Legion of Super-Heroes Appreciation 2023

[M@Bowers2014]

Definitely.

Kinetix was also a cool character before they went of the rails with her. I'm actually in favor of a new Legion book being comprised of some classic members -- mixed in with some of those from later versions --- and totally new ones. Also, let's finally see more of the Subs and Academy become full-fledged members including Power Boy, Gravity Lad, Infectious Lass, and Night Girl. I dont' need to see Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl and Brainiac 5 in every issue!

Me either. As a long time Legion reader I've read way too many Legion stories focusing on those 4 Legionnaires. I also definitely want to see more of the Subs and the Legion Academy. Heck I'd love for DC to bring back Adventure Comics and have it focus on just the Legion Academy and the Subs. The last time they did this with Levitz and Jimenez and it was amazing until DC pulled Jimenez off the book. I'm not saying I want Levitz back on a Legion title. I'm just saying that I loved the idea of Adventure Comics featuring Legion concepts but not the main team.

[ducklord]

I'm all for the Legion adding non-white and non-humanoid members. But I also feel you build on the past -- don't tear it down and start over. That's been a mistake DC has made repeatedly, and probably will do it again at some point. The Legion's history has always been part of its appeal (and for those who don't like that aspect -- not sure why they are even reading comics -- I always loved that there were stories and events that led up to the current status).

I've said this before, but none of the characters Levtiz introduced on his last run were exciting or even interesting. But I know there is a creative team somewhere who can add to the existing mythos without having to start from scratch.

That's generally where my head's at - during a reboot, all bets are off, but if you're not rebooting, let's build from where things were, rather than doing piecemeal retconning. Heck, if I were king of the forest I'd even include the 5YL continuity in the overall "One True Legion" timeline, but I realize that's not to everyone's taste

[skyvolt2000]

As a Legion fan that actually, for the most part, enjoyed the Bendis/Sook series I was let down by that too. I just don't get wanting to diversify the team but ignoring Kid Quantum I & II, Computo (Danielle), Tyroc, XS, Dragon Mage, Gear, Karate Kid II among others. At least Jacques was on the team even if we only heard him until he finally turned opaque just to quit the team. I'll never hate what Bendis/Sook did with their version but it was ultimately disappointing.

Enough of that, what does everyone else want from the upcoming Johns Legion? Do you want the Retroboot team back? Do you want a Legion that combines characters from the different reboots? Something else entirely? I personally would like the Retroboot team WITH reboot characters like Monster Boy, Dragonmage, XS etc added as members.

The issue is this if having a black Lightning Lad is enough to make someone NOT read the book-is that REALLY Dc's issue?

It's just funny when these books fail the DEFAULT is to single out the POC in the cast and the blame stops there.

Rarely do you hear about the many OTHER issues that book had yet it's the POC's fault.

As for a new team-mix it up with various ones and then rotate some folks for certain missions.

[Sutekh]

As a Legion fan that actually, for the most part, enjoyed the Bendis/Sook series I was let down by that too. I just don't get wanting to diversify the team but ignoring Kid Quantum I & II, Computo (Danielle), Tyroc, XS, Dragon Mage, Gear, Karate Kid II among others. At least Jacques was on the team even if we only heard him until he finally turned opaque just to quit the team. I'll never hate what Bendis/Sook did with their version but it was ultimately disappointing.

Enough of that, what does everyone else want from the upcoming Johns Legion? Do you want the Retroboot team back? Do you want a Legion that combines characters from the different reboots? Something else entirely? I personally would like the Retroboot team WITH reboot characters like Monster Boy, Dragonmage, XS etc added as members.

Classic Baxter-era continuity, but rolling with the inevitable changes that occur with time and character growth / development. Garth and Imra have kids and have left the team. Rokk is teaching at the Academy (along with Chuck and Lu), but Lydda is an active Legionnaire (good thing they are 'working' in the same city, more or less!). Various classic members have gone on to their predicted futures, like Nura being groomed to be High Seer of Naltor, and not having as much time for 'Legioning.' The newer members introduced at the tail end of the Baxter era, Tellus, Polar Boy, Sensor Girl, and the newest members introduced later, Glorith, Dragonwing, etc. plus the recently-ish returned Tyroc are joined by newer blood, perhaps classic continuity versions of Kid Quantum, Dragonmage, etc. as well as other forecast members-to-come like Danielle Foccault/Computo or Karate Kid 2/Myg.

(Myg ain't dead. He was younger than most Legionnaires and Asian. The toad that was mysteriously burned to death by Radiation Roy's *paralysis beams* during Legion of Three Worlds was older than most Legionnaires, clearly not Asian, and his name was spelled 'Mygg.' So, I'm not having it. Clearly some Time Trapper summoned alternate version, or some such shenanigans! I will happily jump on those artistic, writer and letterer errors to label him un-canon!)

So, similar to your wish for some of the best ideas from the Reboot to be welcomed into the classic continuity. (Why not, if every other 'boot can have their own Lightning Lad and Brainiac 5, why can't we have our own Dragonmage or Gazelle or 'Kid Radius*'!)

*A character that was supposed to be part of the Bendisboot, and may have been the green glowing skeleton person, but got slightly less development than the oh-so-amazing-you'll-just-die-when-you-hear-his-story (scheduled to be told on the 36th of Nevertober) Gold Lantern.

[bearman]

C’mon.
Gold Lantern was a talk show regular compared to the attention given to Matter Eater Dad.

