Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes What I found today at my LCS!

Thanks guys. But c'mon, folks. This thread isn't just bout what I'm finding, despite the title. What great things are all ya'll hittin' out there?

Anyway, on to this week.

Three new books, Titans United Bloodpact #3 of 6, Worlds Finest: Teen Titans 2, and The Flash: Night Terrors 2. I know, my "new" stuff pull is paltry to say the least.

But, on to bigger and better.

Green Lantern/Green Arrow 97: Beware MY Power Sucka...ahhm, Green Lantern. Sorry, that cover, while a great Grell cover...just screams "I'm gonna git you Sucka!" Great stuff, I had it years ago but it finally wore out about eight years and 20,000 plus reads, give or take.
Green Lantern 187- "See my 'fro, see my 'fro, it's out n space we go....Got no aura or chick named Laura...it's out ter space I go".
The Flash-325. Rip Reverse Flash, or, how I blew out my tranny shifting from High to Reverse! With the Little Adored Superman III movie sweepstakes (details inside).

And finally, two books, one of which is a true get for me. First, Adventure Comics 423, Supergirl Smashes in her hot pants and boob logo with the elf shoes. And Hal stands there looking at Atom like "Hey man, why'd you let this lady bust through our steel wall like that. You realize we in outer space, right?! Now we gone di...Oh, that's right, I have this ring..".

And...yet another true get for me...Adventure Comics #376 Featuring Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes. "Who can prevent the execution of changes into anything lad?" Mystic Stones and DOOM!

Purdy nice for me. Hope you guys like my finds. Let's hear more of yours.

Another nice pick of the good oldies Ric.

You make a good point about what are others getting. Unfortunately getting to a comic store is just not practical for me anymore. I'm mostly digital these days. Would love to hold them in my hands but that's how it is. Fortunately I still have lots of my older copies to look at.

So I vicariously enjoy your excitement and it is easy enough to look up the covers on the net so it gives me fun too.

Still I agree. Is anyone else finding some goodness at the shops?

Stile, if digital is your preferred way to go now for whatever reason, amigo, that's cool with me. Give us your shots. We're all friends here. The brick and mortar isn't as important as the joy of the find, the get, the thrill of reading something for the first time. I just thought the title was kinda catchy that way.

We all love this medium, any way we can get it.

I've been perusing a recent purchase of Bill Sienkiwicz's 1989 adaptation of Herman Melville's Moby Dick, from the short-lived Classics Illustrated revival. It's trippy, maaaaan! Seriously, though, I resisted buying this for years because Billy the Sink is very hit-or-miss. This, I'm happy to say, is mostly a hit -- sure, the characters suffer from having to squeeze the story into 48 pages, but Sink really captures the mystical and cosmic elements of Melville's novel like no adaptation before or since, not even John Huston's impressive movie version from the 1950s.

Ann. saw the cover and a couple of pages online. That is some really weird but wonderful artwork. Painted by the looks of it, and you're right. It really does feel mysterious and mystical. I have to confess (wrong thread?) that I have not read the original novel, something I am probably missing out on, but this seems a fascinating adaptation.

Ric, thanks man. No worries. I was really just expressing missing the fun of searching through the old comics bins.

As for what I have been reading digitally, last week had the latest issue of Waid's Batman-Superman World's Finest which has been a fun series, not world shattering but just fun. Also trying the latest Teen Titans classic line-up title, and Groo in the Wild - just because.

Ann, the classics? Cool.

Stile, Groo? Man, I haven't seen a Groo in decades. Very nice.

Stile, I highly recommend the novel. Melville was at the peak of his literary power.

Rick, yeah, a sentient can't go wrong with the classics.

I just went on a Jose Luis Garcia Lopez binge. Legends of the Dark Knight: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez hardcover, Star Raiders graphic novel with Elliot S! Maggin, Hercules Unbound 1-6 with Gerry Conway, Weird Western Tales (starring Jonah Hex) 32 and 33, Hawkman 18 (Geoff Johns series from the early 2000s.

JLGL? Ultra cool, Rob.

Small batch this week. Nothing new.

Green Lantern/Green Arrow #112. I had this as a kid. That Grell cover...It just hit all the right notes. And with Alan Scott doing a guest stint, it was hella cool.

Just Green Lantern #152 and 154. Staton on art.

Justice League #101. Big Giant Robot hand has Justice League and Justice society in Spaaaaaaaaaaaace!
Justice League #201. One hundred issues later, red headed alien smacks superman in the casino. Always thought that Ultraa was a wasted character.

Rick, I agree 100 percent about Ultraa! He's a character I've been thinking about writing fan fictions about for a long time. Hopefully, someday I will.

Awesome that you found the GL/GA issue that introduced the Starheart!

As for me, I bought a bunch of old Marvel 2099 stuff, mostly X-Men 2099. The 2099 thing mostly passed me by at that time, except for the early, Pat Broderick drawn issues of Doom 2099.

