Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Long Live the Legion! Let's Talk About LSH #5 (DEFINITE TOTAL SPOILERS!)...

Maybe 'Trom' is just the planet used when a Legionnaire doesn't want his/her planet of origin made public.

Another thing I thought was cool about this issue was Shadow Lass' personality. You can really tell that she's a warrior. Some people say that they "go to their happy place" when they want to be clam. But, Shady said that she goes to her "happy fight."

It was just a little, throw-away line, but it said so much about her character.

In some ways those two pages were more entertaining to me than the rest of the book. Is it me or is that the first subplot tossed out that might not tie back in to the overall arc?

Yhat's an interesting view fellas. As a 'for instance' in the US a lot of people who claim to be from California weren't born in Cali and many didn't even grow up there but they've happily adopted it as home. It's very possible that this is the case with the Ranzz twins...at least I hope they're still the Ranzz twins.

Also a possibility, since Trom is supposed to be "remote" and the population may not be known to the U.P. Perhaps they're even hiding from Mekt, who may be a part of the adult establishment now, assuming he even exists in this reality. But if they were hiding their identities, it should have occurred to them to dye their very conspicuous orange hair, and to avoid making public appearances in glowy costumes.

On the other hand, "hiding in plain sight" is an age-old tactic that, amazingly, sometimes works.

On a completely different note, no one has mentioned that the idea that Titanians would prefer telepathic communication over oral communication is an obvious loan from 'Dream Crime'. It makes a lot of sense, and I'm sure someone more clever than I will come up with a good joke about Imra and Tarik the Mute.

I'm a little cool on the telepathy-only idea. It seems a bit like the notion that Tinya is always phased in one place or the other, or that Colossal Boy is actually tall with the power to shrink, or that Triplicate Girl is herself the upmteenth iteration of the "real" Luornu. So many members seem to have their powers on by default now, presumably including Shrinking Violet as well. What does it mean?

Maybe that's the reason Cos is always so grumpy in this Legion, he has to conciously NOT use his power to keep from magnetizing all the silverware.

Someone not mentioned in this thread (I think) is the boy who stated that his race had an "acid touch." Could he be Waid/Kitson's take on Matter Eater Lad. Acid touch would probably extend to the tongue so that he could eat any matter, but expanding the power to the hands, for example, would make him a more useful Legionnaire.

The first person I thought of was actually Mano of the Fatal Five. Maybe we will have a heroic Mano this time around. Unless he was the guy crushed to death in this issue, of course.

Thoughts on the anti-legion:

On one of these threads, someone mentioned that there didn't appear to be a lot on non-humanoid members of the LSH. On the final page, the anti-legion seems to have a good representation of more "alien" looking aliens. I wonder if that is part of their reason for grouping together.


On another note, I guess the LSH aren't aware of the Incredibles. Otherwise, Triplicate Girl, Saturn Girl,and others, would ditch those capes ASAP.

I enjoyed this issue a lot more than the last. The appearance of a concrete group of antagonists other than the S.P. helps, as does the re-introduction of Brin. I wasn't thrilled with the DnA Timber Wolf, and I really like this Brin thus far. I agree that it's not safe yet to say that Garth's sister is Projectra, although I guess it could be inferred... but what Brin said doesn't even completely imply a romantic situation with Projectra. Maybe he wanted to give his regards because he's Projectra's brother. (Okay, probably not.) Although Projectra and Brin would be a very interesting couple, especially compared to the original Projectra and Val couple. I also like Brin's 'costume' that doesn't look much like a costume. I think it suits his status as a solo worker who just happens to interact with the likes of the Legion.

So most of my thoughts this issue are happiness over the introduction of a Brin I can like. Hurray for the Brin!

GREAT ISSUE!

THE GOOD STUFF -

There was so much I don't know where to begin... so I'll start with the total surprise -

* BRIN LONDO! Did not see that coming! Great to see him back there and with his original look too. I also really like the fact that he's not actually on the team yet. I've always liked those characters that help out the Legion from the side without actually being one of them (eg Dev-Em, the Workforce, etc.). I want to see Brin stay Lone Wolf for a while and guest star occasionally. Am slightly disturbed by his flying though. Hope that wasn't a ret-con about his powers or an artist's mistake. Maybe he "borrowed" a flight ring from LSH HQ once or something. It does seem weird that the team would just give him one when they don't even have enough for all of their own members.

* The build-up to seeing Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad for the first time really worked IMO. They're such strong characters and that really shone through in this issue. This is the way I hope to see them treated in this series actually - sparingly but effectively. If Waid starts over-utilising them at the expense of the other members (as other writers have been wont to do) then they will quickly drop back onto my 'Most-Hated' list.

* The Ultra Boy/Shadow Lass scene was cute. Seemed strange that this scene didn't have a pay-off this issue though. Really wanted to know what the problem between Val and Jo is!

* While I wasn't super-happy to see Bizarro-anythings in this issue I did love the way Garth's story reminded us that there is a lot of history to this team that we haven't discovered yet. Can't wait to see some flash-back stories!

* In case I forgot to mention it - Barry's art was FANTASTIC as usual.

* I really liked the hints of a new Legion of Super-Villains (headed by Mon-el?) at the end.

* For some reason I *really* like the thought of Brin and Projectra together. I definitely think that was him sitting next to her on the couch in issue #1. I like the fact that he's also one of Ayla's ex-conquests. That girl is getting around - Jo, Dirk, Brin... was there anyone else? LOVE her!

