Review: Supergirl Annual #1

Supergirl Annual #1 came out this week, a middle chapter in the current Fatal Five storyline and boy, was this one busy. Writer Steve Orlando keeps things moving forward at a near incalculable speed, switching scenes, having characters move in and out, and revealing plot points in a machine-gun style. This was one of those issues that while I was reading I needed to flip back a couple of times to make sure I knew where the action was taking place. It also was one of those issues that I read twice in the same day to make sure I understood it all.

In some ways, that rat-a-tat style works well for a summertime annual. Like an action movie, the pacing was so brisk that it felt like a roller coaster ride. In some ways, it didn't work for me as the information flowing was happening so fast that I needed to pause and absorb it (or reread it), breaking that momentum.

Perhaps I am being too grumpy. There is a lot happening here. But I shouldn't complain when most of the time I am complaining that nothing happens in comics.

The art here is done by Steve Pugh. Pugh's art has certainly changed over time. His work on the Vertigo Animal Man back in the early 90s is the style that I have imprinted on. This seems a bit more straightforward than that thick-lined style.

Buckle up your seatbelts. We are moving on to the story.

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #22

Legion of Super-Heroes #22 came out last week, the penultimate chapter of this series which may spell the end of the Legion for some time. With no new Legion book being publicized, with JLA3K taking its place as a future team, and with all avenues of re-energizing the franchise explored (reboots, old boots, bringing the band back together) and failed, it might be time for the Legion to take a breather.

It is sad for a Legion lifer like me to say that. I have been saying 'Long Live the Legion' since I was in elementary school, since Imra was in a pink bathing suit and Vi had an intricate green/black jumpsuit. But this book has been on a sort of treadmill for a while, probably since Waid's threeboot for me. I can't remember the last time I was excited to read a Legion comic. And that's depressing.

So we come to this issue where the Legion has to fight and defeat the Fatal Five in 20 pages in order to set up next issue's denouement, swan song, finale. As a result, the action is relatively fast with some quick defeats on the parts of the villains who have been destroying the universe unscathed for the last handful of issues. For an old-timer like me, it was great to see some of the original Legionnaires and the original Substitute Legionnaire playing such a big part.

That said, there is a fair amount of stuff left unsaid. Paul Levitz doesn't seem to have the space here to satisfactorily tell the tale of this final battle. And the art by Jeff Johnson is fine but it felt like an understudy playing the lead in a play. Shouldn't the end of the Legion get more than this?

Last issue ended with Tharok deciding to take on the Legion personally, bringing himself, the Persuader, and the Emerald Empress to Earth to execute the remaining Legionnaires. Luckily Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl arrive. As always, Imra is in control and impressive. Here she simply shuts down the Persuader's mind.

I find it weird that the Persuader, who has battled Lightning Lad countless times, felt the need to explain the properties of his axe to Garth. I am pretty sure he knows it can cut through anything.

Imra is unfortunately caught of guard by the Emerald Empress which breaks her hold on the Persuader. Just as it looks like he might behead Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass shakes off the cobwebs from last issue's fight and blasts him.

I add this only because I am a giant Lightning Lass fan and this may be the last time in a while we see her do anything. She hasn't really done much in this storyline or this book for that matter.

So if this is the end game, and Tharok wants the Legionnaires dead, why didn't the Empress just blast Imra to ash when she had the chance? Why drag her away by her hair??

Regardless, I loved this sort of Spaghetti Western close up of the combatants eyes with Saturn Girl saying that after facing off against Darkseid nothing can scare her. Nice moment.

And, as with the Persuader, Saturn Girl simply turns off the Empress' mind. Quick and easy. Too quick?

With the tides possibly turning, Tharok uses his powers to teleport everyone to the fifth member of the Fatal Five, the Promethean Giant. This seems like a copout. The Giant isn't in on this. He is like a tool Tharok is using. I thought for sure Glorith was going to return as a baddie. And whither poor Mano? Is he in comic limbo?

