Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #10

Before I begin my review of Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #10, an apology.

It has become clear to me that this review series, from a total experience and a chronological order, is going to forever be muddled. While this series was going on, the Legion was also headlining in a run of Adventure Comics. And while the tales there concentrated mostly on Legion Academy kids, there was some cross-pollination. Thus, the 'blue creature attacking Wildfire and Dawnstar', a plot which has impacted this run, took place there.

Let's add a bit more muddled timeline to this blog. Technically, the Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1 took place between issues #9 and #10. And, even worse, the Legion of Super-Villains Special #1 takes place between this issue and #11. But to keep things on track and to keep the social media publicity going, the reviews through the thirteenth issue have been pre-posted.

It is too late to go back. So the plan will be to cover the Annual and the LSV Special after LSH #13. And maybe the Adventure Comics run will be covered here eventually.

Okay, apologies over.

Let's head to the book.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #1,000,000

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #1,000,000 (November 1998)
title: "1,000 Years Later..."

writer: Tom Peyer

penciller: Keith Giffen
inker: Al Gordon
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie
time trapper: Grant Morrison

cover: Alan Davis
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 417, the Chameleon, Cosmicbot, the Dreamer, Implicate Girl, the M'Onelves, Titangirl, the Umbra; 854th-Century team: Dav, Vara, Chec, Wildflame; flashback (Reboot era): Andromeda, Chameleon, Chuck Taine(?), Ferro, Gates, Sensor, Wildfire; flashback (Legends of the Dead Earth): Membrain, either Shape or Shift, Wildfire

Guests: 
Dav's parents, Superboy (Cris Kend); 863rd-Century doctors, Chameleons, Titanian caretakers

Opponents: 
Extinct mineral-eating animals (illusions), Titanians

Who's Who: Magpie

Magpie
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Mert Gaterra

Super-Power(s): 360-Degree Vision
Planet of Origin: Angtu

Relationship to Legion: Petty crook

TOS: Adventure Comics #358

Adventure Comics #358 (July 1967)
title: "The Hunter!"

writer & layouts: Jim Shooter

artist: George Papp
letterer: Milton Snapinn

editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane, Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol, and Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Invisible Kid, Ultra Boy, Shrinking Violet, Karate Kid, Chameleon Boy

Opponents: 
Otto Orion aka "The Hunter," his lackey Jakra, his armed minions

Adult LSV: Action Comics #286

Action Comics #286 (March 1962)
title: The Jury of Super-Enemies
writer: Robert Bernstein
penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein
letterer: Joe Letterese
cover: Sheldon Moldoff
editor: Mort Weisinger
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board
Superman, Supergirl, Honorary Member Jimmy Olsen

Opponents
The Superman Revenge Squad, the descendants of Pete Ross and Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Electro, and the Legion of Super-Villains (Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, and Saturn Queen)

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #9

Legion of Super-Heroes #9 showcases both the flaws and the strengths of this particular run.

The strengths should be well known to LSH fans. We have Paul Levitz leaning into Legion history. We have a hint at a long time foe behind the Durlan uprising. We have some nice character moments showing us how certain Legionnaires view the world. That is all great.

We also have the gas pedal on the Durlan conspiracy story-line, pushing through pretty rapidly with almost no pages spent on other simmering plotlines. What about Harmonia Li? Earth Man and Shadow Lass? Vi and Ayla? (Their story was in the annual; something I need to review, I know.)  What about the Ranzz family? Usually a page or two is devoted to peeking in on others. I didn't realize just how much I missed those diversions until it happened here.

And while the Durlan conspiracy is a good plot I just think it would have worked better as a slow burn. Have the readers wonder who has been replaced; build up tension in the team. Wouldn't Vi, who had been replaced by a Durlan, be particularly upset by this?

The art is by Yildiray Cinar and he does a fine job of it. I just feel he lacks some imagination in what Durlans would shapeshift into. We get Earth animals and dragons. That's about it.

We're at  the halfway point of this volume and I think the best is behind us.

On to the book.

Reboot: Legionnaires #1,000,000

Legionnaires #1,000,000 (November 1998)
title: "Come Together"

writer: Tom Peyer

artist: Sean Phillips
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Sean Phillips
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 417, the Chameleon, Cosmicbot, the Dreamer, Implicate Girl, the M'Onelves, Titangirl, the Umbra, Wildflame; flashback (Reboot era): Chameleon, Ferro, Live Wire, Star Boy, Thunder, Wildfire; flashack (Legends of the Dead Earth): Argent, Magno-Boy, Membrain, Silverwing, Triplicate, Wildfire; flasback: a number of Superboys from across the centuries

Guests: 
Superboy (Cris Kend); Braalians, Carggites, Chameleons, Coluans-Bgtzilians, Cris Kend's classmates and robot teacher, Daxamites-Imskians, Science Asylum Professors, Talokians, Titanians and their caretakers

Opponents: 
Agent If, extinct mineral-eating animals

Who's Who: Magnetic Kid I

Magnetic Kid I
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Xaxan

Super-Power(s): Ability to attract or repel organic life-forms; power was temporary
Planet of Origin: Murra

Relationship to Legion: Villain; temporary Legionnaire

TOS: Adventure Comics #357

Adventure Comics #357 (June 1967)
title: "The Ghost of Ferro Lad!"

writer & layouts: Jim Shooter

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage, Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane, and Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Princess Projectra, Sun Boy, Superboy, Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl....and Ferro Lad?!?
Cameos by Mon-El, Duo Damsel, Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Lightning Lad, and Light Lass

Opponents: 
revenge-seeking ghost or......?!?

