Post by ryokowerx on Sept 15, 2011 19:26:41 GMT -5
(cross-posted from my Facebook account. I hadn't originally intended on picking up all the new #1s but the 50% off deal at DCBS turned out to be too good to pass up. Feel free to discuss, agree or disagree
So what the hell is this? I'm going to try to write a review of each of the new #1 issues put out by DC Comics. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, DC Comics (home of Superman, Batman, etc.) is completely restarting most* of the history they have established with their comic books since 1939. (* some continuity remains but all events that remain are considered to have happened within a five year span of time) If you're still confused, think of it as everything being set back to square one and all these superheroes are new things to show up rather than a given part of the world.
Anything I say from this point on is my opinion and reflects only my feelings. Please take your nerd rage elsewhere if you disagree or at least be civil in your disagreement.
NOTE: I have not read Flashpoint #5 which kicks off this new history so I'm going to try to approach these issues as if someone completely new to comics were picking them up for the first time. If you're interested in what I have to say, I'd encourage you to go to your local comic book shop (if you have one) or you can buy them digitally at Comixology (http://www.comixology.com).
WARNING! SPOILERS OFF THE PORT BOW CAP'N!
PLOT SUMMARY:
The issue opens with a mysterious man exploding at a emergency medical clinic. In Minnesota, a Legion time bubble materializes and a group of Legionnaires tumble out. They have traveled back to our time in a effort to stop a villain from the future named Alastor from releasing a pathogen on earth that would eradicate the human species. They failed. As they try to go back into the future with the captured Alastor, Alastor attempts to commit suicide by blowing himself up inside the time bubble as it travels. They contain the blast but at the cost of two Legionnaire's lives and they crash back into the present and Alastor escapes. Unfortunately they all realize that Alastor has infected them as well and they are now stranded in the past.
THE ART:
The art chores are handled by Pete Woods and his work is adequate for the title. I'm not sure if he was also the artist on Levitz's previous Legion of Super-Heroes series but it seems similar in my eyes. The only real ding that I can levy against the artwork is that the coloring on the various Legionnaires seems a bit flat - ironically scenes that have Alastor in them do not suffer this. If multiple colorists were involved, however, only one was credited.
THE STORY:
Fabian Nicieza is the writer. The story is only okay as it is essentially only a set up issue for what seems to be the ongoing plot of being stranded in time and tracking down a walking biological weapon and dealing with their own infection. It isn't clear if they are affected by it but they are certainly contagious to humanity from what I understand in reading it. The biggest problem with the issue is, that with such a large cast, there really is no time for character development. Basically, it is a average comic book that will require the purchase of following issues for a cohesive story and fleshed out characters to emerge.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
I've never been much of a fan for most of the publishing history of The Legion of Super-Heroes so paying $2.99 for a issue of it is not something to come naturally to me. Sadly, this issue did little to change my mind. The story just didn't grab me but Legion fans might find the hook and premise much more enjoyable than I did. As a jumping on point for new readers, this is not a good choice. Too many characters are thrown at the reader at once and everything just rushes ahead from there. I won't be back for a second issue but may consider reading the first story arc once it has been collected into a trade paperback if it gets good word of mouth.
NEXT WEEK:
Batman And Robin #1, Batwoman #1, Deathstroke #1, Demon Knights #1, Frankenstein: Agent Of Shade #1, Green Lantern #1,Grifter #1, Mister Terrific #1, Red Lanterns #1, Resurrection Man #1, Suicide Squad #1, and Superboy #1.
LEGION LOST #1
So what the hell is this? I'm going to try to write a review of each of the new #1 issues put out by DC Comics. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, DC Comics (home of Superman, Batman, etc.) is completely restarting most* of the history they have established with their comic books since 1939. (* some continuity remains but all events that remain are considered to have happened within a five year span of time) If you're still confused, think of it as everything being set back to square one and all these superheroes are new things to show up rather than a given part of the world.
Anything I say from this point on is my opinion and reflects only my feelings. Please take your nerd rage elsewhere if you disagree or at least be civil in your disagreement.
NOTE: I have not read Flashpoint #5 which kicks off this new history so I'm going to try to approach these issues as if someone completely new to comics were picking them up for the first time. If you're interested in what I have to say, I'd encourage you to go to your local comic book shop (if you have one) or you can buy them digitally at Comixology (http://www.comixology.com).
WARNING! SPOILERS OFF THE PORT BOW CAP'N!
PLOT SUMMARY:
The issue opens with a mysterious man exploding at a emergency medical clinic. In Minnesota, a Legion time bubble materializes and a group of Legionnaires tumble out. They have traveled back to our time in a effort to stop a villain from the future named Alastor from releasing a pathogen on earth that would eradicate the human species. They failed. As they try to go back into the future with the captured Alastor, Alastor attempts to commit suicide by blowing himself up inside the time bubble as it travels. They contain the blast but at the cost of two Legionnaire's lives and they crash back into the present and Alastor escapes. Unfortunately they all realize that Alastor has infected them as well and they are now stranded in the past.
THE ART:
The art chores are handled by Pete Woods and his work is adequate for the title. I'm not sure if he was also the artist on Levitz's previous Legion of Super-Heroes series but it seems similar in my eyes. The only real ding that I can levy against the artwork is that the coloring on the various Legionnaires seems a bit flat - ironically scenes that have Alastor in them do not suffer this. If multiple colorists were involved, however, only one was credited.
THE STORY:
Fabian Nicieza is the writer. The story is only okay as it is essentially only a set up issue for what seems to be the ongoing plot of being stranded in time and tracking down a walking biological weapon and dealing with their own infection. It isn't clear if they are affected by it but they are certainly contagious to humanity from what I understand in reading it. The biggest problem with the issue is, that with such a large cast, there really is no time for character development. Basically, it is a average comic book that will require the purchase of following issues for a cohesive story and fleshed out characters to emerge.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
I've never been much of a fan for most of the publishing history of The Legion of Super-Heroes so paying $2.99 for a issue of it is not something to come naturally to me. Sadly, this issue did little to change my mind. The story just didn't grab me but Legion fans might find the hook and premise much more enjoyable than I did. As a jumping on point for new readers, this is not a good choice. Too many characters are thrown at the reader at once and everything just rushes ahead from there. I won't be back for a second issue but may consider reading the first story arc once it has been collected into a trade paperback if it gets good word of mouth.
NEXT WEEK:
Batman And Robin #1, Batwoman #1, Deathstroke #1, Demon Knights #1, Frankenstein: Agent Of Shade #1, Green Lantern #1,Grifter #1, Mister Terrific #1, Red Lanterns #1, Resurrection Man #1, Suicide Squad #1, and Superboy #1.