Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #20

Legion of Super-Heroes #20 came out last week, on the heels of the announcement that Legion would be cancelled in August. It brings another layer of commentary to this current Fatal Five story. Let's face it, this is the end of this title and this Legion. What will come out of this story? Is it going to be a reboot meaning we won't see these particular Legionnaires again? Will it be a sort of house-cleaning by DC, trimming the 'fat' of the team, culling it down to only seven members as rumors state?

Of course, this story can be both a house-cleaning and a pre-reboot arc at the same time. Maybe this is the last chance writer Paul Levitz has with these characters and he wants to write their ultimate fate. We have seen death and disappearance here. It all is leading up to the cancellation. And this issue continues to breakneck pace of the prior issues as we reel from one catastrophe to the next.

Let's face it, this title has been treading water for some time now. This arc has ratcheted up the action quite a bit. And yes, it has included the deaths of a number of Legionnaires, making it seem 'relevant'. But maybe an injection of new creative juices will help.

One thing to cheer about with this issue is the return of Francis Portela on artwork. His style is so slick and polished, it just works perfectly on a Legion book. In particular, I loved his Validus in this book as he looked gargantuan and monstrous.

On to the book.

We saw last issue that Glorith was able to take Ultra Boy and Chameleon Boy off of Rimbor and back to the Sorceror's World.

I had completely forgotten that Glorith was basically banished off of the Sorceror's World by the Black Witch. I have said from the beginning that Glorith is a super-villain in waiting. This banishment certainly does add something to that.

More on this a little bit later.

As I said above, Levitz certainly seems to be clearing the deck for the next version of the Legion. Sun Boy is dead. Star Boy is presumed dead.

Here, in a last ditch effort to get away from the Promethean Giant, Phantom Girl escapes in a way that means she is 'never coming back'. I suppose the implication here is that she has irrevocably returned to Bgztl's home dimension.

But why? Why not just go phantom here and let the Giant's fingers run through you? If this is true and she is really gone, this is a pretty lousy way for Tinya to end her Legion career. It is especially distasteful given that she never even got a chance to act as a true leader.

If dead, it really seemed like a forced way to trim the roster.

But maybe she isn't really dead. Polar Boy and Invisible Kid seemed pretty dead last month, crushed by the Promethean Giant. Instead, we see that Invisible Kid has shunted them to a sort of dimension of the near dead/limbo. We see the two Legionnaires near the ghosts(?) of the original Invisible Kid, Ferro Lad, and Earth Man.

In a nutshell, this is something of the problem with the Legion. This scene is riffing on a little known power that Jacques manifested way back in the early 80s Legion, perhaps best seen in Legion of Super-Heroes #299 when he needed to fetch Wildfire's spirit. So I know that, as a guy steeped in Legion lore for decades. But would new readers know it? Or would it drive new readers away?

Meanwhile, on Sorceror's World, the Legionnaires link up with the Black Witch and Blok. The Black Witch, you might recall, is housing Mordru's spirit inside herself, acting as a living prison. The devastation by Validus on the planet has shaken the planet but not Mysa's resolve. She is, at least for now, able to hold Mordru inside her.

With technology down around the universe, Mysa is able to fill in Cham, Jo, and Glorith about all that has happened. She shows them the Promethean Giant, Validus, and the death of Sun Boy. Yes, it is a bit of exposition. But what a lovely page by Portela. I love this sort of up-shot with Mysa's arms outstretched. Lovely colors here as well.

It is hard to know if the next Legion will be brand new or picking up the pieces here. But if we are carrying on from here, I think it is clear that Cham and Ultra Boy will survive this mess and move on.

As I said, it is hard to know how many of the Legionnaires (outside Sun Boy) who appear dead or gone are actually dead or gone.

Here, I found it very interesting that he states that Phantom Girl was the one Legionnaire he feared. So maybe Tinya isn't really gone. Maybe she will come back to save the day and sort of salvage her term as Legion Leader.

What I don't know is just why Tharok fears her the most. Could it be that in phantom mode she can somehow disrupt Tharok in his own tech-ghost form.

It turns out that Tharok is in control of Validus (a nice flashback to their very first appearance way back in Adventure Comics #352.

Validus' mission is to head to the center of Sorceror's World to destroy the gem at the heart of planet. It reminds me that I need to review just how closely linked Amethyst's Gem World with the Sorceror's World. But somehow destroying the gem will destroy the world.

