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

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

Reboot: The Legion #30

The Legion #30 (April 2004)
title: "Foundations The Final Chapter"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Chip Wallace
lettering: Ken Lopez
colorist: Sno Cone

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Ferro, Gear, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy II, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire

Guests: 
Big Barda, Clark Kent (pre-Superman), Firestorm, Lobo, Mister Miracle, Oberon

Opponents: 
Darkseid, Parademons, Servants of Darkness (Big Barda, Firestorm, Lobo, Martian Manhunter, Orion)

Reboot: The Legion #29

The Legion #29 (March 2004)
title: "Foundations Part Five"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Chip Wallace
lettering: Ken Lopez
colorist: Sno Cone

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Ferro, Gear, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy II, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Amazons, Batman (alternative 2019), Bruce Wayne, Chuck Taine, Clark Kent (pre-Superman and corrupted by Apokolips), Demon Etrigan, Enemy Ace, Flash I, Flash II, Jonah Hex, Martha Wayne, Robin (alternative 2019), Sgt. Rock, Thomas Wayne, Wildman

Opponents: 
Anti-Monitor, Darkseid, Parademons, Servants of Darkness (Big Barda, Firestorm, Green Lantern, Orion)

Reboot: The Legion #28

The Legion #28 (February 2004)
title: "Foundations Part Four"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Chip Wallace
lettering: Ken Lopez
colorist: Sno Cone

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Ferro, Gear, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy II, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Clark Kent (pre-Superman and corrupted by Apokolips), Science Police, Trudy Trusoe (and staff, including an Athramite hair and make-up person); a farmer

Opponents: 
Catastrophists, Darkseid, Parademons, Servants of Darkness (Orion)

Reboot: The Legion #27

The Legion #27 (Late January 2004)
title: "Foundations Part Three"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inkers: Chip Wallace and Mark Farmer
lettering: Rob Leigh
colorist: Sno-Cone

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Ferro, Gear, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum I (picture), Kid Quantum II, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy II, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, XS

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Science Police, Trudy Trusoe

Opponents: 
Catastrophists, Servants of Darkness (Firestorm, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Martian Manhunter, Orion, one other unidentified)

Reboot: The Legion #26

The Legion #26 (Early January 2004)
title: "Foundations Part 2"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

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

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Ferro, Invisible Kid, Kid Quantum II, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy II, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet

Guests: 
Athramites, Science Police

Opponents: 
Catastrophists, Darkseid, Servants of Darkness (Big Barda, Firestorm, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Lobo, Martian Manhunter, Orion, Superman)

Reboot: The Legion #25

The Legion #25 (December 2003)
title: "Foundations"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

pencillers: Chris Batista, Eric Wight, Tony Harris, Dave Cockrum, Al Milgrom, Paul Rivoche
inkers: Robin Riggs, Chip Wallace, Doug Hazelwood
lettering: Comicraft
colorists: Jason Wright, Eric Wight, Tom Feister, Paul Rivoche
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon (flashback), Cosmic Boy, Element Lad (memorial), Gear, Kid Quantum II, Live Wire, M'Onel (cover only), Monstress (flashback), Saturn Girl, Sensor (cover only), Shikari, Spark, Star Boy (cover only), Triad, Violet (flashback), Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Clark Kent, Lana Lang, Legion Cadets (21, most unnamed except for Amp Girl, Babbage, and Retro; also recognizable are Kent Shakespeare and Comet Queen, possibly Stone Boy and Color Kid), Mekt Ranzz, Mekt's prison psychologist (flashback), Pete Ross, Wimena Wazzo; Presidential yacht's crew, Science Police

Opponents: 
Convict in the cell next to Mekt's (flashback), Lightning Beasts (flashback), Servants of Darkness, Warp Phantoms

Reboot: The Legion #23

The Legion #23 (October 2003)
title: "Dream Crime: Part Five"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Mark Farmer
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jason Wright
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Ferro, Gates, Gear, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Aven, Cub Nah, Dr. Gym'll, Dreamer, Kinetix,Pasgassi-Master; visions: R.J. Brande, Shvaughn Erin, Tenzil Kem

Opponents: 
Universo

Reboot: The Legion #22

The Legion #22 (September 2002)
title: "Dream Crime: Part Four"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Mark Farmer
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jason Wright
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Ferro, Gates, Gear, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, M'Onel, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Dreamer, Kinetix, Pasgassi-Master

Opponents: 
Universo

Reboot: The Legion #21

The Legion #21 (August 2002)
title: "Dream Crime: Part Three"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Mark Farmer
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jason Wright
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Gear, Invisible Kid, Kid Quantum II, M'Onel, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Violet, Wildfire