* I can't believe no-one's mentioned the re-introduction of what could be another character from the Legion's past in this issue - INFERNO!!! That soooo looks liker her on the bad-guy team! Blonde, morally dubious, fire-caster who likes to wear red and yellow. Its almost the exact same introduction she got in the reboot.

THE NOT SO GOOD STUFF -

* Those roll-call pages *really* aren't working for me! I loved the old reboot roll-calls but this one is whack! It wastes a page of story, is really oddly laid out, seems to have absolutely nothing to do with who is actually in the story (why were Rokk and Querl given profiles when Jo and Tasmia weren't?) and now is just causing more trouble than its worth with these strange home-world "errors". If Trom is really Garth's new homeworld and Gim is still from Earth then UGH! but fine, I can live with it. But if there are other reasons for putting those homeworlds (especially some of the reasons posited in this thread) then that is just a step too confusing, especially for new readers who are probably using those text pieces to work out who all these characters are. And if they're mistakes then that's just annoying. Please re-think that roll-call page Barry!

* Was nice to see a range of powers in the kids in that room but speed-girl just made me miss the wonderful XS all the more! I never want to see this chick again! XS is all the speedsters the 31st century needs and I'm hoping to see her back ASAP!

* The fight scne was a little bit better done here than it was in issue #2 or last issue but can Waid *please* stop scripting heavy dialogue over the action! It completely takes away from the suspense of the situation.

* While it was great to see Inferno among the bad guys I was hoping to see a few more familiar faces on that team. Waid's "no old villains" rule really annoys me! The Legion has SUCH a rich catalogue of villains and minor characters that have been supremely under-utilised over its long history. Why not use some of them instead of these generic and rather uninspired new ones? Hell the Elements of Disaster could have been the villains of this issue instead of Terra Firma and the only thing lost would have been the bad pun. I really wish Waid would rethink this policy.

Still a great issue though and as usual am on tenterhooks for the next one which will hopefully have some more Jeckie, Ayla, Gim and Thom!

What!? There's a no-old-villians rule in effect!? That's just not right!

I just want to remind everybody that I was the first person at LegionWorld to say that the mystery villian in Dream Girl's vision looked like Mon-El.

Neither confirmed nor denied by the TPTB I might add...though we sure speculated the heck out of it.
It's so cool to see everybody else catch on to that little bit. If it turns out to be the case then we are indeed going to have trouble figuring out who to support next issue.
How fun!

I figured that was just because she was talking to Ultra Boy.

If you don't want to imagine that Projectra is LL's sister or that she and Brin are currently romantically involved, how about him being her royal bodyguard?

I agree about Brin's look. I actually loathed the werewolf look. He looked like an old man with those white streaks in his hair. The fact is, Brin's a guy with super-strength and super-agility (and now, apparently, super-senses). He doesn't need the feral look. I think Brin looks fantastic in the issue.

I was also confused. With Garth now being a native of Trom, all bets are off as to who is his sister.

I wondered too, but "solemn" also works.

I'm definitely with you on this. This Brin is my favorite in decades. And Waid - who I only ever thought was ok - is certainly a rival for Levitz as favorite Legion writer. If he keeps up this level of work, I'm sure he'll get into the top spot.

I was very happy to see Brin appear. I agree with you, Ferro. I really like Brin's new look a lot. I've hated all the versions of him from the TMK period on and am glad he seems to be back to normal.

Did anyone else notice that when he took his coat off Brin has the same design of glooves/wrist bands (with 3 black stripes) that Ultra Boy does? Is it just a 31 Century fashion? Is it to show that they are both from border world street gangs? Or just coincidence?

Maybe Brin and Jo are both from Rimbor again. That was the case in the reboot.

Maybe the annoying Roll Call pages will be replaced by the letter's column.

Also, I agree that the no-old-villains rule blows. Big time.

Elysion could have just as well been Terrus, unnamed flame girl Beauty Blaze or Inferno, unnamed water guy Sugyn, Zelpha - Nightwind, the teleporter Zymyr, etc.

I agree, this is potentially some of the best writing (and art) I've seen since the Giffen/Levitz era. They're not "the Legion" I grew up with in the 80's, but I have to say it really feels close. This is the Brin Londo I know, and he never had to be feral to be cool.

I see we might have a potential "problem" between Karate Kid and Ultra Boy. This should be interesting, considering that these two characters really never had anything to do with each other, in ANY incarnation of the LSH.

I'm actually looking forward to the Legion ever month...something that hasn't happened in a long time! I can't wait to see if Wildfire, Dawnstar or Blok show up anytime soon.

I thought it was no-old-villains-for-two-years. I think that's fair.

Re:Brin and Jeckie
Could we be seeing the espionage squad forming? IIRC, the couch they were sitting on (assuming that was Brin) was next to the table with the action fiugure that may be Vi on it. (Hey, I had to work her in somehow.) Now that I think about it, those three characters are the ones that don't have a lad/lass type name.

I see no reason why Brin's ears can't be pointed. Just a little.

Maybe what Brin owes Brainy has something to do with keeping him looking human.

Re:Lemnos being Mon-El The previews hint that we aren't backing the right side. Could Lemnos be a good guy after all? Okay, maybe not good guy...