Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #281

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #281 (Nov 1981)
title: "Madness Is The Molecule Master"

plotter: Roy Thomas

writer: Paul Levitz
penciller: Steve Ditko
inker: Bruce Patterson

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Mike W. Barr
cover: George Perez/Bruce Patterson

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy/Ultra Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Karate Kid, Dawnstar, Blok

Guests: 
Lana Lang

Opponents: 
Time Trapper, Molecule Master

Justice League Unlimited S03 E10: Far From Home

"Far From Home" was written by Paul Dini based on a story by Dwayne McDuffie, and directed by Dan Riba, original airdate: April 15, 2006, review by Glenn 'Continuity Kid' Walker.

Mission Monitor Board: Brainiac 5, Bouncing Boy, Ultra Boy, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Colossal Boy, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Timber Wolf, Chameleon Boy, Shadow Lass, and Supergirl.

Opponents: Tharok, Mano, Validus, the Persuader, and the Emerald Empress, teamed as the Fatal Five, simulations of Blockbuster, Atomic Skull, Doctor Cyber, and Queen Bee.

Guest-stars and cameos: Green Arrow, John Stewart Green Lantern, Superman, Steel.

Vacation All I Ever Wanted! Vacation Have To Get Away!

This week in the 21st century is school vacation week. So I will be taking the week off from covering the end of the Threeboot run. Frankly, I need the break.

No, I won't be heading to Recreation Asteroid 7!

And I won't be lounging around the pool with Kara, Imra, and Luorno.

Nor will I be dancing in the New Aquarius Nightclub.

In fact, this is a stay-cation and I'll be spending a week away from work and just being Super-Dad.

See you next week for Threeboot Legion of Super-Heroes #50

Reboot: Legionnaires #36

Legionnaires #36 (April 1996)
title: "To the Rescue!"

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

penciller: Jeffrey Moy
inker: W.C. Carani
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson
special thanks: Mark Waid & Karl Kesel

cover: Jeffrey Moy & W.C. Carani
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Andromeda, Apparition (flashback), Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Invisible Kid, Jan Arrah, Kinetix, Leviathan, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Spark, Star Boy, Triad, Ultra Boy, Valor, XS

Guests:
Dr. Micah Aven, President Chu, Science Police, Titan Home Guard, TV anchor, the President's body guards

Opponents:
Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, Validus, Winema Wazzo

Who's Who: The Wanderers

The Wanderers
by Russell & Siskoid

Membership: Celebrand, Dartalg, Elvo, Immorto, Ornitho, Psyche, Quantum Queen

Relationship to Legion: Allies

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #280

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #280 (Oct, 1981)
title: "O! Call Back Yesterday!"

writer: Roy Thomas

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Bruce Patterson

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Mike W. Barr
cover: George Perez

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Karate Kid, Dawnstar, Blok, Superboy/Ultra Boy; Mon-El, Element Lad, Colossal Boy, Wildfire, Shrinking Violet, Chameleon Boy; cameo appearances by all other members except Dream Girl

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy

Opponents: 
Grimbor, the Time Trapper

Whatever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow?

writer: Alan Moore

penciller: Curt Swan
inkers: George Perez (part 1),
Kurt Schaffenberger (part 2) 

letterer: Todd Klein
colorists: Gene D'Angelo (original), Tom McCraw (collected)

editor: Julius Schwartz
cover: Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson

reviewers: "Bilingual Boy" and Dr. Anj

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superman; Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid (1), Brainiac 5, Supergirl

Guests: 
Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Jimmy Olsen, Krypto, Perry & Alice White

Opponents: 
Bizarro, Brainiac, Lex Luthor, the Toyman, the Prankster, the Kryptonite Man, Metallo, the Legion of Super-Villains (Saturn Queen, Lighting Lord, Cosmic King), Mr. Mxyzptlk

Threeboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #49

Recap: A giant planet has entered our solar system, harboring technoconstruct 'emulations' which have been attacking United Planets for some time. And the UP has welcomed diplomats from this planet, allowing them to scan much of Earth and even drain the life essence from a UP official. Meanwhile, Princess Projectra has been supplementing her powers and preparing to wreak her revenge on the UP for allowing Orando to be destroyed by Praetor Lemnos. And there is the standard internal strife of this team during this run, sexual infidelity, and personality clashes.

