Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #12

Welcome again to the retro-review of the Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes title.

Today I look at (and look back) at Legion of Super-Heroes #12, written by Paul Levitz with art by Yildiray Cinar. 

Looking back at my review, I find the grade of B/B+ a little inflated. There is nothing like an LSH/ LSV war to get the blood pumping, but this villainous team headed by Saturn Queen isn't exactly big enough to make me quiver. I also find this take on Saturn Queen, suddenly a murderous sadist, to be a bit off-putting. Yes, she is scary. But it seems so over the top that it takes me a little out of the story. And then, of course, when those murderous tendencies vanish when she is facing characters that 'matter', it is even more strange.

There are some high points. The battle against Lightning Lord, with Phantom Girl and Lightning Lass doing some serious lifting, is definitely worth the price of admission. And the Star Boy scene is a nice catalog of Legion reboots in a way.

But truly not much happened here. And after reading this it made me realize that the Durlan conspiracy story truly wrapped up too soon. On to the old review.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #110

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #110 (December 1998)
title: "The Power of Thunder!"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

penciller: Scott Kolins 
inker: Ron Boyd 
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie
thanks to: Jerry Ordway

cover: Alan Davis and Mark Farmer

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5.1, Invisible Kid, Live Wire, M'Onel, Spark, Thunder (joins), Violet

Guests: 
Captain Marvel (flashback), Cece's foster parents (flashback), Inspector Javert (flashback), Koko, S.H.A.Z.A.M. Computer; human and tiger citizens of Fawcett-World

Opponents: 
Dash Noir (flashback), Dr. Savant, Objective Order

Who's Who: Marella Tao

Marella Tao
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Marella Tao

Super-Power(s): Power
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Relationship

TOS: Adventure Comics #360

Adventure Comics #360 (September 1967)

title: "The Legion Chain Gang!"

writer and layouts: Jim Shooter

penciller: Curt Swan

inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn

editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan and George Klein

reviewer: Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Mission Monitor Board:

Brainiac 5, Bouncing Boy, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Dream Girl, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Lightning Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Superboy, Supergirl, and Ultra Boy

Opponent:

"President Boltax"

Action Comics #859

Action Comics #859 
Title: Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes Part 2 - Illegal Aliens
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Gary Frank
Inker: Jon Sibal
Colorist: Dave McCaig
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Editors: Nachie Castro and Matt Idelson
Executive Editor: Dan Didio

Legion Roster: Superman, Dawnstar, Wildfire, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Invisible Kid II, Ultra Boy, Shrinking Violet, Blok

PREVIOUSLY: A rampaging Brainiac drone in Metropolis catches Superman's attention, but the drone turns out to be controlled by none other than Brainiac 5. A blast from the robot brings forth long buried memories and Superman recalls his first time meeting the Legion of Super-Heroes when Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad traveled to 20th Century Smallville. It's been a long time since Superman saw the Legion, and now they need his help, because as Superman discovers, someone's messed 31st Century Earth up, starting with the fact that Earth's sun is red and the Legionnaires are fugitives.

I'll be picking up where the previous reviewer left off and attempt to finish recapping "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes." As always there will be my hate/love/hate with Geoff Johns and what he did to the Legionnaires when he brought them back. I look back on how much I loved everything about this story. I can't believe I was so young, so naive, so stupid.

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #11

Hey folks, Anj here.

At some point over on my Supergirl blog, I began reviewing this run of Legion of Super-Heroes. So much like I did with the New 52 Legion and the New 52 Legion Lost books, I will be doing retro-reviews of the Retroboot book. What I mean by this is I will post my review from 2011 here. And then after, I will post what my current thoughts are after a re-read.

What strikes me immediately about this old review of Legion of Super-Heroes #11 is that I am far more forgiving of this book. When I re-read the issue, my enthusiasm was tepid. And yet in the first like of the older review I am glad the book is 'firing on all cylinders'. Different times and different hopes for an LSH book make these retro-reviews interesting time capsules. Let's see what 2011 Anj thought!

Legion of Super-Heroes #11 came out last week and picked up right where the Legion of Super-Villains One Shot ended. I have to say that I think this title is finally clicking on all cylinders. This just feels like the Legion I want to be reading. And as a long time Legion fan who has picked up some of the reboots and ignored others, I am happy to be enjoying the Legion again.

Of course, one the beauties of the Legion is the deep continuity of the characters and the series. In fact, in some ways I think that continuity might be a double edged sword. For old-timers like me, the history and legend of the Legion is really one of the draws. I think many long-time Legion fans pride themselves on a deep understanding of Legion lore. But that same deep history might make it difficult for a brand new reader to pick up the book. But if you reboot and lose that history, you probably will lose the core foundation of the Legion fanbase. It can't be easy for the folks at DC to figure out what to do.

In this issue, for example, there is great characterization throughout, as events hearken back to some personal moments in the Legionnaires lives. Writer Paul Levitz knows that adding that depth to the characters is what makes this book so special. And I know exactly what he's talking about. But do new readers? Does it frustrate them?

Reboot: Legionnaires #66

Legionnaires #66 (December 1998)
title: "Missing Persons"

writer: KC Carlson

pencillers: Mike Collins
inkers: John Stokes
lettering: Pat Prentice
colorist and story input: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Jeffrey Moy and W.C. Carani

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Chameleon, Invisible Kid, Kinetix, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Triad, Ultra Boy, Violet

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Danielle Foccart, the Foccarts, Invisible Kid II, Lori Morning, the Norgs, President Chu (flashback), Proty, R.J. Brande, Tenzil Kem; Science Police

Opponents: 
Charma, Grimbor (flashback), Luck Lords

Who's Who: Mandalla

Mandalla
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Tari Wahlmunn

Super-Power(s): Hallucinations
Planet of Origin: Takron-Galtos

Relationship to Legion: Legion cadet

TOS: Adventure Comics #359

Adventure Comics #359 (August 1967)
title: "The Outlaw Legionnaires"
writer and layouts: Jim Shooter
penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein
letterer: Milton Snappin
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover: Curt Swan and George Klein
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board:
Brainiac 5, Bouncing Boy, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Dream Girl, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Lightning Lad, Matter Eating Lad, Mon-El, Phantom Girl, Princess Projectra, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Superboy, Supergirl, and Ultra Boy.

Opponent:
The people of Earth.

LEGION TOYS: Star Boy (DC Signature Collection)

Alone...
He wants to be alone so he can process this
To a point of understandingness
Starboy! That’s who he is that’s not who he ain’t
Starboy! He knows it now and now it's the truth...
The Captain of Outer Space that is his brother, Uh-huh!
The Captain of Outer Space he knows it’s true, Uh-huh!
Alone...
He wants to be Alone...