So this was more of a letdown than an exciting moment for me. I also have to say, there is a lot unsaid about Tharok. How did he get these new powers? How do they work? Which 'Legion witch' was the only one who could defeat him, the one he is glad he banished? I don't get it.

Now Levitz does have a sort of 'out of left field' surprise for us.Sensor Girl arrives at the Promethean Giant in a cruiser and uses her powers to clear the Giant's senses so that it can see clearly. Freed from Tharok's control by her power, the Giant rebels. Okay, that is actually a decent use of Sensor Girl's powers ... I think. I didn't know she could do that.

But even crazier than that is Sensor Girl's co-pilot. That's Karate Kid, he supposedly dead husband!

Everyone remembers his death at the hands of Nemesis Kid in the fourth issue of the Baxter series Legion. Because of his death, Princess Projectra killed Nemesis Kid, invoking her royal status to execute him, a law higher than the Legion constitution. She then left the Legion, immersed herself in mysticism, and then realized she could see beyond senses. This Sensor Girl was born.

Now another Karate Kid was brought back in Countdown but to be honest I don't remember how his story ended. Is this a *different* Val Armorr? Another dimension's Karate Kid? The original resurrected? Will we ever find out?

Pretty crazy twist.

The Empress has been shut down by Saturn Girl. The Persuader has been fried by the Ranzz twins. Validus in floating in space. The Giant is free. That leaves only Tharok.

In a nice use of his powers, Polar Boy brings Tharok down to absolute zero, a state where no energy can exist.

I will say I thought it was great that the Legionnaires who seemed to impact the ending the most were Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl, 2 of the original three, and Polar Boy, the substitute who made it to the big leagues.

But just like that, the universal threat is over. The Five are defeated.

And the only thing that's left is recovering.

Until Brainy says everything that has happened is his fault. Could he somehow be responsible for Tharok's new powers?

So there have been a bunch of deaths. Some members have left this dimension. The galaxy lies in ruins. And we have one issue to wrap everything up.

It is somewhat sad to think that this is the end of the Legion as we know it. Will we hear enough of all the Legionnaires to feel like we have said 'goodbye'?

Anyways, the fight with the Fatal Five ends pretty quickly. And Karate Kid returned!

And I will ask again ... whither poor Mano?

Overall grade: B-

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #21

We are nearing the end aren't we.

Legion of Super-Heroes #21 came out last week and that means there are only two more issues left in this incarnation of the Legion, which is essentially a glomming on of an old incarnation of Legion. I have to say that after reading this issue now, I can't help but feel some resonance with all I feel about the Man of Steel movie.

The ending is marked by a lot of carnage, a lot of destruction, and a lot of death ... all in some mad dash to 'relevancy in the current comic market' ... all to make the comic 'modern'. If that is what we have come to with the Legion, maybe it is time to move on to Justice League 3000.

Now I am sure that this opening paragraph is going to lead to the usual comments about me as a reader. That I am stuck in the 50s, that I want sticky-sweet stories without conflict, that I want the heroes to be so pure as to be boring.

And frankly I am sick of that.

You know what I want? Good stories.

My favorite Legion era is the years around Great Darkness Saga into the Baxter years. Reread those stories. There isn't gore or carnage or heroes killing people. And they stand up to 3 decades of time.

My second favorite Legion era? The Five Years Later book, a dystopic look at a future bogged down by politics and isolationism. Different milieu for a Legion book to be sure. But the team was still heroic, trying to do what was right in a tougher time.

Heck, I even like big noisy brawls if they are part of the story not the purpose of the story.

I don't know if the last 5 years have brought good Legion stories. And I don't know if this loud Fatal Five story packed with killing and pandemonium leading into the demise of the book is any different. The concept of the Legion has suffered so much recently that Keith Giffen ... whose fame is built on the foundation of the Legion ... said the word Braal in an interview like it was a swear word, like it was the antithesis of a good comic. What a shame.

Paul Levitz seems to be speeding to the finish line, trying to put in some character flourishes that echo prior greatness, that utilize the wonder of the Legion. And Jeff Johnson is on art here, bringing a Scott Kolins feel to the book which feels consistent.

