TOS: Adventure Comics #351

Adventure Comics #351 (December 1966)
title: "The Forgotten Legion!"

writer: E. Nelson Bridwell

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:  
active: Cosmic Boy, Ferro Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Invisible Kid, Ultra Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Princess Projectra, Element Lad, Colossal Boy, Mon-El, Superboy, Supergirl, Sir Prize, Miss Terious
inactive: Phantom Girl, Brainiac 5, Karate Kid, Shrinking Violet


Guests: 
RJ Brande, Legion of Substitute Heroes (Polar Boy, Night Girl, Chlorophyll Kid, Fire Lad, Stone Boy, Color Kid), Legion of Super-Pets (Krypto, Streaky, Beppo, Comet), Bouncing Boy, the White Witch

Opponents: 
Evillo and his Devil's Dozen (the Hag, the Wild Huntsman, Sugyn, and Apolllo)

Superboy's Legion #2

Superboy's Legion #2 (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, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Princess Projectra, Ferro Lad, Karate Kid

Cameo or Supporting Appearances: RJ Brande

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

I saw this fantastic cover at a comic convention and grabbed it up without a moment's hesitation. Unfortunately, this scene does not appear in this story. Was it worth it anyway? Read on and find out---!

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #1

In 2008, Geoff Johns wrote Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes, an arc in Action Comics which brought back the classic incarnation of the Legion, picking up where Paul Levitz had left the team off in the Baxter series. It was tagged a 'retroboot', a reboot to an earlier continuity. Everything that had happened after the Magic Wars were sort of scrubbed away. No 5YL. No Archie Legion. No Threeboot. Instead we had Superman as a historic member of the Legion, fighting Earth Man.

For a Legion fan who prides himself on knowledge and continuity, it was a head scratcher. Was this *the* Legion? What about everything else? And was I ready to take a step back if it meant taking steps forward?

Then in 2009, Grant Morrison wrote Final Crisis, a wild, some might say incomprehensible, epic about the nature of story itself. Part of this crossover were a number of mini-series, spun out of Final Crisis but also separate. Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds was written by Geoff Johns with art by George Perez and was aimed at answering the continuity question: which Legion is 'real' or is it all of them?

About a year after Legion of 3 Worlds, DC finally put a new Legion book on the shelf. Legion of Super-Heroes #1 basically picked up right where the Action Comics story-line ended. A key character in this title is Earth-Man, the racist and xenophobic fascist. The story opens up with the fallout of his ouster as leader of Earth.

I was thrilled. Having Levitz back on scripts seemed reassuring to me. I thought we might be able to 'get the band back together' and recapture some of the magic of the '80s. But I don't know if we ever really get there.

We do get very solid art by Yildiray Cinar at the beginning of the title. Cinar brings a very solid approach to the proceedings. Nothing too flashy or stylized. But it works.

So welcome to the Retroboot!

Reboot: Legionnaires #63

Legionnaires #63 (August 1998)
title: "Winds of War?"

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

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

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: KC Carlson

cover: Jeffrey Moy and W.C. Carani
adult legionnaire: Carmela Merlo

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5.1, Chameleon, Gates, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Kinetix, M'Onel, Monstress (on screen only), Saturn Girl, Sensor, Spark, Triad, Violet

Guests: 
Admiral Everett, Andromeda, Composite Girl, Koko, R.J. Brande, Shvaughn Erin, Wimena Wazzo, Zakk and Feg Arn (Feg on playback only); an A.P. councilor, Durlans, Science police

Opponents: 
Ar'by, Ar'dn, Composite Man, Dark Circle, Dominators, Evolvo, Khunds (Amilia Crugg), Kono, Leland McCauley, Spider-Girl, Tyrazzians

Who's Who: LSV Ol-Vir

Ol-Vir
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Ol-Vir

Super-Power(s): Super-strength, invulnerability, super-speed, enhanced senses, heat vision, super breath, flight
Planet of Origin: Daxam

Relationship to Legion: Villain

TOS: Adventure Comics #350

Adventure Comics #350 (November 1966)
title: "The Outcast Super-Heroes!"

writer: E. Nelson Bridwell

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:  
active: Invisible Kid, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Sun Boy, Element Lad, Ultra Boy, Shrinking Violet, Chameleon Boy, Saturn Girl, Colossal Boy
inactive: Superboy, Supergirl, Light Lass, Duo Damsel, Karate Kid, Ferro Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Matter-Eater Lad
new members: Sir Prize, Miss Terious

Guests: 
RJ Brande

Opponents: 
Evillo and his Devil's Dozen (the Hag, the Wild Huntsman, Sugyn, and Apolllo)

Variant Covers part 1

by Bits Boy

Today we take a look at Legion-related variant covers. 

The use of different covers for a single comic is pretty much commonplace these days, with at least two versions expected for big title or event launches.

