Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds # 1 Review
Author: Geoff Johns
Pencils: George Perez
Inks: Scott Koblish
Colors: Hi-Fi
I'll be the first to admit that Legion of Superheroes has been a comic I have avoided like an STD. Well successfully avoided, but they do make shots....errr anyway. It seems that every time the Legion had a reboot I tried it out and couldn't get into it. Because Dan and Nick told me Waid's Legion was good I tried it out and ended up enjoying it. Went back and read the Legionnaires and some of Paul Levitz' run in the 80's. I guess what I'm trying to say is; you don't really have to know squat about the Legion to enjoy this book. You don't have to know anything about Final Crisis to get your money's worth either, because I have no fucking clue what it has to do with Final Crisis. At least Libra appeared in Rogues' Revenge and Revelations. But you know what? I'm not going to turn down a good story for that reason.
This is a follow-up to the Sinestro Corp and Legion story in Action Comics. All you need to know is Superboy/man Prime = bad and there is a nice recap of the Action Comics story in the court scene. The Time Trapper yanks Superboy/man Prime out the Countdown timeline and sends him to the future to destroy the Legion. He ends up going to a Superman museum in Smallville and is disgusted to find out a statue of him was never put up next to Superman's villains. He ends up destroying everything and heads for Takron-Galtos to free the Legion of Supervillains so they can help destroy the Legion. The United Planets wants to disband the Legion and kick out Earth from the federation (it's like watching Star Trek sometimes). R.J. Brande shows up to take up for the Legion, but he is shot by his old rival Leland McCauley. When a burning S is left in the remains of Tarkron- Galtos the Legion decide to stay together. There are missing Legionnaires or some who are out of commission, so the Legion looks for help elsewhere. When I mean elsewhere, I mean through fucking time and space. They yank Superman from our time and are willing to take the post Zero hour Legion and Mark Waid's Legion as recruits against this fight that is to come.
I loved this issue and coming from someone who really doesn't know that much about the Legion of Superheroes it says alot that the writer could still make things interesting. There are some things that I was a little lost on; for example when Superman says "I've met them both. We all did." I'm not sure who the we in that sentence is supposed to be. I have to say that Superman has more believe in the good in people than I do. Superboy Prime has destroyed a fucking planet and killed a handful of superheroes, but he still thinks that the solution is to redeem Prime. I guess that is why he has inspired people all the way into the 31st century.
What can I say about George Perez that I already haven't? The man is a penciling god! There is a reason why they hire someone of his caliber to draw a book with so many characters. His facial expressions are some of the best. I really got the sense of despair when the Legion where looking elsewhere for help. A great start to what I'm sure is going to be an epic battle and I can't wait for the outcome. A
That event where they supposedly all met is an untold story.
There was a minor comment in the Lightning Saga I think when the JLA/JSA people were discussing the various Legionnaires they've met who were obviously different versions of the same characters.
Yeah. Referring to stories that haven't been written yet is a great way to NOT confuse someone about continuity.
Personally, I think they'll redeem Superboy and he'll end up with whatever Legion is left after this series.
I mean... there is probably a "custodial" reason he wasn't with the Superman villains at the museum. He could be removed from the past, and hence is merely a past footnote in time to Superman.
Time travel is so much fun!
Didn't the Post Zero Hour Legion meet up with Atom Boy and Saturn Girl from the 50's? Also untold stories about the three legions meeting up has me curious about a follow up prequel series. I can see why people stay away from Legion. It can get more confusing than Cable.
Have they resolved the Superboy name lawsuit? Because that was the thing that suprised me the most about this comic is how much the name was used, after all that time spent making sure it wasn't used before.
Overall, I enjoyed it for a first issue. I tried to follow the Legion through the 90s and I read the current title in TPB form. But to say the previous incarnations are existing as a result of the 52 universes is almost a cop out. How many things can be laid at the doors of the 52 if they've already have slated certain key events there?
Not only does DC need a continuity expert, but they need a mathematician, too.