Justice League vs. The Fatal Five

"Justice League vs. The Fatal Five" was directed by Sam Liu and written by Alan Burnett, Eric Carrasco, and James Krieg.

Review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Spoiler Warning: This post contains significant spoilers! Of course, spoilers are usually present in most of our posts but we are usually discussing old comic books and not newly released films. Under the circumstances, I felt an extra warning is warranted.

The Heroes: Elyes Gabel (Starboy), Diane Guerrero (Green Lantern Jessica Cruz), Kevin Conroy (Batman), Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman), George Newborn (Superman), Daniella Bobadilla (Miss Martian), Kevin Michael Richardson (Mr. Terrific/also Kilowog), Tara Strong (Saturn Girl/also Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy), and Noel Fisher (Brainiac 5).

The Villains: Peter Jessop (Tharok), Matthew Yang King (The Persuader), Sumalee Montano (Emerald Empress), Phillip Anthony-Rodriguez (Mano), Bruce Time (Validus/also Two Face), and Tom Kenny (Bloodsport/also Salaak).

TOS: Adventure Comics #378

Adventure Comics #378 (March 1969)
title: "Twelve Hours To Live!"
writer and layouts: Jim Shooter
penciller: Win Mortimer
inker: Jack Abel
letterer: Joe Letterese
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover: Neal Adams
reviewer:  Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board: 
Brainiac 5, Duo Damsel, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Superboy

Opponent:
Death, unknown would-be assassin; the Fatal Five

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #10

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #10 (March 2008)
title: House Arrest
writer: Matthew K. Manning
penciller: Alex Serra
inker: Jeff Albrecht
letterer: Sal Cipriano
colorist: Heroic Age
editor: Jeanine Shaefer
cover art: Matt Stewart

Mission Monitor Board: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl.

Villains: The Fatal Five (Emerald Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, and Validus)

TOS: Adventure Comics #366

Adventure Comics #366 (February 1968)
title: "The Fight For The Championship of the Universe!"
writer and layouts: Jim Shooter
penciller: Curt Swan
inker: George Klein
letterer: Gaspar Saladino and Morris Waldinger
editor: Mort Weisinger
cover art: Neal Adams
reviewers: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane and Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board: Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Karate Kid, Superboy, new member Shadow Lass

Opponents: the Fatal Five (Tharok, Emerald Empress, Validus, the Persuader, Mano)

Retroboot Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1

Hey all,
I think with the posting of this review of Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1 from the retroboot Legion that I am finally caught up with my reviews. While my reviews have gone all the way up to Legion of Super-Heroes #13, this annual should have been snuggled up after LSH #8.  After all, this story picks up right after Ayla and Vi announce that they are heading off on vacation.

So, thankfully, moving forward, I think the timeline is now reset.

On to the book!

TOS: Adventure Comics #353

Adventure Comics #353 (February 1967)
title: "The Doomed Legionnaire!"

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, Ferro Lad, Princess Projectra, Sun Boy, Superboy; cameos by Invisible Kid, Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl, Colossal Boy, Chameleon Boy

Opponents: 
The Sun Eater, The Fatal Five (Emerald Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, Validus)

TOS: Adventure Comics #352

Adventure Comics #352 (January 1967)
title: "The Fatal Five!"

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, Ferro Lad, Princess Projectra, Sun Boy, Superboy

Guests: 
Cameos of various other-worldly heroes whose names are not given and who are never shown again

Opponents: 
The Sun Eater, The Fatal Five (Emerald Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, Validus)

New 52 Legion of Super-Heroes #21

The end is nigh.
The carnage is high!
Tinya said bye.
Tharok's powers are making me say 'how? why?
And I'm tired.

When the best I can do in an old review, and the best I can do in a newer review, is pick out panels as maybe showing character progression and continuity, you know things are rough.

And now I wonder why Giffen came and left so quickly here. And I wonder if DC told Levitz to just go bananas since this continuity, this Legion, was probably not coming back.

But it is bad. So bad I rant in the intro, so bear with me.

We are nearing the end aren't we.

New 52 Legion of Super-Heroes #19

Hoo boy.

