Week of August 12, 2009

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

This was a great week for LSH fans. Forget Blackest Night: the Legion is all over the Superman titles.

ACTION #880 (10/09)
"Codename: Patriot Part 2"
ROLL CALL: Mon-El, Sensor Girl [Wilcox]

Lots of cute super-beings in this issue. Mon-El, of course, who flies into action to rescue a pilot, and then creates a distraction so that Supes and Lois can sneak away for some off-panel canoodling. But there's also Ral-Dar, misguided but totally adorable Kryptonian. And then there's Nightwing/Chris Kent, about whom an onlooker has the final word: "--Oh, he is cute! Wouldn't mind seeing what's under that armor --"

As usual, Mon-El is the most sensible and heroic one around. Although Tellus foiled Mon's chance for hot Daxamite sex with Sodam Yat, perhaps we can hope Mon will step up to the plate and rehabilitate Ral-Dar with some hot hugs & kisses. Or when Flamebird goes crazy (you know she will) or gets killed (it could happen), Mon could comfort Chris and become a true member of the Superman Family as Clark and Lois's son-in-law.

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ADVENTURE #1/#504 (10/09)
"Superboy The Boy of Steel Part One"
ROLL CALL: Brainiac 5 (cameo), Chameleon Boy (cameo), Cosmic Boy (cameo), Lightning Lad (cameo), Phantom Girl (cameo), Saturn Girl (cameo), Superboy (Kal-El) (cameo), Tellus, Triplicate Girl (cameo)

Tellus is hiding in Bruin Lake in Smallville, terrorizing a strange young boy named Simon Valentine. Everyone needs a hobby.

ADVENTURE #1/#504 (10/09)
"Long Live the Legion Part One" (second feature)
ROLL CALL (cameos): Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, R.J. Brande, Chameleon Girl, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dawnstar, Duplicate Damsel, Invisible Kid (Jacques), Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, Night Girl, Phantom Girl, Polar Boy, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Shrinking Violet, Starman/Star Boy, Sun Boy, Superboy (Kal-El), Superman, Triplicate Girl, Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy, Wildfire
ROLL CALL (speaking roles): Blok, Brainiac 5, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Lightning Lad, Starman/Star Boy, Tellus, XS

There are two covers for this issue. The one Legion fans want is the variant cover (pictured here), which is done in the style of Adventure 300 and countless others, and shows Starman in one of the panels. (The non-variant cover has Superman, Superboy, and Luthor.) This issue is numbered both 1 and 504; the non-variant cover has a huge white 1 and a greyed-out 504, while the variant cover has a white 504 and a huge greyed-out 1.

A lot crammed into eight pages, most of it setup for future stories. The main story takes place in 21st century Smallville. Starman talks to some birds; in the course of the conversation he lets slip that he is part of an Espionage Squad mission ("The worlds still need to be saved.") He also mentions Quislet; it's hard to understand Thom all the time, but the implication seems to be that Quislet is one of the team in the 21st century.

Thom visits Tellus in Bruin Lake and makes reference to "R.J. Brande's Last Will and Testament, aka our battle plan. Legion operation: Spin the bottle." Tellus tries to cure Thom's insanity; Thom criesout "Arrggg! The war. The 31st century. Today. Tomorrow. Beware the Black Witch. Dream Girl!"

Then there are some intriguing preview images ("Coming up for the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 21st/31st century"). In the 21st century there's Element Lad; then Dream Girl, Superboy (Connor), and a mystery boy (who might or might not be Mon-El); and Morgan Edge and Despero. In the 31st century, the cameos show Brainy, Tinya, and Blok (whose wounds have healed with a complicaiton, but who is eager to be off to the Sorcerer's World); XS on the Cosmic Treadmill ("Gotta get back. Gotta warn --"); and a mysterious gloved hand bearing a Green Lantern ring and a Legion flight ring.

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: In the double-page spread, the identifying labels for Night Girl and Shadow Lass are switched. Also, Jacques is invisible.

It appears that many of the missing Legionnaires are in the 21st century as part of an Espionage Squad operation: Dream Girl, Element Lad, Starman, Tellus, possibly Quislet...and if the Espionage Squad is involved, could Chameleon Boy be far? Especially since it has something to do with his father's Last Will and Testament? I'm willing to bet that Cham is masquerading as someone we've already seen, or will see soon.

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R.E.B.E.L.S. #7 (10/09)
"No Way Out"
ROLL CALL: Amon Hakk, Bounder, Cece, Strata, Vril Dox, Wildstar

BITS OF L.E.G.I.O.N.NAIRE BUSINESS: Oddly enough, Despero shows up for the second time this week in a Legion-related comic, when he refuses Dox's plea for help.

For the first time, we get to see the Gil-Dishpan at home. Out of their containment bubbles, they look more anthropomorphic than you'd think.

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SUPERMAN SECRET FILES 2009 #1 (10/09)
"Mon-El" (text feature) & "Double Act" (story)
ROLL CALL: Mon-El, Sensor Girl [Wilcox]

Besides the text feature, Mon also appears in a seven-page story of the developing partnership between Jonathan Kent and Billi Harper.

When Billi suggests that Jon might have a boyfriend, he replies, "No. I like girls. It is just -- like I said, my life has been complicated." Hooray for complicated! (I think it's been clear, since Mon's first meeting with Kal-El, that Mon goes for boys as much as for girls.)

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Week of August 5, 2009

I did not see any Legion content in DC Comics this week.

So I went back and read LEGION OF 3 WORLDS over again. It helped.

Here are some more thins I'd like to see for the Legion in the future:

Some new threats/villains. The Universe-Prime Legion was good at this: We had Lemnos, Robotica, and the invaders who were digitizing everything. Oh, I don't mind bringing back bad guys from old continuity -- but let's not do it too often, okay?

New Legionnaires. Yeah, everybody complains that the Legion's cast is too large already. Tough. It's the "Legion" of Super-Heroes, not the "Dozen or So" Super-Heroes.

Some clarification of what's part of Retro Legion continuity. Sensor Girl, Tellus, Quislet, and Polar Boy are all members: what about Magnetic Kid? Did he die in the Magic Wars? (In "Superman & the LSH," Supes mentioned the Magic Wars; apparently they are still part of continuity.) I presume that the whole "Death of Superboy" thing is out (or is it? Was there a Pocket Universe?)

What has happened to the Legion in the years between the Magic Wars and now? Yera has a career as Chameleon Girl. Night Girl joined the Legion. Val came back from the dead. What happened with Night Girl and Comsic Boy? Last time we saw they were a couple, but in L3W Cos seemed devoted to the Legion to the exclusion of personal relationships. What about the Ranzz Family: how are the twins, have there been any other kids? Have Jo and Tinya tied the knot? What else have we missed?

How do we stand with Superboy? Apparently Kal-El had a career in the 30th century as Superboy, while in the 20th "the Super Boy" was a suburban legend. One assumes that most of the previous Legion stories are essentially unchanged, except those that brought the Legion back to 20th century Smallville. There must be some way to save the "Mordru the Merciless" story....

What about Supergirl?

I guess the bottom line is that I want to see a nice balance between history/nostalgia and innovation, between old and new, between character and plot, between relationships and great events. That's not too much to ask, is it?

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Week of 29 July 2009

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

SUPERMAN #690 (9/09)
"The Setup"
ROLL CALL: Mon-El, Sensor Girl [Wilcox], Tellus

The title says it all: this issue is little more than four vignettes, each a setup for a later story.

Eleven pages are wasted on a protracted fight scene between Steel and Atlas, in which the dialogue consists mostly of various grunts. Eleven pages which could easily have been spent showing us something interesting, like Mon-El undressing and taking a shower, or parading around in bathing trunks, or any of a number of other scenarios.

