Batman '66 Meets The Legion

Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes #1 (Sept 2017)
title: "Atomic Batteries to Power, Flight Rings to Speed"

storytellers: Lee Allred & Michael Allred

colorist: Laura Allred

letterer: Wes Abbott
asst. editor: Rob Levin

group editor: Jim Chadwick
cover: Michael & Laura Allred
reviewer: Jude Deluca

This was so much fun! I wasn't worried about this issue like I was with the Looney Tunes one-shot, and my faith paid off in the end. There are a bunch of Silver Age Legion references but nothing that serves as a detriment to the plot or would make it difficult for newbie readers to enjoy. The humor makes light of some of the continuity issues that have plagued the Legion but not to the extent it ruins the story. The plot is simple and doesn't utilize any convoluted time-travel nonsense like time loops or self-sustaining paradoxes. It's simply the Legion teaming up with Batman and Robin, and a simple story is a story Legion fans really need. I do think, however, there's an in-joke referencing Mike Allred's "Solo" issue from the 2000s. I'm pulling it out for this review.

Legion of Super-Heroes v2 #310

Legion of Super-Heroes #310 closed out the Omen and the Prophet storyline ... thankfully. I know this storyline is somewhat vilified. I have never really liked it. And yet, every few years I go back and reread this to see if there was something that I missed and basically every time I walk away saying 'nope'.

For me, the real interest of this story is to witness the rapid change in Giffen's style, something which happened literally over the course of one issue. I am interested in eventually reading the letters column on these issues to see how much it is discussed.

Regardless, neither Omen nor Prophet are heard from again and I think that is a good thing. I don't think I understand any of the motivations of either being.

All that said, the subplots covered in these issues are big ones which impacted the team for years.

On to the book.

Reboot: Legionnaires #44

Legionnaires #44 (January 1997)
title: "Taking a Licking"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

penciller: Jeff Moy
inkers: W.C. Carani
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

associate editor: Ruben Diaz
editor (licked the spoon): KC Carlson

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

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainaic 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid, Kinetix, Live Wire, Magno, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Spark, Triad, Umbra, XS

Guests: 
Athramites, Chuck Taine, Commissioner Arolak, Koko, Lori Morning, Marla Latham, Rond Vidar, Tenzil Chem

Opponents: 
Legion of Super-Rejects (Cherry Bomb, Density, Phantom Lad, Tongue); Mordru (behind the scenes)

Who's Who: Benn Pares

Benn Pares
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Benn Pares

Super-Power(s): Levitation, turn into mist or light, teleportation, immunity to telepathy, possibly others
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Villain

TOS: Adventure Comics #303

Hey Fellow Legionnaires! It's your old pal Tim, aka Kord Kid, back again! 

This time it's a little different though. Russell, our fearless leader, has tasked me with looking back at some of the Legion's Silver Age adventures. And since I love these goofy early adventures I said "Sign me up!" One day, I may regret that, but for now I'm starting with Adventure Comics #303...the introduction of Matter-Eater Lad! But is he friend or foe? Let's find out in the story, "The Fantastic Spy" by Jerry Siegel and John Forte!

Hero Clix Contest Winner!

Announcing the winner of our first 

Legion of Super-Bloggers Contest----

Marcus Dodds, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada 

will soon be receiving a Legion of Super-Heroes Hero Clix Starter Game box. 

It includes these seven Legionnaires: 

Marcus' favourite Hero Clix was the invisible Shrinking Violet piece. 

Thanks to all for writing in. Long Live the Legion!

As a little extra, here are a few pictures I took of some of my favorite Hero Clix. I don't play....the game. I just play with the figurines. Look out, Legion, the Fatal Five is back!

I think MANO is my favorite. He just looks so cool. 

I also like the Time Trapper. I love how he's playing with a Legion Cube. 

Can't argue with the Founders! 

I bought three separate Triplicate Girls and combined them on one stand. 

Extra! Extra! Extra! Legion Guest Stars In Flash #26!

Do you know? Do you know? Have you heard the news?

Two characters connected to the Legion appeared in The Flash #26!

Admittedly, they aren't Legionnaires, but supporting characters who first appeared in a Legion comic. It's Don and Dawn Allen, the Tornado Twins.

Legion of Super Heroes #309

Legion of Super-Heroes #309 is the penultimate chapter of the Omen and Prophet storyline and proceeds forward about as well as it could. The motivations of cosmic beings are often inscrutable and their heralds sometimes rave like lunatics. So why the Prophet and the Omen are doing what they are doing and why they are doing it now are questions I have always had when I have read this story.

The good news is that, per usual, the creative team of plotters Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen infuse enough Legion character moments into the messy melee to keep things interesting. Giffen's pencils continue to skew towards his rougher style and the epic nature of these fights make things a bit muddy. But this still reads like a fine Legion book, just loud. And, as usual, there are a bunch of subplots simmering to keep me thinking about the future.