But the Legion is about to go away ... and it feels like it is going away for a while this time. And that depresses me.

With the galaxy crumbling around them, the Legion is surprised to find that their 'quark' technology is suddenly back on line.

One thing I love in this scene is the curious and bemused look on Brainy's face as he tries to figure out why that is happening. It would be hard to be curious and bemused in the middle of an apocalypse but if anyone would be it is Brainy. This is a man who has had questionable sanity in the past. Everything is a problem to be solved. It is that characterization that makes the Legion such a great book.

So why is it back on line? My guess is that Tharok is preoccupied. Controlling a Promethean Giant can't be easy.

Back on Earth, Cham and Ultra Boy battle the Persuader. The city is in rubble around them. Duo Damsel looks dead.

I love the shock on Jo's face when he hears that Phantom Girl is gone, probably for good. This is the love of his life. He had faith in her as Legion Leader. It is completely deflating to hear she is gone.

Again, solid characterization is more important here than the devastation that accompanies it.

Another thing I have enjoyed in this book is the slow change in Chemical Kid's personality. He started out as a snot-nosed entitled jerk who bought his powers and his way into the Legion. Some risky missions later and he suddenly has adopted the Legion way, thinking more of others than himself.

Here he uses his powers on the thrashed Mon-El, trying to control the chemical reactions in Lars' body to save him.

I hated this character when he was first introduced. I have to say watching him grow has been a great side story in this title.

Even more interesting has been Shadow Lass' struggle with her feelings about Mon-El. I love her dedication to him despite shutting him out of her life in the recent past. Why can't these two kids just admit they still love each other???

And I wonder if there is a meta-textual message in Dream Girl's visions. All is dark and funereal! That sounds about right for this book and for Legion fans.

But apparently there is more death around the corner. Invisible Kid and Polar Boy have been shunted into a 'near death' limbo. The ghosts of dead Legionnaires lead them to a way home but tell them one mistake and they will be back forever.

Foreshadowing? Probably. I can't imagine Jacques making it out alive.

As for the Fatal Five. Well they are more like the Fatal Three. Validus has been marooned in deep space. But Tharok, Persuader, and Emerald Empress are still around and bring the fight to the Legionnaires on Earth. They wipe out most of the cruiser team (and that is saying something since Element Lad and Lightning Lass ... two big guns ... were aboard).

I will say that Tharok's powers are so ill-defined that they are becoming almost comical. He somehow can teleport Emerald Empress out of an inertron cocoon as well as breach Brainy's force field to attack the belt it has sprung from. Will we ever hear how his powers expanded like this? Unlikely.

And where is the fifth member?? Isn't Glorith ready for her big close-up??

In a nice cliffhanger which has a 'book end' feel to it, Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl arrive to join the fight. Cosmic Boy was on the cruiser. So it looks like things boil down to the original three Legionnaires wrapping up the fight. Hey, they were there at the beginning ... why not the end. Again, nice characterization, especially for long-time Legion fans who grasp it best.

So overall all this was a brawl filled issue with some nice nuggets of characterization scattered throughout. I suppose that might be an improvement the ennui the book was in before.

But are these characters so toxic that they need to be cast aside and forgotten? I don't think so.

Overall grade: C+

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 #18

Legion of Super-Heroes #18 came out this week and continued the breakneck pace of the Fatal Five storyline which started in earnest last month. Like the best of Legion books, writers Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen are able to juggle a large roster of characters throughout the book, giving each sub-group of Legionnaires time to shine in their corner of the story. And by shifting the focus of the plot quickly among those groups, it really gives the book some kinetic energy. As a reader, I can't get too comfortable when the scene keeps shifting and so I also got caught up in the action as well.

This main plot reads like a reverse 'Magic Wars' story. Instead of magic destroying technology and causing chaos throughout the universe, it is 'old tech', used by Tharok, to destroy any 'quark based' technology. With all machines on planets not working, the worlds rather rapidly descend into anarchy. Everyone is caught off guard here.

And, like any big arc, there are deaths and major changes in characters. This really feels like a different Legion book than the last few stories.

