid Quantum might be a great name for Shrinking Violet. Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula: Kid Quantum II was one of my favourite Legionnaires coming out of Legion Lost.
The Legion turned her into a character that I never wanted to read about again.
But she was hardly alone in that regard after that series. DnA are pretty unique among comic book writers in that I consider them both one of the best and one of the worst writers to ever pen a run. And their high and low were in such a close period of time to one another too.
That's exactly how I felt about DnA. When they first started, there was so much excitement, but by the end, I welcomed the threeboot. Sheesh.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
I wouldn't go so far as welcoming the Threeboot, but some of their decisions were questionable, like terrorforming Kinetix (I still don't get why they didn't turn her back after either of the Ra's arcs); making Shikari seem cowardly during Ra's attack; and turning Garth into Jarth.
I would have used the final showdown with Singularity and Credo to restore both Kinetix and Live Wire to their original forms! Unlike with turning Jan into the Progenitor or the death of Monstress or the first sacrifice of Garth (which I was able to accept because of the way it was written), I just couldn't get the storyline reason for Jarth or giraffe Zoe.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
quote:Originally posted by Invisible Brainiac: Did Legion Lost 4 give you a better impression of Monstress and Kid Quantum II, FL?
To be honest, it did not. Some characters resonate with me, like Shikari, some, like Monstress and Kid Quantum II, don't.
LEGION LOST #5 of 12
One of the high points of the maxi-series, and of DnA's entire run. The battle against the towering Omniphagos is among the best in Legion history, in my opinion. And DnA's warts-and-all take on Brainy is just right. For a character so frequently overexposed, he's awfully hard to write.
Posted by Jerry on :
The awesome Legion Worlds mini that followed Legion Lost is being released as a trade in February 2013.
Legion Worlds TP Writers: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning Artists: Yvel Guichet, Oivier Coipel, Dexter Vines, Enrique Breccia, Paul Rivoche, Rick Burchett, Darwyn Cooke, Duncan Rouleau, Jaime Hernandez, Rick Leonardi, Al Williamson, Steve Dillon, Klaus Janson, John Stanisci, Jamie Tolagson, Kilian Plunkett, Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza Collects: LEGION WORLDS #1-6 $19.99 US, 240 pg
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
I loved Legion Worlds. I'm sure I have my original issues but I think this would be nice to have.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
quote:Originally posted by Jerry: The awesome Legion Worlds mini that followed Legion Lost is being released as a trade in February 2013.
Wonderful news! I especially liked the Xanthu issue (Legion Worlds 4); DNA did a good job balancing the bleakness of the invasion with little bits of hope (Insect Queen being OK, XS' compassion, and Star Boy's horrible jokes and his and Dreamer's love).
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lady: [QBLEGION LOST #5 of 12
One of the high points of the maxi-series, and of DnA's entire run. The battle against the towering Omniphagos is among the best in Legion history, in my opinion. And DnA's warts-and-all take on Brainy is just right. For a character so frequently overexposed, he's awfully hard to write.[/QB]
Agree 100% - DNA made Brainy smug and opinionated, but still very likable.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
IMO, Legion Worlds was DnA's best work.
Posted by Blacula on :
I'm actually a bit ambivalent toward Legion Worlds. I vastly prefer it to the following Legion series of course but I still found it somewhat of a let-down after Legion Lost.
Things I remember liking about it -
* Magno's spotlight and character growth * Zoe's spot-on characterization (ironic considering what they did to her later on) * Tharok's upgrade * The whole Mon-el issue in general * The Xanthu issue and getting to see the Uncanny Amazers shine (love that team)
Things I remember not loving about it -
* I actually don't remember a single thing about the Spark issue so I guess that one wasn't so memorable * I found the Karate Kid/Ferro issue a bit boring * Even though it's normally the type of thing I love, for some reason I didn't like Cosmic Boy, Vi, Chuck and their secret team * Didn't "Think fast" begin in this series? Ugh!
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
The Spark issue was one of the weaker ones, in my opinion. My favorites are still 1 (M'Onel issue, with Triad backup and the most well-written Kinetix in a while) and 4 (Star Boy, XS, Dreamer and the Amazers).
