We go to Utopia, Star Boy recovers very quickly, Wildfire loses another suit, and Chemical King is still a jerk. Let's take a look at Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #14 & Adventure Comics #528

 

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #14

Whenever people ask me why the Legion has struggled with gaining new readers, I think this version of the book might be the perfect encapsulation of the problems.

We're on reboot number 4 here and the book doesn't even get to run a year and a half before DC shuts everything down and starts over... kinda...

Instead of looking to the future, the Legion, once again, wallows around in its past. There's no breaking new ground. They're just calling back to yesterday.

But only a certain yesterday. If it's the wrong yesterday, not the "real" Legion, then it's ignored or treated with contempt. So you're ready to piss off a whole group of Legion fans. 

Finally, even when pretending to cater to the middle-aged fans who want their "real" Legion to come back, you've got to come up with numerous plot lines that will piss them off again and again.

This is what killed 5YL. And Reboot. And Threeboot. And this one. They just keep making the same mistakes, over and over, and don't learn from their mistakes. 

"False Dreams" is brought to you by writer Paul Levitz and artists Fernando Dagnino & Raul Fernandez.

Speaking of storylines to annoy longtime fans, Star Boy is strapped to a medical table as Professor Harmonia Li is making him suffer more because his suit is connected to the multiverse... and that's what made him schizophrenic... which previous writers used for cheap jokes... but Levitz seems to want to kinda ignore and kinda lean in to.

Dream Girl screams "Nooooo!" in the background while Li shows she's basically sociopathic, uncaring about the pain Thom's going through because he's going to save the universe. Nura tries to interfere and Li shows off wind powers... which we've never seen before...

At this point, to be blunt, I've stopped caring about Li and all the twists and turns they've done with her. I just want her to go away.

Thom wakes up and Nura hugs him, happy he looks to be recovered. So Li pushes her away again with her powers and tells Star Boy they must harness the multiversal energies in his costume and leave.

Which is when Green Mon-El arrives, demanding answers. You know, having ads for Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern movie all over this comic does make the choice of Mon-El as a Lantern far more palatable.

We jump to Oa, where Immortus (the bad robot created on Zuun who generates inertron and not the General from Doom Patrol) is facing off against Ultra Boy and Wildfire.

We get a surprising reveal - Immortus was once a human and was transformed on Zuun. Then we get another all-too-common moment - Wildfire's suit is destroyed and he's just a ball of energy.

I haven't mentioned it before, because there are just soooo many inconsistencies in this run, but now I will point out that since Quislet is on the team, Wildfire should be able to create an energy version of himself and not need the suit. I know he has the suit because it's more iconic and because the energy version is kinda lame, but he should still be able to do it.

In one page, Ultra Boy beats Immortus down but starts bragging too quickly. Immortus grabs him and makes fun of him, saying that since he can only use one power at a time, he's limited.

But a bunch of Titanians arrive... who knew they had settled on Colu? I'm sure Levitz put in an aside many issues ago, but it still just kinda comes out of nowhere. Even more so, I don't know how Ultra Boy realized so quickly they had come to his rescue.

They enter Immortus' mind and promise they will guide him back to the way. Okay, so now we have telepaths "reprogramming" villains? If they can do this, why haven't then done this before? Just like Glorith ripping away Alchemical Girl's powers, we have another example of a far easier way to handle villainy... if you're okay with completely taking away their free will.

Elsewhere, Saturn Queen has brought Orion the Hunter, and the rest of the LSV, to the Blue Flame so that he can become strong enough to find the "world of the wise" that they want to destroy.

The Blue Flame calls him weak, and tells them that they should give him death. "For when the dark lady comes, all barriers between worlds weaken."

Saturn Queen calls Akka over. The Sklarian draws her knives and prepares to kill Orion. But no... they don't need his death. They need any death.

So Saturn Queen kills Akka. At least they got her name right before they killed her. Yes, she was Atta just two issues ago. And thanks to the eagle-eyed reader for pointing that out to me.

I'm just a little disappointed that they didn't do anything to make Akka interesting so this death would have even the slightest impact on the story. It's just kinda there and doesn't really hit at all. Yes, Saturn Queen is horribly evil, but there's nothing else to it. 

I'm also disappointed that the dark lady, who I'm assuming is Death from Sandman, didn't show up. 

Orion gets the power and the Blue Flame leaves to face off against the one who's looking for her. I'm just going to assume it's Li... or Dawnstar... or Mon-El... This blue threat is also looking more and more like Cheeks from Ambush Bug, so I'm having a hard time taking them seriously.

