New 52 Legion Lost #14

What do you do when you are a creator and your book is about to be cancelled?
Well, in theory you should reward the readers with a decent closure to all the arcs that have been percolating.
What you shouldn't do is add too much new stuff such that old stuff can't be resolved. What you shouldn't do is have a guest star dominate the issue.

Welcome to Legion Lost #14. There are two more books in the series. Each character has hinted at a dark secret they have been harboring. We have been learning about them, finally. But instead of spending time to wrap them up, writer Tom DeFalco brings in some 'Galactus Herald' type baddies from out of nowhere and then has Harvest, Superboy, and the Ravagers all come in and take up page space.

This is basically a brawl issue with a huge fight taking up almost all the space. We don't learn much more about secrets or move closer to resolutions. And it is presented with so many artists I can't list them here (I will below).

There is a panel in the middle which makes me happy. But outside of that, this issue made me sad. There was some potential in this book, ultimately wasted. How many New 52 original titles can we say that about? Too many.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #105

Legion of Super-Heroes #105 (June 1998)
title: "Time Won't Let Me"

writers: Tom Peyer and Roger Stern

penciller: Jason Armstrong

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

assistant editor (Legionnaire Wrangler): Frank Berrios
editor (The Real Time Trapper): Mike McAvennie

cover: Alan Davis and Mark Farmer

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5.1, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Ferro, Gates, Invisible Kid, Kid Quantum, Karate Kid, Kinetix, Live Wire, M'Onel, Monstress, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Spark, Star Boy, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, XS;
Silver Age: Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Boy (also as Lightning Lad), Matter-Eater Lad, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl (also in first costume), Star Boy, Superboy, Ultra Boy;
Bronze Age: Blok, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Timber Wolf, Tyroc, Wildfire;
Levitz era: Blok, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dawnstar, Element Lad, Katate Kid, Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, Magnetic Kid, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Quislet, Saturn Girl, Sensor Girl, Shadow Lass, Supergirl, Star Boy, Tellus, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy, Wildfire;
5YL: Bouncing Boy, Celeste Rockfish, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy (also as Polestar), Inferno, Lightning Lad, Reflex, Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf (also as Fuzzball), Triad, Vi;
SW6: Alchemist, Andromeda, Brainiac 5, Computo II, Cosmic Boy, Dragonmage, Matter-Eater Lad, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet;
Older/other: Brainiac 5, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Ferro, Night Girl, Supergirl, Timber Wolf

Guests: 
Athramites, Lori Morning (Dialed identities: Galaxy Girl), Polar Boy (Silver Age), Proty, Tenzil Kem

Opponents: 
Dark Circle (cameo), Time Trapper; evil versions of Blok, Brainiac 5, Celeste Rockfish, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy (2 versions), Dawnstar, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Leviathan, Lightning Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Sun Boy, Timber Wolf, Tyroc, Violet, Wildfire

Who's Who: LSV Esper Lass

Esper Lass
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Meta Ulnoor

Super-Power(s): Mind control
Planet of Origin: Titan

Relationship to Legion: Villain

TOS: Adventure Comics #346

Adventure Comics #346 (July 1966)
title: "One Of Us Is A Traitor!"

writer: Jim Shooter

layouts: Jim Shooter
finisher: Sheldon Moldoff

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Superboy, Shrinking Violet, Chameleon Boy, Phantom Girl, Lighting Lad, Light Lass, and brand-new Legionnaires Princess Projectra, Ferro Lad, Karate Kid, and Nemesis Kid

Opponents: 
The Khunds, Warlord Garlak, traitorous Legionnaire

Superboy's Legion #1

Superboy's Legion #1 (2001)
writer: Mark Farmer

penciller: Alan Davis
inker: Mark Farmer

letterer: Pat Prentice
colors/separatists: Richard & Tanya Horie

logo design: John Roshell
editor: Michael McAvennie
cover: Alan Davis & Mark Farmer

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Roll Call (in order of membership): Superboy, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Sun Boy, Colossal Boy, Element Lad, Shrinking Violet, Bouncing Boy, Shadow Lass, Brainiac 5, Invisible Kid, Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Chameleon Boy, Star Boy

Cameo or Supporting Appearances: RJ Brande, reporter Lois Olsen; Triplicate Girl, Princess Projectra, Lightning Lad, Light Lass, Tellus, Karate Kid, Ferro Lad

Villains: The Fatal Five, and......?

Have you seen this mini trade book around at a comic con or at your neighborhood comic book shop, and wondered if it was worth picking up? Well *I* did, and now I'm here to review it for you....!

New 52 Legion Lost #13

There is nothing like a cancellation notice to suck the air out of a title.