One thing I didn't like about Worlds and Lost were the number of threads they set up that DNA wasn't able to juggle in the ongoing series:
- Cub; nothing against Tinya and Jo becoming parents but this just wasn't done well, nor did they make Cub endearing. And what the heck was up with his rapid aging and powers? I didn't like it when they did that to Ms. Marvel or Power Girl... - The Brin-Tinya-Jo-Imra "love square". it golt old after a while, and Tinya and Jo never really ironed out their differences (though Imra and Jo did!) - Cosmic Boy promising to return to Dyrk Magz and let him know what was up - Ferro's injury ended with him being unable to turn to flesh and blood, period. His feelings about that were explored in one page, period - Dreamer's vision of Star Boy's grave - Mekt's feelings about Garth and Ayla
Many of these, like Ferro and Mekt and Dreamer's vision, wouldn't really be touched upon again until issue 19 or beyond of the ongoing. Though to be fair, a lot of other plot threads were resolved earlier than that (Gates' disappearance, missing people from Carggg, Warworld, Robotica).
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula:
* Zoe's spot-on characterization (ironic considering what they did to her later on) * Tharok's upgrade * The whole Mon-el issue in general * The Xanthu issue and getting to see the Uncanny Amazers shine (love that team)
yes, yes, yes, yes !
I loved Zoe as the plucky Science Police officer! and then ... mute She-Hulk .... weird.
also, Dream Girl FINALLY finally (finally) being H.B.I.C. (of the Khunds).
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
The opening scene with M'Onel and Tharok? Chills!
It took me a few readings to start liking the Spark story but now it's one of my favorites. particularly the ending.
Ferro and KK. I guess because my first issue I remember was their joining (the originals), I've been too harsh on this story. It always bothered me they were taken down by a fly by night character. It was a pretty issue though and introduced a new culture, something I really like in a story.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Read the Cosmic Boy mini-series, after picking it up digitally in a big Legends sale on Comixology last weekend.
Better than I remembered it being.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Now, this was some good stuff. The conclusion of the White Triangle stories really did make me cry - Apparition dies just as she and Ultra Boy finally declare they love each other. Andromeda apparently dies just as she finally redeems herself and helps beat the White Triangle - only for us to find she's still alive and willingly imprisoned.
The first year did a good job of building Legionnaires up to be likeable, realistic teenagers.
Lyle saves the day a lot (almost too much), but he has enough insecurities to make him sympathetic instead of cockily arrogant.
Imra can be hellishly bossy, but again also has deep-seated insecurities (and it's Garth who finally brings her mind back).
XS starts out cowardly, but slowly gains resolve.
Poor Kinetix wanted more power, and found out its price - but she was power-hungry only because she wanted to use it to help ourselves and make her feel better about herself.
Brainy's awfully arrogant and cold, but we find from Andromeda's introduction that he does have some sort of heart.
Even painfully shy Violet had hidden bravery, and the almost annoyingly heavy-handed and hot-tempred Leviathan ate some humble pie.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Read "The Quiet Darkness" this past week.
I actually kind of like the idea of the story, but I'm not big at all on the execution. Lobo is completely obnoxious. Aria, however, is a much more interesting character than I remembered her being.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I never understood that story line.
Posted by the Hermit on :
The best thing about the Quiet Darkness was the portrayal of Darkseid. Rather than the typical megalomaniac super-villain we have an actual god whose intention is to evolve to an even higher state of being. Rather than to waste his time in a physical confrontation with inferior beings he simply invites them in to watch the proceedings (albeit with a stern warning not to interfere). Pretty sophisticated stuff, really.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, there's definitely a really interesting concept at play in Darkseid's motivations in that story, but parts of it just fall flat in their overall 90sness.
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
Is there any chance that EDE might like to oversee a "LSH Book-Reading Club"-style thread? Like, you choose a different issue (or storyarc) we would all reread over a week (or two) and then report back with our reviews? Might be fun!!!
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
Also, it would definitely give me reason to go digging through my LSH collection... please consider it, EDE! It will also give me an excuse to use the "RETRO REVIEW" style more often!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Hmm... I'd love to, except for the fact that most of my physical collection is in storage at the moment, so we'd pretty much be stuck with Archives or what I can download digitally.