A two-page Science Police setup (in which Mon-El appears, fully-clothed, in only two panels) has Officer Harper assigned to partner with Mon-El (Jon Kent) in the new plainclothes squad. Well, at least this bit has an openly gay S.P. officer, so that's cool. This story will be continued in Superman: Secret Files 2009.

An extended teaser has the Parasite going after Zatara, who is assisted by Mark Merlin. (I should know who Mark Merlin is, but I'm too lazy to look it up.) Zatara, as always, is cute but rather insufferable. Somebody needs to shove something in his mouth to keep him from talking. This story will be continued in the pages of Superman and Justice League.

The last setup sequence is the best. It shows a meeting between Tellus and Sodam Yat. Sodam is on his way to find Mon-El for some hot Daxamite boy-on-boy action, but Tellus stops him. Tellus announces that "If you meet Mon-El now, the future will be such that evil will win out over good." I am guessing that this is a tie-in to L3W, where Mon and Sodam apparently met for the first time...but perhaps it is some other kind of time paradox.

Sodam wanted to show Mon his etchings...er...crystals with information about Daxam. (Sodam is apparently under the impression that Mon doesn't know that much about Daxam, which is odd, because Daxam is where Mon grew up, eh?) So Tellus agrees to take the crystals to Mon. This story will be continued in Superman Annual #14. Somehow, it seems like Sodam is missing the point. I mean, he gets credit for the "seduce Mon by showing him pictures from home" plan, but not so much for the "send the hulking telepathic alien in my place to seduce Mon by showing him pictures from home" plan.

Tellus, on the other hand, knows exactly what he's doing -- after all, now he gets to seduce Mon, and he's gotten rid of the competition. Just goes to show that a Legionnaire can out-think any 21st century hero, especially when it comes to hot mansex.


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Are You Prime or Brek?

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

Geoff Johns was not dissing all comic book fans...just the obnoxious ones.

Before you go getting all insulted about his satirical portrait of Superboy-Prime as an obnoxious comic fan, take a look at his loving portrayal of Polar Boy as the greatest comic book fan in the universe. A hero who saves the day by inspiring a friend with his joy and enthusiasm.

Geoff Johns is obviously an uber-fan of the Legion, the Green Lanterns, the Flash mythos, and the entire Superman Family. You need only glance at his work to know this. The man is not making fun of all comic fans...just the ones who like Superboy-Prime.

So before you get your knickers in a knot, ask yourself: does the shoe fit? Am I Superboy-Prime, or am I Polar Boy?

And if you're Superboy-Prime...well, then, take Sodam Yat's advice and exercise your right to be silent. People might start liking you a little better.

Reflections on L3W #5

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

Well, the dust is settled and we finally know the fate of the Legions, Superboy-Prime, the Time Trapper, and all the other related characters and institutions. What a long, strange trip it's been.

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THE LEGIONS

Everyone thought that this series would end with only one Legion in existence. Happily, that was not the case.

There are now three main Legions. There's the Legion of Universe-0, which is the Classic/Retro Legion with the addition of XS and Gates. There's the Legion of Universe-Prime. And there's the Legion formerly-of-Universe-247, possible now the New Wanderers.

In addition, there is a multiverse of potential other Legions. We saw the SW6/New Earth Legion, the 5-Year-Gap Legion, and various earlier incarnations of the classic Legion.

If I had my way, there would be a Legion for each of the 52 Universes (add Universe-Prime and the Wandering Legion, and that would give you a total of 54).

And here's the best news: Apparently, at a Comic-Con panel today, Geoff Johns said that we will see all the Legions in Adventure Comics. I couldn't be happier.

Remember the old days, when the JLA and the JSA had their annual meetups -- and all the Legion fans were jealous because there was no Earth-2 Legion? Well, boys & girls, wouldn't it be cool to see annual meetups between different Legions? Wouldn't it be excellent to see a team composed of (say) Saturn Girl, Gear, Gates, Kono, the L-Prime Shadow Lass, and (I dunno) Furball? Wouldn't it be superb to see a Boy's Night Out featuring L-247 Invisible Kid, L-0 Element Lad, Classic Chemical King, Sean Erin, and L-Prime Colossal Boy's brother?

Or think of the erotic potential of a M'Onel/Valor/Kent Shakespeare teamup. :)

Seriously, though, there are plenty of open threads for each Legion to pursue. Missing members of L-0, plus Thom and Tellus in the 21st century. All the unfinished business with L-Prime, from Cosmic Boy's leave-of-absence in the future to Lightning Lad & Saturn Girl's future as a couple. And with L-247 prowling the white spaces of the multiverse, who knows what they'll turn up?

There were some personal transformations that made things interesting. Luornu is now Duplicate Damsel, and can manifest as many copies of herself as she wants. That's kewl. And the White Witch is now the Black Witch, with all the Mordru/Kinetix magic to deal with -- you just know we haven't seen the last of Mordru.

And the Time Trapper? Hey, he'll be back. He's inherent in the nature of Time itself. He can never be pinned down to a definite origin or identity.

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Week of 22 July 2009

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

LEGION OF 3 WORLDS #5 (9/09)
"Legion of 3 Worlds Book Five"

ROLL CALL (Classic/Retro Legion): Blok, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy (image), Chameleon Girl, Chemical King, Cosmic Boy, Dawnstar, Dream Girl (image), Duplicate Damsel, Element Lad, Ferro Lad, Green Lantern (Rond) (statue), Invisible Kid (Jacques), Invisible Kid (Lyle), Karate Kid (Myg), Karate Kid (Val), Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, Matter-Eater Lad (image), Mon-El, Night Girl, Phantom Girl, Polar Boy, Princess Projectra, Quislet, Saturn Girl, Sensor Girl, Shadow Lass, Shrinking Violet, Starman/Star Boy, Sun Boy, Supergirl, Superman, Tellus, Tyroc, Ultra Boy, White Witch, Wildfire

ROLL CALL (Earth-247 Legion/New Wanderers): Andromeda, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Ferro, Gates, Gear, Inferno, Kid Quantum, Kinetix, Leviathan (Gim), LeVIathan (Salu), Live Wire, Monstress, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy (Conner Kent), Thunder, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Valor/M'Onel, Wildfire, XS

ROLL CALL (Earth-Prime Legion): Atom Girl, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Cosmic Boy, Dream Girl, Element Lad (statue), Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Sun Boy (statue), Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

ROLL CALL (SW6/Legionnaires): Catspaw, Computo, Dragonmage, Inferno, Matter-Eater Lad

ROLL CALL (5-Year-Gap): Devlin O'Ryan, Furball, Kent Shakespeare, Kono, Laurel Gand, Neon (Celeste), Vi

ROLL CALL (Super-Pets): Beppo, Comet, Krypto, Proty, Streaky

ROLL CALL (Adventure 247): Cosmic Boy, Lighting Boy, Saturn Girl

ROLL CALL (Friends & Relations): Atmos, Bloodclaw, Calamity King, Chlorophyll Kid, Color Kid, Crystal Kid, Echo, Elastic Lad (Jimmy Olsen), Fire Lad, Firefist, Flederweb, Green Lantern (Sodam Yat), Infectious Lass, Insect Queen (Lana), Kid Flash (Bart Allen), Kid Psycho, Laurel Kent, Porcupine Pete, Power Boy (Jed Rikane), Reflecto, Shadow Lad, Spider Girl, Stone Boy, Veilmist, Visi-Lad

ROLL CALL (L.E.G.I.O.N.): Captain Comet, Garryn Bek (image), Garv, Lady Quark, Phase, Stealth, Strata, Telepath

