title: Higher Education
writer: Christine Boylan
art & cover: Steve Uy
letterer: Phil Blasman
editor: Jeanine Schaefer
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane
Mission Monitor Board: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Superman, Triplicate Girl.
Villains: The Fatal Five - Emerald Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, Validus.
Summary:
The Legion is guarding the final tyrillium plant left in the galaxy
after the Fatal Five destroyed the others. Brainiac 5 explains that the
villainous team's goal is to change the peaceful course of recent
history by promoting chaos. He has calculated possible attacks by the
Five and pleads with the team to follow his instructions.
Three of the Five appear, absent Emerald Empress and Tharok. The Legion
is struggling in battle when Saturn Girl notices the remaining members
of the Five observing. Empress explains that they do not intend to
destroy the mine, but merely want to let the Legion know that they can
hit whatever targets they want whenever they want.
The Legion is left in poor shape after the Five depart. Superman tries
to convince Brainiac 5 that the team needs to work to secure other
industrial sites, but Brainy is too wrapped up in their defeat.
Convinced that it was his fault, he decides to return home to Colu to
retake the Cain-Quex, an aptitude and quotient exam, to test his
intelligence. Superman cannot talk him out of leaving but insists on
sending back-up.
Brainiac 5 arrives on Colu with Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, and
Triplicate Girl. He explains that Coluans began their eduction in utero
and most finish high school by age 10, although he entered university at
5. He goes to visit his mentor, leaving the Legionnaires surprised he
did not go to see family.
Brainiac 5 visits Dr. Mod, his former teacher, and shares his concern
that his intelligence has devolved. Dr. Mod dismisses the idea but
agrees to test his former pupil. The Legionnaires are surprised to
discover how different Brainiac 5 is from other Coluans. Lightning Lad
feels that Brainy has become unreliable after their recent defeat and
declares himself team leader on the ground. Phantom Girl tries to
reassure Brainiac 5 that his intelligence has not changed and he is not
at fault, but he lashes out.
Phantom Girl waits for Brainiac 5 to finish the test. He is sure he
failed and she tries again to reassure him but they are interrupted by a
call from Superman. Saturn Girl has woken up for the first time since
their battle with the Fatal Five. She explains that she read Tharok's
mind during the battle and learned that he was aware that Brainiac 5 had
hacked their computers. He fed them false information which was why
Brainiac 5's calculations were flawed.
Saturn Girl also learned that their next target is the Coluan
Manufactory, and the Legion arrives there just in time to meet the Fatal
Five. The two teams battle and this time the Legion puts up a much
better fight. Phantom Girl and Superman work together to take down the
Persuader while Triplicate Girl subdues Mano. Lightning Lad distracts
Emerald Empress long enough for Superman to get the Eye of Ekron, which
leaves her powerless. And Saturn Girl uses her telepathy to trick
Validus into quietly returning to the Five's ship.
With his confidence renewed, Brainiac 5 takes over Tharok's computer
system and causes it to crash, quickly disabling the villain.
Phantom Girl and Brainiac 5 watch as the Science Police escort the
captured Fatal Five away. She asks what his test score was, but with his
confidence restored, Brainic 5 tells her that he does not know, and
more importantly, he no longer cares.
Commentary
This issue was a bit of a letdown after the high point of issue #3. The underlying idea of Brainiac 5 losing confidence in himself had potential but the story as it unfolded never really engaged me as a reader.
The biggest problem with this issue was the art. As you can see from the samples above, the art throughout the entire issue was very dark and muddy. The characters renderings were fine but the extreme darkness of every page actually hampered the storytelling, robbing otherwise decent layouts of any sense of suspense or excitement. Even the fight scenes were far less dynamic than they should be due to the dark backgrounds and heavily shadowed characters.
The approach to the art was also very much a missed opportunity given that the team was visiting Colu. The planet was barely explored and what little we do see was simply not that interesting.
Another element lacking from this issue that is usually present in this comic was humor. There were a few moments, particularly with Bouncing Boy and Lightning Lad, but it fell far short of what can usually be expected from this title. Yes, I do realize the plot by its nature is something of a downer and does not lend itself to much humor. But the absence was still notable given how much that contrasts with earlier issues.
Unfortunately, if this issue was the first one sampled by any young readers, I fear they were not likely to keep picking up the title. Fortunately, I do expect things to pick back again with the next issue!
This issue was a bit of a letdown after the high point of issue #3. The underlying idea of Brainiac 5 losing confidence in himself had potential but the story as it unfolded never really engaged me as a reader.
The biggest problem with this issue was the art. As you can see from the samples above, the art throughout the entire issue was very dark and muddy. The characters renderings were fine but the extreme darkness of every page actually hampered the storytelling, robbing otherwise decent layouts of any sense of suspense or excitement. Even the fight scenes were far less dynamic than they should be due to the dark backgrounds and heavily shadowed characters.
The approach to the art was also very much a missed opportunity given that the team was visiting Colu. The planet was barely explored and what little we do see was simply not that interesting.
Another element lacking from this issue that is usually present in this comic was humor. There were a few moments, particularly with Bouncing Boy and Lightning Lad, but it fell far short of what can usually be expected from this title. Yes, I do realize the plot by its nature is something of a downer and does not lend itself to much humor. But the absence was still notable given how much that contrasts with earlier issues.
Unfortunately, if this issue was the first one sampled by any young readers, I fear they were not likely to keep picking up the title. Fortunately, I do expect things to pick back again with the next issue!
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