As I said earlier, Portela's art is incredibly slick here and his Validus is unbelievably wild. Look at that second panel. You just sense the power and rage here as he splashes in the lava.

Now we have only seen four of the Fatal Five. And Mano hasn't been seen or heard from in this arc.

So who is the fifth member?

I am calling it now. It's Glorith.

And if it isn't here, it is someone within the Legion.

It turns out that the only way to defend the gem at the core of Sorceror's World is for Black Witch and Glorith to unite their powers and basically teleport everyone ... Validus and the Legion ... away.

I thought it was great to see Blok actually try to hold off Validus here, allowing Mysa the time to get the spell together. I thought for sure he was going to die in this arc and maybe he will. But there would have been no better time for him to get killed than here. So maybe he survives.

The one thing I didn't like here was that Validus appears about 15 feet tall here, as opposed to the more gargantuan size I have become used to seeing.

So Validus is suddenly in deep space.

And Cham and Ultra Boy are teleported back to Earth, to the Legion Headquarters.

No surprise, the headquarters is in ruins. Everything seems to be falling apart in the universe right now. Unfortunately, there is more here than just decay. The Persuader is there. And it looks like he has killed (or nearly killed) Luornu. I mean it would be hard to easily survive a chunk of rebar through the abdomen as well as other debris embedded in you. That is some cliffhanger! Who else is dying in the debris?

Again, I love Portela's look here in his chain-mail, tunic, and skull mask. Fantastic.

So the action and death and craziness certainly continued in this issue. But it has a different feeling now that I know that the title is ending in a couple of issues. Is this the end of this continuity? Are we simply erasing the blackboard to write a new history? Is this some editorial mandate to reduce the roster and make the universe darker?

All that said, I have to say this wild ride is probably the most memorable Legion story that has come out in the last 3 years or so.

Overall grade: B

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #15

I have been a bit rough on Legion of Super-Heroes lately. I have said that the issues are tired and forgettable and that the book itself seems meandering. All of that may be changing soon as an interview on Newsarama with Keith Giffen discusses a 'revamp' not a 'reboot' of the Legion including a couple of characters simply not making it. That interview is here and worth reading.

Now there are a couple of issues to go before Giffen comes on and that includes Legion of Super-Heroes #15 which came out this week. It amazes me just what great art will do to a comic. Because this issue feels very much like a place holder issue, treading water before the upcoming big Fatal Five arc. And, as is usual, there are some nice character moments here. If there is one thing you can count on from writer Paul Levitz it is great characterization.

And yet, despite the same complaints, I enjoyed this issue more than the last few. And I think that a lot of that probably has to be because of Francis Portela's wonderful art here. Because in the end, this is simply another 'rest issue' focused on Glorith, with little forward momentum. The shame here is that Portela is off the book once Giffen comes on board.

The issue starts with Glorith being awakened by a ghostly voice, luring her into some teleporting gate, and sending her to Barcelona where all times seem to have merged. She is immediately cornered by an inquisiton like mob which is already erecting a stake upon which to burn her.

Now us old timers will know about a strong connection between another character named Glorith and the Time Trapper. So when this one hears a voice and gets sent into a temporal maelstrom ... well ... the Trapper can't be far behind.

But given the upcoming Fatal Five arc, he is probably 7-9 issues away.

While the Legionnaires first debate why Glorith is missing, they realize that the time-ripped Barcelona is an active issue, one which probably has to do with Glorith. A squad is sent off including some big guns, Mon-El and Ultra Boy.

This is half of a 2 page spread showcasing just how beautiful Portela's stuff is.

Interestingly enough, the rest of the squad includes the other Legion 'rookies' and Brainiac Five.

While I like the fact that the rookies are bonding and looking out for each other (like Glorith) I find it hard to believe that Harmonia Li would hang out with them. Isn't she supposed to be some ancient all-wise one? Would she really hang out with the most adolescent of the Legionnaires. She seems to have the best relationship with Brainy.

Now you can see that maybe it is a strained relationship. She has a bit of a cutting comment about Chemical Kid here, teasing him about his life while praising Brainiac 5's ability to read a situation analytically.

Pretty quickly it is discovered that the 'eye' of this time storm is Glorith, further pushing my Time Trapper theory forward.

I loved this moment where Glorith, unable to perform any spells given her predicament, instead realizes her flight ring can help her. There is a nice moment immediately before this where she calls herself a Legionnaire and can act like one. It is sort of a coming-out party for her as she accepts her place on the team.

