LSH (v8) #7

Legion of Super-Heroes #3 (March 2020)
title: (Untitled)
writer: Brian Michael Bendis
artists: Ryan Sook and Wade Von Grawbadger (pg1)
artist: Stephen Byrne (pp 2-22)
colorist: Jordie Bellaire
letterer: Dave Sharpe
associate editor: Brittany Holzherr
editor: Brian Cunningham
covers: Ryan Sook (main); Alex Garner (variant)

reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Overall Summary: 
The Legion apologizes to the United Planets Council, which leads to an argument between members and an election for the role of Leader. Cosmic Boy loses to Ultra Boy, just as General Crav Nah attacks.


Mission Monitor Board: 
Here's the 28 members who are supposedly the full membership of the Legion, although there was a mention of Ferro Lad last issue and of Invisible Kid the issue before.
No idea what some of these members' code-names are, and if DC doesn't care to tell me then I guess I shouldn't care to know.

Don't recall seeing this guy before, though.

Supporting Characters:
UP-LSH Liaison Rose Forest, UP President RJ Brande, Crav Nah

Opponents:
bad writer, worse editor

Summary:
This issue we get a one-page close-up of Wildfire, who says he is originally an Earthman, although "no one is really FROM Earth any more." He gives a synopsis of what happened last issue, ie Aquaman's trident re-watered New Earth. 

The Legion enmasse goes to the United Planets Hall to address the UP Council and to apologize for attacking General Crav Nah. UP President is not impressed by Cosmic Boy's apology or Brainiac 5's attitude that the Legion recruiting Superboy from the past is only a Legion issue, not a UP concern. 

After Superboy himself speaks up and apologizes, even offering to quit the Legion and return to the past, President Brande's opinion softens and dismisses the Legion with a request to never arrive without an appointment. 

Back at Legion HQ, Triplicate Girl and Monster Boy discuss brownies. 

Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl are having a very public argument about how Cosmic Boy is failing as their leader. Cosmic Boy is angry that Saturn Girl continues to read his mind. He is also angry that Brainiac 5 acts like the Legion Leader. Saturn Girl doesn't mind his attitude, because she knows that Brainy is the smartest Legionnaire. Brainiac 5 suggests they have a team meeting. 

Elsewhere, Lightning Lad and Light Lass set up an apartment for their parents. Ayla does not wear her flight ring or her uniform. Their family (five others) are happy to be off Winath. 

At the LSH meeting Brainiac 5 tries to suggest that they hold an official election for leader. Cosmic Boy feels put upon. Ultra Boy nominates himself and makes his position vis-a-vis Cosmic Boy and Brainiac 5 clear. Colossal Boy nominates Superboy, who refuses to serve, then gets into another argument with Mon-El. Cosmic Boy gets tongue-tied and frustrated, and flies off. Ultra Boy is elected leader just as General Crav arrives, demanding that the Legion surrenders to him. 

Russell's Review: 
I hate to say this, but this issue is my least favorite yet. Have I said that before?

Wildfire's one-page face (?) is a waste of space.

The scene at the United Planets Hall is badly choreographed, badly handled, and unclear. It seems like President Brande is angry when Cosmic Boy and Brainiac 5 tell her that the Legion is autonomous from the UP, but when Superboy says the same things, she is okay with it?

The scene between Triplicate Girl and Monster Boy is a huge waste of a page.

The argument between Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, and Brainiac 5 is painful. Brainy is admitting to listening in to all of his team-mates' conversations? Saturn Girl is admitting to using her mental powers to do the same? No wonder Cosmic Boy is feeling targeted. I'm not sure if Cosmic Boy was supposed to come off as the sympathetic character here, but he certainly was for me. Brainy was never my favorite character because he's such a jerk, but Saturn Girl basically saying that he is allowed to do whatever he wants because he's so smart.....yikes! Bring on Computo, quick!

The scene with the Ranzz family was nice, for what it was, but would it be too much to ask to be told if their powers were natural (the Mom is....what? living lightning?) and why there are five kids? Are twins not a thing in this continuity? Why/how is Ayla Light Lass if her brother is Lightning Lad? Does no one care to explain this stuff to us?

Similarly, what is up with Mon being angry (?) at Superboy? Could we get a little bit of explanation or characterization from Bendis, or is that asking too much?

Ultra Boy makes his case well for wanting to be leader. A few of his statements sound like things that I would say. Hopefully he can pull the Legion out of its morass and get it organized into a truly universe-spanning organization.

For all the faults in the story, except for the excessive wasted space in the UP Hall scene, the art is very good. I don't know who Stephen Byrne is, but I like him.

Lastly....the scene on the cover does not appear in the book. Shocking! And the ending of this issue doesn't naturally set up next issue's "Trial of the Legion." So my hopes are not high for this series.

If you are enjoying this, I would love to hear from you about what and why you like this.

Science Police Notes:  

• There appears to be atleast 28 Legionnaires, but their names have not all been given and there are not 28 members shown in the election scene, even though Brainiac 5 says, "we're all here." 

Status: 
This issue has not yet been reprinted. It should be out next year, wait and see.

Milestone: 
Ultra Boy is elected Legion Leader in this issue.