My first set of reviews on this site was the 5 Years Later run by Giffen and the Bierbaums. I loved that book. But as I was reviewing the later issues, I was struck with ennui. There was a brilliance to the first three years of the 5YL run, especially the first year. As it rolled on, I was just more and more disappointed. The book was a fine super-hero book. But it wasn't the heady brew of those early issues. I was bored.

Now I am reviewing the Threeboot. And I am suffering in a different way in the later issues. These later issues don't bore me. They irritate me. Because this just doesn't read like a Legion book. Every issue seems to have problems. Whether the gratuitous sexual innuendo and cheesecake or Legionnaires acting horribly out of character or the meandering plots, nothing seems to be right about this book.

Don't get me wrong, the early Threeboot book had its issues as well. That wasn't 5YL either.

But this book ... I'm sort of done with it.

And thankfully I am almost done with it. One more issue.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #79

Legion of Super-Heroes #79 (April 1996)
title: "The Fatal Five!"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

penciller: Lee Moder

inker: Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson

cover: Alan Davis & Mark Farmer
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Invisible Kid, Leviathan, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Spark, Star Boy, Triad

Guests:
Takron-Galtos' warden Wafil, Takron-Galtos guards and convicts

Opponents:
Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, Validus

Who's Who: Validus

Validus
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Validus Ranzz

Super-Power(s): Giant sized strength and invulnerability, mental lightning
Planet of Origin: Winath

Relationship to Legion: Villain; member of the original Fatal Five

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #279

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #279 (Sept, 1981)
title: "Castle Grimbor Must Fall!"

writer: Roy Thomas

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Mike W. Barr
cover: George Perez

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Lighting Lad, Saturn Girl, Mon-El, Princess Projectra, Karate Kid, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Wildfire, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Blok, Phantom Girl, Timber Wolf, Shadow Lass, Light Lass

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, President Marte Allon

Opponents: 
Grimbor

Couples Legion Style

The earliest Legion stories I read as a child were reprints of earlier tales in Adventure Comics. The title at the time was featuring Supergirl, and Legion reprints were common. Two stories that left an impression on me were "The Revolt of the Girl Legionnaires" originally from Adventure #326 and "The Weddings That Wrecked the Legion" from Adventure #337.

These two stories made my preschool mind aware of two things. First: how progressive the future was in that men and women, even as teenagers, were all equal – as opposed to the present day where most super-teams only had one female, like Sue in the Fantastic Four and Wanda in the Avengers. Secondly I was made aware that most of the female Legionnaires were paired off with male Legionnaires. Straight in the Silver Age, but the Legion was ahead of its time gender-wise in the years to come. So it's true, the Legion taught me equality, and sexuality, before I even hit kindergarten.

So for the day before Valentines' Day, let's take a look at couples, Legion style!

Threeboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #48

Recap: An alien planet is parked in our solar system, encased in a gravitational field to stop it from wreaking havoc on the galaxy. An alien technoconstruct army has been attacking the UP for some time. The UP has tried to hem in the Legion but is currently working with them. Brainy has married Dream Girl in his mind after having a physical fling with a medium channeling Nura. Dream Girl was unfortunately psychically blinded within Brainy's mind. And Projectra is planning an overthrow. So what else can happen?

For those who have been following these reviews of the Jim Shooter/Francis Manapul run on Legion of Super-Heroes, I thank you. I have been pretty harsh in my reviews of these books. I know we aren't supposed to curse the darkness. We should light a candle. But I haven't found much to like in this run, especially these issues nearing the end.

Legion of Super-Heroes #48 doesn't break the trend. With so many plot lines being juggled, Shooter decides to add another. I am unclear when Shooter knew this title was going to be canceled (two issues from now) but you would think that if he knew we were that close to the end line he would be shoring things up not adding more.

At the very least, we are merging two of the storylines into one. In this issue we learn the flying planet is the source of the technoconstructs. Hurrah for that. And I was happy to see Sun Boy back in the fold. Shooter closes off a plot from the Waid run.

As for the complaint of casual sexism and unnecessary cheesecake in this run, we do get one superfluous scene which fits the bill. At least it didn't reach the wretchedness of last issues treatment of Meander and Dreamy.

And, as is typical of this run, Manapul brings a nice feel to the art here.

On to the book.

Reboot: Legionnaires #35

Legionnaires #35 (March 1996)
title: "While You Were Out..."