Another nice scene was this side one where Chameleon Boy invites Vi and Ayla to his room to discuss the team's inability to find the Fatal Five.

Vi is relatively prickly about the whole thing but consistent with her character. Cham seems to think something is blocking them. Now I will remind you all that in the last Legion Annual back in early 2011 it seemed as if Vi absorbed the Emerald Energy. Is she unknowingly sabotaging the search?

And I love Portela's Five here. Looks like the new Tharok isn't half-robot. And no Mano. And no Persuader mask. But still, pretty slick.

Meanwhile in Barcelona, Ultra Boy is having a blast taking out dinosaurs and World War 2 era military tanks. He clearly enjoys his job.

But as great as that panel is, I love the exasperated Brainy who seems exasperated that Ultra Boy is having fun with this. I think Brainy is one of the strongest and most well-rounded characters in the book.

It all comes to a calm end when Harmonia Li advises Glorith to do a reverse-protection spell, shielding the world from her rather than the other way around. Without Glorith's presence, the time anomalies melt away.

It is another quick adventure hinting at a larger mystery. And the Fatal Five storyline sort of simmered rather than boiled. And this issue will be put aside and probably forgotten.

Oh, but that art is so good.  Maybe I'll remember this one a little more.

The bigger question on my mind is which Legionnaire isn't going to survive the Fatal Five arc?

Overall grade: B- (kicked up a notch by art)

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #12

Legion of Super-Heroes #12 came out last week, the finale of the Dominator Super-clone storyline. I have to say the title has somewhat rallied for me over this arc, bringing back some older characters, highlighting the personalities of the members, and always falling back on the Legion being more like a family than a group of super-powered individuals. Those elements have often overshadowed the main plot of the Dominators trying to clone a sort of Amazo-like army of Legion/Daxam/Dominator soldiers. But overshadow in a good way.

Add to that the stunning internal art of Francis Portela and the throwback slick Steve Lightle covers and it has been more of a win for this book recently.

And this issue had more of the same. We see the resilience of Dream Girl, the leadership and strength of Mon-El, the grit of Star Boy. And they all have their parts to play in a victory. Thanks goodness for all this great characterization because some of the plot points are a little iffy.

Still, overall this book has moved steadily upwards in my mind over the last half year or so and this issue continued that momentum, even if it was a smaller step forward than the prior ones.

The trapped Legionnaires of Brainy and Dream Girl as well as the rescue squad of Duplicate Damsel, Bouncing Boy, Star Boy, and some recruits have been betrayed by Comet Queen. Surprisingly, rather than gather the genomes of these new Legionnaires, the Dominators decide to eat them instead.

Seems a little off for the Dominion. Heck, grabbing Duplicate Damsel alone would make sense. Then, in essence, you only need to make one clone that can copy itself. So I thought that seemed off.

Still, it is great to see Dream Girl continue to be more than a seer and a pretty face. Here she escapes from her shackles and frees the other prisoners. Levitz has really made her tough and a leader under that shiny exterior.

And, as I said last issue, I have loved the way he has treated Duplicate Damsel in the book as well. She has been fierce and unyielding, unwilling to leave anyone behind. In this mission on the Dominion homeworld she has impressed me the most.

This panel, in particular, struck home the point. She is an army of one, willing to fight the whole Dominion military if need be.

While skirmishing with the 'red shirts' of the Dominator infantry, the Legion realizes that things have gotten much worse. The one of the long teased at super-powered clones emerges from his birthing matrix. Funny, it seems only to have Daxamite powers. For some reason I thought other DNA had been collected.

I did think it was a nice touch to have it look like the Daxamite Dominator sympathizer Res-Vir who started this whole thing back in the Panoptes story in LSH #1. Nice continuity there.

But being fresh from the 'womb', the clone isn't fully juiced yet. Brainy quickly realizes that Star Boy can overcome the clone's powers with tremendous mass. Remember Thom isn't really whole himself and is unsure if he can do it until Dreamy inspires him.

Again, a nice touch of characterization. Thom loved Nura enough to go after her. She loves him so much that her love can spur him to new heights.

Of course, this goes against my 'I am dumping you for Brainy' anticipated Dream Girl plot.

As for the other Legionnaires, they are trying to figure out how to convince the UP to let them go into Dominator space to help. Mon-El has a brainstorm and has Sensor Girl use her powers to show the council the battle raging.