When Legion Lost #13 came out, solicits already had said the boo would be canceled. Whatever needed to happen to tie up these stories, it needed to happen soon.

Tom DeFalco does his best to push the story along. We finally hear about the secrets that some Legionnaires have been carrying. The most interesting one is the back story of Yera being an SP spy. She has been a fierce warrior throughout the series so hearing she has a bit more of a military background makes sense. It also elevates her from 'Colossal Boy's wife'. Of all the things in this issue, that one is the one I liked the most. It even dovetails nicely with her history of replacing Vi so long ago. She has always been a bit duplicitous, hasn't she.

But the emergence of a new cosmic threat and the tiresome Harvest talking about time loops and circles of fate just seemed to be plotlines designed to put an end to things.

Even Pete Woods, who has art has been stunning, seems like he is going through the motions here. It is still great art. But nothing jaw-dropping.

Lastly, the big bads are named Daggor and Thraxx. If there were ever names from the Extreme 90s, it's these two. It might be showing DeFalco's age. On to the book.

Reboot: Legionnaires #61

Legionnaires #61 (June 1998)
title: "If I Could Turn Back Time..."

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

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

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Jeffrey Moy and W.C. Carani
adult legionnaire: Carmela Merlo
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Gates, Ferro, Kid Quantum, Kinetix, Monstress, XS; Silver Age: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Sun Boy, Superboy, Supergirl, Ultra Boy (Hall of Heroes: Ferro Lad, Triplicate Girl); Bronze Age: Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel (monitor), Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Karate Kid, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Timber Wolf, Wildfire (Hall of Heroes: adds Chemical King, Invisible Kid I)

Guests: 
Lori Morning, Rond Vidar, Superman; Silver Age: a fire control team, Metropolis citizens

Opponents: 
Time Trapper

Who's Who: LSV Chameleon Chief

Chameleon Chief
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Jall Tannuz

Super-Power(s): Shape-shifting
Planet of Origin: Unknown (apparently not Durla)

Relationship to Legion: Villain

TOS: Adventure Comics #345

Adventure Comics #344 (June 1966)
title: "The Execution of Matter-Eater Lad!"

writer: Edmond Hamilton 

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Matter-Eater Lad, Saturn Girl, Superboy, Ultra Boy, Mon-El

Guests: 
Blockade Boy, Shadow Kid, other unnamed prisoners

Opponents: 
Nardo and his android security guards, Weight Wizard

Saturn Girl Watch: Doomsday Clock #4-5

There has not been a new Legion series since the New 52 volume (mercifully) ended. They’ve had guest appearances in other comics and received a small, lackluster “Convergence” miniseries, but nothing else.

Way back in 2016, DC started to sow the seeds for… something, involving the Legion, in “DC Universe Rebirth.” Among the many corners visited in the current-day DCU, we were briefly shown a blonde woman being held in police custody. The woman claimed she was looking for Superman, and she was making vague, odd comments about the future. The only thing she had with her was a Legion flight ring. Since the woman had no ID, she was classified as “Jane Doe” and sent to Arkham Asylum for psychiatric evaluation.

The woman was implied to be Saturn Girl, and while she hasn't had a very BIG role in the last couple of years, nor has she appeared very often, her rare appearances have been leading up to her role in Geoff Johns' and Gary Frank's "Doomsday Clock" twelve issue series.

So, for the good people of Super Bloggers I have taken it upon myself to bring us all up to date on what Saturn Girl's been up to and what she's been doing in the DCU.

New 52 Legion Lost #0

It's amazing what 6 years will do in revisiting a comic.

In the review below, from 2012, I bemoan the fact that Legion Lost #0 didn't have the impact that the Zero Month of the New 52 had otherwise brought. If you asked me now 'what impact did the Zero Month of the New 52 have?' I would reply none. It is funny, I remember the cape story of Action Comics. I remember the Supergirl/Robin adventure (with slick Maguire art) from Worlds' Finest. I even remember the revelations of Supergirl #0. But I don't think I would say that it was an event with merit.

In rereading this now, I like this issue very much as an updated Timber Wolf story. And that is what Zero Month was supposed to do, introduce readers who might be trying a book. Should it have been a look at the team as a whole to entice people to stay? Yes. Is the crime lord at the end of the book stupid? Yes. But to see Brin go from meek child to feral street fighter to hero in the span of one issue is pretty good. 

And, as always, Pete Woods brings it. On to the book. 

