I will be honest that I thought for sure every issue would be looked down upon by me. The New 52 overall isn't a time I necessarily care to revisit. But this issue, aided mightily by the incredibly lush art of Francis Portela, is really a fun trip.
One thing that I definitely liked here in Legion of Super-Heroes #3 is the Levitz gave the members in the book the characterization that I had come to expect to see. A smug, confident Sun Boy. A smart and fun Phantom Girl. A powerful Mon-El. A cautious, cerebral Element Lad. A strategizing Cham. It was all there. And Portela's art, from panel construction to expressive work complemented everything wonderfully. This was a very good Legion book. So let's head back to 2011.
Legion of Super-Heroes #3 was released last week and did a good job of moving the Dominator storyline forward in a hurry while allowing more of the Legionnaires to shine.
It has been something of an interesting arc to read from a metatextual point of view. This was the first arc of the DCnU, the jumping on point for new readers, the place for people who have been away from comics to come home to. And yet, this wasn't a reboot. And we are dropped into a pretty continuity heavy story involving new Legionnaires, Daxamites, the Dominion ... and most of it without in depth explanation. Could a new reader pick this book up and understand it?
For a lifelong Legion fan like me, this has actually been a fun read. It definitely started slowly but the last two issues have built up some momentum and this one in particular was a wild ride.
And, as I have said from the beginning, I love Francis Portela's art here. Just lovely stuff. He uses a nice mix of close-ups, distant shots, and points of perspective to add some dynamics to the battles here. Really slick stuff and perfect for this futuristic book. Old Legionnaires artist Chris Sprouse does a good cover here, the specter of the Dominion looming in the background.
