Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Long Live the Legion! PANELOLOGY: You're A/R guide to LSH #12

COVER:
Not really very representative of what’s inside, is it? Not only do we not see Terror Firma in this issue (one wonders why they weren’t at least depicted among Lemnos’ soldiers) but it would be impossible for this scene to have happened at all, given that the various Legionnaires depicted are all on separate worlds. Also, I miss the regular logo with the headshots.

Page 1: panel 1
Um, Isn’t Ttrxl the planet in the fifth dimension that Saturn Girl’s team is on?

1:2
Um, isn’t Dormir the plant Cosmic Boy’s team is on?

1:3
And why does Lemnos’ baseworld still not have a name. Keep in mind the phrase use here that there are "10 times more" soldiers about to invade the entire United Planets that the Legion had expected.

Page 2: panel 1
I like Elysion’s costume design. Not only can he destroy the Legion Clubhouse, but he can play the washboard while doing it.

1:2
I still want to know if Theena’s tv thingamabob’s are a part of her, some sort of symbiotic creature, or a simple organic looking device. I also want to know why she’s not on the main team yet? Could she have not been used for communications, or do her screens go dead if Dormir goes down?

1:3,4
I had trouble with these two panels. I skipped over panel three, then had to go back after being told in panel four to look to the left. As I was not really certain at first why panel four depicted a space scene, I thought the object Brainy needed was the comic book. Even after I was able to puzzle out what I was looking at, I still wasn’t sure what the planets-in-a-globe thing was supposed to be. Is it a threeboot Planetary Chance Machine? Is it the Bottle City of Imsk? Whatever it is, why did it not break when the clubhouse fell in?

Page 3: panel 1
The first full-roster roll call of the threeboot. Would have been nice, I think, if homeworlds and powers could have been included. Also, isn’t Brin kind of, NOT a member? The funky font does weird things to his name. Serves him right for refusing to use a codename like everyone else. I know that that in today’s industry, no comic is someone’s first. Still, I could not help but smile at the thought of some kid picking this up as his first comic and, for year’s afterward, pronouncing Brin’s surname as, “Lon-OOOO.” Ah well, I still say “Dark-SEED.”

Page 4: panel 1
Future plot point: if Phantom Girl is to be believed, one can never activate a transmatter portal from the far end. There has to be an operator back at the starting point, although that sort of contradicts, I think, what we’ve seen in the past. Also, turn a round honey, there’s lots and lots of portals right behind you.

4:2
“It only sounds dirty.” That’s funny.

4:3
“…lead underwear.” Also funny.

4:4
Karate Kid = never funny. That’s why Phantom Girl won’t go you with you, dude. Lighten up!


4:5
Apparently, Lemnos real secret power has been to hold this exact same pose for three issues. Press that button a little faster Lemmy, and the war would have been over a long time ago.

Hmmm…. I think I see members of the Omega Men in the background. No Terror Firmans, though

4:6
Sure, Brin will wear a silly logo emblazoned on his chest, but a simple thing like a code name is beneath him.

Page 5: panel 1
“Thank the Stars…!” Will this be the Princess’ catchphrase, her own personal “Great Rao!?”

5:2
Is it Wildfire?

5:3
Notice how this blinding flash of light does nothing to attract the throngs of enemy soldiers previously seen standing not 10 feet away.

5:4
Contact indeed, how did he know where to look? And why did the enemy not see him either, while he did it?

5:5
And Cos confirms his team is, in fact, on Dormir. Does Wacker actually read these pages when he edits them?

Notice 10,000 troops. Not exactly a large army, even by 21st century Terrain standards. We have what, 150,000 in Iraq right now? Why was the Legion so worked up about 10,000 troops, especially when they apparently thought there were only 1,000 (see 1:3) and Cos seems to think they were only up against 24 meta-powered agents. Haven’t we been told that the Legion has more than 80,000 members. How many combatants died on Lallor on both sides? Seems to me that was a bigger fight than anything a mere 10,000 soldiers could ever hope to spread across the entire UP. Maybe it’s a misprint. Maybe Wacker meant 10 MILLION?