Like the prior two issues, this one is split. The Omen story is the leading one. There is a back-up feature here focusing on the newly married Princess Projectra and Karate Kid. For me, knowing those characters future, this back-up story is powerful foreshadowing, reminding me that when Levitz was at the top of his game he was able to keep a ton of balls in the air. This one also has fine art by Pat Broderick and Mike DeCarlo.

On to the book!

Reboot: Superman #119

Superman (v2) #119 (January 1997)
title: "Sunburned!"

writer: Dan Jurgens

penciller: Ron Frenz
inker: Joe Rubinstein
lettering: John Constanza
colorist: Glenn Whitmore
separations: Digital Chameleon

associate editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: Joey Cavalieri

cover: Ron Frenz & Joe Rubinstein
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Saturn Girl, Spark, Ultra Boy

Guests: 
Dr. Marx, Inferno, Johannsen, Perry White, Shvaughn Erin, Superman

Opponents: 
Erica Alexandra del Portenza, Lex Luthor, Luthor's security

Who's Who: Bacard Barley Circus

Bacard Barley Circus
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Bacard Barley Inter-Stellar Travelling Carnival and Sideshow

Super-Power(s): Varied
Planet of Origin: No fixed address

Relationship to Legion: Group victimized by villain from the inside

TOS: Adventure Comics # 302 Point-Counterpoint

featuring
The Legion of Super Bloggers Point-Counterpoint Review of
Adventure Comics #302 (November 1962)
title: Sun Boy's Lost Power!
writer: Jerry Siegel
artist: John Forte
letterer: Milton Snapinn
cover: Curt Swan & George Klein
editor: Mort Weisinger
reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Mike "Nostalic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board: 
Superboy, Sun Boy, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Chameleon Boy, Phantom Girl, Ultra Boy

Opponents:Kranyak, his criminal gang, and a Kryptonian Flame-Beast.  




Synopsis: 
Sun Boy is being honored with a statue by the Mayor of Metropolis. The supports collapse and the statue topples, but Sun Boy is able to melt it before it strikes anyone. Later, during a city-wide blackout, he discovers that his powers are not working. The Legion attempts several methods of restoring them but none are successful. A criminal that had been put away by Sun Boy, Kranyak, hears of this and escapes to seek revenge. After being confronted by Kranyak, who vows to destroy the Legion, Sun Boy recalls that Kryponian Flame Beasts inhabited the planet Lurna from eggs deposited there. He travels there and purposely spurs one of the beasts to attack him. Like he hopes, the beast's flames restore his power. He returns to Earth and is able to defeat Kranyak before the villain can use his freeze ray projector to destroy the Legion.

Legion of Super Heroes S02 E03: Cry Wolf

"Cry Wolf" was written by J.M. DeMatteis and directed by James Tucker, original airdate: October 6, 2007, review by Glenn 'Continuity Kid' Walker. 

Mission Monitor Board: Timber Wolf, Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy, Superman X, Colossal Boy, Sun Boy, and Phantom Girl.

Opponents: Dr. Mar Londo, Dr. Yin Des Neerg, Biogolems. 

Guest-stars and cameos: Duo Damsel, Star Boy, Dream Girl, Blok, Shrinking Violet, Element Lad, Tyroc.

Just as the second story of the first season was Timber Wolf centric, so is the second story of the second season. We open on Dr. Mar Londo bringing his newest creations to the Interplanetary Federation of Scientists – biogolems, synthetic beings engineered to follow his slightest command. They kind of look like naked Chitauri from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Before any demonstration can take place, Timber Wolf comes out of the crowd to confront his father, stating that he usually experiments on living beings, like his own son.

Dramatically the Legionnaire takes the stage and as he makes more accusations, Timber Wolf begins to mutate and become more vicious, even howling before lunging at his father. Just then the action stops, letting us know it's video of something that happened in the past. Timber Wolf is on trial by the Legion… for murder!

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #308

Legion of Super-Heroes #308 was the middle chapter of the Omen/Prophet storyline, an arc which has typically been much maligned both at the time it was released as well as looking at with the passage of time. 

Does it deserve such vitriol? Reading it now, I will admit it isn't a great story. It probably isn't a good story. But it isn't a stinker. I think the reason it suffers is because it was released just after one of the highest points for these characters. It has to pale in comparison. Nothing gold can stay.

I also think it suffers because this is the first time we see Giffen's new style of art. It isn't polished. It doesn't have the organic lushness of his earlier issues. And it is new. After basically two years of brilliant style, readers had to get used to this new look.

And one more thing, the villain here ... the Prophet and the Omen ... they just don't have that personality that we Legion fans have come to expect. These were just powerful beings tromping through. I can't help but think of them as the poor man's Galactus and herald. 

