Reboot: The Legion #32

The Legion #32 (June 2004)
title: "Notorious"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Chip Wallace and Jay Leisten
lettering: Jared K. Fletcher
colorist: Sno Cone

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Eric Wight

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon (flashback), Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Ferro, Gates (flashback), Gear, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Kinetix (flashback), Live Wire, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy II, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Dr. Gym'll, Kwai, Legion Academy Cadets (Babbage, Comet Queen), R.J. Brande (flashback)

Opponents: 
Credo, Jan Arrah (flashback), Singularity

Recap: 
The Legion has just won a great victory against the forces of Darkseid, and while Live Wire, trapped in the body of Jan Arrah who was Element Lad and then the evil Progenitor of the Second Galaxy, did his part, he still feels alienated from the team...

Synopsis: 
Live Wire has a chat with Dr. Gym'll about no longer being able to sleep in his tromium body and about still feeling like he can't trust himself, just as the other Legionnaires can't trust him. He visits the thresholds and finds Shikari there with other team members, intuiting that something is trying to come through from the Second Galaxy. Then it comes through: M'Onel with a Kwai guide, looking the worst for wear as if he'd been in a great battle!

Quick on his heels members of the Credo, the fanatical religious zealots working with former hero Singularity to wipe their galaxy of what they call Progeny. At first, they get the jump on the Legion, but when they see Live Wire, whom they identify as "the Cursed One", they retreat. As the Legion assembles, M'Onel tells his story... That at first, he, Chameleon, Gates, Kinetix and R.J. Brande successfully opened negotiations between the United Planets and various worlds of the Second Galaxy. But then the Credo attacked, laying waste to those same worlds, having expanded their crusade and definition of "Progeny" to include anyone touched by the Legionnaires who, having had the Progenitor as a member, must come from a Satanic Galaxy that needs to be destroyed. Everyone but M'Onel has been captured.

Leaving Live Wire home so as not to incite more violence, the entire Legion goes to meet Singularity in the Second Galaxy to negotiate for the release of their friends. Singularity will not part with them unless they give up the Progenitor. Later, Garth requests they make the trade, as he's more than willing to give up his life for the others. Kid Quantum refuses and makes an impassioned speech about him being one of them - something he appreciates, but he goes rogue and gives himself up to Singularity. But the Credo's leader will not release Brande and the Legionnaires. His promise was a lie. And they will be "deleted" with Live Wire at dawn.

Commentary: 
Shotgun
It has been so long since the diplomatic mission to the Second Galaxy was mentioned that I had completely forgotten about it. Weirdly enough, I’m kinda glad I did. It makes it more believable for the Credo to have such strength in numbers. Their recruitment team is terribly effective, kudos! I’ve always felt uneasy about Singularity ever since we met him what felt like 16 years ago. There’s something terrifying about someone who’s on a mission and would never stop to consider if that made a villain out of him. I don’t care what’s driving you: faith, respect of authority, vengeance, stupidity… I can’t respect someone who can’t think for himself.

The same way I said it felt weirdly appropriate to see some Legionnaires get injured while battling Darkseid’s followers, the threat we are discovering here feels real. It feels real because it IS real. History, ancient and modern, is filled with such single-minded murderous leaders. So yeah, I’m afraid for Garth and the others that are stuck in the Credo’s clench, but at the same time I feel like Garth’s appearance is all part of a plan. I suspect that Violet’s request to speak with Cos has something to do with Garth’s surrendering. My guess is she turned super small and stayed with him all along. Plan or not, Singularity is impulsive and dangerous. The rescue mission has the potential for going very badly. Either way, come back next week to see if my hunches were good.

Siskoid
I noted Violet's little aside too. Been a while since the Espionage Squad has gotten something to do. In fact, "been a while" is kind of the theme of this issue. It may not be 16 years since the Credo last showed up, but would you believe 19 months? (For us, that's 19 weeks, which is still a lot to leave a plot thread dangling.) Brief glimpse of the Legion Academy too, I wish we'd see more of them. "Been a while" and also, "About time". About time this was resolved. About time people started treating Garth like a valued member. About damn time.

That all sounded a bit negative, but though this issue forces a lot of recaps and is largely a set-up for the next one, there are some bright spots. How badass the Credo and Singularity seem the way M'Onel's uniform is ripped to shreds and his skin all scratched up. Kid Quantum's badass speech to the Credo before they take the Legion to their leader (to it then turns into a damp squib, doesn't it, that they don't take Singularity then and there?). And of course, I anticipate good things with the resolution. The only question is whether Garth is in on it, or if his friends will surprise him too. Let's wipe that smug expression off Singularity's face.

Science Police Notes:  

• Singularity and the Credo have not been seen since The Legion #13.