5:6
It changes everything, but notice we’re never told exactly how.

Page 6: panel 1
That’s it? That’s Lyle’s brilliant plan? Golly, if Brainy is a 12th level intelligence, Lyle must be, hmmm… let’s see, da da da, carry the one, da da… 48th level!!

Cos thinks the Earth contingent may have fallen. Cos must be a 73rd level intelligence.

6:2
The communications dude looks like a bid picture widow here. Should have moved him off of Cos a bit so we could see his profile.

6:3
Um, but 10,000 soldier is not a real big army princess. Plus, your entire persona seems to have changed. Did omebody run you though an Anywhere Machine just before leaving on this mission?

6:4
Karate Kid tries to be funny. No one gets it. Also, 2,500 could use a comma.

6:5
Look at all those soldiers just behind Karate Kid. Seems *everyone* in this issue has a slight problem with looking to their left.

Page 7: panel 1
And confirmation that Imra’s team is on Ttrxl. Hello, McFLY!!

7:2
Dark, iddn’t it?

7:3
I sort of think Skelter’s first word balloon should have been in 7:2. Seems odd to say the dark field might disappear after it already has.

7:4
Now, why does Skelter look more like a Khund than an imp, a lightning bolt, or any other character we’ve ever seen from the fifth dimension?

Page 8: panel 1
Saturn Girl speaks?

8:2
Ah, it’s not Saturn Girl. But did Lightning Lad forget that it’s not Shady’s darkness, but Sun Boy’s, in this world. No, maybe Wacker forgot. Golly, if I keep picking on him I’ll never get my foot in the door.

Making himself into a hollow copy of something is a neat trick for Cham. Not sure why he can withstand the same lightning that knocked out Skelter though.

Also, if Garth/Imra was “weirdly taller” and Skelter still had to squat and bend to grab him/her by the shoulders in 7:4, that would make him what, nine feet tall?

8:3
Cham’s going to talk Saturn Girl through telepathy? I guess he scans a lot more than physical form.

Page 9: panel 1
Although the directions he gives seem pretty vague. "Where do I turn next Cham-Cham? Where do I turh Cham-Cham? Cham-Cham?"

Also, What’s a transmatter “loci?” It looks like the letterer get bored in the middle of a word.

9:2
If Cos only hits Lightning Lad, does that mean Garth is the only one who can hear him. Pretty powerful creatures those Dormininans though, able to travel through hyperspace and across dimensional barriers.

9:3
What shape is a Kono?

9:4
Must've looked to his left.

9:5
Still not clear on what he’s looking at though.

9:6
Theena’s tattoo would indicate she’s on Cos’ side, yet she still calls Brainy, “Sir.”

Page 10: panel 1
So, now I’m really unclear. Did Brainy pick this rock out of that planet globe thing? If not, if this stone is just part of the rubble, than what did the globe have to do with anything.

10:2
Where did the lines on Brainy’ cheek go, and why does he seem to find it unnecessary to explain to the rock exactly who Elysian is?

10:3
Theena for full membership! I’ve always liked redheads.

10:4
I spy with my little eye a Bat-a-rang, something with a bat symbol on it, and Batman’s utility belt. Is this a clue? Was the clubhouse built over the Bat-cave?

10:5
“Slingshot used by Robin…” Oh, I am so sure. Well, good to know people are still ripping off unsuspecting collectors on eBay 1,000 years from now.

Also, notice how Batman’s utility belt became wrapped around something since the last issue? Eeeeekkk, It’s ALIVE!! RUN for you LIVES!!

10:6
Just for the record, Theena has five screens here. She had six in 2:2.

Page 11: panel 1
Does Barry keep a running tally of model sheets for these 2nd string Legionnaires? We vary rarely see the same one twice. Might have been nice if this panel had featured some of the one’s from last issues’ back-up feature, eh?

