Brian Michael Bendis on Legion?

Okay, this might be a stretch.

On November 8th, I had the luck of driving just a few miles from my place of work to MIT. And there, I was able to take in the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program 2018 Julius Schwartz Memorial Lecture. Past lecturers have been Neil Gaiman and J. Michael Straczynski.

This year it was Brian Michael Bendis.

The lecture was open to the public and held in a big auditorium style class room on campus. It looked like about 100 people were in attendance.

Fellow comic professional Marjorie Liu led the discussion, interviewing Bendis and talking a lot about his history, his process, and his favorite moments.

It was really fascinating to hear Bendis talk about his childhood reading comics, his desire to be an artist, and his ultimate conversion to writer.

So why am I posting here?

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.

Extra! Extra! Extra! Legion Guest Stars In Flash #26!

Do you know? Do you know? Have you heard the news?

Two characters connected to the Legion appeared in The Flash #26!

Admittedly, they aren't Legionnaires, but supporting characters who first appeared in a Legion comic. It's Don and Dawn Allen, the Tornado Twins.

Supergirl #8

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

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 in Convergence

Get ready, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes is coming back!
Don't miss them!
We don't know if we here at LSB are going to enjoy this Convergence mini-series, but telling DC Comics that we want a Legion comic seems like a good idea...!

Convergence: Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #1

by Stuart Moore, Gus Storms, and Mark Farmer

On Sale April 22

Legion to appear in new Justice League United story!

Great news! The Legion are making their way back to comics!

Not so great news. Rather than headlining their own book, they'll appear as part of a Justice League United story line. Specifically a story entitled "The Infinitus Saga," contained within Justice League United Annual #1 and Justice League United #6-#10.

Well... we're not getting our own new monthly series yet, but I suppose we should be happy we're getting any new Legion comics!

The announcement came some time ago, sorry for just getting around to sharing it here. Below you'll find the cover and solicitation.

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED ANNUAL #1
On Sale October 29, 2014
Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: Jay Leisten, Neil Edwards
Cover by: Jay Leisten, Neil Edwards
U.S. Price: $4.99 - 48 pages
The Infinitus Saga begins as the Legion of Super-Heroes arrive with the shocking news that the 31st century has been destroyed! Now it’s up to the Justice League United to save the future!

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #6
On Sale November 12, 2014
Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: Joseph Silver, Timothy Green, II
Cover by: Andrew Robinson
Variant cover by: Rod Reis
U.S. Price: $3.99 - 32 pages
The Infinitus Saga continues as a displaced Legion of Super-Heroes tries to prevent the destruction of the 31st century by killing Ultra the Multi Alien! Complicating matters is the fact that Multi is a young innocent in the current time period, forcing the Justice League United to stand in the Legion’s way! 

The new piece to this story is the "Channel 52" article posted last week discussing the Legion appearance in greater detail. If you don't read contemporary comics, "Channel 52" is a weekly in-house promotional ad appearing in each issue of DC Comics. Sort of like the Bronze Age "Daily Planet" pages for you old fogeys. :)

Here is the important bit...

"... As the 31st century starts collapsing, the Legion travels back in time to the current time, Terminator-style, to prevent this catastrophe from happening. Unfortunately, to do that, the Legion must kill a child. And standing in their way is our li'l ol' JL United team!"

Seems likely the collapsing of the 31st century may have something to do with the current story in The New 52 - Futures End. In fact, be sure to pick up last week's Justice League United: Futures End #1 for an appearance by Dawnstar!

Fingers crossed that "The Infinitus Saga" leads to a new ongoing series for our favorite future super-stars!

Long Live the Legion!

News: Legion Items in DC's November 2014 Solicits

Unfortunately, November 2014 will mark the 15th consecutive month since DC last published a monthly Legion of Super-Heroes book. However, there is something for Legion fans to rejoice over in DC's November 2014 advanced solicits. We will get the fifth volume of the black and white reprint DC Showcase Presents: The Legion of Super-Heroes arriving in comic shops on Christmas Eve, with a gorgeous cover by the late, great Nick Cardy! Just in time to fill that last minute gift idea on your Christmas list!

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES VOL. 5 TP
Written by CARY BATES, JIM SHOOTER and PAUL LEVITZ
Art by DAVE COCKRUM, MIKE GRELL and others
Cover by NICK CARDY
On sale DECEMBER 24 • 520 pg, B&W, $19.99 US
These 1970s stories reestablished the Legion’s popularity and introduced new heroes Timber Wolf, Karate Kid and Wildfire. Collects SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #193, 195, 197-220 and KARATE KID #1.

LONG LIVE THE LEGION!!!