But first, let's define the term “variant edition”. Strictly speaking, it refers to an issue of a comic book printed with multiple covers, each with different artwork. The “variants” are usually the covers printed in lesser print runs, although in some cases all the different covers share equal distribution. 

The first comic book marketed with a variant cover was the first issue of THE MAN OF STEEL, published in 1986, which featured two different frontispieces by writer/artist John Byrne. 

Variant covers shifted from being novelty to the norm during the speculator boom of the 1990s, when collectors hoarded comics with the goal of future financial gain, resulting in some books being printed in multiple variants.

Some fervent collectors also regard covers with different brand imprints as genuine variants, such as comics licensed to Whitman Comics, or those with different UPC boxes on covers to differentiate between direct and newsstand sales; while others search out comics which had advertising inserts. More on these in Part Three! 

So what was the first Legion-related variant cover? You'd be surprised!

Fridays With Anj: Legion Lost and Legion found?

My re-reviews of the New 52 Legion Lost comic has come to an end which means it is time for some sort of wrap-up post as well as a look to the future.

 It is hard to believe that we haven't had a Legion book on the shelf since the New 52 titles went belly up. And I think that wish to see these characters again, that desire to hold a Legion book in my hand, may have colored my reviews a little bit.

Let's face it, this is a flawed book.

The initial writer, Fabian Nicieza, started out with a story of these 7 Legionnaires stuck in our present, here to try and stop a history-changing mutagenic plague from sweeping over the planet. It had a number of problems. Why wouldn't they approach the current super-heroes to explain their mission? Why leave Superman in the dark? How did they acclimate themselves so easily to our crude world when they were used to 31st century living?

The writing must have been on the wall because shortly after coming on the book, Nicieza was shown the door. The Hypertaxis Plague story basically disappeared. And the suddenly we had a new direction.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #106

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #106 (July 1998)
title: "High Crimes"

writers: Tom Peyer and Roger Stern

penciller: Jason Armstrong

inker: Ron Boyd and Prentis Rollins
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, Cosmic Boy, Gates, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Spark, Triad, Ultra Boy, XS

Guests: 
Andromeda, Koko, Marla Latham, R.J. Brande, Rond Vidar; Imskians (Bohb, Stasi), Science Police (Regs), Winathians (Dalya Ranzz, Kirth and Vaz Ranzz. Zakk and Feg Arn)

Opponents: 
Composite Man, Dark Circle, Kono, Leland McCauley, Sklarian Raiders, Tyrazzians

Who's Who: LSV Micro Lad

Micro Lad
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Lalo Muldroon (sometimes Moldron)

Super-Power(s): Shrinking
Planet of Origin: Imsk

Relationship to Legion: Villain

TOS: Adventure Comics #349

Adventure Comics #349 (October 1966)
title: "The Rogue Legionnaire!"

writer & layouts: Jim Shooter

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Superboy

Guests: 
winner of the Metropolis Students' Science Fair (Rond Vidar)

Opponents: 
Universo

Editor's Note: 

As of this review the LSB Applicant Review Board has completed our check on the Blogger known as Anachronistic Kid and hereby offer him membership in the Legion of Super-Bloggers! He will be helping out with the Silver Age "The Original Series" reviews, on his own (like this one) or on a mission team. Welcome to the blog, Kid; don't sell us out to the Khunds! 

Legion Homages: Super Duper

A while ago I had an idea to do reviews and profiles about the different non-DC homages and parodies of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Sure there’s the Imperial Guard at MARVEL and some of the versions of the Guardians of the Galaxy, but what about the Pantheon of Heroes, the League of Infinity, Superduper, or even the Quantum League that’s set to appear from Dark Horse Comics this summer?

The first team I’ve chosen to focus on is Superduper, published in Dynamite Entertainment's The Boys, Garth Ennis' super dark, disturbing, and scathing deconstructive parody of superhero comics. And yet surprisingly, despite all that, Superduper as a team is legitimately endearing and gets off lightly as a superhero parody compared to a lot of the other teams Ennis mocks.

New 52 Legion Lost #16

Reviews of last issues of flawed series are often difficult to write. 

Re-reviewing them?? Even more so.

Legion Lost #16 ends the title. The current plot is expunged with little explanation. The subplots that have been brewing aren't resolved. The main problem of the team being in the past isn't taken care of. The villains motives are unexplained.

Yep. Sounds like the death of a New 52 title.

And it is a shame because the first couple of issues by writer Tom DeFalco actually had a little promise to them. The idea of a lost Legion, lost in time, lost to their own problems, lost to each other is kind of a good hook. 

But in the end, this book needed to have life support cut. The time was right to end. 

As I said then, at least I got Dawny hugging Wildfire.

