Reboot: The Legion #17

The Legion #17 (April 2002)
title: "Revival of the Fittest, Part One"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Alejandro Barrionuevo
inker: Andy Lanning
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jason Wright
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Kev Walker
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Gear, Invisible Kid, Kid Quantum II, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Atmos, Cub Nah, Dr. Gym'll, Insect Queen, Kinetix, R.J. Brande, Shvaughn Erin, Terrorforms; Legion World personnel, Science Police

Opponents: 
Ra's al Ghul, Robotican drone

Recap: 
Ra's al Ghul, posing as President McCauley, attempted to cause the hypertraxis of Earth, but was exposed and apprehended...

Synopsis: 
Ra's al Ghul has all the wealth in the world and a legion of lawyers petitioning the Supreme Legislature to release him and his clone bank, claiming that keeping him in stasis, then held without trial, contravenes his basic rights. M'Onel meets with him because he needs help. In an attempt to address the problem of the Terrorforms and the people transformed into seed pods, the Legion has taken them to now-dead Xanthu. There, the Terrorforms do their work, which turns them and the pods back into humans. Presumably, the planet's dead matrix means humanity can be the top of the food chain and no evolution is discerned. The problem comes when their activities awaken a forgotten Robotican drone that immediately attacks, killing a Terrorform and unleashing a hypertraxis explosion that puts Sensor in critical condition. Ra's agrees to help, but he has to be taken to her bedside to even know what's happening.

Meanwhile, Saturn Girl is off to Titan for a break and Apparition catches Ultra Boy hugging her goodbye and gets the wrong idea. R.J. Brande is also preparing to leave as envoy to the Kwai Galaxy, considering Chameleon, Spark and M'Onel as his escort. Then they get the news: M'Onel is bringing Ra's to Legion World! But lockdown protocols aren't enough to stop the villain from escaping his guards, spitting toxic blood into one's face and throwing Shvaughn off the carrier. By the time M'Onel has rescued her, Ra's carrier crashes and explodes. He is believed dead, and Sensor's hopes with him.

Commentary: 
Shotgun
I really enjoyed the way this story unfolded. I appreciate the idea of going back and forth from the past mission on Xanthu to the present with Ra’s Al Ghul. His presence in the 31st Century, and the existence of his clones, wasn’t at all on my radar of what would be coming next. Now what I really don’t understand is that someone gave the green light to adding that particular image for the “coming next” panel. We’ve just seen Ra’s blowing himself up and we immediately get to see that he’ll fight M’Onel in the next issue. Way to spoil the fun! Now my guess is this is one of the clones that are dormant on Legion World they will wake up to save Sensor, but maybe I’m wrong and Ra’s has the same kind of crazy immortality powers that Captain Jack Harkness possesses.

Poor Sensor… We barely saw her since the stranded Legionnaires came back and now, she must fight for her life. While I was impressed with how every team member had a real chance to shine since the start of the war against Robotica, I feel she was the one that got the short end of the stick. I really hope this is not the end for her. I really liked her. I loved her complicity with Cham. Plus, I’m a big fan on snakes! – Is that speciest? – I want her to survive, but I’m afraid the writers might change her completely and I obviously don’t want that to happen. To be frank, I’m scared. It’s been a while since we’ve lost one of the kids…

Need… something… to take my…. mind off…. WOAH! Hey, look at those sweet jackets most of the heroes are wearing. Are those Legion outfits? … Oh Science Police logo you say, huh… Dammit, now I’m sad again!

Siskoid
The 5YL era had Legion jackets, look it up if it tickles your fashion sense, but it's not yet time to bring them back. As for Sensor, I echo your thoughts, except I know what happens in this case. I WILL SHUT UP FOR NOW. Need… something… to take my…. mind off…. WOAH!Insect Queen! Is it just me, but I get a little buzz every time I see her in the Reboot Legion. Kind of wish she were a member. Oh one last thing about Sensor: Is her tail strong enough to break a Robotican soldier? I'm surprised.

As for the rest of the issue, Ra's is just as dangerous as he was in the previous storyline, though I kind of wish we'd had more of an explanation as to what he spits in that Sci-Cop's face that pushes the first domino. M'Onel shouldn't believe he's dead for a second, nor that he would have helped Sensor if he could. You cannot trust this man. On anything. In fact, I'd be afraid of what he could do to Legion World just based on his conclusions after his short and cursory tour of the place. Needed a blindfold! I do love all the stuff with his legion of lawyers, which is a rare instance of superhero comics dealing with the legal ramifications OF superheroes. Seems even in a thousand years, the law isn't ready for a guy like Ra's.

Science Police Notes:  

• Ra's al Ghul claims to have the Fires of Lazarus internalized, so it doesn't seem like he needs the Lazarus Pit anymore.