Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Legion Baltimore Panel Article

It took a little while to get this transcribed and up on the site (since we had to space out some other comics stories), but the link below contains a write-up of the Baltimore Panel with Keith Giffen, Mike Grell, Jack C. Harris, Barry Kitson, Chris Roberson and Mark Waid.

The Swerve

Thanks for the transcript. I was at this panel, as well, and really enjoyed the sort of friendly, almost conversational tone it took.

Good stuff!

This article was highly informative. Thank you.

Neat read, thanks for posting!

Wow, Giffen must be kicking himself for throwing out all those scripts, when he could be Ebaying them to obsessive people like us!

I like Giffen's art and creativity, but how arrogant to throw the scripts away outright. Ditto for his desire to arbitrarily kill off a handful of Legionairres.

On this second point, comic industry powers that be (e.g. Giffen, Dido, etc.) need to remember that while they may legally own comic book characters' rights, we the readers own them in an emotional sense that drives publishers' profits. In other words, characters and continuities shouldn't be abruptly ended or impoverished on the momentary whims of single, self-important individuals. Fan boys' and girls' opinions do matter, contrary to the belief of some industry insiders!

I'm of two minds on this.

On the one hand, each of these characters represents potential income, and is a 'property.' Destroying that property should be a serious decision, and not one taken lightly (even if, in the comic book universe, a 'dead' character can be ridiculously easily restored to life).

On the other hand, I *loathe* when characters are treated so much like 'icons', and the 'branding' becomes so much more important than any sort of character growth or development or evolution, that it becomes impossible to advance that character (impossible for Spiderman or Superman to change their costume, or for Professor X to ever get out of that wheelchair).

So there's a fine line to walk, on this front, IMO.

Can't say for certain but, as I say, I was there during this panel, and my gut is 99% sure that bit is just Giffen joking around.

Obviously tone doesn't come through a transcript, but he was goofing around a lot in this panel. He likes to play the part of the curmugeon, but I would find it very unlikely that he would actually do that to Levitz of all people.

Thanks for the transcript, rictor.

I wonder if the pros view the characters like a farmer views livestock - money on the hoof, keep them healthy but you're going to kill some of them in the end, so no great emotional attachment.

I've seen Giffen on other panels and heard interviews and he does like to joke about killing multiple Karate Kids and blowing up Earth, or rather joke about fans' reactions to it. Maybe it will be his epitaph, The Man Who Kept Killing Karate Kid.

Glad you guys liked the article.

The panel was a lot of fun, especially with Giffen and Grell, and I'm glad I was able to do my small part in bringing it to fans who couldn't attend.

I got to be there for the first half, but had to leave midway through. I enjoyed seeing in person some of the creative minds behind the Legion, and was glad to catch your transcript on the end of the panel discussion. Thanks!

Highly informative and entertaining, thanks!

Snicker. Syphil Lass. I wouldn't be surprised if that name made its way into Legion World mythos

I also love getting insight into the creators. Shooter's attention to detail, Grell's and Giffen's senses of humor, the excellent working relationship between Levitz and Giffen... it kind of adds something when I'm rereading the stories.

Giffen blowing up the Earth because he was pissed? I actually find that easy to believe, since I remember there was awfully little foreshadowing when that issue came out. And poor Karate Kid doesn't get any love.

Legion sales figures after DNA took over - I seem to remember the Legion doing well in the early issues, anyway. Ah well.