Jim Shooter Autographs

Today I start my look back at Legion comics I have had autographed at conventions.

I feel pretty blessed that here in New England there are a number of very good conventions annually that have allowed me to meet so many of my comic heroes over the years. From Boston Comic-Con (now Boston Fan Expo), Terrificon, Rhode Island Comic Con, and Granite State Comic Con, I have a bunch of shows to attend in the summer and fall.

A couple of years ago, Jim Shooter was announced as a guest at Rhode Island Comic Con. Given his long history in comics and his particular history with the Silver Age of the Legion, I knew that I was going to get stuff signed by him.

Shooter was very amiable at his table and was very easy to talk to. RICC is one of those comic-cons more focused on celebrities. The comic creators often seem lonely as most patrons are lining up to meet the TV and movie stars. Shooter was at a small  table with no line. I was able to talk to him for some time and he was very amiable, telling me stories about the issues.

I don't believe Shooter was charging for signatures so I was able to get my whole stack signed by him. But I had prioritized the issues. You'll hear that list and reasoning below. I can say, these are semi-ragged books and Shooter commented on how they were 'well-loved'.

Of all of the books I brought, I was going to get Adventure Comics 352 and 353 signed, the first appearance of the Fatal Five and the death of Ferro Lad. Shooter said he was got the idea for this after watching 'The Dirty Dozen'.



But wait, there's more!

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #121

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #121 (November 1999)
title: "End of the Line"

writers: Tom McCraw and Tom Peyer

penciller: Scott Kolins

inker: Ray Krissing
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Phil Jimenez

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5.1, Chameleon, Element Lad, Ferro, Gates, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kinetix, M'Onel, Sensor, Triad (photo only), Umbra, Violet

Guests: 
Dreamer, Explorers Institute President Tenzar Kegg (interview), Koko, Magno, Ree; Tenazorians, Tenazorian monkeys

Opponents: 
Emerald Eye of Ekron, Empress, Persuader, Tharok, Validus

Who's Who: Questar

Questar
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Reges Questar

Super-Power(s): Flight, Limited Teleportation, others?
Planet of Origin: Zentor

Relationship to Legion: Ally

TOS: Adventure Comics #380

Adventure Comics #380 (May 1969)
title: "The Legion's Space Odyssey!"
writer and layouts: Jim Shooter
penciller: Win Mortimer
inker: Win Mortimer
letterer: Milt Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover: Curt Swan & Mike Esposito
reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board: 
Bouncing Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Duo Damsel, Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Mon-El, Sun Boy, Superboy, Ultra Boy

Opponent:
convoluted plots, Dream Girl's badly interpreted dream, two would-be assassins

Action Comics #862

Action Comics #862
Title: Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes Part 5 of 6 - Revenge of the Rejects
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Gary Frank
Inker: Jon Sibal
Colorist: Dave McCaig
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Editors: Nachie Castro and Matt Idelson
Executive Editor: Gary Frank
Reviewer: Jude Deluca a.k.a. Sarcasm Kid

PREVIOUSLY: The Legionnaires discovered that Brainiac 5 assumed the role of Colu's leader to stall the United Planets from launching a full scale war on Earth. We get a look into each of the individual members of the Justice League of Earth and also discover Colossal Boy's wife, Yera Allon, has become an official Legionnaire as Chameleon Girl. Unfortunately, Superman and the other Legionnaires fled Colu when Brainy gets outed as a traitor. The universe is inching ever closer to war! 

We've finally come to my favorite part of this story arc (aside from #864's epilogue story), where for once I have more to applaud on Johns instead of deriding him.

As you can see from the cover, this issue features the official reappearance of the Legion of Substitute-Heroes, who've been largely missing since a couple of cameos in the Reboot Legion's era. But most surprising of all is Johns expands the roster by including a Legion Reject who has never before been associated with the Subs, and she happens to be one of my absolute favorites of the old school Legion applicants.

Con Signatures, Preamble

Autographed by Jim Shooter and Mike Grell

Hey all,

I'll be starting my look at Legion books I have had signed by creators starting next Friday. But I thought it might be nice to give you my Convention Manifesto and some tips regarding meeting creators and getting signatures.

Reboot: Legionnaires #77

Legionnaires #77 (November 1999)
title: "Endless Summer!"