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #104

Legion of Super-Heroes #104 (May 1998)
title: "Heroes' Return"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

penciller: Jason Armstrong

inkers: Ray Kryssing and Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie

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

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5.1, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Gates, Kinetix, Live Wire/Lightning Lad, M'Onel, Spark/Light Lass, Ultra Boy, Umbra, XS

Guests: 
Andromeda, Chief Rapolchellack, Commodore Baraka, King Charlz, Kono, Magno, Nyurt Roz, R.J. Brande, Wimena Wazzo, Winathian Presidents Fegg; Durlans, Mellorusians, Nova Express crew and passengers, Science Police

Opponents: 
Composite Man, Evolvo, Khunds (Amilia Crugg), Leland McCauley, Time Trapper (behind the scenes)

Who's Who: Legion of Super-Rejects

 

Legion of Super-Rejects
by Russell & Siskoid

Members: Calorie Queen, Chameleon Kid, Phantom Lad, Magno Lad, Esper Less, Micro Lad
Relationship to Legion: Villains

TOS: Adventure Comics #344

Adventure Comics #344 (May 1966)
title: "The Super Stalag of Space!"

writer: Edmond Hamilton 

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Matter-Eater Lad, Saturn Girl

Guests: 
Plant Lad, Shadow Kid, Blockade Boy, Weight Wizard, unnamed Durlan posing as Superboy

Opponents: 
Nardo and his android security guards

Legion of Super Heroes S02 E06: Who Am I?

"Who Am I?" was directed by James Tucker and written by J.M. DeMatteis. Original airdate: November 3, 2007. Review by Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane.

Mission Monitor Board: Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Lightning Lad, Superman, and Timber Wolf.

Opponents: Imperiex, Persuader, Ron-Karr, and Validus.

New 52 Legion Lost #12

Legion Lost #12 ended the first year of the book and essentially ended the premise that opened the book. The Hypertaxis plague storyline is ended. Finally.

The book has been changing with Tom DeFalco now writing. He has been switching the main thrust from this plague to one of the Legionnaires each harboring a secret. This new theme finally bubbles over in this issue with many of the secrets revealed to the rest of the team. 

Things happen fast. And secrets are revealed in the midst of battle. You could sense this was DeFalco trying to put his stamp on the book while removing all the old bits. The end heroic team shot feels like the ending of something with a bold new beginning about to happen.

I will say, again, that Pete Woods on art elevates everything that happens in the book. How I would love to see Woods on a Chameleon Boy or Chameleon Girl mini-series! He definitely brings out the creature in these shape-shifters.

Reboot: Legends of the Legion #4

Legends of the Legion #4 (May 1998)
title: "Casualty: The Secret Origin of Star Boy"

writers: Barry Kitson and Tom Peyer

penciller: Todd Nauck
inker: Larry Stucker
lettering: Albert T. De Guzman
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Steve Lightle

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Spark, Star Boy, Ultra Boy, Umbra; flashback: Kid Quantum I

Guests: 
Antennae Boy, Chuck Taine, Color Queen, Doro, Infectious Lass, Night Girl, Porcupine Pete; flashback: Atmos, Dr. Kvorkgian, Insect Queen, Kid Quantum II, Monstress, Radion; mechanics, Science Police

Opponents: 
Flashback: Algamenon Raiders, Bone Spikes, High-Brow, Klamorr, Rimborians, Slopp, Violence Queen; asteroid miners

Who's Who: Double-Header

Double-Header
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Dyvud/Frenk Retzun

Super-Power(s): Slowly splitting into two
Planet of Origin: Janus

Relationship to Legion: Member of the Legion of Substitute-Heroes (Auxiliary)

TOS: Adventure Comics #343

Adventure Comics #343 (April 1966)
title: "The Evil Hand of the Luck Lords!"

writer: Edmond Hamilton

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

special guest reviewer: Jason "Anacronistic Kid" Knol

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Sun Boy, Saturn Girl, Superboy, Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy, Duo Damsel, Invisible Kid,  Shrinking Violet, Element Lad, Matter-Eater Lad

Guests: 
former Legionnaires Bouncing Boy and Star Boy; The Legion of Super-Pets (Beppo, Comet, Krypto, Proty II, Streaky)

Opponents: 
The Luck Lords

LEGION TOYS: Superboy (Mattel 12-Pack)

 by Derek William Crabbe
"The Greatest Hero Of Them All." Saving the best for last, we come to Smallville's Favorite Son, the inspiration for the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy!

New 52 Legion Lost #11

When I was first asked to reformat and reprint my New 52 Legion and Legion Lost reviews for the site, I sort of sighed. I hadn't revisited these runs since they were on the shelves. I had no real burning desire to reread them. I had labeled them as 'lousy' but kept them in my collection because ... well ... they're the Legion.

In particular, I thought the Legion Lost run would be the more onerous of the two to revisit. Between the vague memories of displaced Legionnaires, plagues, The Harvest, and creative upheavals, I remembered the book being an absolute mess.

And yet, somehow, I am enjoying this Legion Lost reread.