Reboot: Legionnaires #62

Legionnaires #62 (July 1998)
title: "Balance of Power"

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

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

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: KC Carlson

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

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5.1, Chameleon, Gates, Invisible Kid, Kinetix, M'Onel, Sensor, Spark, Triad, Umbra, Violet, XS

Guests: 
Andromeda, Chuck Taine, Dr. Gym'll, King Chalrz Wynzorr, Lori Morning (plus flashback to Ink identity), Magno, Proty, R.J. Brande, Willum Wynzorr, Durlans, Orandans and their servitors, Sisters of the Eternal Cosmos

Opponents: 
Amilia Crugg, Brain Globes of Rambat, Dark Circle, Evolvo (flashback), Gil'dan (Ar'by), Leland McCauley

Who's Who: LSV Magno Lad

Magno Lad
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Kort Grezz

Super-Power(s): Magnetic control
Planet of Origin: Braal

Relationship to Legion: Villain

TOS: Adventure Comics #348

Adventure Comics #348 (September 1966)
title: "Target---21 Legionnaires!"

writer & layouts: Jim Shooter

finished art: George Papp
letterer: Milton Snapinn

editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Sun Boy, Duo Damsel, Brainiac 5, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid, Phantom Girl

Opponents: 
Dr. Regulus

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #8

The Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #8 (January 2008)
title: Three's a Crowd
writer: Jack Briglio
art & cover: Alexander Serra
colors: Heroic Age
letterer: Mike Sellers
editor: Jeanine Schaeder

Mission Monitor Board: Bouncing Boy, Lightning Lad, Matter Eater Lad, Phantom Girl, Superman, Timber Wolf, and Triplicate Girl.

Villain: Starfinger

New 52 Legion Lost #15

Legion Lost is running on fumes and so are my reviews.

In Legion Lost #15, the penultimate issue of the run, writer Tom DeFalco keeps things moving forward. He tries to inject important character moments into the meaningless fight that is happening around the team. But there isn't much else to report here.

After rereading this, I still love Wildfire's subtle goodbye and Dawny's tears. But the rest seems loud and unnecessary. The main villains are still unknowns. The fact that the all-powerful villains are using a robot dinosaur makes little sense. And why we need Superboy to be mistreated like this makes no sense.

Andres Guinaldo steps in on art with Pete Woods heading to Vibe (at the time). His work is workmanlike. Fine but nothing spectacular.

One more issue for all this to be wrapped up. I don't have high hopes.

Reboot: Green Lantern (v3) #98-99

Green Lantern (v3) #98-99 (May-June 1998)
title: "Future Shock"

writer: Ron Marz

penciller: Darryl Banks
inker: Terry Austin
lettering: Chris Eliopoulos
colorist: Rob Schwager

associate editor: Dana Kurtin
editor: Kevin Dooley

covers: Darryl Banks
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Ferro, Invisible Kid, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Spark, Star Boy, Triad, Ultra Boy, Violet, XS

Guests: 
Cary Wren, Ganthet, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, Louvre curator, Science Police; in flashback: Arisia, Chaselon, Guardians of the Universe, Kilowog, Tomar Re

Opponents: 
30th-Century Green Lantern Corps (Tomar Ro, Dalana Barr, Flaay P'kari, Nytoro Borin, Renno, Din Collus, Sklarian, Sparak), Parallax (flashback), Sinestro

Who's Who: LSV Hunter

Hunter
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Adam Orion

Super-Power(s): None; uses a variety of weapons
Planet of Origin: Simballi

Relationship to Legion: Villain

TOS Adventure Comics #347

Adventure Comics #347 (Aug 1966)
title: "The Traitor's Triumph!"

writer: Jim Shooter

layouts: Jim Shooter
penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Anj

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

Hello all! It's Anj and I have the honor of reviewing Adventure Comics #347, a key comic in my collection. You see, I am a fan of Nemesis Kid (you can hear me talk about this in the Who's Who in the Legion Podcast) and this was the second part of his first appearance.

This is the finale of Jim Shooter's first Legion story as well. That alone makes this book historic in a sense. Shooter revitalized the Legion in a major way, bringing in so much to the Legion mythos.

But for me, the big thing is Nemesis Kid. Some of this has to do with his fascinating power of manifesting whatever power he needs to defeat a foe. Some of it has to do with his brutal tenure as leader of the Legion of Super-Villains in the early Baxter Series issues. He, in essence, kills Karate Kid in that run after taking over Orando and bringing that world into a cosmic limbo.

Of course, that story's ending with Nemesis Kid squaring off against Karate Kid is a nod to this story where the two are newly inducted Legionnaires and ultimately rivals. So that is a nice nod to the past seen here.

Curt Swan is on art here and brings his steady hand to the proceedings.

So settle in and enjoy 'The Traitor's Triumph'!

LEGION TOYS: Imperiex (DC Universe Classics Series 10)

by Derek William Crabbe
The Wave 10 'Collect And Connect' figure from the DC Universe Classics line is the embodiment of entropy itself, Destroyer of Galaxies and Lord.....Imperiex. He is faithfully styled after his appearances in the Superman title in the year 2000, which ultimately led to his role as the 'Big Bad' in the DC Universe Event Crossover Our Worlds At War.