Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #12

Legion of Super-Heroes #12 came out this week and it is a whirlwind of a story, wrapping up quite neatly all the plot lines which have been simmering in this title over this year.

One of the things that I struggle with on this site is reading a comic as a fan and reading a comic critically. Those are two very different experiences. And this issue encapsulates that conundrum quite well. 

As a fan I loved this. I have been waiting for us to see this Legion team as a whole fighting big bads. Writer Brian Michael Bendis gives us tiny moments for almost all the teammates, showcasing them a bit. He continues to build a couple of future plot lines. Ryan Sook does all the art on the book and it is just gorgeous. And we end with a party. For someone who has craved a good Legion book on the shelves, this was a wonderful capstone to a fantastic first year.

As a critic, there are some things that lingered in my mind again. For one, this book has been simmering. This issue basically boils over. Everything wrapping up so quickly is a little jarring. I wonder how much of this accelerated pace was driven by the need for Future State to happen when it does. Second, and perhaps more a corollary of the first point, the big bads are taken care of with a quick fix, something we have seen with many big bads in the super-books lately. 

But I come to praise this book, not bury it. This was too much fun. I can only hope that Future State doesn't derail this book. I want more and I hope we get it.

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #11

Legion of Super-Heroes #11 came out this week and was another rapid-fire romp around a few worlds of the United Planets. Between the action and the big font planet names, it sort of felt like one of the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible movies. I had a  blast reading this. Brian Michael Bendis does a great job of leaping from planet to planet, squad to squad, and giving us both plot and character progression. Now that is a Legion comic.

What is interesting is that all the plots seem of equal weight. Classic Legion had the A, B, C plot algorithm. Here, thrown into this new continuity. They all seem equal and all seem weighty. It really keeps me engaged with all of them. And I can't help but feel that The Great Darkness, while a sub-sub-plot now is really going to surge and dominate the book at some point.

As an added bonus, we get Ryan Sook interiors for the second issue in a row. Sook is just fantastic. The book flows so well. The pencils are gorgeous. Give me 6 Sook issues a year and I'll be thrilled.

There is a lot to unpack here, so on to the book.

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #10

Legion of Super-Heroes #10 came out this week and was a great walk around the team as we explore several plot lines which have begun in the book. The recovery of Earth's ocean is behind us. The 'Trial of the Legion' is behind us. We have met a lot of the Legionnaires through the last two issues page-by-page storytelling. The future is now.

And there is a lot to unpack in this issue. The romance between Superboy and Saturn Girl and their side mission to find Mordru is here. The current state of Rimbor's politics is here. The impending Great Darkness and the current state of Oa is here. And boy oh boy is New Krypton here. And each of these storylines throw in a lot of hints and clues for the future that whets my appetite for more.

I also love how my favorite Legionnaires get some screen time. Lightning Lass has always been a favorite and her scene in this issue might be my favorite.

Ryan Sook provides the art here and his work is just fantastic. There is so much fun here. The breathy ethereal landscape of the mind's eye of Imra's telepathy is beautiful. Monster Boy's minotaur is fun. Cham pretending to be Krypto and Streaky when on New Krypton is a hoot. He might have based a character in here on a British actor. It is just beautiful. 

Get ready to dive in because I have thoughts and ideas!

I am so happy that a good Legion book is on the shelves!

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #7

Legion of Super-Heroes #7, written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Stephen Byrne, came out last week and continued this series interesting new take on my beloved Legion.

As I have said before in my reviews, this title is an interesting mix of all that has come before it. The Legion is a tricky property. It is considered too dense or complicated for new readers. It has an aging fanbase tied to its continuity. It has undergone reboots. It has needed some vision which captures both the history of the main continuity but freshened up so new readers can enjoy the ride.

And somehow this new title seems to be doing just that.

This issue takes on one of the best parts of Legion's fandom ... the Legion Leader Election. As someone who once mailed in a vote for Wildfire, I can tell you, I love the election. So to see that brought back here made me smile.