Of course, the UP rightly states that part of Sensor Girl's powers are illusions. How can they know this is true. Mon-El tells them that is enough evidence even if they don't believe it and takes off with Ultra Boy.

So, it is a nice use of Sensor Girl who has been a bit missing from the book. And a great move by Mon-El.  I liked that. But if Mon-El was going to go in regardless of what the UP thought about it ... why not just go in before this? I just think the whole UP holding up the rescue has felt off given the Dominators wormholing their starfleet into Panoptes space. What more proof do you need that you are indeed at war?

While the big guns are on their way, the Legion rescue squad continues to mop up the foot soldiers. Realizing that more super-clones could hatch, Bouncing Boy slams into the techno-organic tree they are in, knocking it down.

This is another one of those moments I have to roll with. I like Bouncing Boy. And seeing him pinball of Dominator troops, knocking them down, was great. And giving him a nice moment is also great. But, he doesn't have super-strength or speed. I don't know if I would think he could level this thing. So great characterization and a nice moment ... but maybe overboard?

In what I thought was the weakest moment of the book, the chief Dominator basically pulls the plug on the whole 'super-clone' idea, literally eating the head scientist and deciding to rely on the old ways, the warrior caste.

Seriously, if the Dominion had good handcuffs, this plan would have worked! They were 2 minutes away from having a Daxamite cadre. And because a million things had to fall the Legion way, they aren't going to pursue this? I don't know ... this all seemed too fast.

But the book ends on a nice high note. Mon-El and Jo show up and basically mop the floor with the Dominators, breaking everything up, knocking out the super-clone, and raising hell.

I love the awe on Otako's face as she sees these two in action for the first time. It must be something to behold your heroes up close. It is this sort of feeling that makes the Legion the Legion. It was good to see this low-powered squad basically save the day, letting the powerhouses just do the property damage.

Of course, there is still the sour note of why Comet Queen went rogue. Any ideas out there?

So overall, a winner of an issue for showing the Legion at it's best, rallying around each other, using their unique powers in winning combinations, and striving for justice. And that's really what I want out of this book. These things were enough to gloss over the rough spots of the plot.

We know the Fatal Five are right around the corner too!

Overall grade: B+/B

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #11

Legion of Super-Heroes #11 came out last week and continued a sort of resurgence of the title. The current Dominator storyline has been tighter and more dramatic than the earliest issues of the book. And writer Paul Levitz has concentrated the number of characters being used right now, minimizing scenes 'checking in' on the big cast of the book. This really 'feels' like the Legion right now.

The art on the book is split between regular artist Francis Portela and Andres Guinaldo. Portela simply shines on the book making him one of my favorite current DC artists. I keep hearing his time on the book might be coming to a close. If true, I hope he finds himself on another ongoing title quickly. Guinaldo's work is fine if dark and a bit more raw.

This arc reminds me of a couple of other older arcs. One is the Universo Project where Brainy and Dreamy are kidnapped. The other was the cabal of Legionnaires (including Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel) going against Legion rules and going after the Time Trapper.

The issue starts with the stealth Legion team led by Star Boy sneaking into Dominator space under the guise of a 'rogue comet' generated by Comet Queen. It is extremely taxing on the Queen, generating that much gas and tail (all while Thom adds tremendous mass). Avoided by the Dominator fleet, the comet sneaks into Dominator home world space, allowing the team to seek out the kidnapped friends.

The breakdown of this rogue team is interesting. I can understand Star Boy being on this team. I can understand Bouncing Boy and Duplicate Damsel (no longer Duo Damsel). I can even understand Comet Queen who would do whatever Chuck asked her to. But couldn't Levitz include Saturn Girl on the team instead of the recruit telepath Otaki? I have to believe Imra would be there.

In the meantime, Dreamy and Brainy continue to wait and wonder while no one has come for them. Brainy seems to grasp the political 'hot potato' it would be for the Legion to storm in.

I like that this conversation gives Levitz the opportunity to declare that Brainy does not experiment on animals or sentients (without consent). It is one of a couple of interesting new wrinkles in Brainy's character.

The incoming team tracks down Brainy and Dreamy and breaks them out of their cells. It looks like this might actually succeed. That is, until Brainy says he needs to get his force shield belt - a device which is now a 1000 yr old family masterpiece rather than an invention by Querl. Despite the danger to the team, he absolutely refuses to go telling the rest of the team to leave without him.

