Who's Who in the Legion #7 EXTRAS

 

Continuing the series where we spotlight the features that appeared at the beginning of each issue of the mini-series Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes (1988). In this, the last issue, the series featured a short featurette about history, the Legion Academy, fashions, and the Legionnaires' parents. 

As mentioned in each previous installment of this series, Who's Who in the Legion editors Mark Waid and Karen Berger wanted to add something besides this series besides just the straight character profiles. In this issue, we get a story by Ty Templeton, illustrated by Curt Swan and Kurt Schaffenberger and also by Kurt Schaffenberger and Arne Starr. 

We must start with the cover, of course. I'm not sure if I'm in the minority here or not but after the first two knock-out covers by Steve Lightle, I think this series' covers were just not very good. This time out we get profiles of EVERY character featured in the series, drawn by various artists. The guide is printed in the back of the issue, but to be honest I've never taken the time to look up more than a few characters. 

Here are the front and back covers up-close and personal, for your perusal. 

And here it is in its entirety so that you can experience the whole thing. Click on it to Colossal Boy-ize it. 

The inside story is, well, odd. Spoiler Alert! It starts out as a drama at the Legion Academy, then we realize that we are watching a trailer or preview of a movie called CADETS. The hosts of the entertainment show then discuss various Legion topics with one of their guests, Wynn Allon, who happens to be the father of Colossal Boy. Lastly, we learn that we have been watching this television program at the home of the Allons, as the show was taped and Wynn and his wife Marte, who also happens to be the former President of Earth, wanted to see how it turned out. The last surprise is that they have been procrastinating joining a party of other Legion parents, downstairs, at their own home!  

Yes, you read that right. 

I do like that the original movie art is by Curt Swan (inks by Kurt Schaffenberger) and then the rest of the story is pencilled by Schaffenberger and inked by Arne Starr. Following that concept, I would have liked a different inker or artist team on the last scene at the Allon's home, ya know? 

This is one of those times where I think it's best just to re-print the story in question and let it speak for itself. In closing, I do thank Berger and Waid for trying something new, but the final results..... well, you can decide for yourself. 

"Open" the pages to see them at Colossal Boy size!