We are approaching the end of the New 52 title and Legion of Super-Heroes #19 continues the funeral dirge of this series and these characters. All the problems I have been having since Keith Giffen rejoined the book - the odd characterization, the senseless killings, the grimy art - are all magnified here. The writing should have been on the wall that this was coming to an end.

My opening comments on the old review hold true. I don't know if DC gave the creative team the ultimatum to shake things up to save the series but it feels like it. And I wonder if Levitz and Giffen thought the easiest way to do that would be to sink into the grim, gross comics of the time. We have on screen deaths, off screen deaths, and on screen loss of limb. It all feels so 'Forever Evil'. It all screams New 52. And I don't mean that as a compliment. Add to that Phantom Girl acting like a coward and Emerald Empress acting like the Joker and you can understand why long time Legion fans were scratching their heads. It might say Legion on this gatefold 'WTF' cover, but that's not what it read like.

The art is a mix of Scott Kolins at his Kirby-est and Jeff Johnson. It is an odd mix of Kolins' rough look and smoother looking pages by Johnson. 

It still amazes me that this book was the last formal look we had at the Legion.

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #5

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #5 (October 2007)

title: Lightning Strikes

writer:J. Torres

art: Alex Serra

colors: Heroic Age

letterer: Travis Lanham

editor: Jeanine Schaefer

cover: Steve Uy

reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Superman, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl.


Villain: Emerald Empress

Summary: Brainiac 5 is testing Superman's abilities and most of the team is impressed, except of course for Lightning Lad.

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #4

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #4 (September 2007)
title: Higher Education
writer: Christine Boylan
art & cover: Steve Uy
letterer: Phil Blasman
editor: Jeanine Schaefer
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Mission Monitor Board: Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Superman, Triplicate Girl.


Villains: The Fatal Five - Emerald Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, Validus. 

The New Fatal Five: Who And What Are They???

In the pages of "Supergirl," writer Steve Orlando has been slowly establishing a brand new version of the Fatal Five dedicated to taking down the Girl of Steel. The only similarity this version has with any of the others is that the leader, or rather, the ringmaster, is none other than the Emerald Empress. This isn't the first time the Empress has put together the Fatal Five, but as of this incarnation she's now the only consistent member of every version, sort of like Robotman in the Doom Patrol.

That doesn't mean this group has no similarities to the original.

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #303

Legion of Super-Heroes #303 continues the layered, complex, dense approach to the universe that creators Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen are famous for. As is the standard approach for their issues, their is a main plot that is maximally covered but there are also multiple looks past that story, peeking in on the lives of the rest of the team.

This approach allows the reader to keep tabs on almost everyone. It shows the breadth of this mythos. But most importantly, it means that if you have a favorite Legionnaire you won't go too long without seeing them. Levitz keeps us up to date on almost everyone.

I have said before, there is a slowly simmering storyline in these issues which will come to a head in a couple of months. Looking back now, reading this issue, I am impressed how Levitz and Giffen left a trail of bread crumbs for the readers to follow. I know I was blind to the clues even though they were all there. This ability to let a plot slowly unfold just isn't seen anymore.

On top of all that, this continues a period where Levitz and Giffen brought Supergirl back into the fold. Obviously, these issues hold a special spot in my heart. I love this cover. It definitely showcases Kara nicely. But the image of the Legionnaires trapped within the Emerald Eye is a nice touch.

On to the book!

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #302

Legion of Super-Heroes #302 came out in May of 1983 and was another smashing chapter in the incredible run by Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen, and Larry Mahlstadt. As I said when I started this lastest run of Legion reviews, Levitz and Giffen are firing on all pistons during this run and this issue is a perfect example.

The main story is a battle between Lightning Lad and Lightning Lord. But there is more than just a 'we hate each other, let's fight' plot line here. This is a story that is built on Legion history and more current events. And it also is one of those stories that carries forward from this issue as the Ranzz story here is continued and even more emphasized in the early issues of the Baxter series.