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
Archives cover a ton of stuff, as does what you can download digitally Posted by lowercase mllash on :
Well, just think about it anyway. Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, I'll think about it.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Been waiting to start in on the Great Darkness stuff with my kids until I felt they were old enough. Then the other day I realised they are older than I was when I read it as it came out. So I cracked open the Deluxe Editon and read the first part of #284. There were a lot of questions as they have really only read Archives #1,2 and 8, and the 31C series.
"Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel are married now?" "So that's Wildfire!" "Timber Wolf looks different."
Anyway, they are quite into it and desperate to read the second half of the issue to find out what operation Timber Wolf is having and learn what was left behind on Medicus One.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Looks like your kids are really hooked on the Legion! That's awesome, Dave.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Just re-read LSH #300, which is in the running for my favorite Legion issues of all time! Still fantastic!
Posted by Power Boy on :
Thats a good one .... Ferro Lad's brother right? ... he needs more panel time!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, I'm a huge Douglas Nolan fan!
I also re-read JLA #200 this afternoon, and between them I'm glowing in the bask of super-team anniversary issue awesomeness!
Posted by Power Boy on :
I am too! oddly.
Douglas was the Mordruverse hero ... correct? even if just for a few panels ...
That was a sad one, the weaker and/or newer members fight the older/stronger members ...
is what I remember.
GP in his heyday ... drawing characters like Zatanna ... sigh!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
It's Andrew in the Mordruverse. Douglas is dead in that reality.
Posted by Power Boy on :
oh bummer, I always thought it was the other way around.
I'll keep thinking that ... even thought I'm wrong!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I remember when I was a kid buying Avengers #200 on the assumption that it must be another groovy giant team titles anniversary issue!
Imagine my disappointment! Posted by Power Boy on :
e·gad/ēˈgad/ Exclamation: Expressing surprise, anger, or affirmation.
I think my brain just crashed ... need to restart.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I remember when I was a kid buying Avengers #200 on the assumption that it must be another groovy giant team titles anniversary issue!
Imagine my disappointment!
Avengers #200: One of the worst, most egregiously offensive comics of all time.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lady:
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I remember when I was a kid buying Avengers #200 on the assumption that it must be another groovy giant team titles anniversary issue!
Imagine my disappointment!
Avengers #200: One of the worst, most egregiously offensive comics of all time.
Why's that? Don't think I ever read Avengers. Maybe when I was a kid but even then, I don't think so.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Roughly: Ms. Marvel is kidnapped to an alternate dimension, brainwashed, and impregnated, then upon return to the Avengers, she rapidly gives birth to a child that rapidly ages into a version of the guy who kidnapped her, whom she then "chooses" to rejoin in said dimension. And the Avengers basically just let all of this happen.
I think as a kid I was just bewildered by the whole thing.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Roughly: Ms. Marvel is kidnapped to an alternate dimension, brainwashed, and impregnated, then upon return to the Avengers, she rapidly gives birth to a child that rapidly ages into a version of the guy who kidnapped her, whom she then "chooses" to rejoin in said dimension. And the Avengers basically just let all of this happen.
I think as a kid I was just bewildered by the whole thing.
Lol. I take it that was written when acid was popular.
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
I'd only ever read scans of a few pages here and there, but it was enough to seriously offend me.
What a way to write a character out of a book. Ugh.
I remember in a later issue that Ms. Marvel called the Avengers out on it. Thank goodness.
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Roughly: Ms. Marvel is kidnapped to an alternate dimension, brainwashed, and impregnated, then upon return to the Avengers, she rapidly gives birth to a child that rapidly ages into a version of the guy who kidnapped her, whom she then "chooses" to rejoin in said dimension. And the Avengers basically just let all of this happen.
I think as a kid I was just bewildered by the whole thing.
I never read it but didn't something extremely similar happen to Power Girl. I don't think she was brainwashed, tortured, and kidnapped from what i've read (on wikipedia) but the child did age rapidly and then fly off never to be spoken of again?
Posted by Power Boy on :
That last issue I've actually read was:
It is the only one I've got for quite some time, before the issue and after ... I died off even before the reboot.