I have to chuckle a bit at the first panel as Thom comes crashing in like some heroic knight, grabbing Dreamy, seating her in his lap, and screaming to leave. That felt consistent with their relationship.

Even though it makes no sense, the team decides to stay and help Brainy rather than leave him alone with the Dominators.

I have come to love the steely heroism of Luornu. It is clear that the death of one of her body's at the hands of Computo has made her vigilant and focused on the safety of her friends. She simply won't let anyone else suffer. She won't leave Brainy. The Legion stands together. And Portela really shows us that, her eyes narrowed, her body poised. I want her back on the main team and not just an instructor at the Academy. Heck. I might vote for her for leader!

It turns out that Mon-El actually knew about the 'rogue team'. He has plausible deniability but put together the best ragtag team he could.

And he isn't going to have Cos berate him for being a poor leader. He tells Rokk to give him a break.

I get the sense that Cosmic Boy thinks he is the Legion Leader even when he isn't the Legion Leader. And I wonder if that impinges on the power of the elected leader.

Anyways, it is an interesting panel composition here as Mon-El curtly tells Cos to shove it. That opening panel with Mon mostly in shadow conveys some anger as well as echoing the need to a shadow type team. And the bottom panel is very good. All we see of Mon-El is his clenched fist. That's all we need to see to get that he is angry. And Cos small in the background let's us know that he feels ashamed and embarrassed for calling out Mon-El inappropriately.

So first we find out Brainy doesn't experiment on sentients.
Then we hear that his force field belt is an antique.
Now we see that Brainy can 'sense' where the belt is and then call it to him telepathically. It is shocking not only to me but to the team. Brainy calls it one of his 'tricks' but I hope we get something of an explanation.

And look at Dreamy laughing as she says 'Oh Brainy!' I am telling you, romance is in the air between these two.

But the escape takes a bad turn.

Just as the team is battling their way out, Brainy seemingly in a mental battle with a high caste Dominator, Comet Queen 'betrays' the team, knocking out Brainy. This leads to the rest of the team being overrun. The Dominators are just as surprised with Comet Queen's actions. They weren't expecting it either. So they include her in the captured, promising death to all of them.

I don't know if Comet Queen isn't acting on some hidden order by Brainy. She starts to say she was told to do that before she is attacked by Dream Girl. Could Brainy have some hidden agenda, pretending to be knocked out so he can get closer to the genetic database and destroy it? I am going to say yes. I don't think Comet Queen is capable of complex thoughts like betrayal.

So overall another good chapter in this Dominator arc. But can it all be wrapped up in next month's conclusion? I truly hope so.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #10

Legion of Super-Heroes #10 came out this week and was another solid issue for this title that seemed to be struggling to find itself for a while there. Writer Paul Levitz has righted the ship a bit by concentrating on the Dominator storyline for the last couple of months. While new plot threads have been introduced and we have checked in on some folks we haven't seen in a while, the main thread is the Dominator plot and that has tightened up the feel of the book tremendously.

It also helps that Levitz knows these characters so well and keeps the characterization solid in between the action pieces. It is the small things with the Legion that make it so wonderful, the interaction between the characters and their stories.

Unfortunately, artist Francis Portela only provides half the art on the book. I feel like Portela would be a mega-star if he was put on a bigger book but I am thrilled he is still here on the Legion (for now). He really has brought a fresh dynamic to the book. It reminds me how dramatically the feel of the book changed when Keith Giffen took over on art so many years ago. The remainder of the art is done by the team of Andres Guinaldo and Dan Green. It has a rougher feel to it, harsher, which mirrored some of the pages they were responsible for.

Between the Legion Lost crew and the kidnapped Brainy and Dream Girl, the team isn't faring too well. While the lost Lost are a mystery, the Legion are all to aware that the Dominators are responsible for the missing Querl and Nura. And with the UP denying them the ability to act, the Legion takes it upon themselves to muster the evidence to spur things along.

Incredibly, it is the usually staid and morally upright Cosmic Boy that takes matters into his own hands, breaking into a Dominator embassy on Earth looking for some information. I like his stealthy all black ninja gear. His plot is nearly foiled and he is almost captured until Ultra Boy scoops him out.

I like Jo's jibe that Cos isn't a spy like the Espionage Squad.

Still, things must be pretty tense for Rokk to do this. That speaks volumes.