I don't know how to put it into words, but early 90s Marvel is special to me. I wish more people would dip their toes in there.

It's a shame we never got a meeting between Ultraa and a Superboy-Prime-not-ruined-by-Geoff-Johns.

EDE, I do believe you've just given me the plot for my Ultraa fic. Thank you.

I find it very cool that may lead to a great story by you, Ann. And that's a nice collection you got. I admit I wasn't big on the 2099 stuff or the new universe stuff. But, if you like it, I'm glad to hear it.

Marvel 2099 didn't grab my attention. A lot of '90s stuff was like that, which is no reflection on the quality, as I've found out with plenty of other things.

For example, when I was last in the LCS for Groo, I picked up a couple of Vampirella comics. I've little interest in the character. I've not much interest in her place as early bad girl art (see also lots of those '90s comics).

But what is interesting is that it's a really good take on an interacting series of parallel universes with super heroes. It's written by our Legion pal Mr Abnett too.

When I was younger, my gaming group played a game called Torg for a while. It has a cast of player created heroes, plucked from various genres, working across parallel universes. With us having read Captain Britain, Luther Arkwright and some Michael Moorcock (not me on that one then), we had a great time with it.

Vampirella is mining the same territory, using all the public domain superheroes, and others. DC nearly ventured into this territory at the end of 52, but utterly bottled it, as they do.

Anthropomorphic comics have also made more appearances in my shopping paw. Usagi Yojimbo often hovered around the edge of my pull list, when I had one. Now there is Animal Castle and Wilds End. Wilds End is War of the Worlds meeting an England populated by animals. It has a lovely pace to it, with time to give us heart warming character moments as well as scares. It's also by Mr Abnett. Recommended. If not singles, they are excellent trades.

For some reason, I'm having to buy Copra digitally, as it's not in the LCS. Fiffe has just introduced a nod to the Justice League of Detroit in it. Thrilled with that, as much as I am as his take on Ostrander's suicide squad.

Elsewhere, there's a free UK based comic called Vanguard I'm reading. I have a soft spot for UK teams. And a Kickstarter for another one has been backed and should be in my paw soon.

X-Men 2099 was my favorite book from that era, IIRC. I wasn't terribly interested in the other 2099 books, and the crossovers left me cold, except for Doom 2099, who was fun, but I was a huge fan of many of the new characters, particularly Krystalin, Meanstreak and Xian Chi Xan. Cerebra seems to have made it to the 616 continuity for the tail end of the Krakoan experiment, and seems to be the 'breakout character', since she was also used to launch the X-Nation spin-off book (which had very distinctive art by Humberto Ramos that didn't really impress me as much as the beautiful Ron Lim (IIRC) art of the main X-Men 2099 book).

One of my favorite silly little bits about X-Men 2099 is it starts with a murder mystery, as their analogue for Charles Xavier (Xian, the former 'Desert Ghost'), is framed by some casino heir for the murder of his crimelord dad. Shenanigans ensue, and his *sister* ends up in charge of daddy's criminal empire, and he plots for revenge / is imprisoned for *ages* while many more relevant things happen in the lives of our heroes and they pretty much forget about him entirely. He goes through this whole epic sub-plot in the background, being subjected to a process that turns him into a Hulk like figure of muscle, and leaves a trail of destruction to get his revenge on the people who ruined his life. This is, IIRC, at least 18 issues later! He finally scales a skyscraper, hand over hand, with his superhuman strength, to attack a member of the team who is, at that moment, meeting with Doom 2099, who is telling them that he runs this town now. The musclebound 'Hulk' crests the rise as Doom is pontificating, interrupts him, and Doom, without turning to look, points backwards and blasts him off the roof, to plummet sixty stories to the ground.

And so ends his 18 issue 'revenge!' sub-plot. Just, hilariously anti-climactic, and indicative of what a wanna-be this guy was as a 'nemesis,' never as important as he wanted to be.

It's rare that a scene in a comic makes me laugh out loud, but that scene totally worked for me.

That reminds me a little of PAD's first run on X-Factor, when he has a series of would-be related villains show up as subplots in interludes, only for it not to end too well for them because of their own incompetence! It's a running joke that PAD would eventually revisit and kinda-sorta pay off in his last story for that first run in an annual when they are used as the pawn of some netherworld villain. Even then, X-Factor is, like, "who are these guys again?!?"

First issue of the Birds of Prey relaunch, written by Kelly Thompson, who has been my top choice for writing the Legion going on a decade now.

My review in Gymlls:

https://www.legionworld.net/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1029917#Post1029917

Also, a used copy of Marvel Comics Presents Wolverine Volume 2. What, you might ask, would actually make me spend money on a Wolverine solo story?

Hint 1: His name is John.

Hint 2: He does both pencils and inks here.

