Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Long Live the Legion! M'onel: why the power down?

Thinking this a.m. about Dannell and her love of the character Lar Gand....

Many have commented on M'onel's apparent weakness in recent stories. The bad guys seem to be taking him out fairly easily, or at least knocking him around.

Some have suggested that the anti-lead serum may be wearing off. I've wondered if there isn't some underlying psychological conflict going on, maybe he's holding back on his power for some reason.

Any other suggestions? Do DnA just not like the guy? Or will all be explained in some future issue?

The explanation, FC, is that if Mon-El is present, many of the other Legionnaires become superfluous. M'Onel gets taken out early to give other Legionnaires screen-time.

If we're to explore possible psychological reasons, I'd guess that he's simply holding back. He's been shying away from his identity as "The legendary savior Valor, seeder of worlds" so maybe there's a part of him that doesn't want to act too "godly" and makes him restrained in battle despite himself.

I have to agree with the comment about M'Onel getting taken out early so that the other Legionnaires can have something else to do.

I think a trick to writing Lar successfully is giving him something worthwhile to do that keeps him separate from the team members who he would overshadow otherwise. Hopefully, the mission to Kwai space will keep him busy in a more positive way than the tripping over his shoelaces we've seen thus far in TnT's run. I think they ARE quite fond of the character (he's definitely had his share of the spotlight in their run--more so than Vi, anyway.) Hopefully, in the future, he'll acquit himself with a bit more Valor. :-)

No doubt -- that's why Wildfire and Ultra Boy used to get more battle-time (and were part of the "advance scout" with Dawny). These two are power houses but each have an Achilles heel that can be exploited to get them out of the way for the others to get in there.

I think this is an excellent point. Perhaps Mon does need an Achilles heel that's more accessible than lead. So long as he has his anti-lead serum, lead is not a problem. Take away the serum, and he's a goner.

Since Mon is my favorite character, it may sound sadistic, but I wouldn't mind him having a few drawbacks to his powers. Back in the '60s, Marvel did the same thing with Giant-Man/Goliath, by having his power of super-growth backfire on him, leaving him stuck at ten feet tall for awhile. It made for a pretty good subplot as he searched for a cure and felt like a freak in public. While Mon doesn't have to experience anything quite that crippling, it would be interesting for him to have to deal with new limits to his powers.

I agree with kid Prime on this one -- just create situations that will require someone of M'onel's strength (and maybe a few others) to deal with while another part of the team deals with the bad guy -- or just make the bad guy that much more powerful. Otherwise, pushing a weakness on M'onel would seem forced.

Regardless of who it is, that's always a big challenge for the Legion writers - to make sure everyone gets some screentime regardless of power level.

At least in the last issue, he looked like the battle leader he should be. There was a great panel with him, Jo and Cosmic Boy, in silhouette, confronting Shikari and Sensor. Lar was in front, where he belongs, with his starfield uniform lit up and his eyes aflame. He looked the part and acted the part there.

Perhaps we should see more of the problems Mon faces as he tries to go about his job, with half the galaxy worshiping him as some form of god. Although not a physical block on his powers the psycological pressure faced, added to his problems adjusting to life outside the Zone should be explored as a possible reason for him being unable or un willing to use his full strength.

or

Maybe the anti lead serum can be used as the reason behind the depowering. The only way he can have full power is to stop taking the drug that is keeping him alive. ?

To take your idea further, maybe M'onel can have a patch (or the 31st century equivalent) that he has to have all the time, BUT during extreme emergencies, he has to remove it to regain full strength even though it pains him to do so and if he doesn't put it back on in an hour, he'll die! In terms of the comic book tradition of weaknesses and heroic self-sacrifice it kinda fits.

Do any of you think that being depowered then shot in the chest by Ra's would have an effect on his psyche?

I wouldn't doubt that it might affect him -- he spent a thousand years as a phantom and couldn't be hurt then as a Daxamite, not much can hurt him now. It'd be interesting and realistic if they dealt with his trauma a bit, but he's made of strong stuff -- it shouldn't be too big a deal (certainly not something to be dragged our for a year before he gets over it).

He could even be suffering some sort of post-traumatic stress - how long can that simmer? It can certainly affect even the strongest (in Canada, there is an armed forces general who suffered a breakdown trying to deal with the atrocities in Rwanda) - so maybe getting shot by Ra's was some sort of breaking point. No wonder Lar vowed to chase down Ra's wherever he might escape to.

I understand that there are plot-writing problems if someone like Lar is all-powerful; the story ends on page 2. But it's interesting to speculate on what "rational" explanations could be worked into the story to explain why he isn't all-powerful. There have been a lot of good possibilities proposed in this thread.

I actually don't think it's too hard to write for M'onel in Legion. I mean it's got to be easier than writing for Superman in JLA and they don't seem to have a problem with that...