As for Brainy and Dream Girl, they have been captured and are in a sort of Dominator prison. It is clear that this is a low security prison for Legionnaires they have ranked low on the power level. It is also obvious that the Dominators have been biopsying them for the genetic code.

Brainy and Dreamy are such a combustible duo. He recognizes she is smart but can be superficially flighty. She says things like 'sweet dreams' to him, I am sure, to get a reaction. I have said for a while that romance is inevitable between these two. I still think that.

While Rokk was breaking and entering, Mon-El was trying to convince the UP to declare war on the Dominion and cut the Legion loose.

One of my complaints last time was that the UP was reluctant to do just that given the Dominator plot on Panoptes and ... oh yeah ... the invasion fleet they sent into UP space. At least here we get a little explanation about their reluctance. The UP tells Mon-El they are outgunned and declaring war is suicide. I guess a bad explanation is still better than none.

Some of the other members aren't happy about the Legion kowtowing to the UP's mandates.

A cadre of Legionnaires and academy members actually quit, going rogue to try to save Brainy and Dreamy.

It is a motley crew. Sure Star Boy is potentially devastating but he is still nursing his injuries and is a bit too emotional about Nura. Bouncing Boy and Triplicate Girl make sense. Luorno has always taken these sort of things extremely personal, most likely born from her losing a body to an enemy. She was part of the cabal to avenge the pocket universe's Superboy as well. She seems fierce. But we aren't talking big guns here. And the academy members are weaker versions of Dawnstar and Saturn Girl. Good skills for this rescue mission but untested and naive folks. And one other member will be named later.

This feels like it has disaster written all over it.

As for the captured members, they have gone through Legion Combat training. They escape the low security cells and raise some havoc before being overwhelmed by the lower caste Dominators. These Dominators lives exist only to serve the higher castes, even if that means suicide missions.

I like this peeling back of the structure of the Dominion in this arc, showing us the uglier bits at the bottom of the social pyramid. Makes it even easier to dislike them.

Finally, Nura gets a vision that help is coming. And someone will betray them.

Look at how she swoons into his arms. I am telling you romance is around the corner.

Now as for the betrayal. It may be that she is seeing a feint, some plot where someone appears to be betraying the Legion.

My guess? That Star Boy quits the Legion after this disastrous mission. He realizes that Dreamy no longer loves him and can't be near her. This quitting of the Legion is a betrayal. Or maybe he is the one who feints, using the Dreamy/Brainy romance as an excuse only to sacrifice himself so they other can escape. Either way, I don't think Thom escapes this arc unscathed.

As for the mystery 'other Legionnaire' ... it's Comet Queen. She, of course, would be willing to follow Bouncing Boy anywhere. But it is hinted she has a key role in their 'plan' so was necessary for something more than her loyalty/infatuation.

Maybe the plan is her faking a betrayal? I hope not. And she better not die either. While she isn't a favorite, she is silly and fun. That is something needed in comics these days.

So lots of progression of the Dominator storyline. We even learn that the super-Dominators are cooking nicely and will be ready shortly. Things are going to come to head and soon. These sort of issues are a welcome change from the meandering sort of rest issues from earlier in this reboot. And there are some mysteries to mull over.

It still isn't giving me the magic of the old days, but this Legion is at least closer to the mark.

Overall grade: B/B+

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #9

Legion of Super-Heroes #9 came out this week and, I have to say, is probably my favorite issue of this DCnU run for the team. I have talked before about this book, about how the Legion feels tepid to me, not exciting and just sort of cruising along. I talked about how with Levitz juggling the massive cast of characters that I felt the momentum of the book was suffering. And I felt that the last 2 big story arcs - the Blue Flame entity and the Dominator invasion - were relatively lackluster.

This issue seemed to tighten up all those concerns. And most of all, made me excited to read the next issue. It was as if the water of this book started to roil a bit and near a boil. Things are starting to come together in an ominous way. Suddenly I was that Anj of the 80s, devouring the Levitz/Giffen book and wondering when all the plots and characters would crash together. The wonderful cover by veteran Steve Lightle added to the effect. It's not a perfect issue. But it is very very good and that is what I am looking for in my Legion.

Add to that Francis Portela' superior art. Portela has shined on this book throughout but here he seems to sparkle in both the quiet moments and action sequences.

But, again, it is the meshing of multiple plotlines, the use of multiple characters, and the feeling of upcoming tension that brings it all together.

The issue starts with Brainy still determined to break through the perceived Flashpoint wall and travel through time again. If they broke through the Time Trapper's wall, they can get through this.