Guests: 
Chuck Taine, Cub Nah, Dr. Dreamer; Legion World staff, Science Police

Opponents: 
Universo; illusion: Apokoliptian Stormtroopers, Darkseid, Parademons

Reboot: The Legion #20

The Legion #20 (July 2003)
title: "Dream Crime: Part Two"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Mark Farmer
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jason Wright
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Saturn Girl; in visions: Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Invisible Kid, Kid Quantum II, Live Wire, M'Onel, Monstress, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Violet, Wildfire, XS

Guests: 
In visions: Dreamer, R.J. Brande, Shvaughn Erin, Tenzil Kem

Opponents: 
Universo; in visions: Progenitor, Progeny (both unseen)

Reboot: The Legion #19

The Legion #19 (June 2003)
title: "Dreamcrime: Part One"

writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

penciller: Chris Batista
inker: Mark Farmer
lettering: Comicraft
colorist: Jason Wright
seps: Digital Chameleon

editor: Stephen Wacker

cover: Tony Harris and Tom Feister

reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Ferro (image only), Karate Kid, Kid Quantum II, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Star Boy, Violet

Guests: 
Aven, Cub Nah, Dr. Gym'll, Dreamer, Lena Erqol; a Kwai navigator, Titanians

Opponents: 
Darkseid (dream sequence), Universo (behind the scenes/voice)

DCUniverse Holiday Special 2010

DCUniverse Holiday Special 2010 (February 2011)
title: "Holiday"

writer: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
artists: Chris Batista & Rich Perrotta

letterer: Travis Lanham
colorist: Hi-Fi

asst. editor: Rachel Gluckstern
editor: Mike Carlin
cover: Matt Haley (?) 

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board: 
Cosmic Boy, Wildfire, Dawnstar, Polar Boy, Shadow Lass, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Lighting Lass, Element Lad, Brainiac 5; Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Mon-El, Sun Boy, Invisible Kid, Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl, Timber Wolf, Gates

Opponents:
fatigue, holiday envy

Review: Legion Secret Origin #6

Recap: RJ Brande has formed the Legion. The United Planets was initially conflicted about the young team. However, the Legionnaires help thwart and attack from another dimension. Deputized and accepted, the team is ready to help. But everything isn't rosy. The wormhole the attackers came from is still there. A shadowy figure is trying to assassinate Brande. And the UP Security Directorate is still trying to manipulate things from the sidelines.

This is it, the last chapter of the Legion Secret Origin mini-series. Writer Paul Levitz does very good job linking all the plotlines in this story together and bringing them to a satisfying conclusion in this issue. I haven't always been on board with this mini-series given it's tangential look at the Legion's origin. It is a shame that this issue is the best issue. Had the whole mini been written like this, I might have enjoyed it much more.

Moreover, and this shouldn't be a spoiler given last issue, Levitz cements the Time Trapper as the Legion main villain. We had seen the Trapper ascend to a prominent status in the Baxter series and even the Five Years Later run. Now we know he has been there from the beginning.

But of all the things that happened in this story, the one that I think will stick out the most is the characterization of Phantom Girl. She is fun, adventurous, and very physical in her interactions, as though intangible people don't understand physical boundaries. It is interesting that she gets the deepest dive in characterization (although Brainiac 5 gets screen time too)!

On to the book!

Review: Legion Secret Origin #5

Recap: The Legion is forming. Some elements in the United Planets support the team creation. Other parts fear this private army. The Directorate of Security, the shadowy trimuverate responsible for keeping the UP safe and running, also seem split. And, oh by the way, a wormhole to another dimension is opening with an invading army biding their time on the other side. This sounds like a job for Superman.

Legion Secret Origin #5 is the penultimate issue for the series and certainly pushes the plot forward as we rush to the ending. We get a glimpse of Superman. We see the team spring into intergalactic action. And we get a sense of who is behind all the assassination attempts on R.J. Brande.

But is it enough. This issue suffers a little bit in my knowing the series only has one more issue to go. I don't know if at the end of this issue that I feel the story has progressed enough to wrap up. I also don't know if I have been told enough story to make me happy.

As I have said in prior reviews, this is a tangential look at the Legion's origins. I have felt somewhat deflated after reading these issues because some things which have happened off panel would be more interesting to read than the things we are seeing. I wish I could remember how this was received at the time it came out.

Writer Paul Levitz continues to sprinkle in nice moments for the well-read Legion fan. And we see the team coming together somewhat. But this has felt lacking.

Thankfully, artist Chris Batista continues to shine with his crisp art.

Review: Legion Secret Origin #4

Recap: The Legion is just forming, organized by mega-rich philanthropist RJ Brande. The planet Anotrom was overrun by alien warriors. Now a wormhole has opened near Anotrom and an invading alien armada stands poised to enter United Planets. Meanwhile, more young super-powered youths, including Querl Dox and Tinya Wazzo, are heading to Earth, brought in to help cope with this new interdimensional threat and the lure of the Legion. All the while, the UP Security Directorate council is taking it all in and pulling some strings.