ROLL CALL (LSV): Beauty Blaze, Black Mace, Chameleon Chief, Grimbor, Lightning Lord, Magno Lad, Mano, Micro Lad, Mist Master, Mordru, Silver Slasher, Spider Girl, Superboy-Prime, Terra Man, Terrus, Time Trapper, Titania, Tyr

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WHO WOUND UP WHERE: EARTH-1 LEGION:

On 31st Century arth: Blok, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Girl, Cosmic Boy, Dawnstar, Duplicate Damsel, Gates, Invisible Kid (Jacques), Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, Mon-El, Night Girl, Phantom Girl, Polar Boy, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Shrinking Violet, Sun Boy, Superman, Ultra Boy, Wildfire, XS

On Sorceror's World: Black Witch

With Teen Titans in 21st Century: Superboy (Connor), Kid Flash (Bart)

Last Seen in 21st Century: Starman/Star Boy, Tellus

Missing: Chameleon Boy, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Matter-Eater Lad, Quislet, Sensor Girl, Tyroc

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WHO WOUND UP WHERE: NEW WANDERERS (aka EARTH-247 LEGION):

Past the White Void & Into the Multiverse: Andromeda, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Ferro, Gear, Kid Quantum, LeVIathan (Salu), Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Triad, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Valor/M'Onel, Wildfire

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WHO WOUND UP WHERE: EARTH-PRIME LEGION:

On 31st Century Earth-Prime: Atom Girl, Brainiac 5, Chameleon, Colossal Boy, Dream Girl, Invisible Kid, Karate Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Projectra, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

Last Seen Leaving for the Future: Cosmic Boy

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More comments later. But basically: SQUEEEEE!!!!!

PsiScouts #1 on Kindle

Just in case anyone wants to know....

My LSH-inspired young adult science fiction book Psi Scouts#1: At Risk is now available in Amazon Kindle format.

The book, published under the pseudonym Phil Meade, is also available in print format here.

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Week of 15 July 2009

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

ACTION COMICS #879 (9/09)
"The Sleepers Part 5"
ROLL CALL: Mon-El

Chris Kent is looking pretty fine, but the star of the comic is Mon-El. At Lois's request, he uses his x-ray vision to inspect the skeleton buried in her father's grave. It turns out, based on dental evidence, that the body was not Major Lane's. As we already knew, Major Lane is still alive.

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BLACKEST NIGHT #1 (9/09)
"Blackest Night"
ROLL CALL: Starman/Star Boy

At least, I think that's Starman, in the upper-right corner, just over the statue of Dr. Midnight. Take a look:



Here's an enlarged view:



Many JSA members are in evidence in this panel. This figure isn't Atom Smasher or Damage (they both wear hoods, but their costumes are more colorful). And Thom was last seen hanging around a cemetery in 21st century Metropolis. I am reasonably satisfied that this is him.

If so, it certainly qualifies for nomination in the "Most Obscure Legion Appearance of the Year" award contest.

Week of 8 July 2009

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

R.E.B.E.L.S. #6 (9/09)
"Dominator"
ROLL CALL: Amon Hakk, Bounder, Ciji, Strata, Tribulus, Vril Dox, Wildstar

The Dominator world falls to Starro's forces. Dox uses Silicato trigger a backdoor command that put him in charge of the L.E.G.I.O.N. robots; he uses them to bottle up Maltus and the Dominion in an impenetrable force shield.

In addition to the Dominators, we also see several other Legion-related races and planets: The Khunds, Gil'Dishpan, Coluans, and Durlans.

Dox ends the issue with the promise of new members. I'm guessing that he Dominator Fleet Admiral will become part of the team, and Garv is out there somewhere. I also wonder what happened to Stealth. But it would not bother me at all if Lobo is busy elsewhere.

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BOOSTER GOLD #22 (9/09) doesn't have any direct Legion content, but Booster's Legion flight ring is clearly in evidence.

Week of 1 July 2009

I did not see any Legion content in DC Comics this week.

I saw super-powered Daxamites fighting against Mongul; I saw obscure Green Lanterns; I saw a Starman who wasn't Thom Kallor; I even saw Congorilla. But the only Legionnaires I saw were Superman and Supergirl. There wasn't even a Legion flight ring in evidence.

Sigh. Maybe things will get better next week.

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Week of 24 June 2009

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

SUPERMAN #689 (8/09)
"The Tourist"
ROLL CALL: Mon-El, Tellus

Mon-El goes on a tour of the world, meets many superheroes, and gets his first kiss (what, it wasn't Kal-El? Or Mitch?)

Meanwhile, Tellus bids farewell to Harper and, presumably, the 21st century. He says, "Things need to be done. I must do them...for the good of everyone." Before he leaves, he zaps Harper with some pink energy to prepare him for "the battle you'll one day fight with your enemy the Assassin."

The remainder of the issue deals with the incomprehensible Major Lane subplot and a threat to Steel. Since none of this has any connection to the Legion, I'm trying to ignore as much of it as possible.

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Also of interest: In JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #34 (8/09), the League is fighting Starbreaker. Vixen calls him "a second-rate sun-eater" and Starbreaker responds, "A sun eater is but the larval form of my species. You tremble at the thought of of the infant, and yet you dare to challenge the adult?"

Interesting. The League faced a sun eater in FINAL NIGHT. In classic LSH continuity, sun eaters were manufactured by renegade Controllers in another universe, then used as weapons in this universe. I suppose it's possible to reconcile that with this revelation by Starbreaker. Still, it does seem odd to think of Controllers releasing something that could row up to be as powerful...and as independently sapient...as Starbreaker.

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Okay, it has nothing to do with the Legion (so far), but I have to say it: I am totally lost by what's been going on in Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps. I get the feeling that there's a lot of information in between the lines; I just don't know what it is. I don't know if it's sloppy storytelling, or just that I'm not smart enough. Sigh.

Week of 17 June 2009

I did not see any Legion content in DC Comics this week.

There is one minor LSH connection. ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #12 (2009) tells the origin story of the new Nightwing and Flamebird, aka Christopher Kent (Lor-Zod) and Thara Ak-Var. One of the characters is a Kryptonian criminal named Dev-Em.

In classic Legion continuity, Dev-Em was a Kryptonian juvenile delinquent and Kal-El's on-again-off-again S&M buddy, before jumping forward to the 30th century to become entangled with the LSH. Dev-Em had a long and distinguished career as an agent of the Interstellar Counter-Intelligence Corps, then Giffen and the Bierbaums drove him insane with a terrible haircut and made him blow up the moon.

That was about it for Dev-Em. In current continuity he is a Kryptonian criminal incarcerated in the Phantom Zone. He has no connection to the Legion...yet.

I still have my eyes on Chris Kent/Lor-Zod/Nightwing. I'm willing to bet he hooks up with the Legion sometime.

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Week of 10 June 2009

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

R.E.B.E.L.S. #5 (8/09)
"The Stars We Are"
ROLL CALL: Amon Hakk, Bounder, Ciji, Geotrix, Strata, Vril Dox, Wildstar
ROLL CALL (Omega Men): Broot, Darkfire, Doc, Elu, Tigorr

Lots going on this issue. Ciji reveals that she's on Dox's side. Amon Hakk goes on a mission to kill Dox. Astrild offers Dox a position as a favored lieutenant of Starro. The Dominators fight against Starro's invading troops. Dox sends Wildstar to retrieve the remnants of Silica. Dox and crew escape into hyperspace. And the Psions tell the Omega Men that their mission is to assassinate Starro.

I never thought I would be cheering for Dominators.