Somewhere else in space, Green Mon-El is using his ring to create a bubble to transport Li, Dream Girl, and Star Boy. The couple are holding onto each other dramatically while Li complains about having to be trapped in the emerald energy.

Then Dream Girl faints and has a premonition. "I saw myself on Shanghalla, at a funeral... and Brainy consoling me -- saying at least it was Thom's power that won the battle..."

Based on how he's been written, Brainy consoling anyone might be the most unbelievable part of this story.

The LSV, guided by Orion's new powers, finally locate the "world of the wise." It's called Utopia and Master Kong welcomes them. He's surprised, as this is the first time someone has arrived to Utopia without being invited.

Questor, the evil Coluan, is just as surprised. Master Kong died 3,500 years ago. As the villains fly around, ready to attack, Master Kong asks them what wisdom they seek?

The LSV attacks, blasting everything around him.

Back on Colu, the Titanians and Coluans thank each other and vow to rebuild. Brainiac 5 points out that only 712 Coluans died in the attack, which is lower than was expected. They talk about the three planets again (why did I think it was 4?) and Doctor Aven, one of the Titanians, says that he saw they were looking for the world of wisdom.

Which is exactly when Mon-El and his bubble full of heroes arrives. Professor Li reveals that she used to live on that world and she's the reason they're all in peril. Remember way back when she, and the other scientists, witnessed the beginning of the universe at the Time Institute? And that caused the destruction of Titan? To no surprise, everything's coming together...

But if they reveal that Li is Kong's daughter...  

Another thing that you might have forgotten: Mon-El is actually in two places at once. The glowing green version on Colu is a copy. The "real" Mon-El is flying through space with Dyogene, the alien who gave him the Lantern ring.

Dawnstar is there as well. She's been tracking the Blue Flame after it attacked her many issues ago. She figured out the Blue Flame has gone into a different dimension and wants Mon-El's help to do the same.

Dyogene tells her to save her strength and let the next planet fall. None of them can get there to save them.

Which is when, of course, the rest of the Legion arrives. Professor Li promises they can get them through the barrier and save her world and the universe.

Definitely to be continued... 

Everything about this issue was pretty mediocre. The art is just kinda there. The reveal of Utopia is pretty blah. There are, per usual, more questions about basic plot points then reveals about what's going on. And there just aren't any surprises at all.

Of course, once again, I wonder whether Wildfire got another suit or if he's just floating in space... again... 

 

Adventure Comics #528

Last week was a spotlight on Comet Queen. This week, Duplicate Girl (or Duo Damsel, if you like) is on the cover. If you had told me this back in 1988, I would've assumed the Legion was either insanely popular or circling the drain.

I really wish it was the former.

Before all the Luornu stans go crazy here, just remember that in 1988 she was retired, down to one body, and low on the list of characters Legion fans cared about... sorry, but it's true.

This issue, titled "Graduation Day," is written by Paul Levitz, pencilled by Geraldo Borges & Ransom Getty, and inked by Marlo Alquiza & Rob Hunter.

Wow - two Academy graduations in two weeks. Last week we saw Comet Queen, Shadow Kid, and Mandalla. This week? Power Boy, Lamprey, Crystal Kid, and Nightwind.

Now, because no one requested it, a quick outline of just how long some of these students have been in the Academy.

Superboy & The Legion of Super-Heroes #240 (published in 1978) has a back-up story where Dawnstar talks about her days at the Academy. Some of her fellow students: Shadow Kid and Power Boy (in his first appearance)

Legion of Super-Heroes #283 (1981) Nightwind, Lamprey, and Crystal Kid have gone to the Academy after they were rejected for Legion membership about a year earlier.

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #3 (1987) Mandalla first appears as an Academy student, standing in the background. To give you a sense of how important she was, the only way we know anything about her background or, actually, her name is from a Who's Who entry.

So most of them spent decades as Academy members. Anyone know how many years in comic time?

Sorry, let's get back to the story.

Post-graduation, Duplicate Girl splits into numerous bodies to congratulate them all, dropping her disciplinarian act. We also learn where they're going. Lamprey is heading to an S.P. outpost on Houp and the others are joining the new Takron-Galtos Special Squad.

Night Girl kindly points out that they'll be less excited than usual S.P. rookies - after all, they're not joining the Legion.

