Reboot: The Legion #22

The Legion #22 (September 2002)
title: "Dream Crime: Part Four"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Mark Farmer
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jason Wright
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

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

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Dreamer, Kinetix, Pasgassi-Master

Opponents: 
Universo

Recap: 
The first to fall were Saturn Girl and Dreamer, caught in visions of Universo's making. Then the rest of the Legion. Only Shikari and Sensor seemed immune, and they've gone through the Threshold beyond which Brainiac 5 hoped to find Karate Kid and Ferro, trapped on Steeple because of a singularity in its system. And the possessed Legionnaires, believing they were fighting Darkseid's forces, have destroyed the Threshold while they were in transit...

Synopsis: 
Thresholds: Universo calls all the Legionnaires to Titan. The way he puts it, everyone connected through TitaNet, billions of people, are essentially him because they are forced to share his mind. Meanwhile, Shikari manages to guide herself and Sensor to Steeple, where Brainiac 5 had sent a threshold gateway in the hopes of creating a greater link.

They wake up in the presence of Karate Kid, Ferro, and the Halpashar Monks, who don't recognize them. Sensor realizes she's changed since Val last saw her and explains. Ferro has gone through his own transformation, healed from his wounds but forced to remain in metal form forever. The heroes retrieve the threshold gateway and the four of them escape Steeple to Titan, armed with torqs (Celtic necklaces) that allow Sensor to share her immunity to Universo's illusions.

On Titan, they are forced to fight their fellow Legionnaires who believe them to be Darkseid's soldiers in order to get to Universo. Alas, it takes them too long and the villain is able to figure out that he can overload the torqs with enough psionic power. They shatter and their wearers fall. Sensor is alone...

Commentary: 
Shotgun
In what circumstances does a villain explain to himself what he has done in the past. Why would Universo explain the reason behind Darkseid's apparition to Nura while she’s dreaming? I was just under the impression that a planet’s telepathic inhabitants wouldn’t need to over-explain their motivations to one another. I guess I was wrong seeing as Universo needs to lay out his brilliant plans. The poor guy, he needs friends to talk to.

I liked the fight between Legionnaires. I love the vivid colors that help create movement in the panels. I particularly liked seeing Val’s martial arts in action. I also don’t say it enough, but I just love Shikari’s powers and personality. In fact, I just love the character as a whole. And my oh my did I like that hero stance panel on page 13. Look at them… So badass!

How did I not see this coming? Ferro with his everlasting struggles when it comes to his appearance is the best person ever to help Sensor with her transformation. Anyway, that’s what their little moment together seemed to hint at and I’m down for it. Jeka needs to gain back her confidence in order to remain a key member in the team. I’m very curious though. Ever since we’ve seen her back, we know she can’t be fooled by Universo because of her psychic abilities, yet she never actively uses them. Could it be she lost part of it during the transformation and instead gained more strength, as well as that gorgeous head of hair?

Siskoid
Or is Universo's victory... just an illusion? I'm hoping! Speaking of images, let me first start by saying cover artist Tony Harris needs to be told ladies don't like to the portrayed from that angle, they really don't. Dream Girl (sorry, Dreamer) probably least of all.

I don't think there ever was a reason why Vidar (he's not Rond's father anymore, is he?) took the name Universo in the previous continuity. I suppose it just sounded cool, and maybe he wanted to conquer the whole universe. In the Reboot, he's a dangerous telepath who wants to BE everyone in the universe. Well, that's clever. Clever, but I'm not sure it's all that consistent. I mean, either you're controlling everyone because you ARE them (which he claims), or they are doing your bidding because you're making them hallucinate (which is what happens). But not both. I'm calling shenanigans, but I'll throw DnA a little No-Prize: Universo is completely deluded.

I have to agree that Shikari is proving to be a lot of fun, not least of which when she "tracks" Invisible Kid's position and elbows him in the face. Mostly though, it's just good to have Ferro and Karate Kid back, even if Val gets trounced in the fight (by Apparition, no less). I think he's out of practice. Ferro's big tragedy is that he's learned to accept his disfigurement, but it doesn't matter because his face is now permanently trapped behind his mask. The future looks like straws, my boy. A nice bunch of underdogs, I must say, but with one more chapter left, they can't be allowed to succeed quite yet. Things are desperate... again! The Legion certainly provides some thrills.

Science Police Notes:  

• Karate Kid and Ferro have been on Steeple since Legion Worlds #5.