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

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

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie
adult legionnaire: Carmela Merlo

cover: Jeffrey Moy & W.C. Carani

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5.1, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Ferro, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Kinetix, Live Wire, M'Onel (monitor screen only), Monstress, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Spark, Star Boy, Thunder (monitor screen only), Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, XS

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Dreamer, Lori Morning, Magno, Proty, R.J. Brande (picture only), Tenzil Kem; casino employees (Preston and Susan named), Summer World tourists

Opponents: 
Amelia Crugg, Kono, Leland McCauley, Luck Lord (cameo), Mr. Rhysson

Who's Who: Queen Azura

Queen Azura
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Heraldia Azura

Super-Power(s): Hypnosis
Planet of Origin: Femnaz

Relationship to Legion: Misguided activist

TOS: Adventure Comics #379

Adventure Comics #379 (April 1969)
title: "Burial in Space!"
writer and layouts: Jim Shooter
penciller: Win Mortimer
inker: Jack Abel
letterer: John Costanza
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover: Neal Adams
reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board: 
Chameleon Boy, Chemical King, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy; Invisible Kid, Shrinking Violet; cameos by Brainiac 5, Duo Damsel, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Superboy

Opponent:
nameless invasion force, nameless would-be assassin, plot holes, bad editorial decisions

Karate Kid #7

Karate Kid #7 
"The Gyro-Master Strikes Twice!"
script by David Michelinie writing as Barry Jameson
art by Ric Estrada and Joe Staton
edited by Denny O'Neil
cover by Mike Grell
cover date: April 1977
review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
dedicated affectionately to Glenn "Continuity Kid" Walker

I can't imagine being a kid in the spring of 1977 and seeing this cover and not wanting, nee, NEEDING to pick up this title. Just look at that cover! The Gyro Master is throwing toys at Karate Kid!! And they are twice as deadly as....as....er....slinkies?

Also, point of order but we're about to find out that the Gyro Master actually does NOT strike twice. He actually strikes once and then just loiters around. So that's kind of a let-down, too. But really, who should be counting?

Let's get right to the action, shall we?

Fridays with Anj - Next Run

After reviewing Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, I felt a bit like our pal Tenzil Kem after he ate the Miracle Machine.

Not even a Legion blogger such as me could safely digest that book.

Not without madness.

Anyways, I realize I was a bit negative in my reviews of that book. Perhaps it that sensed the possibilities ... the potential ... of such a book only to have it fall far short of my hopes.

Hard to believe that we are approaching 5 years of my blogging on this sight. Pretty soon we'll be able to say 'Five Years Later ...' about my career here!

As for the future, I have sort of run out of specific runs to review having covered 5YL, the Threeboot, the post-Darkness saga main book, Legion Secret Origin, New 52 Legion Lost, New 52 Legion, and finally Final Crisis.

And given that I have started to begin my preparation for the summer's conventions, I thought a fun thing to do would be to share Legion books I have gotten autographed by Legion creators over the years.

I can talk a little about my con prep, how I choose issues to get signed, and any juicy info I got from creators at the time.

But first, a few more days to get the taste of 3 Worlds out of my system.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #120

Legion of Super-Heroes #120 (October 1999)
title: "The Fatal Four... Plus One!"

writers: Tom McCraw and Tom Peyer

penciller: Scott Kolins

inker: Scott Kolins
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Phil Jimenez

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5.1, Gates; in flashback: Apparition, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Ferro, Invisible Kid, Katate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Kinetix, Live Wire, Monstress, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Spark, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, XS (others hinted in shadow)

Guests: 
Ba Bwain (voice-over), Koko, R.J. Brande; Takron-Galtos guards/staff

Opponents: 
Emerald Eye of Ekron, Fatal Five (Empress, Persuader, Tharok, Validus); Takron-Galtos inmates

Who's Who: Queeg

Queeg
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Gallur Es Queeg

Super-Power(s): None
Planet of Origin: Rouspen

Relationship to Legion: Director of the Science Asteroid

TOS: Adventure Comics #378

Adventure Comics #378 (March 1969)
title: "Twelve Hours To Live!"
writer and layouts: Jim Shooter
penciller: Win Mortimer
inker: Jack Abel
letterer: Joe Letterese
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover: Neal Adams
reviewer:  Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board: 
Brainiac 5, Duo Damsel, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Superboy

Opponent:
Death, unknown would-be assassin; the Fatal Five

Legion of Superheroes S02 E09: In the Beginning

"In the Beginning" was directed by James Tucker and was written by Steven Melching.