The blue-skinned woman with the crazy hair has a name now: Astrild Storm-daughter. She's still not very nice.

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Elsewhere in DC Comics this week, there were no appearances or references to the Legion, Mon-El, or Tellus in ACTION #878. And in FLASH: REBIRTH #3, there was a virtual family reunion of speedsters and Allen Family members: Johnny Quick, Jesse Quick, Barry Allen, Wally West, Jay Garrick, Bart Allen, Iris West Allen, Max Mercury, even cameos of Barry's parents...but is there a single panel showing Jenni, or even a mention of her? No. Guess We know how she rates, eh?

Week of 3 June 2009

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

I did not see any Legion appearances in DC Comics this week.

However, Mon-El is mentioned in SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #4 (8/09). Sodam Yat is among the Green Lanterns sent to investigate New Krypton. Superman says, "You're not one for pleasantries, huh, Sodam?" Sodam Yat answers, "What can I say? I'm true to my people."

"I beg to differ," Superman says. "I'm friends with one of your people -- Mon-El. In fact, I left him in Metropolis to guard the city for me." Sodam Yat frowns enigmatically.

A little later, when Superman observes that Sodam Yat looks troubled, Sodam Yat answers, "Not by anything I'm seeing. I was thinking about the Daxamite yous aid was on Earth." Replies Supes, "Mon-El, yeah, is that a problem?" Sodam Yat grins. "No. I'm just surprised to learn he's there."

So let's read between the lines here. Sodam Yat has been away from Daxam for years, and has not seen another Daxamite boy in all that time. Now he finds out that there's an eligible Daxamite hunk on Earth...immediately he thinks to himself, "Let's finish up this stupid mission so I can go to Earth, find that other Daxamite, and have mad, passionate Daxamite sex."

Oh, well. R.E.B.E.L.S. is due out next week.


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Week of 27 May 2009

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

SUPERMAN #688 (7/09)
"The Fall and Rise of Jonathan Kent"
ROLL CALL: Matter-Eater Lad [Mitch], Mon-El, Sensor Girl [Wilcox], Tellus

Mon-El's powers are on-again, off-again. Doctor Light (Doctor Light?) explains that the mysterious anti-lead serum is at war with his super-powers, and that his powers will continue to fail at times convenient to the plot.

Seems to me that Supergirl had this problem once, and her father invented various devices (an exo-skeleton, then some magic power discs) that allowed her to have some measure of continuous power. And her Legion flight ring came in handy, too. Maybe Mon could use a flight ring....

In this issue Mon-El gets a little boyfriend. His name's Mitch, he works in the restaurant downstairs, and apparently he's been watching Mon pretty closely for a a while. He's obviously crushing on Jon Kent pretty badly. Who can blame him?

Mon and the Guardian break into General Lane's headquarters and rescue Tellus. So is there going to be time-paradox trouble between Mon and Tellus? I don't think so. Tellus, remember, is a telepath -- so presumably he has read Mon's mind and knows that this version of Mon-El has never met him before. I also assume that there will be some kind of telepathic jiggery-pokery so that Mon won't remember meeting Tellus (or maybe a thousand years in the Phantom Zone will take care of that.)

The bad thing is that the war between Mon's serum and his powers will continue until he dies, in a year to eighteen months. According to Doctor Light, that well-known expert on Daxamite physiology and mysterious serums. What does this mean? Well, it means that just about the time the New Krypton storyline finishes up and Supes no longer needs Mon, he'll be able to pop Mon back into the Phantom Zone and be rid of him once again.

You know, Supes is coming off as a real bastard here. No wonder the Earth-Prime version of Mon-El came out of the Zone and started punching anybody wearing the "S" symbol.

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I got my Mattel Legion figures (pictured above). Notice how the boys all have the same body, differing only in paint jobs. And once you get your figures, notice how each one has a tiny little yellow flight ring painted on the middle finger of their right hands. What attention to detail.

The three boys all have their right hands made into fists. Presumably this is so that thy can engage in action poses, punching bad guys...but it also makes it fairly easy to arrange the boys in a fairly rude tableau where they are pleasuring one another like Boy Scouts at camp (see below). I'm sure that wasn't Mattel's intention, but it's pretty cool anyway.

Week of 20 May 2009

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

Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel

I did not see any actual LSH appearances in DC comics this week. However....

THE BRAVE & THE BOLD #23 (7/09)
"Shadows of Tomorrow"

Booster Gold and Magog star, and Booster's Legion Flight Ring is prominent on the cover. But that's not what makes this issue of tangential interest to Legion fans. On the first page, inside Rip Hunter's lab, there are some scribblings on the blackboard. Now, longtime readers know that Rip Hunter's blackboard is a tease, supposedly showing things about the future (or possible futures).

Here are the Legion-related graffiti on Rip's blackboard this time:

BRAINIAC 5, 7 OR 12 ??!!

PROTY 1 OR PROTY II: WHICH IS GUILTY?

What does it all mean? Probably nothing.

----------

Meanwhile, over in SUPERGIRL, the enigmatic Superwoman turned out to be someone with no discernable connection to the Legion. Oh, no, wait, she is the sister-in-law of a Legionnaire.

Which raises an interesting question. Given the Legion's long history in the DC Multiverse(s), and their inclusion in crossover events such as Crisis on Infinite Earths, Final Night, and others -- and including L.E.G.I.O.N. and R.E.B.E.L.S. as part of the game...can anyone name some regular DC characters who have absolutely no connection with the Legion?


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Week of 13 May 2009

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

ACTION #877 (7/09)
"The Sleepers Part 3"
ROLL CALL: Mon-El

And there he is, on a video screen on page 8: Mon-El.

Meanwhile, Chris Kent is looking good. His time in the Phantom Zone has aged him and given him the power to instantly repair shredded clothing. I don't suppose there's any chance that he'll join the Legion when this is all over, but now that he's old enough, maybe we'll get to see him and Mon-El have some "adventures" together.

I'm still a little lost in the complexities of this New Krypton/World Without Superman plot, but I trust all will be revealed in time.

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R.E.B.E.L.S. #4 (7/09)
"From Beyond"
ROLL CALL: Amon Hakk, Bounder, Ciji, Getorix, Skwaul, Strata, Vril Dox, Wildstar
ROLL CALL (Omega Men): Broot, Darkfire, Doc, Elu, Tigorr

Lots of aliens. Khunds, a Durlan, Dominators (all first introduced in Legion comics), Psions....also references to Okaarans and the Gil'Dishpan.

Some nice moments in this issue. We know that Dominators have a caste society, with status indicated by the size of the red disks on their foreheads. In a really nice touch, the Dominator Emperor's disk is so big that it covers his entire face.

And some very funny lines. "I'd repeat it, but my wife hates that word." The Durlan who threatens "Will you give me the frequency, or do I have to get ugly?" Believe me, you don't want to see a Durlan get ugly.

And there are some lovely entries from the Encyclopedia Galactica, including one that lists "the five static modes of interstellar travel" as subspace rift, stargate, transmatter jumpgate, fold space, & magic.

R.E.B.E.L.S. continues to be fun & interesting, the art is really good, and there are a lot of connections to the Legion.

----------

Week of 6 May 2009

I did not see any LSH content in DC comics this week.

However, Empyre Comics was having a gigantic $1-a-comic back issue sale, and I had an extra hour or so. Anyway, I picked up some of the more obscure LSH-related items on my wantlist/ For example, the four-issue SUPER POWERS miniseris from September thru December 1986. The sole LSH-related item was the appearance of Tyr (yes, the guy with the mohawk and weapon hand) as a villain.

