The Reboot: Final Thoughts

Siskoid: The Reboot era of the Legion lasted some 10 years and including multiple series, plenty of crossover action with other DC titles, and remains in fact the second-longest running Legion continuity. In May 2016, Shotgun and I took over the Legion Reboot reviews for the Legion of Super-Bloggers, in the wake of its original reviewer, Dave Sopko who only had time to do the first two issues before being taken from us much too soon. Our take was to look at the Reboot's twin missions. This new Legion had to appeal to veteran readers (that's me) who needed the book to show respect for what had gone before, but were still interested in seeing how the furniture was rearranged (much as Superman readers had after the Crisis). And it had to work for new readers (that's Shotgun) who, perhaps intimidated by the Legion's rich history, were happy to find a new starting point. Can you believe we've been at this, as the weekly article flies, for more than four years, SG?

Shotgun: I refuse to believe that we started this project in 2016. I knew it's been going on for a while but... Four years... Nah. Impossible!

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #47

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #47 (December 1992)
title: "Transitions"
writer: Barry Kitson
penciler: Barry Kitson
inkers: Robin Smith
colors: Digital Chameleon
letters: Albert DeGuzman
editor: Dan Raspler

Recap: Dox led the team to the planet Arga-Prime to deal with insurgents, but found the problem to be more complicated than expected. He learned that the planet's leaders had not been honest with him, and that the population was unhappy due to racial strife. The planet erupted in rebellion, and although he initially resisted choosing sides, Dox offered to send a strike force to capture the Grand Council to avoid more bloodshed. They successfully captured the Council, but learned that they introduced a virus into the oceans that will be carried into the atmosphere, eventually releasing a deadly rainfall on the planet. Violence erupted among the population and the L.E.G.I.O.N. tried to contain it while searching for a cure. Fortunately, Hal Jordan of the Green Lantern Corps arrived to help. Meanwhile, Captain Comet succumbed to his recent seizures and lost control of his powers. It is revealed that he had been possessed by an alien entity and that it wanted Lady Quark. Dox uses some of Lady Quark's DNA to create a biomass in hopes of attracting Comet. The plan works but after the being possessed the biomass, it erupted from its holding tube in a new form.

LEGION TOYS: Super Friends! Superman (DC Multiverse)

Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tail buildings in a single bound! Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman! Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from another planet, who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way.

Reboot: Teen Titans/Legion of Superheroes Special #1

Teen Titans/Legion of Super-Heroes Special #1 (November 2004)
title: "Superboy and the Legion, Part Two" / "Teenage Wonderland"

writers: Mark Waid and Geoff Johns / Mark Waid

pencillers: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado / Barry Kitson
inkers: Marc Campos / Barry Kitson
lettering: Rob Leigh
colorists: Sno-Cone / Chris Blythe
assistant editor: Jeanine Schaefer

editors: Eddie Berganza and Stephen Wacker / Stephen Wacker

cover: Phil Jimenez and Andy Lanning

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Andromeda, Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Ferro, Gear, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Live Wire, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy II, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire, XS / Threeboot Atom Girl, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Chameleon, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass,  Star Boy, Sun Boy, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

Guests: 
Aquawoman, Batman (Tim Drake), Beast Boy, Cyborg, Kid Flash II, Meloni Thawne Allen, Raven, Robin III, Science Police, Starfire II, Superman (Kon-El), Wonder Girl II; visions: Nightwing, Speedy (Mia Deardon) / Threeboot timeline kids and their parents, talk show host (Waru) and guest (a governor), Bilis and Thola, Invisible Kid's parents, Supergirl (poster), Superman (comic and poster)

Opponents: 
Fatal Five-Hundred (Emerald Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, Validus); visions: Dr. Light I

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #46

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #46 (November 1992)
title: "Transitions"
writer: Barry Kitson
penciler: Barry Kitson
inkers: Robin Smith & Romeo Tanghal
colors: Bernie Mireault
letters: Gaspar Saladino
editor: Dan Raspler

Recap: Dox led the team to the planet Arga-Prime to deal with insurgents, but found the problem to be more complicated than expected. He learned that the planet's leaders had not been honest with him, and that the population was unhappy due to racial strife. The planet erupted in rebellion, and although he initially resisted choosing sides, Dox offered to send a strike force to capture the Grand Council to avoid more bloodshed. They successfully captured the Council, but learned that they introduced a virus into the oceans that will be carried into the atmosphere, eventually releasing a deadly rainfall on the planet.  Violence erupted among the population and the L.E.G.I.O.N. tried to contain it while searching for a cure. Phase reached out to other planets for help in evacuating Arga-Prime but they resisted.  Fortunately, Hal Jordan of the Green Lantern Corps answered the call.  Meanwhile, Captain Comet succumbed to his recent seizures and lost control of his powers. Strata and Stealth were trying to evacuate the planet when there was a rain fall. They expected the worse, but Dox revealed that it was part of his plan to use the weather to hold off the poison for a while.  Meanwhile, Captain Comet revealed himself to be possessed by an alien entity and he captured Lady Quark.

Mike Grell Legion Cards

As part of Mike Grell's recent MAGGIE the CAT kick-starter, one of the additional "rewards" for supporting his project was a set of 30 Legionnaire cards. (6.5 cm x 9 cm; 2.5 x 3.5 inches).

These appear to be copies of pencils-only work. 

There was no information provided as to when or how these were drawn (at actual size, or shrunk to fit this format). But they are all quite nice, and in fact there are quite a few great portraits here! 

Enjoy! 