Joining him Harmonia Li and then Dream Girl who arrives because her powers sensed danger happening. Brainy barely registers they are in the room. Classic Brainy.

But I love Dreamy here, talking about how her powers wouldn't detect Brainy's ineptitude and how she likes him despite his social foibles. I am calling it here ... a Brainy/Dreamy romance is going to happen. I think she protests too much. And it would harken back to Waid's short-lived run when they were romantically linked.

The research is stopped when 2 mutated Dominators warp into the lab. One is named Dys and seems to have a technology dampening power. Suddenly computers, flight rings, and even force field belts are inoperable.

I have always felt that Levitz has a soft spot for Dream Girl. He has never made her a simple glam girl although that is what she projects. He made her an effective leader, even during the time of the Great Darkness Saga. He had her sneakily being one of the smartest and mentally tough Legionnaires. Here, he shows that she did not shirk her combat training. Nice snap kick to the chops!!

While the Dominators are scheming and skirmishing, Mon-El is investigating the re-creation of the Fatal Five. He heads to Takron Galtos where Validus is still trapped in his inertron cube. Is this the first Validus sighting of the DCnU or in Legion recently? Is this known to be Garth and Imra's boy? I forget where the old Legion ended and the cured 'Garridan Ranzz' began. Was that 5YL?

Of course, I am starting to wonder if Shrinking Violet is unwittingly doing all this as the new Emerald Empress. She did absorb the energy in the last Annual. Is she living 2 lives, unaware?

The Dominators continue to pound away in the Time Institute. Not only do they capture Brainy (who apparently was their target) but grab Dreamy as well.

This reminded me a bit of The Universo Project from many many years ago when Dreamy and Brainy were part of a small group of Legionnaires who were so mentally strong they needed to be separated and imprisoned rather than controlled.

The other dominator seems to be more of a hulking brute and is kept at bay by Harmonia Li and her abilities.

I have to say I like the new look of Harmonia. She has a sort of Lady Shiva feel to her. And her superior air works well here. She seems like a goddess who is uninterested in sullying her hands in battle.

I think this might be my favorite panel and there is no action happening.

Cos is simply trying to keep track of all the Legionnaires and what they are doing. There are the away teams, each training or investigating. Who can he send when the attack on the Time Institute shows up on the monitors?

One thing I loved here was how much information Portela conveys about the characters here. Comet Queen is waving to the camera, Chemical Kid looking at her exasperated. Dragonwing is looking fierce and sideways, confident in a semi-'battle ready' pose. Vi has her arms folded looking perturbed. Nice.

Who can help out? Ultra Boy of course.

I do like how Levitz has him talk out the timing of his power switch going from speed to invulnerability to strength at just the right time. His punch incapacitates the Dominator thug to the point he is helpless. But the Dominator won't be taken in. He activates some inner suicide switch and unravels into a pile of glue. It is only after investigation that the goo is shown to probably be Dominator in origin.

As I said, Levitz has there be more under Dreamy's sultry exterior. She is more than just a pretty face. Even this Dominator can detect her mental strength. And, even he can see that she acts like his companion.

Why can't those two kids just admit they love each other??

The Legionnaires genes will be analyzed, their powers isolated, and then they will be added to the super-Dominator genome. Looks like an army of Legion-Amazos is going to crop up soon.

With 2 Legionnaires kidnapped, Cos plans to bring the fight to them when suddenly Mon-El intercedes. The UP doesn't want to invade unless their is solid proof. Why risk war on an educated guess?

Oh, I don't know ... how about 4 issues ago the Dominators brought their fleet through a wormhole into UP space. Isn't that enough reason?? Didn't the Dominators break the treaty?? This seemed like a lame reason to not go after your friends, especially given recent events.

Anyways, isn't this just what an Espionage Squad made for? If Cos doesn't form a covert team ... or look the other way when other leave on their own ... I'll be upset.

At least Star Boy is upset. If a Legionnaire can't rescue Nura then he isn't a Legionnaire. He quits. That sounds like what Thom would do.

Too bad Dreamy is going to dump him. At least, that's my guess.

Anyways, this issue got the Legion book simmering for the first time in a while. There are a lot of threats on the horizon and the Legion are grasping at straws a bit. It has been a while since I was excited to get the next issue in my hand. That's a good sign.

And I have to compliment Portela again. Man, this is a gorgeous book to look at.

Overall grade: B+