Variant Covers part 3

This third part of a discussion on Legion-related variants turns the spotlight on issues that were not specifically marketed as variants, but have been regarded as such by some collectors.

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #8

Legion of Super-Heroes #8 continues the 'faster than usual' pace for the title. And that is something that I think is giving me pause.

For those reading these reviews, you know that my memory of the Retroboot has been less than stellar. And yet, on these review rereads, I have been enjoying the title more than I anticipated. I have been wondering when it would turn the corner. My recollection couldn't be that off, could it?

Well, in the last few issues, writer Paul Levitz has been rushing through plots and as a result I haven't been getting that full experience. The 'cult of Darkseid' plot where the Ranzz twins were kidnapped was wrapped up in one issue. Earth Man becoming more sympathetic of other races happened very quickly. Shadow Lass falling for Earth Man happened in a panel. For those who read Levitz in the '80s, his style was much more to keep things simmering. Here we go from still waters to boil.

In this issue, we see that a Durlan conspiracy to infiltrate the UP and honor RJ Brande which could have been played out over years is suddenly revealed and out in the open. Compare that to something like 'The Universo Project' where we got our first hint of it in the Baxter series #10, had mysteries sprinkled through, to ultimately reveal it in #32. That's nearly 2 years!

Art is by Yildiray Cinar and once again he does a great job. Much of this issue is Legionnaires fighting Durlans and Cinar shines in those sequences.

Maybe this is the beginning of the downturn?

Reboot: Adventure Comics 80-Page Giant #1

Adventure Comics 80-Page Giant #1 (October 1998)
title: "Team Work"

writer: Tom McCraw

penciller: Kevin West

inker: Ray Kryssing
lettering: Kurt Hathaway
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: L.A. Williams
editor: Paul Kupperberg

cover: Steve Lightle
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Ferro, Kid Quantum II, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Star Boy

Guests: 
Lori Morning (Dialed identity: Blip)

Opponents: 
Alien blobs

Who's Who: Luck Lords

Luck Lords
by Russell & Siskoid

Super-Power(s): Probability control
Planet of Origin: Ventura

Relationship to Legion: Villains

TOS: Adventure Comics #356

Adventure Comics #356 (May 1967)

title: "The Five Legion Orphans!"

writer: uncredited

penciller: Curt Swan

inker: George Klein

letterer: Ira Schnappp

editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Mon-El, Superboy

Opponents: 
The childless people of Baskh

I know what you're thinking: another Silver Age story where characters are turned into kids. Why was turning people into kids or monkeys the fallback idea from that era? Not sure, but stick with me because this installment of Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes packs a fantastically heartbreaking punch.

The Legion Transuit

Editor's Note: Recently we sent out an A-1 Alert asking any long-time Legion fans to submit posts they would like to see us share here in United Planets space. Today we are happy to present this essay about the Legion transuit by Todd Ramsey. We hope you find it as interesting as we did! 

by Todd Ramsey 

Hello to everyone and thanks for having me.  The original version of this post appeared on my blog marvelboy74.blogspot.com. This post has been updated from that essay with a few more facts regarding the evolution of Legion space suits.

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #7

Since beginning this review series of the Retroboot book, I have been wondering when it is going to go off the rails. I knew in my heart I overall didn't love this book. I knew I definitely didn't like the New 52 series which was basically a continuation. And yet in these early issues, I have been surprised by how much I liked what I was seeing.

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #7 might be the issue where the flaws are starting to show. It isn't as if the plots aren't moving forward. But there was a lot of padding here.  It isn't as if the characterization is too far off. But there are a couple of scenes here which just read odd for the characters I have grown up with. And it isn't as if the art isn't right. The book contains two stories, one by Yildiray Cinar and the other by Francis Portela. And both are lovely.

But this was the first issue where I felt I only needed 5 pages to get across what was said in 22.

Maybe the cracks are starting to show.

On to the book.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #109

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #109 (October 1998)
title: "Wish Fulfillment"

guest writer: KC Carlson

guest penciller: Lee Moder

guest inker: Dan Davis

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:  
Kinetix, Star Boy, Violet; flashback: Brainiac 5, Triad, Ultra Boy, XS; as statues: Kid Quantum 1, Leviathan

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Dreamer, Metropolis Special Crimes Unit; Superman (statue)

Opponents: 
Emerald Eye of Ekron, Molecule Master

Who's Who: Lucifer 7

Lucifer 7
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Lucifer 7

Super-Power(s): Creative Genius
Planet of Origin: Hasahl

Relationship to Legion: Villain (would-be world conqueror)

TOS: Adventure Comics #355

Adventure Comics #355 (April 1967)
title: "The War of the Legions!"
writer and layouts: Jim Shooter
penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein
letterer: Milton Snappin
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover: Curt Swan, George Klein, and Ira Schnapp
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board:
Brainiac 5, Cosmic Man, Element Man, Polar Man, Saturn Woman, Superman

Opponents:
The Legion of Super-Villains - Beauty Blaze, Cosmic King, Echo, Lightning Lord, Saturn Queen,

LEGION TOYS: Validus (DC Universe Classics Series 15)

by Derek William Crabbe
The first instance that I can recall where I personally "discovered" the awesome wonder of Fatal Five member extraordinaire, Validus, was on the epic all-villain cover of Crisis on Infinite Earths #9. Here's my attempt to re-create that Crisis cover on a toy shelf. This Collect and Connect figure came as part of DC Universe Classics Series 15.