The idea of a Superboy, a 21st century superheroic legend, joining the team to guide and learn, is old and new.

And the idea that the government that formed the Legion might be a little worried about them is also old (I see you Threeboot) and new as well.

Add to that Stephen Byrne's clean art, bringing a beautiful polish to the future, and you have another great installment in this title. His expressive work is stellar here. You need that sort of ability in a book where there are so many scenes of people talking. You need to help intuit their feelings.

Long Live the Legion! On to the book!

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #6

Every now and then a comic crosses my path that reminds me why this hobby remains a crucial part of my life. You know what I mean I'm sure. That sort of issue that is a perfect mix of words and images. Great words. Superior art. A plot that reminds you that heroes exist. And twist maybe you weren't expecting that works. The kind of issue that even at an advanced age like me makes me get goose bumps.

Legion of Super-Heroes #6 by Brian Michael Bendis and Ryan Sook is such an issue.

I am a lifelong Legion fan. I have been waiting a long time for a Legion book that feels both classic and fresh to cross my path. I crave a Legion book I can get behind. I have been aching for it.

Classic and fresh? Sounds impossible.

But so far this book's creative forces have been walking that tightrope. A true Legion of heroes? Lads and Lasses? Superboy? RJ Brande forming them? A United Planets? Mordru?  A Ferro Lad mention!Classic check check check.

New heroes? A not so nice Brande? A shattered Earth? A Ferro Lad mention! New.

And here in the 6th issue we finally get to see the force of the Legion when the team is unleashed. We get double page spreads where we see our heroes battling the Horraz. I don't want to understate this. Two page spreads of delicious Ryan Sook art showing the team bashing and blasting. So scrumptious I almost ate the book.

Add a little plot twist that maybe I should have foreseen but didn't which just sticks the landing of this issue.

A Legion book I can get behind. Amazing.

On to the book.

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #5

Legion of Super-Heroes #12 came out a couple of weeks ago and is probably the strongest issue of the title so far. This really felt like a Legion book, something I have been waiting for, it seems, for some time. It has it all/ Some origin story. Some action. Some secrets revealed. Some people joining. I ate this issue up with a spoon.

Brian Michael Bendis writes a great team book with great moments for a number of characters. But this issue is stolen by Brainiac 5. We get to see Brainy in his home element, hear about his powers, see him stop a violent altercation, and see him eek out a secret, one that is a classic Legion secret with a nice update. And we are starting to see some of the individual personalities of the team start to bubble up. In particular, while brief, this sounded like Ultra Boy! Hooray!

The art is done by Ryan Sook and continues to be glittery. I love Sook's art and this issue is no exception. It all just seems flawless. Just go look. My words won't work.

I also love how this book might also be a little backdoor History of the DC Universe title, with just a dash of meta-commentary. So much goodness.

If you are an old school Legion fan, I think you'll love this book. This old timer does.

On to the book!

DC Comics June Solicits

Last week DC Comics released it's June 2020 solicits. Here is a link to Newsarama's coverage:
https://www.newsarama.com/49409-dc-comics-june-2020-solicitations.html

First and foremost, for me, was that there is no Supergirl book on the shelves. June is the first month after her cancellation. It seems so foolish and shortsighted. But then again, I can't say that the book on the shelf has truly been a Supergirl book for a while ... so maybe this was the right move?

Just as bad as no solo title is that the Girl of Steel is nowhere to be found in the solicits. No talks with her cousin in either super-titles. No guest starring in Legion. No joining the Titans. No side mission with Justice League Dark.

Kara has been ghosted by DC Comics.

Crazy.

So here are the other super-books.

ACTION COMICS #1024
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. and KLAUS JANSON
variant cover by LUCIO PARRILLO
Wonder Woman 1984 variant cover by FRANK CHO

The city of Metropolis has been rocked by Luthor’s latest attack and the drama surrounding Superman’s truth, and that gives the invisible mafia a new foothold to change the City of Tomorrow forever. Meanwhile, the Daily Planet is under siege! The fallout from Superman: Villains continues as Clark Kent steps out into the world as a reporter for the first time.