The one complaint about this issue is the art. Last issue's art was done by Giffen and included many 6 panel pages stuffed with appropriately muddy art. This issue, the art is split between Tom Derenick and Scott Kolins. It just doesn't seem to work as well as Giffen's did last issue. I am intrigued to see how Francis Portela fares with this arc moving forward. I think Portela shines in drawing the sleek beautiful 31st century world. How will he handle this universe filled with detritus and catastrophes?

On Earth, civilization seems to be crumbling. The lack of technology seems to have lead to explosion, fires, rioting, and the gathering of mobs. That didn't seem to take too long.

Interestingly, at least some citizens are blaming the Legion saying only they had the power to bring about this apocalypse. Now why the Legion would do this, who knows. Mobs are unruly. At the very least, the mob should see that the Legion are suffering too.

I did like the combo of Harmonia Li and Dragonwind to calm the crowd down. Li wants to use words. Dragonwind wants to use fire. Nice dichotomy.

It is interesting that Harmonia was elected the deputy leader. And I like that she lashes out with tornadoes when Brainiac 5's sanity is called into question by the mob. I do think it is fascinating that she is romantically interested in him.

As I said above, it is 'quark' based technology that Tharok seems to be able to shut down. Older technology seems to be able to work but is harder to find because it has been replaced.

A team from Earth including Rokk, Mon-El, Lightning Lass, Vi, and Shady are trying to get a cruiser functional to help out off-world.

As a long time Legion fan, I love the Weber's World comment. Sort of the seat of power of the UP and a man-made machine world, it is probably in big trouble if not destroyed. So seems like the right place to start.

The stress from this anti-tech attack seems to be hitting the Legionnaires as well. Rokk asks Ayla if she will use her lightning to power up the ship. Seems reasonable to ask and certainly something I have seen her and Garth do in the past.

Vi seems to take offense to the proposal, at least until Ayla says it's okay. Of course, way back in the Legion Annual #1 from the last series, it was hinted that Vi might be possessed by the Emerald Eye. We haven't seen the Empress yet in this arc. Could Vi be an embedded Fatal Five villain? Maybe, even unwittingly, she is trying to stymie Rokk's efforts?

The Rimbor team of Ultra Boy, Cham, and Glorith figures out a way to get off the planet which is in complete disarray. Glorith can use her magic to open up a portal back to the Wizards' World and Mysa, the Black Witch.

Of all places, the Wizards World might be the least effected by Tharok's ploy. It might be the perfect place to make a last stand. 

One thing I like about the Legion is the sense of internal history and the breadth of its characters. In this issue we hear Shady talk about the barbarism of her home world. We hear Cham talk about the devastation of the 6 minute war. These heroes have such diverse histories; interesting to hear it still impact them during times of crisis.

Meanwhile, on the Promethean Giant world, the team of Phantom Girl, Polar Boy, and Invisible Kid continue to mourn Sun Boy's passing but also keep trying to figure a way off the surface so they can help out.

Even here some of that Legion history comes out. Phantom Girl wonders if she will be thrown out of the leadership spot because of this massive attack.

I love how Polar Boy supports her while sheepishly rubbing his own head. His tenure as leader wasn't that easy most remembered for him trying Brainy for violating Legion code and an internal conspiracy within the group to kill the Time Trapper. He was blamed for all the stuff that happened while he was leader. He would know about crushing self-doubt.

And on Earth, some other Legionnaires are also trying to but together a working cruiser. When the protesters break in, the Legionnaires (Brainy, Element Lad, Chemical Kid, Dream Girl, and Star Boy) actually need to make a break for it. They jump into their barely functioning cruiser.

In dramatic fashion, Star Boy is crushed at the doorway, right in front of Dream Girl.

I have been saying for some time that Star Boy wasn't long for this world. His yearning to retire. His walks through the garden of statues of fallen Legionnaires. It was written on the wall.

It also might set up the Dreamy/Brainy romance I have been saying is coming since they were kidnapped together.

