Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Visionaries of Tomorrow Mindy Newell

So I recently decided to give the 1987 Giffen-driven Amethyst miniseries (which, for those not in the know, ties into the Legion mythos) a fair chance. As it turned out, I enjoyed it immensely! And I think the main reason why must be Mindy Newell, the co-writer. Because although the old Giffen darkness and cynicism is present and accounted for, it doesn't bother me like it did with most of Giffen's other co-writers.

Which, in turn. prompted me to dust off the Legionnaires 3 miniseries and the Tales of the LSH issues that Newell co-wrote. Again, I was pleasantly surprised!

What a talent she is. And what integrity to stick with the noble profession of nursing during the times she hasn't been involved in comics.

Now I just wish I wasn't at a rare loss for words on WHY she made such a positive difference in those comics. I mean, obviously she writes great dialogue, but there's got to be more to it than that.

I was thinking about this recently too.

I think it may be just as simple as her dialogue. The difference between someone writing a plot outline and someone else who writes the dialogue from a different perspective can make things pretty fresh. I'm pretty convinced this similar situation is why I liked the latter half of Legionnaires so much when Carmela Merlo wrote the dialogue to Roger Stern's stories.

Great minds and all that, GL. Thanks.

The other times I've been pleased with Giffen co-writers was when Peter David dialogued the Secret Origin of the Post-Crisis Justice League ("I feel like such a sap,"), and when Alan Grant worked with Giffen on L.E.G.I.O.N., though in the latter's case, I think the series improved after Giffen left following issue 12 and Grant became the sole credited writer.