Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Long Live the Legion! re-reading the REBOOT LEGION

To add my two pennies-worth:

The Zoe-Emerald Eye subplot might have been good if Violet had not been possessed, but Kinetix had. Zoe's later cat-being persona and "personality breakdown" via the Space Anomaly were minuses on a major level. When she bounced back afterwards, it was the beginning of her downhill slump - regrettably

The Summer World story WAS tame compared to earlier Stern stories, but at least he managed to fit in all of the current membership before he bid farewell to the 30th century for good. My gripe is that we never fully got to see Thunder in a Moy-Carani setting (apart from an image on the Mission Monitor Board).

Yeah the death of Apparition was the first major blunder. If they had left her dead it wouldn't have been a popular decision, but everything about her return and characterisation after that was in the toliet. It killed both characters (and eventually Brin when he appeared). It was like there was no good reason for Jo and Tinya to be together other than they *had* to be.

I did enjoy the reboot immensely at this point though.
The first version of the Workforce was great, being rivals rather than necessarily villains. I think they let that concept go to quickly.
I liked the new Andromeda (although ironically I hated the "cut from the same cloth" Umbra) and was interested to see her return after the annual, too bad it was as a nun and then as a ... a.... whatever she was after the anomally.
I was anxious for Man-El to get back, but still wasn't a "Legend of Valor" fan.
Really enjoyed this part of the reboot.

I've always thought it would have been far more interesting if they'd given one of the Legion titles to the Workforce, and let them continue to exist as a rival orgraniation for much longer. Part of the appeal for me in those days was the feeling that things could be completely different in this version of the team. Characters who were Legionnaires before wouldn't end up as members of the team this time, while other supporting players from the past might very well join. There was some exiting about the whole thing.

Then all the Workforce members who were "supposed" to be Legionnaires switch teams, and it all got kind of blah. I thought they should either give us something far more different than the original team or just give us the original Legion back.

The Star she was looking for backfired on her and drained her power instead of giving her more.

Legionnaires #42 later says Mysa set her up for that to happen

Thanks, but I haven't re-read that far yet.

I've got to agree with most of you. It started ok and then lost it with the 20/30 split. I thought it would never end. It was the first time I had ever actually thought about dropping the books. Something else else I thought would never happen.
What also burned me was that I found Stern's run so disappointing. One of my all time favorite writers on the Legion and I didn't like it.

actually, I found it the best of Stern's writing, but still not the best of LSH runs.

I don't know exactly what I was expecting from Stern, but I remember thinking that things were going to really take off when he came on board.
Maybe it was the writing by committee that seemed to be going on then - but I just didn't care for it.

Time Waids for no man... nor does The Legion, as Mark Waid makes his exit from the reboot.

LSH # 72:

An excellent cover (Alan Davis, don'tcha know)... mass funeral for Andromeda and Apparition; developments for Ultra Boy and Element Lad bring them thisclose to becoming Legionnaires; the first hints that Jan's appreciation of death make him a bit of a weirdo; Winema Wazzo has issues with the Legion re: her daughter's death; it is implied that Laurel's "death" has GREATLY impacted Brainy; a possible Coz/Imra liason is hinted at; Chu gets bitchy with Coz and Coz in turn gets bitchy with the team; REGULUS! Can Dirk Morgna (FINALLY!) be far behind?

Plus! David Taylor in the lettercol, again requesting my gal Calorie Queen along with Kid Psycho!

L* # 29:

We witness an expanded origin for Dirk Morgna, involving the Legionnaires. Brainy drinks beer; Element Lad transorms dead Trommites to tsarin crystals; a pretty good issue which by the end sees the "birth" of what is SURE to be... Sun Boy! Yay!

LSH # 73:

Shift of focus to Live Wire as he searches for his brother Mekt; he is, in fact, mistaken for the criminal Mekt and arrested; developments with Dirk Morgna are revealed via off-handed conversation that takes place back at HQ, which I feel was a let-down to all fans of Dirk; Whooops! There's Valor, or at least his ghost! Mekt frees Garth from jail, they proceed to Korbal and Mekt reveals himself to be sh!t-all psycho.

Meanwhile, in the lettercol, David Taylor requests a WORKFORCE miniseries!