Reboot: Teen Titans #16

Teen Titans (v3) #16 (November 2004)
title: "Superboy and the Legion, Part One"

writer: Geoff Johns

penciller: Mike McKone
inker: Marlo Alquiza
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jeremy Cox
associate editor: Tom Palmer Jr.

editor: Eddie Berganza

cover: Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Saturn Girl, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy II, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Wildfire

Guests: 
Beast Boy, Chuck Taine (voice), Cyborg, Kid Flash II, Raven, Robin III, Starfire II, Wonder Girl II; Sea Lion Café waiter

Opponents: 
Fatal Five-Hundred (Emerald, Eye, Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, Validus)

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #45

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #45 (September 1992)
title: "New Perspectives"
writer: Barry Kitson
penciler: Rodney Ramos
inker: Shephard Hendrix, Denis Rodier, & Matt Banning 
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Digital Chameleon
editor: Dan Raspler
cover art: Barry Kitson
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Dox led the team to the planet Arga-Prime to deal with insurgents, but found the problem to be more complicated than expected. He learned that the planet's leaders had not been honest with him, and that the population was unhappy due to racial strife. The planet erupted in rebellion, and although he initially resisted choosing sides, Dox offered to send a strike force to capture the Grand Council to avoid more bloodshed. They successfully captured the Council, but learned that they introduced a virus into the oceans that will be carried into the atmosphere, eventually releasing a deadly rainfall on the planet.  Violence erupted among the population and the L.E.G.I.O.N. tried to contain it while searching for a cure. Phase reached out to other planets for help in evacuating Arga-Prime but they resisted.  Fortunately, Hal Jordan of the Green Lantern Corps answered the call.  Meanwhile, Captain Comet succumbed to his recent seizures and lost control of his powers.

Valor #4

Valor #4 (February 1993) 

title: "Low Blow!"
writer: Robert Loren Fleming
penciller: MD (Mark) Bright
inkers: Trevor Scott (pp 1-12, 18-22) and Brad Vancata (pp 13-17)
letterer: Pin Bobaha
colorist: Eric Kachelhofer
associate editor: Eddie Berganza
editor: KC Carlson
cover: MD Bright & Trevor Scott? (unsigned)

reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Guest-Star(s):
Lobo, L.E.G.I.O.N.

Opponent(s):
Lobo, L.E.G.I.O.N.

Summary:
Valor battles Lobo right outside and on top of the L.E.G.I.O.N.'s new space station.

Reboot: The Legion #38

The Legion #38 (Late October 2004)
title: "For No Better Reason, Part Four: Moebius Strip"

writer: Gail Simone

breakdowns: Dan Jurgens
finishes: Andy Smith
lettering: Rob Leigh
colorist: Sno Cone

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Kevin Nowlan

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy (hologram), Dreamer, Ferro (hologram), Gear, Karate Kid, M'Onel, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Legion Academy (named: Infectious Lass, Nightwind), Lialla, Trudy Trusoe, Wimena Wazzo; Metropolis citizen, Science Police (Renslie), Upper Metropolis Med Center personnel

Opponents: 
Oasis One inmates, Organ thief (Pinter), Persuader, Spike (Arrow, Canary, Devil, Lantern)

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #44

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #44 (August 1992)
title: "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall"
writer: Barry Kitson
penciler: Rodney Ramos
inker: Shephard Hendrix & Matt Banning 
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Digital Chameleon
editor: Dan Raspler
cover art: Kevin Maguire and Karl Kessel
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Dox led the team to the planet Arga-Prime to deal with insurgents, but found the problem to be more complicated than expected. He learned that the planet's leaders had not been honest with him, and that the population was unhappy due to racial strife. While Dox tried to deal with their Grand Council, the new recruits were left having to deal with events on the ground. A L.E.G.I.O.N. officer secretly working for the Grand Council tried to detonate an explosive device close to Dox, but Dox was aware of his plan and had the bomb defused. The planet erupted in rebellion, and although he initially resisted choosing sides, Dox offered to send a strike force to capture the Grand Council to avoid more bloodshed. They successfully captured the Council, but learned that they introduced a virus into the oceans that will be carried into the atmosphere, eventually releasing a deadly rainfall on the planet.

LEGION TOYS: DC Multiverse (Lobo)

"He who devours your entrails and thoroughly enjoys it."
The Main Man.
The guy Darkseid calls when he needs someone assassinated (after Amazing Grace).
The penultimate Collect and Connect Figure from the DC Multiverse line, Lobo.

Reboot: The Legion #37

The Legion #37 (Early October 2004)
title: "For No Better Reason, Part Three: A Sense of Confinement"

writer: Gail Simone

breakdowns: Dan Jurgens
finishes: Andy Smith
lettering: Rob Leigh
colorist: Sno Cone

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Greg Land and Jay Leisten 
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Gear, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum, Live Wire, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy II, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Dr. Gym'll, Legion Academy (named: Infectious Lass, Nightwind), Lialla, Trudy Trusoe; Metropolis citizens

Opponents: 
Karahdians, Oasis One inmates, Organ thief (gets the name Pinter), Persuader, Spike (Arrow, Canary, Devil, Lantern)

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #43

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #43 (August 1992)
title: "Something in the Air"
writer: Barry Kitson
breakdowns: Barry Kitson 
finishes: Robin Smith and Jimmy Palmiotti
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Dan Nakrosis
editor: Dan Raspler
cover art: Kevin Maguire and Scott Hanna
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: After the gangster G'odd used his daughter to manipulate Dox into dispanding the L.E.G.I.O.N., the team is trying to rebuild. Dox has taken them to the planet Arga-Prime to help deal with a group of insurgents, but finds the problem to be more complicated than expected. He soon learns that the planet's leaders have not been honest with him, and that the population has reason to be unhappy due to racial strife. While Dox tries to deal with the leaders, the new recruits are left having to deal with events on the ground, and the Khund is captured by rebels. He comes close to escaping but does not quite make it.