Reboot: The Legion #33

The Legion #33 (July 2004)
title: "Notorious Part 2"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

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

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Chris Batista

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

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

Guests: 
R.J. Brande

Opponents: 
Credo, Singularity

Recap: 
R.J. Brande, Chameleon, Kinetix and Gates have been captured by Singularity and the Credo, who have overrun the Second Galaxy on their crusade against the Progenitor and everything he touched. Now Live Wire, in the Progenitor's body (i.e. Element Lad's) has surrendered himself to the Credo to secure their release. Singularity has decided not to honor his promise - they will all die at dawn...

Synopsis: 
Singularity tortures R.J. Brande about the Legion, but he's barking up the wrong tree. Thrown back into the Legionnaires' cell, they are all surprised to get a new cell mate - the Progenitor! Seeing as they were away when Live Wire was resurrected, this requires some explaining. Thankfully (and surprisingly), Garth is not alone. The Legion's Espionage Squad has his back, manifesting themselves, taking care of the guards, and freeing their comrades in short order.

The signal is given, and the Legion attacks the Credo's forces with everything they've got. It pushes Singularity into a corner and he chooses to plug himself into the ship's systems to make it blow up, gleefully rejoicing in the Credo's martyrdom. The rest of the Credo didn't sign up for this, they balk, but there's nothing they can do. In comes Live Wire and just as Singularity is about to succeed, he uses his transmutation powers to freeze Singularity in a shell of inertron. The Credo, having been betrayed by their leader and saved by the being the know as the Progenitor, leave, shaken and confused. Perhaps there is peace to be made with the Second Galaxy.

Later, on Earth, Garth and Imra take a walk around the Legion Memorial and renew their relationship.

Commentary: 
Shotgun
I’m glad Garth wasn’t aware of the plan to begin with. Let's go, Espionage Squad! I didn’t realize the group on a diplomatic mission were already gone when Garth came back. Another reason why having the Squad follow him was crucial. The Legionnaires and Brande could’ve decided not to trust him at all, and it was definitely pointing in that direction. I feel bad for Gates who was persecuted by Ra’s and now imprisoned by the Credo. He’s always in the worst possible spot, isn’t he? Shout-out to the power suppressant shackles on Cam’s antenna. I laughed out loud when I noticed them! The fight was very brief, but that’s because the Legion was acting as a team following a very well-designed plan. It only made sense that the Progenitor’s power would put an end to the Credo! Kudos Garth for your fast thinking and for learning to deal with Jan’s power set.

After all is said and done, this feels like a proper ending, which is very weird to me. I know we only have a couple issues left to review. What’s left at this point? 5-6 issues? How do you introduce a new threat and deal with it this quickly and tie up any loose ends? I really feel like this could’ve been the best way to finish everything. I don’t know about you, but I am satisfied! Where do we go from here? The only thing I can think of that wasn’t brought back is the glowing being (that I thought was a merged Nux/COMPUTO) from Legion #14.

Final thoughts:
    • Why is Andromeda on the cover? Especially a version of her from before she became a nun when the rest are sporting their current looks. [Siskoid's note: It's a big group shot of the entire Legion, and Batista is obviously a fan of hers and felt we could stand a cameo in the far background - I'm happy to see her!]
    • Artist Chris Batista was offering the lady readers some good old fan servicing. So many great bulges! Best bulge award goes to Superboy on pages 13 and 14!

Siskoid
You're quite correct, my friend, this IS an ending. It's Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning's last issue, having crafted the Legion's destiny since the Blight storyline in the year 1999 (or 2999, if you prefer). Artist Chris Batista's too, so they indulge themselves with big group shots and happy endings. I can't complain. DnA's run started with utter darkness. Earth destroyed. The Legion in tatters. And by the end of Legion Lost, several members had died, Element Lad corrupted. And since then, it's been one damn thing after another. But here, finally, we have the promise of United GALAXIES, our heroes coming together to fulfill the promise Kid Quantum made in the previous issue (yes!), and Garth and Imra embracing.

And yes yes yes, the whole Espionage Squad in action for the first time in ages. And I love Violet basically smiling through this whole thing. Remember the shy young girl we met at the start of the Reboot, who spoke too softly to be heard and who was riddled with doubt and insecurity? She, more than an other Legionnaire, exemplifies how well these kids have aged, and that we're now... no, not at the end of their careers, but at the PEAK. I kind of expect the next few issues to be filler until a big event can threeboot the team, but we'll see. If they are, I think we'll at least have had some closure on the back end of the Reboot era.

And Superboy singing THAT song? Genius.

Science Police Notes:  

• Superboy sings the Teen Titans animated series theme song (albeit it in the singular, since he's the only Teen Titan present). It had premiered on the Cartoon Network in July 2003.
• This is the last issue of Abnett and Lanning's run.