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

penciller: Jeffrey Moy
inker: W.C. Carani
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson
special thanks: Mark Waid & Karl Kesel

cover: Jeffrey Moy & W.C. Carani
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Invisible Kid, Leviathan, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Spark, Star Boy, Triad, XS

Guests:
Athramites, Chuck Taine, Lori Morning (as Future Girl), Marla Latham, Proty, Rond Vidar, Shvaughn Erin, Tenzil Kem

Opponents:
Empress, Mano, Persuader, Proteans, Sun-Eater (in background), Tharok, Validus

Who's Who: Universo

Universo
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Vidar

Super-Power(s): Super-hypnosis; as a Green Lantern, used a Power Ring
Planet of Origin: Unknown

Relationship to Legion: Villain

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #278

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #278 (Aug, 1981)
title: "Tragedy At The Top of the World!"

writer: Roy Thomas

plotter:  Gerry Conway
penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Bruce Patterson

letterer: Todd Klein
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Mike W. Barr
cover: George Perez

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Shadow Lass, Mon-El, Lightning Lad, Light Lass, Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf, Star Boy, Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet, Element Lad, Wildfire, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Cosmic Boy, Phantom Girl, Blok

Guests: 
Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, Reflecto, President Marte Allon

Opponents: 
Grimbor

Justice League vs. Suicide Squad...what you missed!

Hey Legionnaires! Kord Kid here, back with a tangential piece of Legion lore...something I'm betting a few of you missed or overlooked! A couple months back, DC started a little mini-series called Justice League vs. Suicide Squad, written by Joshua Williamson with art by Jason Fabok, Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea, Jesus Merino and Andy Owens, Fernando Pasarin and Matthew C. Ryan, Robson Rocha with Oclair Albert, Sandu Florea, Daniel Henriques and Jay Leisten, and Howard Porter. That's a lot of artists for a six issue mini, huh? 

I know what you're thinking. "I'm a Legion fan, this is a Legion blog! OK, so Superman is part of the Justice League, and was part of the Legion, but why should I care about the Suicide Squad? The story's not even set in the 30th Century!?" 

Fair enough. I'll give you 3 reasons...

Threeboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #47

Recap: Princess Projectra and the remaining living Orando citizens are planning a vengeful attack on the United Planets from within. There is a massive planet which has invaded Earth's solar system, parked outside Saturn. The Legion is being torn apart from within by infidelity, insecurities, and impatience. But at least their financial and political problems have been solved. But all the dangers are piling up. How will the Legionnaires solve the problem?

Throughout the Jim Shooter run on the Threeboot run, I have complained that he has been dealing with too many plots and too much sophomoric sexual politics. Subplots about technoconstructs, Gazelle, financial woes, political prejudice, and invading planets have sort of limped along. It feels like there are too many storylines being juggled here. And, to make matters worse, those plots are often left simmering so Shooter can insert needless cheesecake, sex in pantries, and other adolescent heterosexual male innuendo into the mix. This hasn't been an easy run to read.

Legion of Super-Heroes #47 is unfortunately par for the course. We have very little plot progression here. Instead the whole issue is devoted to Brainy figuring out a way to have sex with the ghost of Dream Girl. Now you might say that Dreamy has been a leftover plotline from the Waid run that needed to be dealt with. But this issue once again has me wondering about Shooter's feelings towards women in general. Dreamy is both a sex object in this issue and physically tortured to spur the male character forward.

The cover is done by regular artist Francis Manapul and is a lovely montage cover with Brainy and Dreamy front and center. Rick Leonardi does interior art. I like Leonardi and he does fine with this issue's proceedings.

But I have been drained by this run. Three more issues. I might need a couple of weeks off of reviewing after this to regain my mental capacities.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #78

Legion of Super-Heroes #78 (March 1996)
title: "The Gathering Doom"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

penciller: Lee Moder

inker: Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson

cover: Alan Davis & Mark Farmer
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Invisible Kid, Leviathan, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Spark, Star Boy, Triad

Guests:
Evolvo, President Chu, Takron-Galtos' warden, the president's bodyguards, U.P. ambassadors

Opponents:
Empress, Leland McCauley, Mano, Persuader, Sun-Eater, Tharok, Validus, Winema Wazzo

Who's Who: Tyr

Tyr
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Tyr

Super-Power(s): Great strength, sentient gun-arm
Planet of Origin: Tyrraz

Relationship to Legion: Villain