But as usual, there are multiple subplots bubbling through as well. Timber Wolf is still pining for Ayla.  Supergirl, Brainiac 5 and an away team have been lured to Weber's World where another villain is waiting. Element Lad is heading to Imsk to investigate a mystery eating away at the Legion from the inside. And, oh by the way, the main team is still trying to reshape the planet Daxam from a bust of Darkseid back into a planet.

Despite all those arcs, Levitz and Giffen effortlessly showcase them all without the book seeming unwieldy and without giving any one arc short shrift. It is amazing and it showed how a team could embrace all of the Legion universe and not be intimidated or lessened by it.

Add to that Giffen and Mahlstadt's stylish and innovative art, and this book is almost a primer for the run as a whole. So let's dive in.

Supergirl #8

The Emerald Empress Strikes!
It says so, right there on the cover!

Reboot: Legion of Super-Heroes #83

Legion of Super-Heroes #83 (August 1996)
title: "Big Tears"

writers: Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw

pencillers: Lee Moder and Mike Collins

inker: Ron Boyd
lettering: Pat Brosseau
colorist: Tom McCraw

assistant editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson

cover: Alan Davis & Mark Farmer
reviewers: Siskoid & Shotgun

Mission Monitor Board:  
Apparition, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Cosmic Boy, Element Lad, Gates, Invisible Kid, Kid Quantum (flashback), Kinetix, Leviathan, Saturn Girl, Shrinking Violet, Spark, Star Boy, Triad, Ultra Boy, XS

Guests: 
Evolvo, Inferno, Karate Kid, Spider-Girl, Sun Boy, Taran and Garra Arrah (as visions)

Opponents: 
Dr. Regulus, Emerald Eye of Ekron, Leland McCauley

Justice League vs. Suicide Squad...what you missed!

Hey Legionnaires! Kord Kid here, back with a tangential piece of Legion lore...something I'm betting a few of you missed or overlooked! A couple months back, DC started a little mini-series called Justice League vs. Suicide Squad, written by Joshua Williamson with art by Jason Fabok, Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea, Jesus Merino and Andy Owens, Fernando Pasarin and Matthew C. Ryan, Robson Rocha with Oclair Albert, Sandu Florea, Daniel Henriques and Jay Leisten, and Howard Porter. That's a lot of artists for a six issue mini, huh? 

I know what you're thinking. "I'm a Legion fan, this is a Legion blog! OK, so Superman is part of the Justice League, and was part of the Legion, but why should I care about the Suicide Squad? The story's not even set in the 30th Century!?" 

Fair enough. I'll give you 3 reasons...

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #271

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #271 (Jan, 1981)
title: "What IS the Dark Man?"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: John Calnan

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Jimmy Janes & Steve Mitchell

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Timber Wolf, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Colossal Boy, Princess Projectra, Wildfire, Mon-El, Shadow Lass

Guests: 
Blok

Opponents: 
The Dark Man, the Fatal Five (Emerald Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, and Validus)

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #270

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #270 (Dec, 1980)
title: "Who Is The Dark Man?"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Milt Snapinn
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Colossal Boy, Shrinking Violet, Shadow Lass, Mon-El, Wildfire, Princess Projectra, Timber Wolf, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Light Lass

Guests: 
Marte Allon, Blok

Opponents: 
The Fatal Five (Emerald Empress, Mano, the Persuader, Validus, Tharok), The Dark Man, The League of Super-Assassins (Silver Slasher, Titania, Lazon, Mist Master)

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #269

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #269 (Nov, 1980)
title: "Who Shall Name the Dark Man?"

writer: Gerry Conway

penciller: Jimmy Janes
inker: Frank Chiaramonte

letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Jack C. Harris
cover: Dick Giordano

reviewer: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage

Mission Monitor Board:  
Princess Projectra, Shadow Lass, Mon-El, Shrinking Violet, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Wildfire, Timber Wolf, Colossal Boy, Light Lass (not listed on Roll Call)

Guests: 
Colossal Boy's parents, Wynn and Marte Allon

Opponents: 
The Fatal Five (Validus, the Persuader, Emerald Empress, Mano, and Tharok)