I picked it up because it was Walt Simonsen and he is at his best here, some other recent books I've picked up because he drew them ... were not worth it. I'm thinking of some recent Thor and/or Avengers work that seemed way too messy.
But in this one, the art is good at backgrounds and head shots.
I also liked how the story touched on most characters, especially since many have been missing for a long time, and I also enjoyed how the characters sounded, and I think from the reviews on here the characters sounded more like themselves than any other current issue.
I wonder if this is the best issue in (say) the past 2 years?
I think I'll get it out and read it again.
btw I'm not crazy about the cover.
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
Sadly, the "mystery pregnancy and/or rapid birth/advanced growth of child" trope has been done a LOT, and it has NEVER worked. It is a trope I personally despise. My advice to any writers contemplating using it:
DON'T.
Posted by Jerry on :
We're Legion fans. We KNOW that turning teenagers into babies makes for much better stories.
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
Oh, teens into babies? THAT trope isn't done ENOUGH! The LSH really would have fit in well on that SINS OF YOUTH Young Justice mega-crossover several years ago.
Posted by Leap Year Lord on :
quote:Originally posted by Invisible Brainiac: I remember in a later issue that Ms. Marvel called the Avengers out on it. Thank goodness.
Yes, at the end of the EPIC Avengers Annual 10, Carol excoriates the Avengers (poolside at the X-mansion!)
Everyone: if you do not have AA 10, buy or borrow a copy.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
^^I have that annual as well, though honestly I most remember it for the debut of Rogue and the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants than for Ms. Marvel's dressing down of the Avengers.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I really want that Ten-Speed racer!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by lowercase mllash: Sadly, the "mystery pregnancy and/or rapid birth/advanced growth of child" trope has been done a LOT, and it has NEVER worked.
Including in LSH with "Cub", though that was a somewhat lengthened pregnancy followed by a rapidly aging baby.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester:
quote:Originally posted by lowercase mllash: Sadly, the "mystery pregnancy and/or rapid birth/advanced growth of child" trope has been done a LOT, and it has NEVER worked.
Including in LSH with "Cub", though that was a somewhat lengthened pregnancy followed by a rapidly aging baby.
followed by a dangling plot thread.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I STILL really want that Ten-Speed Racer!
Also, since I don't like Tony Stark or Captain America, That issue looks really good.
"Captain America totally defeated!"
also, I like that old look for Jessica Drew (Its somehow more sinister). For some reason she seems to kick ass on her own, and not so much as part of the current team. They had her dating Hawkeye (!?) ... also she's written like she dropped 10-20 years in maturity. Where is the scrappy detective? She should be leading that team.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
So, I finally just read the Brave and the Bold issues with the Legion teaming up with the Doom Patrol and the Subs teaming up with the Inferior Five.
Lots of fun!
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Just got Archives #6 for my daughter for Christmas. I couldn't resist cracking it open myself. Poor Ferro Lad.
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
Just reread the Soljer story (SLSH #210, August 1975). This story is one that sticks in the minds of many Legion fans - it made a big impression on me as well. It was published just after the fall of Saigon (April 1975) and anti-war sentiment would still have been pretty high. It's interesting that what's basically a pro-military ideals (not necessarily pro-war) was written at the time - and resonated with so many people.
It's a story of devotion to duty, fighting on against all odds and personal sacrifice. These are ideals which make up the Legion and I think that's part of what is so appealing about the story.
I believe it's the first story detailing some history from the big gap period between the 20th and 30th centuries: Soljer was infantry from World War VI, in the 28th century.
It's also a lost tech story (one of my favourite themes): Soljer used an anti-matter fusion weapon, the technology for which was lost in the destruction of WW VI.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
That's interesting. I'd never really thought about the Soljer story in relation to real world events at the time.
Anyway, just read the newly released digital version of LSH vol. 4 #41 today, the "back-door pilot" for the Legionnaires series. Man, that was fun!
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Spark]](graemlins/Spark.gif)
![[XS]](graemlins/XS.gif)
![[Leviathan]](graemlins/Leviathan.gif)
![[Kinetix]](graemlins/Kinetix.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
![[No]](graemlins/shake.gif)
![[shrug]](graemlins/shrug.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)