How did the warlord of Tyrraz appear in 1986? A text page in issue #2, writeen in interview format, gave an answer of sorts:

"Yes, it does seem rather preplexing, doesn't it? But the answer is simple, really. First of all, in the 30th century time travel is akin to a trip on your subway. And secondly, if the price is right, I'll go anywhere."

I also picked up ACTION #665 (5/91) [one panel flashback showing Legionnaires and Dev-Em], SUPERMAN #65 (3/92) & #66 (4/92) [Valor in the "Panic in the Sky" storyline, THE POWER OF SHAZAM #43 (10/98) [one-panel flashback showing Thunder], and TALES OF THE LSH #340 (10/86), which was a reprint of a story that appeared a year earlier in Baxter format. At the time, I didn't buy many of the TALES comics, but now I figure they're worth picking up for the original cover art and lettercols...and, truth be told, because I am an insane completist).

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Gayest...Story...Ever

Some people just don't believe that there is any sort of gay relationship between Superboy and Mon-El. To those scoffers, I present this nostalgic look at the story that introduced Mon-El: "Superboy's Big Brother" in Superboy #89 in June 1961.

WARNING: This story was very, very gay; this discussion will get fairly explicit. If that bothers you, leave now.

The action starts as soon as Mon-El lands.

ABOVE: With Mon unconscious, Kal can't resist sticking his hands in Mon's pockets.

ABOVE: Kal uses his x-ray vision to look under Mon's clothes.

ABOVE: As Mon awakes, Kal takes his hand.

ABOVE: Mon uses the old "I was so drunk last night, I don't remember what we did" ploy. Kal plays along.

ABOVE: Kal realizes how hot Mon is.

ABOVE: Kal can't keep his hands off Mon. Can you blame him?

ABOVE: Kal enjoys having Mon enter his secret tunnel, which helps Kal to come. (I am not making this up, that's what it says.)

ABOVE: Mon keeps pointing to his mouth, hoping Kal will take the hint and give him a kiss.

ABOVE: Kal can't wait to take Mon to meet Mom and Dad. The boys finish up what they were doing in the basement, and Kal puts his clothes on.

ABOVE: The sight of so much meat hanging there reminds Kal of Mon, and inspires Kal to demonstrate how well he can blow.

ABOVE: Kryptonian Eye for the Daxamite Guy: Kal gets Mon some cool clothes and dresses him up. "Daddy" Kent falls under Mon's spell and can't resist undressing him.

ABOVE: Hey, Mon, let me teach you about the earth custom called "doggy style."

ABOVE: Getting ready for bed, Mon undresses while Kal sneaks a closer peek.

ABOVE: "An hour later, when Mon-El falls asleep..." Wonder what went on during that hour? (I am not making this up.)

ABOVE: Kal has a great new toy that the boys can play with in bed. Sure, it involves a little pain, but that can be fun when you're invulnerable. The safe word is "Serum XY-4."

ABOVE: Mon feels great after a "wonderful" night. Kal hangs around outside the bathroom while Mon's in there; Mon leaves the door open. I've seen porn videos that start out this way....

ABOVE: Mon bends over in front of Kal...who takes full advantage of the situation.

Mon suggests a three-way with Kal and Lana, but Kal is in no mood to share.

Mon can't wait to strip and have another go at Kal's secret tunnel. (I swear, I am not making this up.)

ABOVE: Won't Mon be surprised when Kal's balls land on him?

ABOVE: Is that a petrified tree trunk, or is Kal just glad to see Mon? And isn't it sweet how Mon is concerned that both boys arrive at the same time?

ABOVE: "Send me to the Phantom Zone" is Daxamite slang for really spectacular gay sex.

ABOVE: Mon's huge, hard "bat" makes contact with one of Kal's balls. Both boys are enjoying this.

ABOVE: Now it's Kal's turn to swing his hard, long pole around while Mon admires the enormous package.

ABOVE: Two big, long tubes with huge, swollen heads spring up.

ABOVE: First Kal wants to talk about how the boys could jack the monster, but then he has a better idea: "You take one head! I'll take the other!"

ABOVE: Two giant, swollen heads erupt, spitting hot stuff all over the two boys. (I am NOT making this up.)

ABOVE: Mon is having great fun as he touches one of the heads and it explodes. Meanwhile, Kal sees some balls that catch his interest.

ABOVE: Now Mon wants Kal to finish first. Isn't that sweet?

ABOVE: As the boys are in the shower together, Kal's balls make Mon gag. Mon is so overwhelmed by the fun that he can hardly move.

ABOVE: After all the excitement, Kal tenderly cradles Mon in his arms.

ABOVE: Kal gets another toy so that he and Mon can role-play being prisoners together.

ABOVE: Unfortunately, when all is said and done, Kal is a slut as well as a tease. Once he's done with his one-night trick, he never wants to see or hear from Mon again.

Week of 29 April 2009

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

FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #4 (6/09)
"Legion of 3 Worlds Book Four"

ROLL CALL (Retro Legion): Blok, Bouncing Boy (image), Brainiac 5, Chameleon Baby (image), Cosmic Boy, Dawnstar, Dream Girl (image), Duo Damsel (image), Invisible Tot (Lyle) (image), Invisible Kid (Jacques) (image), Karate Kid (Myg) (image), Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass, Mon-El, Night Girl, Phantom Girl, Polar Boy, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Starman/Star Boy, Sun Boy, Superman, Utra Boy, White Witch, Wildfire

ROLL CALL (Earth-247 Legion): Andromeda, Apparition (image), Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Dreamer, Ferro, Gates, Gear, Kid Quantum, Kinetix (dies), LeVIathan, Live Wire, Saturn Girl, Sensor, Shikari, Spark, Star Boy, Superboy (Conner Kent), Timber Wolf, Ultra Boy, Umbra, Valor/M'Onel, Wildfire, XS

ROLL CALL (Earth-Prime Legion): Atom Girl (image), Brainiac 5, Chameleon (image), Colossal Boy (image), Element Lad (dies), Invisible Kid, Light Lass, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Projectra, Shadow Lass, Star Boy, Sun Boy (deceased), Timber Wolf, Triplicate Girl, Ultra Boy

ROLL CALL (LSV): Black Mace, Cosmic King, Dr Regulus (image), Emerald Empress, Glorith (image), Grimbor, Hunter, Lightning Lord, Mordru, Persuader, Saturn Queen, Superboy-Prime, Tharok (image), Time Trapper, Titania (image), Zymyr (dies?)

ROLL CALL (Friends & Relations): Comet Queen (image), Green Lantern (Rond Vidar) (image), Green Lantern (Sodam Yat), Kid Flash (Bart Allen), Marella Tao

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: On page 25, Polar Boy calls Sun Boy "Drake." Sun Boy's first name is "Dirk." Wildfire is "Drake." It's an easy mistake to make, especially if you've just got beaten up by Superboy-Prime. Orange glowing guy, radiation springing from his hands? Besides, Polar Boy has never stopped longing for a repeat of the really hot three-way he had with Sun Boy and Wildfire that one night....

WHO'S DEAD? So far, R.J. Brande, Myg and Rond Vidar from the Retro Legion, Kinetix from the Earth-247 Legion, Element Lad and Sun Boy from the Earth-Prime Legion.

WHO WAS DEAD, BUT GOT BETTER? Bart Allen, Conner Kent

WHO WAS IN THE LIGHTNING ROD? The youthful essence of Bart Allen.

WHAT EARTH IS THE TEENAGE REVOLUTION LEGION FROM? Either Earth-Prime or a world enough like it that its Kryptonite affects Superboy-Prime.

WHERE IS CHAMELEON BOY? Still missing and unaccounted for.

WHERE IS TELLUS? In the 21st century, in a tank in the Cadmus facility.

