Also, Legion fans should DEFINITELY check out the Rachel Pollack special.
Do Legionnaires show up for a splash page or something?
Is it just me, or has the Emerald Empress become the Legion's iconic villain? Regardless of her actual prominence in the books. Whenever the Legion shows up in the cartoons, the Empress is usually there (Justice League Unlimited, Young Justice, the Fatal Five animated movie). And she was chosen to hype the return of the retroboot Legion during Rebirth (Justice League vs Suicide Squad, and then Supergirl), right before someone at DC decided to abandon reason and reboot again.
It makes sense since she's an easy character to establish, visually: floating laser-beam eye, crazy stare, maniacal laughter, cleavage. A first-time viewer or reader doesn't need much more than that to understand the basics of the Empress, and as soon as she appears she can start lasering people with the Emerald Eye.
Good luck using Time Trapper. Zero floating eyes, zero cleavage.
Empress also presents a decent threat level: she can give Superman a hard time. But not so tough as, say, Darkseid or Mordru. Threatening enough, but not so bad that you need to be especially careful when writing her.
Liking that lineup, though I wish Infectious Lass would be brought back
I guess Color Kid is still blinded... and with Rainbow Girl also there, there's a bit of similarity, so chances of seeing Ulu aren't so good
glad to see Animal Lad get some time in the spotlight though!
and interesting that Brek and Lydda are Subs again... last time we see this Subs grouping, Brek and Lydda were firmly Legionnaires... different continuity?
I just noticed that Rainbow Girl's emotional spectrum color changes to match her speech. She channels yellow (fear) when saying "I'm afraid so" and green (willpower) when saying "find your courage"
Liking that lineup, though I wish Infectious Lass would be brought back
I guess Color Kid is still blinded... and with Rainbow Girl also there, there's a bit of similarity, so chances of seeing Ulu aren't so good
glad to see Animal Lad get some time in the spotlight though!
and interesting that Brek and Lydda are Subs again... last time we see this Subs grouping, Brek and Lydda were firmly Legionnaires... different continuity?
I'm just now realizing if Color Kid actually WERE there he could use his powers to help stabilize Dori's mood swings, and if that happened the comedy value would be diminished.
The 5 Years Later influence is obvious. 9-panel grids everywhere with similar art style. Also, I know the word "nass" is used in Legion stories, but has it ever been used in a 21st century book before?
it's definitely the Retroboot, but where's Shadow Lass? And how did Mon-El get out of his coma? And when did they find Phantom Girl? And how is Star Boy alive after being squashed?
EDIT:
I missed seeing Sun Boy at first glance. How'd they bring him back to life after he got eaten alive?
The 5 Years Later influence is obvious. 9-panel grids everywhere with similar art style. Also, I know the word "nass" is used in Legion stories, but has it ever been used in a 21st century book before?
I'm not reading this title but I may start.
and there's someone who looks like Comet Queen, and looks to have similar powers, too! (in two of the panels, on the last preview page)
Maybe they erased that one last story from continuity, and started again just before that
Part of me hopes you're right, Ibby, but I'm afraid I'm not going to like what Johns has put in its place (especially where MIA Shadow Lass is concerned.)
Yes, this version of the team is likely from during Johns' time writing them. Since they are time traveling, they could be from any point in their timeline that doesn't contradict itself.
My assumption is that he's ignoring all of Levitz's run (which Levitz himself gave a "continuity out" to in his last issue.
There's a ton of missing members: Cham, Shady, Tenzil, Jackie, Val, Tyroc, Tellus, Quislet, XS, Gates... plus the Levitz Academy kids, so I wouldn't put too much into characters being missing.