Now that is a lot of stuff going on in this issue. But it ends with an unexpected cliffhanger. The Promethean Giant has awakened, is trying to literally scratch the Legionnaires off him, and ... somehow ... is being controlled by Tharok. He really does seem to be a sort of Cyborg Superman now. And I suppose I should just roll with this massive increase in his power level? Or should I hope for more of an explanation?

So, another good issue with a lot of action. The one thing that I liked about this was the Legionnaires ability to continue to keep their eye on the big picture. With death of friends and devastation all around us, they continue to be goal-oriented, to try to get into the action and stop the Fatal Five. Their will be time for mourning. But later.

So another turbo-fueled issue of Legion. And about these monthly Legionnaire deaths, to quote Fleming "Once is happenstance, Twice is coincidence, Three times is enemy action." I fear there will be many more.

It is a shame that Giffen is leaving so soon after revving up the title. That said, I will be thrilled when Francis Portela is back on art.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #17

Legion of Super-Heroes #17 came out last week, the first of an apparently brief attempt to 'bring the band back together' by reuniting Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen on the book. It is hard to believe that is has been almost 30 years since their heyday on the book. And I guess it is no big surprise that there was a very kinetic feel to this issue, an energy which I think has been lacking on this title at times.

We have seen the Fatal Five plotline sort of simmering on the back burner for a while. But this opening chapter of the true arc starts ferociously and wildly.There is a palpable danger felt throughout the issue as the Legionnaires seem helpless. These aren't Braalian pirates or Dragonwind's sister the Legion is fighting. These are big time arch-villains and their power is felt immediately. I mean it when I say there has been some inertia on this book, issues that barely move me as a reader. This issue was the exact opposite.

The issue starts off in the middle of a disaster. A Legion cruiser manned by Phantom Girl, Sun Boy, Polar Boy, and Invisible Kid has had a catastrophic malfunction, crash landing on some unknown remote planet.

The characters are at a complete loss as to how it has happened and where they are. They cannot communicate with the natives of the world they have landed on. It is a nice technique. As readers we are dropped into the middle of action bringing us into the story immediately. More importantly, we are just as lost as the characters, making us empathize with them as well.

But the easy pace of last issue and the optimism of the election is over. Phantom Girl as Legion Leader is immediately thrust into a crisis.

And if this malfunction and crash isn't considered a real enough crisis, this cinches it. Sun Boy is dead!

He was a 'leaf on the wind', landing a powerless cruiser well enough to keep his teammates alive. But it cost him his own life. And there is little chance of coming back from this. His head is crushed. Rest in peace Dirk Morgna.

Maybe all those scenes of other Legionnaires walking through the hall of fallen heroes was some sort of foreshadowing I should have picked up on?

I suppose that this could be the easiest way to churn up publicity, killing of a Legionnaire. But to be honest, I can't remember the last one (Earth Man doesn't count). So I didn't think this was stunt.

Over on Rimbor, a similar technology collapse has crippled the planet. Ultra Boy, Cham, and Glorith are there to try to track down the Fatal Five and are caught in the backlash.

And the feeling of impending disaster, or danger, is even more palpable. Tharok hasn't had this sort of power before. As readers we know about both disasters making this even more incredible. One such attack, which is all each Legion team is aware of, is crazy enough. It makes Tharok a bigger threat and therefore the Fatal Five even more powerful, as insane as that sounds.

On the other side of the universe, the Phantom Girl led squad is basically marooned. Every piece of technology from their cruiser to their flight rings is off-line. They can't even communicate with the natives who seem to have eaten the corpse of Sun Boy. I guess Levitz and Giffen want it clear - he is not coming back.

In an added twist, this culture seems to have been built on a chunk of the Source Wall. Polar Boy realizes the city they are in is built on the arm of a Promethean giant.

The Fatal Five and The Fourth World? Sounds like an explosive combination.

Back on Rimbor, the fallen worker drones suddenly re-power and attack the Legionnaires. So it is more than just a de-powering technology attack; it is controlling technology, and it has Tharok's designs written all over it.

Glorith, my favorite impending super-villain, a :egionnaire with unknown levels of power, demolishes all the drones because she 'doesn't like to be touched'.