I guess I'll need to figure out how Luthor relapses from Apex Lex back to plain old Lex at some point. And the Daily Planet under siege? I am going to guess that it is from other news outlets and not a physical siege.

I keep hoping Romita's time on the book comes to an end.

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #4

Legion of Super-Heroes #4 came out this week and finally we got a snippet of the team's origins, close enough to the classic to feel familiar, different enough to feel fresh, suspicious enough to make a conspiracy theorist like me wonder some things.

I loved it.

We are slowly meeting the Legionnaires and this issue we get concentrated doses of the original Legionnaires Three. We got snippets of information about Blok and Triplicate Girl. And we got a sort of newish interpretation of one of my longtime favorites Lightning Lass as well.

Writer Brian Michael Bendis is slowly immersing us in this new Legion mythology. There are some storylines brewing in the background. But mostly it feels like the stage is being set here. As a lifelong Legion fan, as someone who has understood the issue of keeping old rabid fans happy while opening up this mythology to new readers, he really is walking the tightrope. I have to give him proper respect for doing this, a seemingly impossible task.

The art on the issue is broken between Ryan Sook doing his usual stellar work on the present timeline. Mikel Janin pencils the flashback sequences. The whole issue sparkles artwise. I am so impressed by this book. And one particular panel gave me goosebumps. When you strike a chord with a jaded reader like me, you have succeeded.

On to the book!

May 2020 Solicits

Last week DC released their May 2020 solicits. A look at all the books can be found here at Newsarama:https://www.newsarama.com/49036-dc-comics-may-2020-solicitations.html

The big news is the cancellation of Supergirl, a topic I covered here. I keep hearing these rumblings of another universal reboot. I am hearing some behind the scene whispers that Supergirl is going to be left untouched for a bit. I already ranted. Just know it makes absolutely no sense to keep a marketable character like Supergirl on the shelf. Ridiculous.

SUPERGIRL #42
written by JODY HOUSER
art by RACHAEL STOTT
cover by CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
card stock variant cover by DERRICK CHEW

Deemed a threat by the U.S. military, Supergirl is now a wanted villain! General Corvid has come for our hero—and she won’t give up until Kara’s gone for good. Meanwhile, the superstorm rages stronger than ever, while hundreds remain helpless against it. Can Supergirl prove that she’s the hero the people once believed her to be? Or will she let everyone down—including herself? Find out in the pulse-pounding series conclusion! FINAL ISSUE

We go out with a sob. Instead of the book ending with Supergirl as a hero, redeemed the solicit makes it sound like she's a fugitive. That is a far cry from the National City citizens cheering for their hero when she returned from space.

Who can I blame for this complete misunderstanding of a character and the character's fanbase?
I have no choice but to blame Dan Didio who has been in charge for all of these dark takes.

On to the rest of the Super books.

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #3

Legion of Super-Heroes #3 came out this week and after a couple of months of set-up and settling in, we finally got an issue that felt unabashedly Legion to me. There are plots and subplots. There is interlac everywhere. There are romances and teen angst. There's interplanetary politics and super-villains. And there are a lot of Legionnaires in this book.  I was tickled.

Writer Brian Michael Bendis does his usual great job with snappy banter and characterization here. We pick up a lot of information about some of the Legionnaires we haven't really met yet. Everyone seems to have their own personality, a key to a successful Legion book. He even tosses in some Easter Eggs for fans. By far, this is his best issue of Legion yet.

The art is a mix of Ryan Sook's usual amazing work as well as Travis Moore's more thin lined and refined style. The book really crackles. The scenes on Rimbor and with Crav Nah are well paced and laid out beautifully. The characters really seem like individuals and the action is palpable.

After a long time, there really feels like there is a Legion book on the shelves and in my hand! On to the details.

