Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #10

Before I begin my review of Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #10, an apology.

It has become clear to me that this review series, from a total experience and a chronological order, is going to forever be muddled. While this series was going on, the Legion was also headlining in a run of Adventure Comics. And while the tales there concentrated mostly on Legion Academy kids, there was some cross-pollination. Thus, the 'blue creature attacking Wildfire and Dawnstar', a plot which has impacted this run, took place there.

Let's add a bit more muddled timeline to this blog. Technically, the Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1 took place between issues #9 and #10. And, even worse, the Legion of Super-Villains Special #1 takes place between this issue and #11. But to keep things on track and to keep the social media publicity going, the reviews through the thirteenth issue have been pre-posted.

It is too late to go back. So the plan will be to cover the Annual and the LSV Special after LSH #13. And maybe the Adventure Comics run will be covered here eventually.

Okay, apologies over.

Let's head to the book.

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #1,000,000

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #1,000,000 (November 1998)
title: "1,000 Years Later..."

writer: Tom Peyer

penciller: Keith Giffen
inker: Al Gordon
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie
time trapper: Grant Morrison

cover: Alan Davis
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 417, the Chameleon, Cosmicbot, the Dreamer, Implicate Girl, the M'Onelves, Titangirl, the Umbra; 854th-Century team: Dav, Vara, Chec, Wildflame; flashback (Reboot era): Andromeda, Chameleon, Chuck Taine(?), Ferro, Gates, Sensor, Wildfire; flashback (Legends of the Dead Earth): Membrain, either Shape or Shift, Wildfire

Guests: 
Dav's parents, Superboy (Cris Kend); 863rd-Century doctors, Chameleons, Titanian caretakers

Opponents: 
Extinct mineral-eating animals (illusions), Titanians

Who's Who: Magpie

Magpie
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Mert Gaterra

Super-Power(s): 360-Degree Vision
Planet of Origin: Angtu

Relationship to Legion: Petty crook

TOS: Adventure Comics #358

Adventure Comics #358 (July 1967)
title: "The Hunter!"

writer & layouts: Jim Shooter

artist: George Papp
letterer: Milton Snapinn

editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane, Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol, and Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Invisible Kid, Ultra Boy, Shrinking Violet, Karate Kid, Chameleon Boy

Opponents: 
Otto Orion aka "The Hunter," his lackey Jakra, his armed minions

Adult LSV: Action Comics #286

Action Comics #286 (March 1962)
title: The Jury of Super-Enemies
writer: Robert Bernstein
penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein
letterer: Joe Letterese
cover: Sheldon Moldoff
editor: Mort Weisinger
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board
Superman, Supergirl, Honorary Member Jimmy Olsen

Opponents
The Superman Revenge Squad, the descendants of Pete Ross and Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Electro, and the Legion of Super-Villains (Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, and Saturn Queen)

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes #9

Legion of Super-Heroes #9 showcases both the flaws and the strengths of this particular run.

The strengths should be well known to LSH fans. We have Paul Levitz leaning into Legion history. We have a hint at a long time foe behind the Durlan uprising. We have some nice character moments showing us how certain Legionnaires view the world. That is all great.

We also have the gas pedal on the Durlan conspiracy story-line, pushing through pretty rapidly with almost no pages spent on other simmering plotlines. What about Harmonia Li? Earth Man and Shadow Lass? Vi and Ayla? (Their story was in the annual; something I need to review, I know.)  What about the Ranzz family? Usually a page or two is devoted to peeking in on others. I didn't realize just how much I missed those diversions until it happened here.

And while the Durlan conspiracy is a good plot I just think it would have worked better as a slow burn. Have the readers wonder who has been replaced; build up tension in the team. Wouldn't Vi, who had been replaced by a Durlan, be particularly upset by this?

The art is by Yildiray Cinar and he does a fine job of it. I just feel he lacks some imagination in what Durlans would shapeshift into. We get Earth animals and dragons. That's about it.

We're at  the halfway point of this volume and I think the best is behind us.

On to the book.

Reboot: Legionnaires #1,000,000

Legionnaires #1,000,000 (November 1998)
title: "Come Together"

writer: Tom Peyer

artist: Sean Phillips
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Frank Berrios
editor: Mike McAvennie

cover: Sean Phillips
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 417, the Chameleon, Cosmicbot, the Dreamer, Implicate Girl, the M'Onelves, Titangirl, the Umbra, Wildflame; flashback (Reboot era): Chameleon, Ferro, Live Wire, Star Boy, Thunder, Wildfire; flashack (Legends of the Dead Earth): Argent, Magno-Boy, Membrain, Silverwing, Triplicate, Wildfire; flasback: a number of Superboys from across the centuries

Guests: 
Superboy (Cris Kend); Braalians, Carggites, Chameleons, Coluans-Bgtzilians, Cris Kend's classmates and robot teacher, Daxamites-Imskians, Science Asylum Professors, Talokians, Titanians and their caretakers

Opponents: 
Agent If, extinct mineral-eating animals

Who's Who: Magnetic Kid I

Magnetic Kid I
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Xaxan

Super-Power(s): Ability to attract or repel organic life-forms; power was temporary
Planet of Origin: Murra

Relationship to Legion: Villain; temporary Legionnaire

TOS: Adventure Comics #357

Adventure Comics #357 (June 1967)
title: "The Ghost of Ferro Lad!"

writer & layouts: Jim Shooter

penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein

letterer: Milton Snapinn
editor: Mort Weisinger

cover: Curt Swan & George Klein

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage, Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane, and Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Mission Monitor Board:  
Cosmic Boy, Princess Projectra, Sun Boy, Superboy, Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl....and Ferro Lad?!?
Cameos by Mon-El, Duo Damsel, Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Lightning Lad, and Light Lass

Opponents: 
revenge-seeking ghost or......?!?

Variant Covers part 3

This third part of a discussion on Legion-related variants turns the spotlight on issues that were not specifically marketed as variants, but have been regarded as such by some collectors.