11:2
Um, who is this again? Could she have been referred to by name instead of just ma’am?

11:3
I wonder if this is the same mystery boot from the Legion/Titans preview?

11:4
“Cacophonous?” Who says, “cacophonous?” More to the point, when has Elysian given us any indication that he could get out a word like “cacophonous,” let alone understand what it means?

11:5
Elysian kind of looks like he was drawn by John Forte, here. Not that this is a bad thing at all; it was just a thought that flashed into my mind.

Page 12: panel 1
Pretty sunset. We call this panel, “Fun with Photoshop.”

12:2
Oh look, Lyle wants to play the washboard, too.

12:3
Help please, when did Lyle get so beat up? Remember those little “as seen last issue” editor’s notes that used to be so ubiquitous when we were kids?

12:4
uh-oh…

12:5
Apparently, I myself must be a 3rd level intelligence. I’ve never been able to get one of these things to work.

12:6-8
Remember speed lines that also were once so ubiquitous? I could have used a few of them here, or a quicker move in on Elysian. Say lose 12:7, move 12:8 over to 12:7 and add a different 12:8 that was closer in on Elysian. It took me a second to “get” what was happening, which briefly drew me out of the story.

Page 13: panel 1
Hey, Elysian. Say, “ubiquitous.” POW! Ha, not so easy as “cacophonous,” is it?

13:2
Now Elysian looks like he was drawn by early Keith Giffin.

13:3
And now, late Giffin. Is Woread his homeworld?

13:4
“You’ve truly gone mental.” In joke! Elysian must be one of those characters that remembers Pre-Crisis.

13:5
Have Brainy’s eyes always been brown?

13:6-8
When in doubt, scrub the washboard. "I'm a villain, scrub scrub scurb. Liketa knock things down, scratch, scratch, scrub." He has a little trouble carrying a tune, though.

Page 14: panel 1
Ta-daaaaaaa! I’m not usually a fan of full-page splash panels, but if there was ever an instance that called for it, this would have been it. Am I the only one who did not find this shot as dramatic as it could have been?

14:2
The “at… ato…” balloon should have been above the “atom girl” to indicate that Lyle was trying to work up the strength to say it. Otherwise, you know, he’s just babbling.

14:3
I like that Atom Girl was apparently on a mission, and not simply too shy to show her face.

14:4-5
Such a badass! No, she’s not shy, is she?

Page 15: panel 1
The way everyone says “Praetor Lemnos,” it sounds like part of the clue to his identity. Mon-El… Legionnaire Lemon… Bob Cobb… I still don’t know what it’s an anagram for though. A Praetor was an annually elected magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic, ranking below but having approximately the same functions as a consul. Does that help us?

15:2
Lemnos’ third balloon reads a little goofy to me, could have used a tiny edit. No Terror Firmans in the crowd. No recognizable preboot villains, either.

15:3
I’ve always preferred hand-lettered sound effects to fonts

15:4
I keep telling you, 10,000 soldiers -- NOT a large army.

15:5
What, they don’t have HDTV on Lemnos’ world?

Page 16: panel 1
Tinya is so hot.

16:2
What is that, Elvish?

16:3
Lu had brown eyes two panels ago. No they’re purple. Have we confirmed that, with her new origin, her dups have different colored eyes?

16:4
Did Tinya disrupt the door’s lock when she phased through it?

16:5
“Well… DUR!” Funny.

Page 17, panel 1-3
Cool. I like Jekki better now. Putting her through the Anywhere Machine was a good idea.

17:4
“Wow on the liplock” “You’re royal richness.” Lu has a personality now. Did she follow Jekki through the AM? But if the King and/or Queen had these powers, does that mean that we only think Orando was destroyed?

17:5-6
Not sure if I’m hip on the illusions fooling cameras deal.

17:7
Again, dude, upgrade your monitor.