[kcekada]

I didn't read any of the Future Phase -- or JLA/Legion, so not sure what was ultimately revealed (or not) of Gold Lantern. For the most part, I didn't care --- and it couldn't compare to the revelation that Rond Vidar was a secret Green Lantern back in the day.

[Sutekh]

C’mon.
Gold Lantern was a talk show regular compared to the attention given to Matter Eater Dad.

Those mutton-chops! The Legion has always had dubious anachronisms like Tinya's bell-bottoms, but the 70's porn-star vibe was strong with Bendis' Mutton-Chop Chonk.

My not caring for that particular 'boot is all inconsistent with one of my favorite Legion stories *ever,* Superboy's Legion, itself being an AU!

[Timber Wolf-By-Night]

Those mutton-chops! The Legion has always had dubious anachronisms like Tinya's bell-bottoms, but the 70's porn-star vibe was strong with Bendis' Mutton-Chop Chonk.

My not caring for that particular 'boot is all inconsistent with one of my favorite Legion stories *ever,* Superboy's Legion, itself being an AU!

I'll take anything Alan Davis does, even his more nostalgic-driven work, over Bendis's try-too-hard efforts at being progressive, any day of the week. I feel more love and respect in Davis's work, while Bendis just screams "Look at me, aren't I just clever?"

[Dataweaver]

My single biggest issue with Lightning Lad being race swapped is that… his twin sister wasn't. If it had been Cosmic Boy instead of Lightning Lad, that would have been fine with me. But as things stand, “black Lightning Lad” feels like it was done by the same people who have recently been complaining that the British royal family is almost all white. Well, duh; that's how genetics work.

[skyvolt2000]

My single biggest issue with Lightning Lad being race swapped is that… his twin sister wasn't. If it had been Cosmic Boy instead of Lightning Lad, that would have been fine with me. But as things stand, “black Lightning Lad” feels like it was done by the same people who have recently been complaining that the British royal family is almost all white. Well, duh; that's how genetics work.

Unless you have a case of a recessive gene that causes a person to be born black despite having biological white parents.

Judith Stone was a case of this.

2008 movie Skin with Sam Neil and Sophie Okonedo.

Atavism is what it's called.

[Factor]

My single biggest issue with Lightning Lad being race swapped is that… his twin sister wasn't. If it had been Cosmic Boy instead of Lightning Lad, that would have been fine with me. But as things stand, “black Lightning Lad” feels like it was done by the same people who have recently been complaining that the British royal family is almost all white. Well, duh; that's how genetics work.

But she was, actually. They both look black now.



Cosmic Boy actually got race swapped as well, but to look Asian.
Did you read the book?

[Captain Nostalgia]

The issue is this if having a black Lightning Lad is enough to make someone NOT read the book-is that REALLY Dc's issue?

It's just funny when these books fail the DEFAULT is to single out the POC in the cast and the blame stops there.

Rarely do you hear about the many OTHER issues that book had yet it's the POC's fault.

As for a new team-mix it up with various ones and then rotate some folks for certain missions.

Did you really think I was going to let that comment stand after you knew that I agreed to walk away from this post.

1. Your not even a Legion of Super Heroes fan.

2. You are the most political person on this forum, whenever their is a post that can be interpreted as political....you'll be sure to be flying around.

3. You know full well that the issue with Lightning Lad is that it is a change that fundamentally changes the character to a different person.....


In this case it just happens to be skin pigmentation (Race), but it could be numerous things, it could be weight (Timber Wolf) it could be changing them to an alien (Element Lad) it might be giving a character a hook hand and long hair, or any a number of things

People don't like changes to their favourite characters it pi$$es them off, and they won't buy the book.....it took me 10 years to read a Green Arrow run because they shaved his robin hood goatee and mustache.....it po'd me that much.

[Sutekh]

Did you really think I was going to let that comment stand after you knew that I agreed to walk away from this post.

1. Your not even a Legion of Super Heroes fan.

2. You are the most political person on this forum, whenever their is a post that can be interpreted as political....you'll be sure to be flying around.

You're at eleven, complete with spittle flying out of your mouth. See if you can bring it down to about a four?

[Dataweaver]

You're at eleven, complete with spittle flying out of your mouth. See if you can bring it down to about a four?

But he's right: skyvolt2000 is, if not the most political person on this forum, very close to the top of the list. As such, their claims that others are being political come across more as a case of projection than anything else.

[skyvolt2000]

But he's right: skyvolt2000 is, if not the most political person on this forum, very close to the top of the list. As such, their claims that others are being political come across more as a case of projection than anything else.

Actually I am not near the top of the list but in the top 20 though.

If this Bendis Legion was this bad-the RACE of Lightning Lad or the design of Timberwolf should NOT be in the top 100 reasons why.

Because if we left both of them as they were-would that REALLY improve the book?????

Would it have made comic book stores order MORE copies? Because if that was the case we would be looking at Legion of Super Heroes volume 8 issue 40 by BENDIS right now.

Would it fix these issues?

1) too many guest stars
2) Bendis dialogue has everyone sounding the same
3) Too many of the cast did background duty

Here is the answer-NO.

So why is Black Lightning Lad being singled out? Lighting Lad black or white doesn't fix those top 3 issues.

Too many times a POC gets blamed. Led by folks who do NOT read the books.


Theses are the issues that need to be talked about....
1) too many guest stars
2) Bendis dialogue has everyone sounding the same
3) Too many of the cast did background duty

Not a racebend Lighting Lad.