Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #104

Legion of Super-Heroes #104 (May 1998)
title: "Heroes' Return"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

penciller: Jason Armstrong

inkers: Ray Kryssing and Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Alan Davis and Mark Farmer
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5.1, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Gates, Kinetix, Live Wire/Lightning Lad, M'Onel, Spark/Light Lass, Ultra Boy, Umbra, XS

Guests: 
Andromeda, Chief Rapolchellack, Commodore Baraka, King Charlz, Kono, Magno, Nyurt Roz, R.J. Brande, Wimena Wazzo, Winathian Presidents Fegg; Durlans, Mellorusians, Nova Express crew and passengers, Science Police

Opponents: 
Composite Man, Evolvo, Khunds (Amilia Crugg), Leland McCauley, Time Trapper (behind the scenes)

Who's Who: Legion of Super-Rejects

 

Legion of Super-Rejects
by Russell & Siskoid

Members: Calorie Queen, Chameleon Kid, Phantom Lad, Magno Lad, Esper Less, Micro Lad
Relationship to Legion: Villains

TOS: Adventure Comics #344

Adventure Comics #344 (May 1966)
title: "The Super Stalag of Space!"

writer: Edmond Hamilton 

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Matter-Eater Lad, Saturn Girl

Guests: 
Plant Lad, Shadow Kid, Blockade Boy, Weight Wizard, unnamed Durlan posing as Superboy

Opponents: 
Nardo and his android security guards

Legion of Super Heroes S02 E06: Who Am I?

"Who Am I?" was directed by James Tucker and written by J.M. DeMatteis. Original airdate: November 3, 2007. Review by Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane.

Mission Monitor Board: Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Lightning Lad, Superman, and Timber Wolf.

Opponents: Imperiex, Persuader, Ron-Karr, and Validus.

New 52 Legion Lost #12

Legion Lost #12 ended the first year of the book and essentially ended the premise that opened the book. The Hypertaxis plague storyline is ended. Finally.

The book has been changing with Tom DeFalco now writing. He has been switching the main thrust from this plague to one of the Legionnaires each harboring a secret. This new theme finally bubbles over in this issue with many of the secrets revealed to the rest of the team. 

Things happen fast. And secrets are revealed in the midst of battle. You could sense this was DeFalco trying to put his stamp on the book while removing all the old bits. The end heroic team shot feels like the ending of something with a bold new beginning about to happen.

I will say, again, that Pete Woods on art elevates everything that happens in the book. How I would love to see Woods on a Chameleon Boy or Chameleon Girl mini-series! He definitely brings out the creature in these shape-shifters.

Reboot: Legends of the Legion #4

Legends of the Legion #4 (May 1998)
title: "Casualty: The Secret Origin of Star Boy"

writers: Barry Kitson and Tom Peyer

penciller: Todd Nauck
inker: Larry Stucker
lettering: Albert T. De Guzman
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Steve Lightle

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Spark, Star Boy, Ultra Boy, Umbra; flashback: Kid Quantum I

Guests: 
Antennae Boy, Chuck Taine, Color Queen, Doro, Infectious Lass, Night Girl, Porcupine Pete; flashback: Atmos, Dr. Kvorkgian, Insect Queen, Kid Quantum II, Monstress, Radion; mechanics, Science Police

Opponents: 
Flashback: Algamenon Raiders, Bone Spikes, High-Brow, Klamorr, Rimborians, Slopp, Violence Queen; asteroid miners

Who's Who: Double-Header

Double-Header
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Dyvud/Frenk Retzun

Super-Power(s): Slowly splitting into two
Planet of Origin: Janus

Relationship to Legion: Member of the Legion of Substitute-Heroes (Auxiliary)

TOS: Adventure Comics #343

Adventure Comics #343 (April 1966)
title: "The Evil Hand of the Luck Lords!"

writer: Edmond Hamilton

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

special guest reviewer: Jason "Anacronistic Kid" Knol

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Sun Boy, Saturn Girl, Superboy, Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy, Duo Damsel, Invisible Kid,  Shrinking Violet, Element Lad, Matter-Eater Lad

Guests: 
former Legionnaires Bouncing Boy and Star Boy; The Legion of Super-Pets (Beppo, Comet, Krypto, Proty II, Streaky)

Opponents: 
The Luck Lords

LEGION TOYS: Superboy (Mattel 12-Pack)

 by Derek William Crabbe
"The Greatest Hero Of Them All." Saving the best for last, we come to Smallville's Favorite Son, the inspiration for the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy!

New 52 Legion Lost #11

When I was first asked to reformat and reprint my New 52 Legion and Legion Lost reviews for the site, I sort of sighed. I hadn't revisited these runs since they were on the shelves. I had no real burning desire to reread them. I had labeled them as 'lousy' but kept them in my collection because ... well ... they're the Legion.

In particular, I thought the Legion Lost run would be the more onerous of the two to revisit. Between the vague memories of displaced Legionnaires, plagues, The Harvest, and creative upheavals, I remembered the book being an absolute mess.

And yet, somehow, I am enjoying this Legion Lost reread.