Well in my book Lar's as almighty as Superman is. Still I think he deserves some time in the spotlight in my opinion.

I find it interesting that some of the suggestions proposed for M'Onel's weakness are psychological in nature. Is this because, preboot, he was shown to have repressed traumas over his Phantom Zone experience, or because it's the only believable weakness for an all-powerful character?

I like the idea of Mon's anti-lead serum inhibiting his powers. There is at least a real-world precedent for that. People who are psychotic and creative claim that anti-psychotic medication inhibits their creativity.

I also like the idea of him being inhibited by public adulation of his Valor self, but, since the general public still doesn't know he was Valor, that's moot.

I think I like the idea of his recent "power down" being psychological because it just strikes me as more interesting and informative of M'onel's character. In this case, it's also plausible in my mind.

The fact that people don't know he's Valor might only make him apprehensive about being "outed". It could also be why he's in the Legion or why he joined President McCauley's team -- he's surrounding himself with teammates in an attempt to not stand out.

For me it seems to fit M'onel not because of the past depictions of his mental trauma, but more of his reserved demeanor and natural humility. I don't think it should be a huge issue causing him to fail in battle all the time or be shown as an out and out "weakness", but just an aspect to his character -- that he tends to hold back more than he should.

OK. But I think we're talking about two different things. Having a tendency to hold back does not necessarily indicate a psychological hang-up, unless it turns into a phobia. I think even if Mon did prefer to hold back, his long experience would have taught him when not to (e.g., with Ra's al Ghul). If he becomes a liability to his teammates, then this becomes a point at which he's not thinking rationally.

Although he has received qite a bit of panel time IMO Monel's character development has been virtually nil.

It mut be difficult for DnA to develope this incredibly powerful person, just think, he's Superman + level physical power,has 1000 years of memories and is a major religious icon in the flesh.... where can you go with this? Well lets see him interact with "ordinary" people, lets see him use some of his wisdom and experience, lets see him kick some major ass, lets see him have a bit of depth...

that'll be my soap box out again, sorry...

I love Mon and strongly dislike the way he's being used at present, I'm sure either it'll grow on me or there'll be a change in direction... just soon already please!

I think the easiest way to address all of Lar's issues would be to get him involved in a relationship -- he'd have someone to talk to, someone to ask the hard questions and a focal point for his issues as opposed to them coming up depending on the situation.

I would really like to see him get involved with Luornu. She would provide a very interesting sounding board, with various opionions, etc...

I really just don't want him involved with Tasmia again. I don't know whym but I have never cared for her ( I think this stems from her Levitz era personality)

I've said this before, but not on this board so I'll say it again -- I don't think M'onel should get involved with Triad. She obviously worships him (more than just a crush) and it'd be odd for M'onel to get involved with someone who was so into his "valorious" past. I'd think it would make him uncomfortable as well.

I still want to see some interaction between Mon and Shikari. They both like to travel and explore, she's not going to be overwelmed by the "Legend of Valor" deal, and Shikari's curiosity is probably the only force in the Legion more powerful than M'onel's reticence.

Rereading some issues last night led me to reconsider the power-down to some extent. One thing that irked me was that Lu was able to defeat Ra's al Ghul where M'onel could not.... mea culpa, I really misread that scene.

Ra's al Ghul was thrown totally off-balance when he and M'onel entered the clone chambers. Ra's had no idea that the clones existed - he is confused, almost frantic - disturbed to the point of perspiring. He must realize for the first time that he does not have everything under control. He actually turns to M'onel and asks for help. In this state, Lu knocks him around with her tri-jitsu, and kicks him into an empty clone container; a stasis field is engaged which holds him.

Presumably, Lar was also pausing to consider the ramifications of this turn of events when he was blinded (?) with a fiery blast from Ra's. Triad merely capitalized on the situation. It's not necessarily a reflection of physical weakness in M'onel. It's sloppy reading on the part of FC.

And I like this odd relationship that Ra's and M'on have - maybe a bit co-dependent. It merits further exploration.

Regarding the M'on / Ra's relationship:

I think the intereting aspect to their dynamic was mentioned by Ra's himself in the redroom. These two are historic figures who have taken the destiny of worlds into their own hands -- they're almost like elder gods, but rivals in that they're totally opposite in terms of their motivation.

M'on probably sees Ra's as the reason why he's so reluctant to assume the role of Valor that has been built up. Ra's is the evil that can come from one person wielding too much power over others. (not that M'on fears he would become like Ra's, but the end result is almost the same regardless of which individual becomes elevated to that level of near godhood)

Ra's sees M'on as having done what he himself has wanted to do -- but only to a degree. M'on's reluctance to assume the role and exploit its potential probly annoys Ra's -- like when you see someone else take the job you wanted but then does a crap job at it because they're really not as qualified as you are.