Post by ryokowerx on Sept 25, 2011 19:10:55 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).
PLOT SUMMARY:
The Legion uses stealth coating developed by Brainiac to get landing pods down to the surface of the planet Panoptes. The team consists of Chameleon Boy, Phantom Girl, Ultra Boy and two new members, Dragonwing and Chemical Kid. They are there because a military watchpost, there to keep a eye on the Dominators, has lost contact. In a cut scene, we find out that Colossal Boy has dropped out of the Legion and joined Starfleet. At the military post, Chameleon Boy finds mention of someone named Renegade but is interrupted before he can find out more. At Legion HQ, Mon-El and Brainiac 5 are in a conference call with three other groups of Legionnaires and they, unlike many characters, are aware of the Flashpoint effect and what it did to time and how they are working on a way around it. On Panoptes, Dragonwing and Chemical Kid are taken prisoner. Elsewhere, Dream Girl, Harmonia, Glorith and Star Boy reminisce about lost members. Back on Panoptes, Dragonwing and Chemical Kid make a break for freedom as the rest of the planetbound Legion join in before being attacked by a Daxamite.
THE ART:
Francis Portella handles the art duties for this version of LoSH. His artwork is good and certainly better than some of the art that has graced the various Legion series that has come before this one. Especially notable is the color work by Javier Mena. His color work on the vegetation of Panoptes is very well done and lends a lushness to the panels that make them stand out.
THE STORY:
Paul Levitz continues his writing from the previous Legion of Super-Heroes series. There isn't anything wrong with the story but there isn't a whole lot going for it either. The plot isn't very original. We've seen the "investigate the military outpost that has gone silent" story many times before and we all know that it is never as something as simple as equipment failure and that something or someone has always killed everyone or taken over somehow. The few character moments between the other groups is nice to set up the basics of their personalities but leave the reader scratching his head in most cases.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
If you are a long-time reader of Legion of Super-Heroes, this will be for you. However, if you're looking for a good jumping on point for new readers, you'd do best to spend your money elsewhere. Your $2.99 feels like you've landed in the middle of a ongoing story even though this is a #1 issue. Basically, this is no a new reader friendly title.There isn't anything at all wrong with it but the reader could find themselves just confused rather than entertained if they haven't had any experience with the Legion before.
NEXT WEEK:
Birds of Prey #1, Blue Beetle #1, Captain Atom #1, Catwoman #1, DC Universe Presents #1, Green Lantern Corps #1, Nightwing #1, Supergirl #1 and Wonder Woman #1.
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #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 Legion uses stealth coating developed by Brainiac to get landing pods down to the surface of the planet Panoptes. The team consists of Chameleon Boy, Phantom Girl, Ultra Boy and two new members, Dragonwing and Chemical Kid. They are there because a military watchpost, there to keep a eye on the Dominators, has lost contact. In a cut scene, we find out that Colossal Boy has dropped out of the Legion and joined Starfleet. At the military post, Chameleon Boy finds mention of someone named Renegade but is interrupted before he can find out more. At Legion HQ, Mon-El and Brainiac 5 are in a conference call with three other groups of Legionnaires and they, unlike many characters, are aware of the Flashpoint effect and what it did to time and how they are working on a way around it. On Panoptes, Dragonwing and Chemical Kid are taken prisoner. Elsewhere, Dream Girl, Harmonia, Glorith and Star Boy reminisce about lost members. Back on Panoptes, Dragonwing and Chemical Kid make a break for freedom as the rest of the planetbound Legion join in before being attacked by a Daxamite.
THE ART:
Francis Portella handles the art duties for this version of LoSH. His artwork is good and certainly better than some of the art that has graced the various Legion series that has come before this one. Especially notable is the color work by Javier Mena. His color work on the vegetation of Panoptes is very well done and lends a lushness to the panels that make them stand out.
THE STORY:
Paul Levitz continues his writing from the previous Legion of Super-Heroes series. There isn't anything wrong with the story but there isn't a whole lot going for it either. The plot isn't very original. We've seen the "investigate the military outpost that has gone silent" story many times before and we all know that it is never as something as simple as equipment failure and that something or someone has always killed everyone or taken over somehow. The few character moments between the other groups is nice to set up the basics of their personalities but leave the reader scratching his head in most cases.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
If you are a long-time reader of Legion of Super-Heroes, this will be for you. However, if you're looking for a good jumping on point for new readers, you'd do best to spend your money elsewhere. Your $2.99 feels like you've landed in the middle of a ongoing story even though this is a #1 issue. Basically, this is no a new reader friendly title.There isn't anything at all wrong with it but the reader could find themselves just confused rather than entertained if they haven't had any experience with the Legion before.
NEXT WEEK:
Birds of Prey #1, Blue Beetle #1, Captain Atom #1, Catwoman #1, DC Universe Presents #1, Green Lantern Corps #1, Nightwing #1, Supergirl #1 and Wonder Woman #1.