It is a scary moment for me. It has to be a matter of time before she loses it. If she has untapped power, we are (obviously) talking about a Time Trapper like villain. I think the sweet, naive, and innocent young woman is going to change when confronted with the dark realities of the universe. Maybe that happens in this story.

And the Promethean Giant? It comes to life.

Just how does this fit into the Fatal Five threat? Or does it? Maybe when the attack disabled the Legion Cruiser it also disabled whatever tech was holding this thing at bay?

This is an odd wrinkle for this story ... but a welcome one, adding another layer of mystery. And again, adding any excitement to the story and the book is fantastic.

At last we find out that Tharok was indeed behind the two attacks. He has a new power and a new power level. He almost seems like the Cyborg Superman now, able to leave his body to attack machines from afar. I can't tell if this is a device he is sitting in? Or creating himself out of? Either way, it gives a new look to the half man/half machine old idea of Tharok.

Here he is reuniting the Persuader and Validus to the cause. He wants to strike at the Legion like a surgeon, eliminating those who could harm him the most as well as laying waste to home worlds.

He seems vicious here and frightening. It has been a while since I have been worried about Tharok as a villain. So this was great.

And if all this action wasn't enough, the issue ends with the menace of Validus about to be unleashed. If the new Tharok is this powerful, what will Validus be capable of? Even that picture is impressive.

This was an incredible issue for this book, a burst of energy in a sometimes sleepy title. And there was progress here, pushing the Fatal Five arc into the spotlight.

Add the new powers of Tharok and how off guard the Legion was caught, the Five feel like a real threat. And a little Kirby cosmic is a nice spice to add.

But the biggest thing is the death of Sun Boy, a death which happens here in the opening chapter.There is no time to grieve here. This is war. There will be casualties.

Overall grade: A

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #16

Legion of Super-Heroes #16 came out last week and I thought it was a very good issue.

I have complained in the past that the main problem of this title has been its inability to build momentum, to have big stories, to get somewhere. While there has been great characterization, a staple of writer Paul Levitz' books, the plots have been troubling. Where it was the Legion of Super-villains last volume, or the Dominator problem, or rest issues about Chemical King, or the Dragonwing stories, these have all been muddled or forgettable.

So when another 'rest issue' was announced, another issue where we 'checked in' on the Legionnaires, I initially cringed. Wouldn't that just slow things down more?

Instead this issue continued to move some plots forward, while peeking in on some members we haven't seen in a bit, and lastly has a great surprise ending. There is nothing like an old-fashioned Legion leader election to stir the pot a bit. And maybe after the lackluster Super-titles this week, an issue like this was like a warm bath, comfortable.

The art is by Scott Kolins and it is fine here. His rough style actually works quite well on Validus.

The election is the backdrop of the story as we peek in around the Legion HQ, hearing snippets of conversations. It was fun to hear Ultra Boy joke about his being elected once. It was reassuring to hear Chemical Kid stump for Element Lad. I would think that Kid might have run himself earlier this year, thinking he knew it all. So nice little growth there.

But this line stuck out a bit. Now I know that Dream Girl has always been a bit of a vamp. But she has also been fiercely loyal to Star Boy. During the Dominator arc, I thought for sure a Dreamy/Brainy ('Drainy'?) romance was going to happen. So for her to say something like she is 'available', even in the context of being elected, makes me wonder if she is ready to move on from Thom. Again, probably something that only long-time Legion readers (are there any other) might pick up on. Subtle.

And I thought that Brainy was going to end up with Dreamy back in the Dominator arc too. Instead he is seen walking arm in arm with Harmonia Li. I guess I can understand his interest in her. She is a scientist. But there is as much wisdom in her as there is intelligence.

Still I wonder if she is ready for romance with someone so rigid in his assessments. Wisdom means bending sometimes. Here Harmonia looks visibly steamed that Brainy sort of disparages Dragonwing's upbringing.

Meanwhile the Espionage squad continues its research on the Fatal Five. If the Persuader's axe was an illusion, maybe Validus himself is an illusion on Takron-Galtos.