I have already reviewed the first half of the Legion Secret Origin miniseries and I have been of two minds. As an inculcated fan, I have enjoyed this sideways look at the origin. We have been dancing on the periphery of the team's beginnings, adding some details to the well known tale. And that is fine for someone like me who can recite the Legion's beginnings with ease. But I have worried that new fans would be either bored or lost or both.

Legion Secret Origin #4 turns the corner a little bit. There is more Legion action here. The team is together and in action. And the plot threads are starting to tighten into something cohesive. Add to that all of this 'seasoning', like peeks at the personality quirks of the Legionnaires in these early years.

I still think it might be a little tangential for someone new. But this issue is better.

Add to that the smooth art of Chris Batista who gets to stretch his artistic legs a bit. He really gives a youthful polish to these characters, especially Phantom Girl.

On to the book.

Review: Legion Secret Origin #3

What if you told an origin story and no new reader could understand it?

Sigh.

Legion Secret Origin #3 continues what I am calling a 'sideways' look at the team's origin. As I have said in other reviews, I bought this series off the rack but I have no recollection of it. So maybe this all will come together at some point. For now, I am reading this book and appreciating this sort of 'behind the scenes' look at the Legion's earliest days. But I keep wondering if anyone trying to learn about the Legion even understands what is going on.

So during this review I will point out some things that long-time readers will understand.. However, these nods to the past might not exactly be understood or even acknowledged by anyone picking this up.

Perhaps most of all, I am internally comparing this series to the other more recent Secret Origin (like Superman) or Rebirth (like Green Lantern) books that DC had been putting out at the time. Those were true retellings of those characters beginnings, a foundation for new readers to build on. I don't know if writer Paul Levitz quite understood the purpose of these.

As usual, Chris Batista provides clean, smooth art for the proceedings. This issue has a decent spectrum of places for Batista to shine. From the boardroom to deep space battles, there is a shine to the art here. But with this mostly being conversations, there is an almost sterile feel to the book.

Have I excited you to read the review?

Review: Legion Secret Origin #2

Legion Secret Origin #2 continues to be a look at the formative time in the team, when their membership and their standing was still in flux. Who are these kids? What is RJ Brande trying to create with this team? And what does the United Planets brass think of it?

For me, on paper, it is an interesting look at the Legion past. It is very easy to say The Legion was founded, proved to be good citizens, and were accepted. But that is too easy, too Silver Age, too 1950s of an answer to be easily accepted these days. Let's put this way. If I said a billionaire was assembling his own well-armed tactical team to run missions of good well, would you say 'cool'? Or would you want to know who decides what missions? Is there oversight? Who vets the members?

We live in cynical times. The Legion is not a cynical book. Addressing the questions seems prudent.

Ahhh ... but addressing them and being entertaining? That is a different story. Once again, I have to say that this origin seems to be written for the pre-established Legion fan. I know the straightforward history so looking at these events from a new slant is easily digested. For someone who doesn't know the difference between Rokk Krinn and Stone Boy? Maybe not so. And there is so many scenes of political pundits talking that it isn't a snappy read either.

The art by Chris Batista continues to shine here. It is a nice, clean look at a shimmering future. So no complaints there.

Review: Legion Secret Origin #1

Welcome to Legion Secret Origin Fridays, in which I will review the mini-series of the same name which came out at the end of 2011, right around the time the New 52 had kicked off.

Last month I ended my review run on the Threeboot Legion. Prior to that I had done an in depth look at the pre-Zero Hour 5YL run. Neither are 'traditional' Legion of Super-Heroes books. So when I was deciding what I was going to do for the site after the Threeboot, I thought I would try to do something more classic.

Now I doubt that anyone would ever ever ever say that something that came out of the New 52 is 'classic'. But at the same time, this Secret Origin mini-series was written by longtime Legion scribe Paul Levitz. At the time there were two (two!!!) monthly Legion books on the shelves. In the years prior, DC had success with Secret Origin books for Green Lantern, Flash, and Superman. And this mini-series was going to define the Legion for a new age. So why not review it.

It both helps and hurts that I have absolutely no recollection of this series at all. It means I will come in fresh and without any of the preconceived notions of the New 52. It also means it wasn't memorable. And after reading this first issue, I have to say, I don't know if this was the right way to try to introduce a new generation of Legion fans to the book or the characters.

Written by Paul Levitz with lovely art by Chris Batista, Legion Secret Origin runs six issues. Will it reinvigorate or douse the fire of Legion fandom? We shall see.