L* # 30:

More Mekt! More ghostly Valor! It's here that we begin weaving elements of the preboot Legion mythos into the postboot haphazardly, with Garth losing an arm NOT to the Super-Moby Dick of Space but to his brother Mekt. I actually didn't mind this; I felt it drove home just how frikkin' uts Mekt was, plus who really expected to see the Super-Moby anyway? Anyhoo, Ayla pops in and together, she and Garth overpower Mekt. Next: SUPERBOY & the LSH!

SUMMARY:

These first Waidless issues hold up very well, actually, but already one can spot disturbing trends developing, like LESS Legionnaires being featured per issue and preboot circumstances being brought into postboot play.

Coming up: SUPERBOY! And a li'l lass named LORI!

We really need to track down and and invite this David Taylor fellow to join LW. He'd fit right in.

Anyway, I think these four issues were the beginning of the end of my love affair with this version of the Legion as well. Too many bad changes and poorly executed re-treads of old storylines. And as you say the pretender Superboy and Lori are coming on the horizon.

Superboy plus the STING of defeat!

SUPERBOY # 21, LSH # 74, L* # 31:

I actually rather enjoyed this crossover; Superboy interacts amusingly well with the Legion, particularly Brainy and Triad; Jo's still hanging around; we check in on Garth and Ayla back on Winath; the SCAVENGER? How'd he live so long? By the ghostly image of Valor! YAY!!! Brainy's FORCE-FIELD! I find it amusing that it took Superboy (the "gibbering primitive") to inspire Brainy to invent it; VALOR's back, HOORAY! But instead of being grateful and just chillin' for a bit, he gets all bitchy with Triad, BOO!

All in all, this 3-parter was very enjoyable. The next crossover event was considerably less so.

LSH # 75, L* 32:

First, LSH... UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED was an event I rather enjoyed in the DCU, but for the Legion, it unleashed some crappiness. XS, lost in the time-stream back in Superboy # 21, encounters Chronos and a charming little girl ("Wow! STUPID!") named Lori Morning. I didn't like this issue the first time I read it, nor did I like it upon re-reading, despite a high usage of the word "stupid". Possibly my least-favorite issue in all of Legion history. Definitely in the top 5.

Fortunately, the lettercol was enjoyable, as David Taylor shows that he is a true fan of the Legion as he calls for the revival of Star Boy, Calorie Queen, Gates, Nemesis Kid, Gas Girl and Projectra!

Now, L*... the second part of the crossover was a bit better, mainly because the team was focused on rather than just XS; Zoe appears to be rescued from certain death; Lori ends up in an adult body and shows that she isn't ALL selfish brat, as she is willing to sacrifice herself to stop Chronos; Brainy: Arrested!

LSH # 76:

I-- is that-- CHUCK TAINE? OhmiGAWD, it IS!!! HOOOORAY! And-- poppin' planets, it's that GATES guy from a few issues back, and LOOK! He's still hilariously bitchy, calling Chuck and Marla fat ("GODS! Can you POSSIBLY weigh any MORE?")!
And, ooooh-- Star Boy (whom Lee Moder never could draw well; fortunatley Moy did).

Jillikers--could that be-- Spacefinger? Tenzil macks on Ayla; Valor leaves; Zoe meets an old Hag; in an excellent scene, Chuck Taine reveals how he came to be where he is and gives all the Legionnaires present something to think about.

L* # 33:

What is apparently the postboot Starfinger attacks the Time Institute; Gim Allon continues his stint as Legionnaire whip-cracker (a role I thought fit him well and gave him some much-needed personality), turning his attentions to Star Boy; Ayla gets a gift; Lori goes exploring ("OOO... Saturn Girl's SOOO STUPID!"); Zoe sees the Emerald Eye of Ekron for the first time; "Starfinger" downs the entire Legion except for Violet!

LSH # 77:

SO much better than the XS-focus issue earlier, this Brainy-focus issue is one of my favorites. An excellent read from start to finish with some disturbing insights into Brainy's mind. Nara Minsork was an EXCELLENT character. Props to Peyer & McGraw.

L* # 34:

First of all, loved the "Legion does sign language" on page 1's roll call; And in another instance of "borrowing from the preboot, "Starfinger" is revealed to be-- Jan Arrah? Zoe turns into a tattooed kitten-thing; probes into Jan's mind reveal that the person who took control of his mind was-- Winema Wazzo? And... is that a Sun-Eater on that viewscreen? Apparently so, and that means... FATAL 5! Hmmm... "genetically-enhanced living weapons" to use against the Sun-Eater? Just how is a thrillkilling madwoman (the Empress) going to stop a Sun-Eater?