WHICH MON-EL IS THE ONE IN SUPERMAN? Presumably, the Retro Legion Mon-El.

WHERE DID THE EARTH-PRIME MON-EL COME FROM? YOU KNOW, THE ONE WHO WENT BACK IN THE PHANTOM ZONE IN THE 31st CENTURY? Uh...sometimes time travel messes up your memories. That's what must have happened here. Yeah, that's the ticket.

WHAT ARE CHUCK AND LUORNU DOING? AND WHO IS SHE NOW, ANYWAY? TRIPLICATE GIRL, DUO DAMSEL, SINGLE SIS? Okay, she was Triplicate Girl until Computo killed one of her bodies. She was Duo Damsel until the Conspiracy, when the Time Trapper killed one of her bodies (which may or may not still be in continuity). Later, she got that body back (which may or may not still be in continuity.) Then one of her bodies went back to the 21st century with Val, where she used the name Una. Both Una and Val died. Presumably one Luornu is still left. My theory is that she & Chuck are (a) babysitting the Ranzz kids, or (b) helping Chameleon Boy with his secret mission which will Save the Day.

WHERE IS MAGNETIC KID? Superman made reference to the Magic Wars, so it is possible that Magnetic Kid is still dead. He joined at the same time as Tellus, Quislet, Sensor Girl, and Polar Boy, so it's unlikely that his membership has been erased from Legion continuity.

WHERE IS QUISLET? Waiting in the wings, ready to "poop" into Superboy-Prime and make him explode. Yay, Quislet!

WHEN IS THE LAST ISSUE DUE OUT? Not...soon...enough.

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JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #26 (6/09)
"Happy Birthday Stargirl"
ROLL CALL: Starman/Star Boy

The whole JSA (including Starman) throws a surprise birthday party for Stargirl. then all of them troop into the dentist's office with her, where it turns out that she doesn't get her braces removed.

No, honest, I am not making this up. That's what happens. Apparently this is the last issue for this creative team. It feels like the last issue of the comic, but it's not: JSA is on the DC regular schedule for the next few months.

There are three covers; only one of them has Thom on it. Choose wisely.

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SUPERMAN #687 (6/09)
"Power and Wekness"
ROLL CALL: Mon-El, Sensor Girl [Wilcox], Tellus

Mon-El continues to learn under the tutelage of The Guardian. The Guardian assembles a strike team of S.P.s (incuding Mon in his Jonathan Kent identity) to rescue Tellus, who is still in a tank in Cadmus headquarters. And Mon, flying off after completing a mission, suddenly loses his powers. (I think I saw the Parasite skulking around earlier, so he's probably stolen them.)

BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: This issue addresses the question of Mon-El's secret identity: specifically, how to disguise the fact that he is a dead ringer for Jonathan Kent (who is never around when Mon-El shows up). Apparently, Supes implanted a device in Mon's neck, a device which makes his facial features indistinct (the same gimmick that Jay Garrick uses as the Flash.) Both Mon and the Guardian seem to realize that this isn't exactly the most dependable solution in the world, so they're going to work on things. (Meanwhile, Mon's features seem perfectly distinct to the reader and in surveillance footage from Project 7734.) Just one more indication that the Man of Steel didn't put a whole lot of thought or planning into this Mon-El-will-replace-me thing.



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First Thoughts on L3W #4

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

I'll have a fuller report on this week's comics, including L3W #4, soon. But first, I have some reflections on what Geoff Johns is doing in L3W. Specifically, I believe that Johns is codifying a unified meta-history of the DC Multiverse(s), and putting the Legion squarely in the center of that history.

Earth-Prime is a Special Place

Earth-Prime stands in a unique relationship to all the other Earths, past and present. Earth-Prime is the "real" world, the comic-book version of our world. In Earth-Prime, all the rest of the DC Multiverse (Multiverses?) appears in the pages of comic books. Earth-Prime is the foundation, the "mother universe," the template from which all other Earths are derived.

(Earth-Prime is not the only Earth in which comic books existed: for example, the Flash of Earth-2 appeared in Earth-1 comic books. But Earth-Prime was clearly identified as the world in which the artists, writers, and editors of DC Comics produced the comics that we read.)

Originally, there was a big DC Multiverse with infinite Earths. Then came the Crisis
on Infinite Earths, which ultimately combined all these Earths into one single DC Universe.

From the perspective of Earth-Prime, we-the-readers knew (for example) that Superman's history had been changed, or that Jay Garrick and Barry Allen used to be on two separate Earths. But the characters in those Earths were oblivious to the change: their memories were altered, so they remembered their world as if it had always been the only one.

There were anomalies: Lady Quark, Power Girl, the Pocket Universe, etc. The single universe mutated, changed: there was the Glorithverse, the SW6 batch, various Elseworlds, etc. But still, to the characters in those universes, everything seemed stable. Some people remembered a vague Crisis and a big battle with the Anti-Monitor, but that was it.

Further widescale changes came with Zero Hour. Specifically, there was a completely different Legion (the Legion of Earth-247). Hypertime appeared, then went away and was forgotten.

Then came Infinite Crisis. Earth-247 was destroyed and its Legion left in limbo. A new Multiverse took the stage: instead of an infinite number of different Earths, there were 52.

Through all of these changes, Earth-Prime remained a privileged viewpoint. From the perspective of Earth-Prime, all the previous Earths still existed: they were in the pages of comic books stored in back-issue bins.

The Legion of Earth-Prime

With L3W #4, it's become obvious that the most recent version of the Legion, the "Threeboot" or "Teenage Revolution" Legion, actually hails from Earth-Prime.

In one sense, clues have been there all along. Cosmic Boy had an extensive comic book collection, and various Legionnaires shared his enthusiasm. Often, we saw Legionnaires looking at actual comic books, their covers depicted in such detail that fans could readily identify title and issue number. On what Earth did such comic books exist? Earth-Prime.

We know that Superboy-Prime came from Earth-Prime (so that's where they got his name!). He has all the godlike powers of the pre-Crisis Superman, and he is immune to Kryptonite and magic. (It's been well-established that Kryptonite from one universe doesn't necessarily affect people in another; the Pocket Universe Superboy, for example, was immune to post-Crisis Byrne-era Kryptonite.) Presumably, only Kryptonite from Earth-Prime could affect Superboy-Prime.

Then comes the icing on the cake, in L3W #4: The Threeboot/Teenage Revolution Element Lad creates Kryptonite that affects Superboy-Prime. The Teenage Revolution Element Lad (and hence his whole Legion) is from Earth-Prime. Q.E.D.

Superboy-Prime believes that Earth-Prime was destroyed in the first Crisis, but apparently it wasn't. Or perhaps it got better. And a thousand years later, Earth-Prime produced a Legion of Super-Heroes.

The Time Trapper

We know that the Time Trapper, like Earth-Prime, is somehow "outside" the flow of DC continuity. He doesn't belong to any particular Earth or Multiverse; he transcends them. At the same time, he is somewhat subject to the changes that ripple through continuity; his nature has changed several times in the past 50 years.

Perhaps the Time Trapper himself said it best, around the time of the Legion's 40th anniversary:

I've watched you Legionnaires for a long time, studied you, fought you, even "saved you. I've been both "villain" and "hero" to you. I may even be one of you. I have been, you know. I've tried to control your legacy -- change your history, your origins, your very lives. Anything that didn't quite "fit."

I believed I was helping, but my arrogance caused untold damage, and almost destroyed reality itself.

While all the other characters are trapped in their various continuities, the Time Trapper is on the same plane as the reader: he remembers every change and every intermediate version.