So, major disappointment this week. Last week my company shorted my paycheck so no trip to the LCS. This week, I went over to Sumter with the wife instead of Florence, so no trip to the LCS. However, I did stop by a brand new ollie's. And there, on the wall, was....Legion of Super-heros Compendium...volume 1. I've got it, so there was no point. Listed for @29.99. They had about six or seven, so, If anyone wants one and can't find it I'll make the same offer Lardy made for me, hit me up and I'll grab one for you and we can get together on it.

Still, it was the main reason I wanted to check Ollie's out there, to see if they had volume 2. Kinda sucks that they don't.

But, they did have a few Clive Cussler hired gun books, an Oregon and a Remi, so I got those, and ....Green Arrow, a Celebration of 75 years. Wish they'd do something for Hawkman, but Ollie's cool too.

No volume 2. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

thanks for the offer, Rick, kind of ya. hope they get volume 2 over there soon!

Well, cheap run this week folks. Gotta lotta bills and shit.

So,

Worlds Finest Teen Titans 3. Why the heck am I buying this. Each issue is Dick against the team, or more specifically, Roy. Beau. Ring. Nice art though. I like clean and expressive. Kinda reminds me of JLGL in a way, though a bit more cartoony. They keep revisiting the original team to try and mine whatever's left of the nostalgia. People. The Originals were cancelled for a reason. Although, Bumble Bee was in it. That I'll buy every time.

Doom Patrol #6 of 7. Interesting premise, great cast. Poor execution. Sorry, been a lover of the Patrol for nearly forty years now. This is kinda...forgettable. And the time is nearly up for the mini. Shame.

The Flash number whine. Look, I don't know who the editor is that decided they wanted to go in a different direction. He really needs to pull his head outta his/her ass. The book soared in popularity because it brought back what made it work...namely, Wally and family. Hell, its what made the TV show work, because it was Wally with the names transplanted only Barry. Now, don't get me wrong. Story was dense, it was packed, and by the tenth or eleventh page, I was wondering if I'd continue. Art was nice, though the colors were muddy. WHY? Listen, they are called four color books for a reason. Yes, we like BRIGHT for Flash. He was the man, the dude, he got us all back into loving bright costumes. This muddy shit, if you gonna make Flash dark and dull...what the hell man/woman/sentient being from volbortran 8?

Power Girl #1. Okay, after the special, I didn't go into this with a great outlook. But, this is one of those characters that, when she pops up in her own book, I'm gonna try it. Why? Cause I damn well want to. That's why. That said, it better pick up...FAST. Art...not bad. story... Who the hell decided to rename her Paige? What, you think we can't distinguish between Karen Starr and the various and numerous Karen's roaming the earth wanting a Manager?

The bad guy? Who? Dreads dude? Random sacrificial guy for for issue? Better ramp this hump up FAST iffn' ya wanna make an impression. No, it all sounds negative fromme here. Not the case. I see potential. I admittedly haven't been following the Stuporman family cause...well, it wasn't good when I quit it, so I have no idea how all this new stuff has come about. I have a real problem with all the DC families since they doggedly dilute the product, and not just the friggin infinite Batfamily. (Ironically, I loved that old book), but being "accepted" by the stuporman family seems to have neutered her personality. She takes orders from a Stuporman only what, a couple years older than her now, just to stay on good terms in it? Where's the 'go screw yourself' Levitz and Wood gal that wouldn't take shit from anyone, much less a Stuporman?

This sucks. I'd love to give some really great reviews of some new material that was coming out. But it seems like stories are less important than perspectives right now.

Maybe I've aged out of enjoying comics.

Okay, lemme just say, I'm not that guy. I'm a hairy assed red blooded american male, married to a redhead valkryie and together we created a real life Thor. So, I think I've over-established my manly man bonifides...

That said, today I picked up a holy grail of holy grail's for me.

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes Limited Collector's Edition. You know the one, with Supey leading the pack, the guys flying up and away from the clubhouse in their own little spotlight ray, Cos holding the Legion flag.

I may have pee'd and squee'd a little. I can't say for certain..but...

Oh, and I picked up some other books to. I think. Honestly can't say right now.

Ah! This bit was pure Annfie bait if there ever was any, and it totally whiffed!

The book is clasped. Sunlight suddenly streams from the LCS roof. Something Wagnerian from Gotterdammerung permeates the air. It is done. The quest has been fulfilled. The hero turns towards the counter, already pretending it's the dazzling light causing a watering up of his eyes. The other customers fall back in reverential awe at the book held up so that the very gods can get a glimpse of the cover. Humble, yet triumphant, the hero turns to the others, his words to be etched across the legends of mankind... "Squee!"

An awesome find and an amazing moment Rick!

I'm so sorry, Lardy. At the very least I should have posted the nodding smiley to show I agree 100 percent with your post.