Page 18
COOL!

Page 19:1
Change powers to what?

19:2
Forget everything I taught you… let loose. As I recall, you’ll almost certainly change powers then and, as an added bonus, have almost no control over them. Good advice.

19:3
Gothcha nose!

19:4
Backup? You Sally!

Page 20, panel 1:
How is the illusion actually toppling the platforms? Are the soldiers panicking and doing it themselves? Who’s “Chuthar?” Is he a brother to Grife?

20:2
“I always said you were lazy!” I like the dynamic between Brin and Jo.

20:3
Jo’s so chivalrous.

Page 21: 1
Why did he have to take his ring off?

21:2
That sorta looks like the helmet they used to use to hypnotize Superboy into forgetting his future.

21:3
“Attention! If you are not within the sound of my voice, feel free to ignore what I am about to say!”

21:4-10
Legion Channel One. Now, THAT’s cool. Should also piss off more than a few adults, I would think.

Page 22: panel 1
“Transmatter Prime?” See, I told you this was the Earth-Prime Legion. And who are the dude’s behind Lightning Lad?

22:2
I guess I’m still unclear on how the transmatter portals work.

23:3
Or, how Lightning Lad can short them all out. Didn’t his power not work well here? Or, are they amplified in the 5th dimensional home of the thunderbolt -- assuming this is the same 5th dimension, of course.

Page 24, panel 1:
Notice how bad guys always look like bad guys?

24:2
And did these three get through before it shut down? They don’t seem very concerned about being alone. Were they really planning on taking down the UP three at a time? Oh, yeah, they only had 10,000 soldiers.

24:3
Good guys, on the other hand, always look cute.

24:4
They don’t sound it, but the three bad guys do look awful worried in this panel. Expressions don’t seem to match up with their words.

Page 25: panel 1
Is that Infectious Lass in the front, to the left? Recognize anyone else?

Okay, and we’ll hit the backup in one comment: PHOOEY! Honestly, a little late on this one, don’t you think? Why have a back-up about lining up help for a coming war when it’s already nearly over in the main story? This really tells us nothing we did not already know.

I would have much preferred if this backup had featured Atom Girl and what she’s been up to in “Brainy’s Microverse.” It would have provided an expanded introduction to the character and could even have been used to foreshadow the next big storyline. After all, the time to get readers excited about the next story is before this one is over.

Caveat Emptor indeed. Note it says *as* used by Robin not "used by Robin". Sorry guy it's a replica.

I think the power-switch stuff may have been Skelter's doing, so once they had gotten away from him, their powers returned to normal.

How was it Skeleter's doing?

If it was his doing, wouldn't it have been nice if some caption, or even half a balloon of dialog had said so? Either way, rather the powers switch back and it didn't get mentioned, or characters "forgot" there had been a power switch, I'm still inclined to lean on Wacker a bit.

This was a good issue, but there still were a number of mistakes, I thought, that should have been corrected during the editorial procss.

You'd think that since I write for a living, and work with an editor every day, that I would be far more forgiving, but I'm not.

Oh, but here's another thought: Skelter intimates that the environment has some effect when he says that the darkfield "won't last long here," and that Saturn Girl's powers "don't work here." So, even if you're theory is true (I'm not ruling it out) that means Skelter would seem to have no control over what power changes he controls... eh?

8:2
Ah, it’s not Saturn Girl. But did Lightning Lad forget that it’s not Shady’s darkness, but Sun Boy’s, in this world

Actually, this is a matter of perspective. Sun Boy has Shady's power, hence, it is Shady's darkness.

Page 21: 1
Why did he have to take his ring off?

He did it so that he will no longer be shielded from the Public Service System.

From #11, it is clear that while Sun Boy and Shady had their powers switched, Cham and Lightning Lad retained theirs whereas Saturn Girl lost her ability to telecast thoughts. This is simply illustrative of the randomness of the planet's effect on their powers.