LSH # 78:

Chu turns the Sun-Eater scare into a mass "join the United Planets" rally-cry; Other than that, I didn't much care for how this issue was lifted almost directly from the ADVENTURE-era debut of the FF.

L* # 35:

Rogern Stern joins the writing team, and IMO makes a stellar debut, shifting focus on the non-Legionnaire cast: Rond, Chuck, Tenzil, Shvaughn, Marla, the Athramites, and, yes, even Lori.

A great issue overall, despite the repurcussions that acid spit might have for well-known-kissyfacer Tenzil. At this point, Lori hasn't become unbearable.

LSH # 79:

A big honkin' issue-length fight! Pretty good for that sort of thing, actually.

L* # 38:

Just as things look their darkest, we get a real ADVENTURE 350-35-type "EVERYONE COMES BACK" thingie with the Legion Rescue Squad! Valor, Andromeda, Garth, Jo, XS and Jan (that *IS* a powerful bunch, isn't it?) bust in to save the Legion's hash, and even Kinetix shows back up; Winema Wazzo goes space-bananas!

LSH # 80:

The whole Fatal 5/Sun-eater/bitchy Chu thing comes to conclusion, and by the last page, we FINALLY have a team of a more Legion-ish number-- 18. But will THAT last? Plus: Cham *CAN* speak interlac!

COMING UP: THE WINDS OF CHANGE (WHO FARTED?)

Up until this point, the reboot was excellent. Sadly, the next few issues saw the gradual shift to crapiness. But that was an excellent storyline.

Jeepers, Lash! How could you discuss the Scavenger storyline with no mention of Ulthro?

I remember being really annoyed at the time that the pacing seemed to be really bad on the Zoe subplot. It seemed like they left her stranded in space for months before the finally showed what happened to her.

So how many letters did this David Tayler guy have printed? Willikers!

Bah! I doubt there really is such a person! No doubt Carlson or McAvennie or whoever just wrote those to himself!

To be honest, I actually enjoyed the slow pace of the powerless-Zoe upon a re-read; it was actually paced perfectly, IMO... though it might not have seen so when reading on a monthly basis.

These issues WERE great, and I'm glad I got to read my aunt's copies - she had a complete collection up to the point Waid left.

I'm still trying to complete my own collection, though; I haven't even read the entire Fatal Five storyline yet

IMO there was not a single bad issue of the Legion up this point in the reboot. I loved each and every one of them!

That cliff-drop in quality is just around the corner though...

Sigh, so true. The nice little character moments that had made the reboot great just seemed to dwindle after that. It's too bad, because I think some of the issues after this point were still good.

Legionnaires 41 in particular I'll remember for Jenni's desperately trying to travel through time (and Thom having to calm her down). The battle with Mordru was also pretty exciting; but it was the lack of consistency that ultimately did the 'boot in.

They sure took their time having me appear again! I was absent up until... issue 72, was it? And I missed the whole White Triangle climax!

Looking back, the pacing actually was just right - Zoe was only completely absent for about 4 months in "real time". For a big fan though, it was an unbearable wait!

I do like how the first two or so years of the Legion managed to wrap up the majority of plot threads introduced so far. That showed good planning, pacing and an attention to detail. LSH 80 and Legionnaires 37 managed to tie in so many little things together that I was almost fell off my chair!

And I did like the shiny, optimistic feel of the books around that time. Finally, a future to look forward to...

I think the pacing/plotting overall of the first year or so of the reboot was some of the best we've ever had on the Legion.

As I recall, the big problem with the Zoe storyline is that they left her with the cliffhanger of being stranded in her ship, and then it seemed like it took awhile before Mysa rescued her.

For me, the problem with the Zoe storyline was she was only a Legionnaire for such a short period of time initially (her red costume era). She had such a fantastic debut--one of the best ever IMO (same with Gates in the same issue). And then in a few months she was suddenly gone...in the annual no less!

She remained a favorite of mine all the way until DnA terraformed her, which was one of the worst things they did.

Ha, 'terraformed her' makes me think that they made a planet out of her!

"How do you know she's a witch?"
"Build a planet out of her!"

*sigh* I suppose I'll never get around to writing the above-teased reviews or telling of more David Taylor lettercol antics. I blame Facebook.