Review: Legion oif Super-Heroes #2

It is a conundrum that DC has been dealing with for the last 2 decades ... maybe 3.

How do you update a continuity heavy IP like the Legion that will both bring in new readers and satisfy the old guard? The threeboot? The retroboot? None have been able to figure it out.

Somehow you have to acknowledge all that has come before and not ignore the old stories. Because the Legion fandom (what exists of it) is very particular about continuity. And yet, you also can't drown the new readers in a dense pre-existing world that probably no longer exists.

Now I'm not ready to anoint the Brian Michael Bendis/Ryan Sook take on the team as that bridge but Legion of Super-Heroes #2 was another good step in that direction. And our point of view character is Jon Kent. I mean 'Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes' has a nice historic ring to it. The Legionnaires we have met all seem to be close enough to their historical counterparts to have a ring of truth. But with a true Legion of characters, we have barely scratched the surface.

So here we are with a team of 'the best of the best', acting as an independent peace keeping force bound by their own code, recognized by the UP but perhaps in a grudging way, trying to do what's right. But they're also kids figuring stuff out. I like it.

Add to that the stunning art by Ryan Sook and so far I have little to complain about.

So let's look at this issue.

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #1

I have been a Legion of Super-Heroes fan for all of my comic life.

I consider Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #211 to be my first comic.

I reviewed Legion books here and over on the Legion of Super-Bloggers.

I am very protective of the property of the Legion. I want them done right. I also have been craving a Legion book on the shelf. It has been too long.

So when Brian Michael Bendis decided to bring the Legion back, I was thrilled. I have liked what Bendis has been doing on Superman and Young Justice and Naomi. And I trusted his reverence of the past to treat them right.

Legion of Super-Heroes #1 came out this week. I will admit I read it with trembling hands. I love the Legion. I was hopeful.

To get to the point, I very much liked this issue. There are familiar names and familiar faces. There are some familiar places and a possible homage. But it also feels very very new. This is a new team. This is a new Earth. It felt nostalgic and innovative at the same time. That is a thin tight rope to walk.

On top of that, Ryan Sook is on art and makes the book so beautiful I wanted to eat it. Everything just crackles here. It is luscious book to look at. And, as a premiere, Sook is given plenty of splashes and double splashes to work with!

On to the book!

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes Millennium #2

Legion of Super-Heroes Millennium #2 came out this week and was another walk down the new DC timeline, establishing a new order of events which culminates with a new age of heroes, the gleaming 'world' of the Legion.

The Legion being prominent in the title and the cover is a bit of a lure as the team is barely seen in the book. But this is definitely their introduction into the DCU proper. And, since they are the future of the DCU, we need to get there. And now we know that Kamandi predates OMAC who predates the Legion. For a DC continuity nut, I actually like having a little order among the chaos.

Writer Brian Michael Bendis tells the story through the eyes of the newly immortal Rose and Thorn. But one thing that is clear is that Bendis has done his homework. The different future times are all ripped from the DCU but sound and look right. And, much like last issue when he honored Supergirl by making her president, he gives Kara a nice moment here as well, albeit in memory.

And the art work on the book is stunning. It is a true murderers' row: Nicola Scott, Jim Cheung, Jeff Dekal, and Ryan Sook. Each 'chapter' is brilliant. And each has an art style which perfectly fits the tone of that period.

I have to say this was built for a long time DC reader, filled with memories and nostalgia. Toss in the introduction of the Legion and I was grinning.

On to the book!

Full DC November 2019 Solicits

Last week, DC released their complete solicits for November 2019. Here is a link to see all the books:
https://www.newsarama.com/46215-dc-comics-november-2019-solicitations.html

They had done something of a preview of some of the books earlier, showcasing the 'acetate cover' books which have a clear overlay which changes the initial image. I wrote about how disappointed I was with the Supergirl one last month here:
http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2019/07/early-november-solicits-dark-supergirl.html

Now we know a little bit more about the Year of the Villain, who the Batman Who Laughs infects, and what issues we will see these heroes turned villain.