And here's what Johns shows us: the Time Trapper is Superboy-Prime. He is from Earth Prime: our universe, the universe of the editors and writers and artists and readers. Presumably the Time Trapper has the greatest collection of Legion comics ever, and can simply look up any past story he wants.

There's one difference. Superboy-Prime is locked in place. He is a character, with a character's limitations and a character's changeable memory. He exists on the comic book page, in the comic book universe, within the boundaries of panel and page and covers. Sure, he remembers reading comics about Polar Boy and the rest...but he can't get to those comics now. He can't get back to Earth-Prime.

The Time Trapper, though, is beyond those limits. He exists on the comic book page, sure, but he also exists in Earth-Prime. No matter what happens to the Time Trapper within the story, his essence will always exist, and he'll always be back with all the memories he had originally.

I think of it this way. Superboy-Prime is like Batman or Wonder Woman: he is (or has become) a made-up character who exists only on the comic book page. The Time Trapper, however, is like a comic-book version of, say, Geoff Johns: he exists both on the comic book page and in the real world. Anything can happen to the comic book Johns: he could die, gain super-powers, turn into an intelligent octopus, win the Nobel Peace Prize. But none of that would change the real-world Johns.

Come to think of it...the Time Trapper sounds an awful lot like the ultimate comic book writer/editor.

Anybody Remember Zoot Sputnik's Dog?

In the late, lamented 'Mazing Man comic, there was a comic book character named Zoot Sputnik (trust me, it's way complicated). Zoot's dog, Barker, was struck by radiation that gave him "Cosmic Consciousness" -- that is, Barker was able to remember things from one reboot to the next, and ultimately realized that he (along with Zoot and all his friends) was a character in a comic book.

So here's my theory: something happened/heppens to Superboy-Prime that gives him "Cosmic Consciousness." Not only that, but he gains the on-the-page ability to manipulate time and alternate worlds. (Maybe he studies for years on end, like Cosmic Boy did in the "End of an Era" storyline; maybe he gets zapped by something Rip Hunter built; or maybe he gets hired as a writer at DC.) Now he is the Time Trapper.

In a way, the Time Trapper is a symbol of how Legion fans perceive DC management. Both have tried repeatedly to destroy the Legion, both have tried to erase Superman from the Legion's continuity, both have made changes in the Legion...and both have, ultimately, always failed. Because Polar Boy (speaking for all Legion trufans) is right: there will always be a Legion. The fans always force the Time Trapper/DC to bring the Legion back.

So if Superboy-Prime/Time Trapper is DC, and Polar Boy is the fans, then I suppose Geoff Johns is Brainiac 5.

So how will L3W end? How will the Legion defeat Superboy-Prime/the Time Trapper
this time?

If I didn't know better, I'd look for the solution to come from the Legion's greatest fan, Flynt Brojj.

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Are We There Yet?

It's due out today, it's due out today, it's due out today, it's due out today!

Or, to put it another way:

IT'S
DUE
OUT
TODAY!!!!!!

(Not that I'm, like, anxious or anything...)

Week of 22 April 2009

There was no new LSH content in DC comics this week. Alas, the mysterious Superwoman was revealed to be someone who has never, to my knowledge, appeared in any LSH comic.

However, there was some old Legion content: Showcase Presents Legion of Super-Heroes volume 3.

The Showcase Presents volumes are a great way to read a lot of old stories for not much money (this one was $19.99). The paper is perhaps one step up from newsprint, and the stories are presented in black-and-white outline. But each volume is something like 500 pages: this one includes nearly two years worth of stories from Adventure 349 - 368 and Jimmy Olsen 106.

And what stories! This period was the first part of the original Shooter years, and many of the stories are classics. The Rogue Legionnaire was the first appearances of Universo and Rond Vidar. The Outcast Super-Heroes/The Forgotten Legion featured the Devil's Dozen (including the White Witch) and Dr. Zan Orbal, who restored Lightning Lad's arm, Bouncing Boy's powers, and Matter-Eater Lad's normal weight; as if that wasn't enough, Star Boy and Dream Girl rejoined the Legion. The Fatal Five/The Doomed Legionnaires introduced the Fatal Five and the Sun-Eater, and killed off Ferro Lad.

The Adult Legion/The War of the Legions showed a possible future of the Legion. The Six-Legged Legionnaire brought Insect Queen to the 30th century and granted her Reserve status. In The Five Legion Orphans we got to see Brainiac 5, Dream Girl, Element Lad, Mon-El, and Superboy as babies, and the world Rokyn (settled by the inhabitants of an enlarged Kandor) was introduced to the DC universe. The Ghost of Ferro Lad was a spooky story that added another bit to Legion lore. Lyle Norg showed his stuff in The Hunter.

Universo and Rond Vidar returned in The Outlawed Legionnaires/The Legion Chain Gang (Mon-El in bondage, whoo-hoo!), which also introduced R.J. Brande. The Unkillables introduced the Dominators. The Lone Wolf Legionnaire Reporter was a fun Jimmy Olsen/Elastic Lad story. We got a glimpse of several Legion homeworlds (Daxam, Orando, and Naltor) in The Chemoids Are Coming/Black Day for the Legion. The Super-Pets starred in Revolt of the Super-Pets.

The Fatal Five returned (and wrecked the Legion clubhouse), the Legion visited Talok VIII, and Shadow Lass joined in Escape of the Fatal Five/The Fight for the Championship of the Universe. The Legion got a new clubhouse (with built-in Miracle Machine) and faced the Dark Circle for the first time in No Escape From the Circle of Death. And the last sotry in this collection, The Mutiny of the Super-Heroines, contained those immortal lines, "Gasp! All of a sudden, there's an army of Due Damsels!" "They're comin' through the walls!"

Now, look at how many elements from these stories have appeared in recent DC comics. Rond Vidar, Universo, the Fatal Five, the Legion of Super-Villains, an Adult Legion, New Krypton (aka Rokyn), Daxam, the Miracle Machine, an army of Luornus (okay, seven), a war of Legions, and even the Fatal Five trying to penetrate a force-shield around the Leigon clubhouse (a shield made with Brainiac 5's force-shield belt).

It's been 40+ years since these stories were published, and current writers are still mining them.

I would not be surprised to see the Super-Pets and Insect Queen showing up in Legion of 3 Worlds before it's over.

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Week of 15 April 2009

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

R.E.B.E.L.S. #3 (6/09)
"A World of Hurt"
ROLL CALL: Bounder, Brainiac 2 (Vril Dox), Strata, Tribulus, Wildstar
OMEGA MEN: Broot, Darkfire, Doc, Elu, Tigorr

The LSH connections continue. Let's go down the list.

Brainiac 2 (Vril Dox) is, of course, the ancestor of Brainiac 5. Brainy's voice is inside Vril's head, giving him info about the LSH. Vril is prevented from directly revealing any of this info, but he can use it to build his team.

Tribulus is a Validus analog, with great strength and ability to generate devastating mental lightning. For the moment, he is under Vril's mental control.

Wildstar is an analog of both Dawnstar and Wildfire. She is from Dawny's homeworld and has her tracking abilities; Vril transformed her into an energy being who lives inside a containment suit. She seems happy with the transformation.

Strata is the Blok analog. She hails from Blok's home planet, and may even be Blok's ancestor (I don't know if this was ever explicitly stated). She is married to Garv, a big purple guy with enormous strength. And in this issue, we learn that they have a baby. Somehow.

Bounder is a Bouncing Boy analog. His exact species and powers are yet to be revealed, but he turns into a big ball and smashes things. He's light blue and wears a helmet, which makes him look a lot like Wildstar.