Original airdate: March 8, 2008. Review by Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane.

Mission Monitor Board: Brainiac 5,  Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, and Superman X. Cameos by Blok, Bouncing Boy, Colossal Boy, Duo Damsel, Elemental Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Phantom Girl, Shrinking Violet, Star Boy, Sun Boy, and Tyroc.

Opponent: Roderick Doyle

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5, Part 2

Today I review Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5, part 2. This is the end of this mini-series.

Our national nightmare is over.

This mini-series has been like being on the Tea Cup ride at Disney World. It is dizzying. At times it is fun. At times it is nauseating. If you think about it too long, you wonder why it was ever made. And when it is over you say to yourself 'what was I thinking?'

Writer Geoff Johns, I am sure, had the best intentions. But the writing comes in fits and spurts. There are pages and pages of Titans and Superboy Prime. There are mega splash pages. Then there are pages with tiny panels and so much writing that they look like text pages. There is so much exposition to catch the reader up at plot points that have been glossed over. And in the end, there was very little Legion, and very little on page interaction of Legions working together.

George Perez is on art and, well, he is George Perez. The whole thing is beautiful.

I had little recollection of this series, perhaps a sign that my mind shut the whole thing out. I consider myself a savvy reader but at times I was lost. And most of all, I don't think this was what Legion fans were looking for at all. When I finished this book I literally asked myself 'what were you thinking agreeing to review this book?'

So on to this issue.

I may need a week off to recover from this.

Reboot: Legionnaires #76

Legionnaires #76 (October 1999)
title: "The Fire This Time"

writers: Roger Stern and Tom McCraw

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

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie
adult legionnaire: Carmela Merlo

cover: Chris Sprouse and Al Gordon

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Element Lad, Gates, Saturn Girl, Umbra, XS

Guests: 
Atom'X, Blast-Off, Brika (memorial), Dirk Morgna, Dr. Mollie D'Ennum, ERG-1, Merk, Mysa, Prefect Lamar (flashback), R.J. Brande, Ryder, unnamed doctor; Medstation One staff

Opponents: 
Emerald Eye of Ekron, Leland McCauley, Mordru, Phy'r (all in flashback)

Who's Who: Quake Kid

Quake Kid
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Shanen Dreyus

Super-Power(s): Create earthquakes
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Rejected applicant

TOS: Adventure Comics #377

Adventure Comics #377 (February, 1969)
title: "Heroes for Hire"
writer and layouts: Jim Shooter
penciller: Win Mortimer
inker: Jack Abel
letterer: Gaspar Saladino
cover: Neal Adams
reviewer: Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Mission Monitor Board: 
Brainiac 5, Chemical King, Duo Damsel, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Superboy; cameo appearances by several other Legionnaires

Opponent:
Modulus and the living planet, Modo







If I asked Mark Waid to rattle off every time Superboy/Superman uttered the phrase "Relax, Pops" in the entirety of 80 years of publication it would more than likely begin and end here. The cover and splash page offer up such a cringeworthy version of Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes that I knew it would be a struggle to read this story. On the plus-side, you can be spared that pain by reading this summary!

LEGION TOYS: Sun Boy (DC Direct 2003)

When he's not busy recruiting new Legion members, this guy is out there luring Sun-Eaters with his solar heat in order to save the universe! He fends off Servants of Darkness with his Nova Blast! The last of the figures that could potentially serve as fill-ins for your Matty Legion figures, comes Dirk Morgna a.k.a. Sun Boy!

Final Crisis Legion of 3 Worlds #5, Part 1

Well, it is the beginning of the end for me as I start the review for the final issue of Final Crisis Legion of 3 Worlds #5.

This has been something of a wild ride for me. When it was solicited, I could remember being quite excited about this. I was a bit awash in Legion continuity as the Threeboot book was happening, Geoff Johns had brought back the original group, and I was coming off my decade away from the team.

I was hoping for a deep Legion continuity dive. I was hoping for an untangling of continuity. I was hoping for fun.

Instead I got this.

This book has a lot of Titans stuff going on. The Legion occasionally seem like guest stars in a Superboy Prime book. And the plot careens along hoping the reader can keep up. I was hoping for a breath of fresh air. Instead I felt like I was trying to breathe through a straw filled with oatmeal.

All that said, the art is about as glittery as George Perez can be, flitting between massive double page splashes and intricate tiny inset panels.

So will it all be tied up neatly in a bow? Will we get the finale we deserve?