Week of 14 January 2009

(SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers. Don't read it before you've read the comics.)

ACTION #873 (3/09)
"New Krypton Part Ten: Birth of a Nation"
ROLL CALL: Mon-El, Starman/Star Boy

At the beginning of this issue, there's a cameo of Starman/Star Boy being punched by a Kryptonian from Kandor. At the end of the issue, there's a cameo of Mon-El in the Phantom Zone not being punched by Bizarro.

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FINAL CRISIS #6 of 7 (1/09)
"How to Murder the Earth"
ROLL CALL: Brainiac 5, Starman/Star Boy, Superman

In the first three pages, set in the 31st century, Brainiac 5 takes Superman into the Legion arsenal and shows him the Miracle Machine...which is apparently the key to resolving the Final Crisis. There's a cameo of Starman/Star Boy in one panel of the double-page spread where Metron is holding a rubik's cube. Thom has been busy this week.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: Brainy says that the Miracle Machine was created in 2960. If that was when the Controllers gave it to the Legion, that was 49 years ago in the Legion's timeline. That means the Legionnaires are at least in their 60s, if not older. We're back to the problem of aging in the 31st century and the protracted adolescence of the Legionnaires. (Granted, somewhere recently -- maybe in Countdown -- someone mentioned that 31st century medicine involves nanotech that repairs physical damage. Presumably, they also take care of aging.) Still, it's a bad idea to tie the Legion down to specific dates.

The Legion arsenal contains four time bubbles, the Concentrator, a lump of green kryptonite, and some other stuff I feel like I should recognize: some craft the look like escape pods, a floating gun, six odd-looking helmets on a table, and a floating spray can.

In classic Legion chronology, Matter-Eater Lad ate the Miracle Machine -- it drove him mad. Is this the same Miracle Machine (did Tenzil barf it up?), a different Miracle Machine, or a different timeline where Tenzil never ate it?

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SMALLVILLE: Episode 8.11 (1/15/09)
"Legion"
ROLL CALL: Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl

No need to say much about this. It was great. And I've never seen Garth looking so adorable before. :)

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