No big surprise, I am pretty tired with the whole darkening of good characters. I don't know how this infection happens. But it would be nice if DC recognized that Kara has gone through these dark periods before and it never seems to work. How I would have loved it if somehow Kara rejected this evil turn. Or was considered too good for the Batman Who Laughs to even try on her.

Instead we once again get this dreck played out. Even if it is temporary, it feels wrong.

SUPERGIRL #36
written by MARC ANDREYKO
art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JULIO FERREIRA
acetate cover by DAN MORA
card stock variant cover by DERRICK CHEW

Supergirl—the infected! Brainiac-1 attempts to contact Supergirl at the Fortress of Solitude, but for what nefarious purpose? No matter what he has planned, things are about to go from bad to worse as Supergirl heads on a collision course with the Batman Who Laughs! He’s targeted Superman as part of his plan to infect heroes and transform them into their twisted Dark Multiverse counterparts—but Supergirl gets caught in the crossfire, and the Year of the Villain stakes get even higher! 

I don't even care if somehow she sacrifices herself to the infection to save Superman from going dark (as may be implied here). I am sick of this take on Supergirl. 

I wish I know who to blame for continuously picking this scab. 

On to the rest of the books.

Review: Action Comics #1006

Action Comics #1006 came out this week and was another solid issue in the Brian Michael Bendis run of this book. It has action. It has character moments. It has big plot progression. It has subtle visual storytelling and gorgeous art by Ryan Sook. It has a huge nod to the past. It has just about everything ... except Lois Lane.

All along Action Comics has been my favorite book for the Bendis era. Much of that arises from the main plot that organized crime has quietly been running Metropolis, a fascinating idea for a Superman book. It also has a ton of Daily Planet time and that always works for me. And this issue is sort of a template for those high points.

Add to that Sook's work. Ryan Sook just sings off the page. You really need to linger on the page and take it all in. From expressive work to page construction, Sook is just a genius. I know his time on the book is done. I hope he comes back in some form at some point. I miss his work already.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #1005

Action Comics #1005 came out this week and was a crackling good time. This issue was a perfect sort of middle chapter for what we have been reading here, pushing forward all the plot threads organically, giving us new information, and making me want more. From its inception, Action Comics has been my favored Brian Michael Bendis super-book and issues like this is why. After last month's Lois problems, this issue righted the train.

Certainly Superman/Clark has a huge presence. He is the straw that stirs the drink. But the real power of Action is the supporting cast. From the individual mob leaders in the Invisible Mafia to the Planet staff, everyone builds on everyone else.  I want to learn more about these people and their motivations. I want to know the answers to the mysteries we have been teased with. This is an ensemble book with a superstar center and I love it.

Of course, the book is profoundly helped by the achingly fantastic art of Ryan Sook. Sook's stuff just leaps off the page. From the action sequences to shadowy crime meetings to seedy clubs to swanky affairs, Sook's page layout, panel design, and figures are about as perfect as you can get. I know he is working on some secret future project with Bendis but I need him on the super-books now and then. How about he is the perrenial Annual artist?

And I usual am horrible about not mentioning the rest of the artistic team, something I need to remedy. Brad Anderson's colors also help tell the story. The psychedelic colors of the opening scene evoke the 60's/Ditko-ness of it all. The bright colors in the posh party stand in contrast to the inkiness of the mob meeting held in darkness. And the letters by Josh Reed, especially the sound effects, add to the action.

Okay, enough gushing. On to the details.

Review: Action Comics #1004

Action Comics #1004 came out this week and it was the first issue of the Brian Michael Bendis run on this title that left me a little cold. One of the biggest problems I have had with the reboot has been the removal of Lois and Jon from the book. This issue brings back Lois but does it in such an awkward and odd way that I had to wonder if Bendis has been reading Superman at all.