This issue, in particular, suffers a bit from 'middle chapter syndrome'. Not much happens.

Still, I think if I read this story in an Outsiders book, I'd be satisfied. It just doesn't sparkle the way this book had.

Reboot: Showcase '96 #12

Showcase '96 #12 (Winter 1997)
title: "Roots"

writer: Tom Peyer

penciller: Derec Aucoin

inker: Ken Branch
lettering: Ken Bruzenak
colorist: Adrienne Roy
associate editor: Chris Duffy

editor: Frank Pittarese
cover: Steve Lightle

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Saturn Girl, Spark

Guests: 
Captain Comet, Inferno, Lyrl Dox, Shvaughn Erin, Stealth, Taptree, Vril Dox, Coluans

Opponents: 
Brainiac

Who's Who: Arma Getten

Arma Getten
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Arma Getten

Super-Power(s): Teleportation, a force-binding weapon that creates force fields
Planet of Origin: Youngen

Relationship to Legion: Villain

TOS: Adventure Comics #301

Adventure Comics #301 (October 1962)

title: "The Secret Origin of Bouncing Boy!"
writer: Jerry Siegel
artist: John Forte
editor: Mort Weisinger
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board: 
Bouncing Boy, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

Synopsis
The splash pages gives us a flashback to Bouncing Boy's first attempt to join the Legion. Beaming with pride, he shows off his power but Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl cruelly dismiss his abilities as useless. Looks like Chuck is in for some disappointment. But maybe not...for we are about to learn the "fascinating ordeal endured by a super-hero who made good the hard way."

Sandy Jarrell's Legion

 

At last month's Heroes Con in Charlotte, North Carolina I had the privilege to meet artist Sandy Jarrell. You may have heard of him or seen his work on Black Canary, Batman '66, DC Bombshells, and Reggie and Me.

It turns out Mr. Jarrell is a long-time Legion lover. He had a Legion print of several Legion couples dancing for sale. I gladly bought it and promised him I would feature it here on our sight.

So if you happen to meet him at another comic-book convention, stop by and pick this beauty up for yourself. It's too big to do it justice as one piece, so I broke it down into eight pieces. The Chameleon Boy-Proty II and Bouncing Boy-Triplicate Girl cards were separate.

Visit him at www.sandyjarrell.com 

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #307

Legion of Super-Heroes #307 is an interesting issue for a number of reasons, at least in my mind.

For one, this is the first issue that you begin to see the looser, more interpretive art by longtime penciler Keith Giffen. After having a precise, pristine, rather organic appearing style since coming on board, we start to see some of the rougher style that Giffen began to showcase in the late 80s.

Second, after hitting home run after home run for the last two plus years, the creative team of Giffen and writer Paul Levitz sort of stumble a bit here. The Omen and the Prophet has just never been embraced by the majority of Legion fans. We still have some subplot development as the team as a whole is handled nicely, but the main story here is a bit lackluster. And that is despite the fact that these villains are immensely powerful and give the team a run for their money.

Let me put it in a different way. I have reread Legion 285-305 many many times over. I have only read Legion 307-308 a couple of times. So after reading reviews where I have tended to gush a bit, prepare for something much more straightforward.

Reboot: Showcase '96 #11

Showcase '96 #11 (December 1996)
title: "Brain in Vain"

writer: Tom Peyer

penciller: Derec Aucoin

inker: Jason Martin
lettering: Ken Bruzenak
colorist: David Grafe
associate editor: Chris Duffy

editor: Frank Pittarese
cover: Steve Lightle

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Gates, Saturn Girl, Spark, Ultra Boy

Guests: 
Captain Comet, Director Thompson, Inferno, Shvaughn Erin, Vril Dox, S.T.A.R. Labs guards (one called Duffy)

Opponents: 
Brainiac

Who's Who: Antonio Stefanacci

Antonio Stefanacci
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Antonio Stefanacci

Super-Power(s): Magic (allegedly, then eventually)
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Ally

TOS: Jimmy Olsen #63 Point-Counterpoint

featuring
The Legion of Super Bloggers Group Review on
Jimmy Olsen #63 (September, 1962)
title: "The League of Fantastic Supermen!"

writer: Jerry Siegel

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein 

reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Mike "Nostalic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board:  
Honorary Legionnaire Jimmy Olsen, Supergirl

Guests: 
Lori Lemaris

Opponents: 
The Legion of Super-Villains (Lightning Lord, Cosmic King, Chameleon Chief, Sun Emperor)

Dial H For Heroclix

Today we talk about Legion-related HeroClix figures, of which there is fittingly a whole legion of. Most Legion fans collect them just for those miniscule figurines, rather than to use in actual game warfare, this writer included. Legion fans who are also HeroClix players are thus twice-blessed, so to speak.