I don't know much about the Omega Men; I've never really followed their adventures, and I'm not sure how they fit into all this.I do know that Broot is a big grey critter dressed in light blue, which makes him look a lot like Strata.

I really like the art, except that there are way too many light blue/grey people with masks or masklike faces: Strata, Wildstar, Bounder, Broot, and dozens of L.E.G.I.O.N. troopers.

At the end, we find that L.E.G.I.O.N. has been possessed by Starro. And we see a spiky-haired woman (with grey skin, of course...at least her outfit is green, not light blue). I have a feeling I should recognize her, but for the life of me I can't. She's not Stealth (she's orange), she's not Lydea Mallor (she's...you guessed it, light blue)...I dunno. More will be revealed next issue.

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Week of 8 April 2009

There was no Legion content in DC comics this week, unless you count Booster Gold's Legion flight ring or the Controllers in GREEN LANTERN #39.

----------

Week of 1 April 2009

There was no Legion content in DC comics this week, unless Invisible Kid was in the crowd in the Flash Museum. But there were a couple of tangentially-related sightings.

In FLAHS: REBIRTH #1, Bart Allen is back. He says, "I came here from the future so that everything could go back to the way it used to be. Wally's the Flash and I'm Kid Flash." No surprise: we last saw Bart at the end of LEGON OF THREE WORLDS #3. The trip back from the future seems to have addled his brains a bit, and made him unaccountably hostile to Barry Allen. "The way it used to be"? There was a time when Bart didn't want to be called "Kid Flash," and he was somewhat hostile toward Wally West.

The biggest disappointment in FLASH: REBIRTH #1 (besides a difficult-to-follow plot) was the absence of Jenni (XS), or any mention of her. Okay, maybe there's a DC-wide blackout of possible LEGION OF THREE WORLDS spoilers. That fits into the ongoing DC goal of frustrating Legion fans at every turn....

At the end of JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #25, they show the cover for the next issue..and there's Starman (Thom Kallor) over there on the left. Last I heard, Starman left the JSA to dig up graves. Whatever's going on, Legion completists will probably want to pick up JSA #26 next month.

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Week of 25 March 2009

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

SUPERMAN #686 (5/09)
"Yesterday and Tomorrow"
ROLL CALL: Chameleon Boy [Control], Mon-El, Quislet [Hovercam MTSP02]

Mon-El begins filling in for Superman as the defender of Metropolis. The Guardian takes Mon-El under his wing, and Mon (as Jonathan Kent) becomes an officer in the Science Police. Lar cuts his hair in order to look less British and more butch.

We live in a quantum universe, which means it's like old-stye comics: if you look at anything closely enough, it falls apart into a bunch of indistinct dots.

So it is with this whole "Mon-El Replaces Superman" storyline.

Lar Gand, space explorer, is fresh out of fifteen years or so in the Phantom Zone, miraculously cured of his vulnerability to lead. He doesn't know how he was cured, how long the cure will last, or what to do if his vulnerability returns. The sum total of his experience with Earth: he landed, met Clark Kent, and then in a few hours he was dying and exiled to the Phantom Zone.

I don't know about you, but I'd think that Lar would want to put Earth as far behind him as possible. Why would he agree to stick around, much less to fill in for Superman -- the guy who exposed him to lead to begin with, imprisoned him in the Zone, and then basically forgot about him for 15 years or more? Why doesn't he fly off to explore the universe for a better place to live?

And what about Supes? How heartless and selfish, to leave this poor teenager on an unfamiliar lead-filled planet, with no certainty that he'll continue to be immune to lead? To thrust upon him the responsibility for the well-being of an entire city (if not the whole world)? To force him to adopt a new (fraudulent) identity and live in an unfamiliar culture, with no guide except an old woman who lives thousands of miles away?

And what about the citizens of Metropolis? Are they supposed to accept Mon-El, with no statement from Superman or any other bona-fides? A population that is hostile toward Kryptonians, on a world that has banished all Kryptonians except Superman. (I know that Mon-El is Daxamite, not Kryptonian...is this a distinction that the average citizen of Metropolis will understand, without having it explained to them?)

The whole thing just doesn't make sense, if you think about it.

But damn, Lar is looking mighty fine!


BITS OF LEGIONNAIRE BUSINESS: A thousand years in the future, Mon-El (as a Legionnaire) will be an officially-deputized Science Police officer. Oddly, he is not the only Legionnaire to have a previous career as an S.P. In classic continuity, Gim Allon (Colossal Boy) was with the Science Police before joining the Legion. In the Earth-247 Legion, Imra Ardeen (Saturn Girl) was an S.P. before she became a founding member of the Legion.

In the Teenage Revolution Leigon, Chameleon masqueraded as an S.P. officer. And Lyle Norg (Invisible Kid) was the son of an S.P.

Does anyone remember other Science Police officers who joined the Legion, or other Legionnaires who served as S.P.'s?

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Week of 18 March 2009

I did not see any LSH content in the DC universe this week. Unless, of course, the mysterious Superwoman is really the pre-Crisis Dev-Em in drag.

If so, you saw it here first!

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Week of 11 March 2009

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

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #34 (5/09)
"Emerald Eclipse Part Two"

There's not actual LSH content here, but Daxamite Green Lantern Sodam Yat and his mother Mrs. Yat are major characters in the continuing story of Mongul's invasion of Daxam.

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R.E.B.E.L.S. #2 (5/09)
"The First Recruit"
ROLL CALL: Amon Hakk, Brainiac 2 (Vril Dox), Brainiac 5, Getorix, Skwaul, Supergirl, Tribulus, Wildstar, a bunch of Legion silhouettes

Okay, this is getting interesting. Vril Dox (I'll never get used to calling him "Brainiac 2") now has complete personnel files of the Legion, and he's going to use that info to build up his own Legion. There's a side-plot involving the Omega Men that I don't completely get, then it's off to Starhaven to recruit Wildstar, who is probably one of Dawnstar's distant ancestors.

BITS OF L.E.G.I.O.N. BUSINESS: Skwaul is a telepath from Hepvestus, not Hykraius...but what do you want to bet that he's an ancestor of Tellus?

Tribulus, who has "super-strength" and "mental lightning," is listed as having an unknown homeworld. He is obviously meant to recall Validus, but the exact connection is as unknown as his homeworld.

In the old days, Starhaven was an Earth colony that was settled sometime between the 20th and 30th centuries. This time around, it was founded "centuries ago" by "Athranian gene farmers" who abducted the Anasazi people. When the Athranians were conquered by the Spider Guild, Starhaven was left to develop along its own path.

Wildstar is Starhaven's resident crazy woman, with rudimentary tracking powers and stunted wings, and she joins Dox. Notice how her name is a subtle combination of Wildfire and Dawnstar.

The Brainiac 5 who appears here is an AI construct designed to mimic Brainy. He looks like the Brainiac 5 from the Teenage Revolution version of the LSH. But the most interesting thing is the Legion templates behind him...silhouettes that represent Brainy's personnel files. Why silhouettes, instead of actual Legionnaires?

I'm guessing that we're seeing a post-L3W Legion. They're silhouettes because DC doesn't want to tip their hands about the conclusion of L3W.

So okay, let the speculation begin...whose silhouettes are these?

Week of 4 March 2009

No new LSH content this week, unless Allura is really Yera Allon. (If she is, you heard it here first.)

As a die-hard Legion fanatic, I was prepared to spend $39.99 for a hardcover reprint of five stories I already have in Archive Editions (DC Comics Classics Library: The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Life and Death of Ferro Lad)...but none of my regular stores had it.

Ah, well, there's always Amazon. Yeah, I'm sure Wonder Woman will let me borrow her copy....

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