After a couple of years of a truly loving super-family in the Tomasi and Jurgens written Rebirth books, eliminating Jon and Lois seemed short-sighted. Still, I have very much enjoyed Action Comics since Bendis took over. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he would be able to bring back the Kent family in a way that I could understand and appreciate.

Instead, in this issue, we find out that Lois basically 'needs space' and decided to stay hidden without talking about it with her husband. It is only after he 'discovers' her that she opens up with her concerns. Now you might say that plenty of couples have ups and downs and this could ring true to real life. But Lois never really is able to explain what it is that was missing before. She says she needs room to write but she wrote when she was with Clark as a couple, prolifically. Two books as Author X as well as her Planet stuff.

Even more perplexing, Clark just seems to accept it. You would think he'd have more questions.

And the Jon stuff is glossed over. Remember, their kid is now alone, in space, with a mass murderer who tried to foment chaos on Earth to convince Superman that humans are horrible and worthy of genocide. Not exactly good parenting 101.

All that said, Ryan Sook's art is so wonderful it just sings on the page. From the brief action scenes to the conversations in the Planet to the heart-to-heart Clark/Lois scenes, Sook's work is superior. His expressive work is just wonderful. That alone elevates the book.

Still, this just left a sour taste. On to the particulars.

January 2019 Solicits

The DC solicits for January were released this week and it looks to be an interesting 5 week month. Here is a link to the entire list:
https://www.newsarama.com/42345-dc-comics-january-2019-solicitations.html

One of the most interesting sites was the return of the 'Prestige Format' in a number of books released in the 5th week. I'm a huge fan of that format. Unfortunately, the 2018 price tag of $8-10 bucks makes the 'impulse buy' of them unlikely. The hook or idea has to be huge to prompt the buy. Is something like The Other History of the DC Universe, mini-series looking at characters who have felt different or prejudiced against, bold enough to bring me in? Or am I more likely to get the silly sounding anthology Mysteries Of Love In Space?

Another fascinating piece is the return of Young Justice, spotlighted below. But we are here for the super-books. On to those issues.

SUPERGIRL #26
written by MARC ANDREYKO
art by KEVIN MAGUIRE and SEAN PARSONS
cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU

Supergirl…super-captured! Still recovering from radiation poisoning, Kara finds herself in the clutches of the Citadel and its ruthless leader Harry Hokum, who is eager to experiment on one of the last Kryptonians in the known universe. How is Kara supposed to track down answers to her Rogol Zaar/Krypton mystery in the midst of a Vega System civil war? And you don’t throw a civil war in the Vega System without the Omega Men returning—even some long-lost ones!
ON SALE 01.16.19

I can't help but notice that Artgerm is back on the variant cover. Remember everyone, this is a business. If Artgerm on the book lifts the sales by 10K, maybe they should keep him on variants.

Kevin Maguire is on art again. I don't know how the Shaner/Maguire duties are being divvied up.

And I like the sound of the plot as well. If Supergirl is out in space, you may as well bring in the more cosmic stuff. Omega Men? Why not? Give me some Primus and Tigorr please!

In fact, why not have a crossover with JL Odyssey!

October 2018 Solicits

The October solicits for DC Comics came out this week and there are a couple of things which sound good, a couple of things which sound bad, and something that sounds like THE EXTREME 90s !!!

Here is a link to Newsarama's coverage if you want to look at all the solicits for the month:
https://www.newsarama.com/41056-dc-comics-october-2018-solicitations.html

One thing that stuck out immediately is Newsarama picking the Supergirl cover to spotlight the article. And no mistaking that that is Artgerm back on this cover. You might recall my postulating that Artgerm's variants for the book made it sell and extra 10K a month.

On to the relevant books and material.

Happy 4th of July - Fortress Destroying Fireworks!

Happy Fourth of July for those Americans who are here! I'll be taking tomorrow off as I kick back for a day off!

The Fourth is always capped with excellent fireworks shows and we have been witness to some big fireworks in comics recently.

But none have been bigger than the recent destruction of the Fortress of Solitude at the hand of Superman himself.