The team of Cham, Vi, and Ayla head there to investigate. And Cham and Vi head into the Inertron cube prison cell that Validus is constantly banging against. Meanwhile Ayla stays outside.

I thought this was a great exchange. For one, the smile on Ayla's when talking about 'her Vi' was sweet. And Gravity Kid, now working on Takron Galtos, wonders why Lightning Lass, one of the most powerful Legionnaires, isn't in the cell too. So, as an Ayla fan, I was glad to see her recognized as in the upper echelon of Legion strength.

But the best thing was her saying that her power would be meaningless in the cell. That raw power isn't always the answer. I wonder if that simple lesson, or Gravity Kid's still ignorance of it, is what kept him off the Legion roster.

Back on Earth, Star Boy sounds like he is a tired man, maybe ready to retire from the Legion.

It has been a tough couple of years for Thom, insane in the 21st century, returned as a physically broken man to the future, and then pulled out of rehab to rescue Dreamy, fighting off Dominator hordes. I don't think this moment in the Hall of Heroes is a foreshadow to his death. I think of it more that he is ready to retire before he ends up there. I wonder if that will be the final straw in breaking up this longstanding romance.

As an aside, I liked seeing the 'Legion Lost' members immortalized in statues here. It shows that they aren't forgotten. I still hope they make it back to the future.

And how about a peek at another troubled romance? It looks like Mon-El is ready to rekndle his romance with Shadow Lass.

This scene also showed me that Levitz is great when it comes to characterization. We are less than a year out of Earth Man's death. While it would be very easy to settle back into the status quo of Mon-El and Shady together, it wouldn't make sense. Even Mon-El telling her to move on and trying to get cozy like this seemed a bit oafish ... almost sleazy.

Shady squelches any ideas of a reconciliation. She storms off telling him support for him a Legion Leader will be there, but romance is out of the question.

And while the Fatal Five seems to be in the on-deck circle for the Legion to fight, I think we all know that something Glorith/Time Trapper related has to be slated soon thereafter. Glorith is cornered by Brainy into undergoing more tests and, as expected, things swirl a bit crazily. I think there is a lot brewing under the calm and innocent exterior of Glorith.

Really what I want to see is some Black Witch time now. There is enough happening that the Legion should be asking Mysa some tough questions about Glorith.

I don't exactly understand why Cham uses this strategy. But he takes the form of Validus and that somehow makes the 'real' Validus fade away as an illusion. So it seems the Fatal Five seem to be reformed ... but for who knows how long.

It is interesting that this was not only a visual illusion, but one with sound, and tactile as people felt the tremors of this thing's pounding on the walls. That is more than a simple hologram. Sounds almost Sensor-Girlish.

And is Vi being possessed by the Eye as seen the early 2011 Legion Annual still in continuity?

As I said, the best thing about this issue was sort of cruising around and reading these small moments.

I thought that this conversation between Cos and Mon-El was great. At the potential end of his time as Leader, Mon-El wonders if he was effective. Looking back at all that has happened, including the current Fatal Five stuff, it hasn't been a peaceful time.

Cos has always been the sort of backbone of the Legion, the sounding board, the voice of experience. So I thought this brief bit, about how things aren't simple any more, that there is a full cemetery of Legionnaires, that they don't always win, but that they have saved lives ... I thought that was poignant. I can imagine that running the Legion has to be extremely stressful.

And then, a nice surprise ending. Phantom Girl has won the election!

I don't think I would put her at the top of my ballot but I think, in retrospect, it makes perfect sense.

She is intelligent. She is a lifer. She seems to have a solid core, rarely getting flustered. And I think she has common sense never getting to high or too low.

I look forward to seeing how she runs the big board.

So what can I say. This issue was exactly the sort of issue that I have complained about in the past. And yet, for one of these 'catch up' issues, it was meatier, had more great character moments, and moved some of the plots ahead, much better than ... let's say ... this Legion rest issue. I do wonder if newer readers might like the smaller moments less than I did.

And Tinya running the show! That should be fun!

Overall grade: B+