We finally get to the meat of the issue. Some darkened male figure approaches the Legion HQ and he's nice enough to narrate the story as well. He's not happy he's on Earth, in the sunlight, and he's struggling with his choices. He's following someone else's orders and uses his powers to destroy the wall and break into the building.

At the Academy, Dragonwing is, for once, having a reasonable reaction to where the graduates are going. She claims the Academy is a total fake and waste of time. If she wanted to be an S.P., she would've just joined them in the first place.

Gravity Kid and Variable Lad disagree. The Academy didn't promise Legion membership, they're actually enjoying the lessons and practice, and they're developing their skills.

Chemical Kid agrees with Dragonwing. He doesn't like that none of the graduates made the Legion.

Imagine how angry they'll feel when they realize these graduates spent years and years at the Academy to fail at becoming Legionnaires. 

They keep fighting a huge training robot, arguing with each other, and we finally get to see Variable Lad use his powers. Gravity Kid destroys the robot and leaves in anger. According to Chemical King, he's not having a good day.

Back at Legion HQ, the dark figure continues through the Hall of Heroes. Considering how often this room has shown up in the past year of comics, I'm assuming it's the biggest room in the entire building.

The man continues on, using the stolen codes to access further, before providing the big reveal. He's a charter member of a different Legion. Longtime fans should already know who this is, especially since we haven't seen him since the new LSV started up again.

We get a touching moment between Gravity Kid and Power Boy, who they reveal are a couple. The former is not happy the other's leaving. And Power Boy isn't happy he's going to "rot in an S.P. uniform." Gravity Kid hugs him, promising that he's come and get him if he needs to.

This would be the perfect time for a kiss, but it's 2011 and DC isn't quite that progressive yet. I do love the fact that we have a gay couple in the Legion, even if they're not really in the Legion. I'm kinda wondering why Gravity Kid doesn't just leave the Academy and join the S.P.s to stay with Power Boy. I mean, are they not going to take him just because he didn't graduate?

The man finally reaches the Mission Monitor Board while ranting about how evil R.J. Brande was. He wants to prevent the Legion Reservists from interfering in something.

Which is when the lights go on and he's revealed as Cosmic King. You remember him, right? One of the original members of the LSV. Has almost the same powers as Element Lad... but got called Cosmic King for... reasons?

Since the Legion HQ is empty (not even someone at the Monitor Board? Really?), the alarm goes off at the Academy and Duplicate Girl, Night Girl, and Bouncing Boy head off to check it out.

Some of the students watch the ship fly off. Comet Queen grabs Chemical King and tells them they're out of here. Dragonwing yells at her, calling Comet Queen an "addled idiot." But Comet Queen knows something's wrong. And they're going to help! I have no idea why Comet Queen would grab these two, especially considering they've been jerks for the entire time she's known them, but why make sense now, right?

The trio of teachers reach the HQ quickly and enter, knowing they're walking into danger. Since it's not night time, but it's dark inside, Night Girl is feeling a little stronger but doesn't have super-strength. Luornu can create dozens of her selves. Bouncing Boy can... well... bounce. So they should be able to use their powers to take on Cosmic King, right? They head for the Monitor Board to figure out what's happening.

The defensive systems come alive, not recognizing their flight rings, and do their best to stop the trio. Duplicate Girl knows it's not Computo running the show (the one villains she doesn't want to face, and it's understandable why) because the traps aren't specific to them.

Cosmic King emerges and says that he's not in control of the defense systems, but of the building itself, thanks to Saturn Queen. They start fighting, he knocks out Night Girl, and starts removing the oxygen from the room to take care of the others. Actually, he didn't knock out Night Girl from the punch... he knocks her and Chuck out with the lack of air. Luornu has somehow disappeared from the scene.

Who's appeared instead? Chemical King, Dragonwing, and Comet Queen are somehow in the room (no idea why the lack of oxygen didn't affect them) and Cosmic King starts gloating.

I think it's safe to say they put the wrong cover on this issue. Next issue we'll see Duplicate Girl fighting. You know you've reached the end of a comic's run when they no longer care if the covers match the story.

This was a hit-and-miss story for me. I liked the graduation, the Power Boy/Gravity Lad bits, and the reintroduction of Cosmic King. But I'm getting sick of Legionnaires, even reservists, getting taken out so quickly. And I'd love for this book to leave Chemical King and Dragonwing in the background for a few issues. Why not show an angry Gravity Kid in battle? Or actually let Variable Lad do something?

 

Is it a shock there's only one issue left of this book?

 

What did you think? Are you enjoying these tales more than I am? Or are you even more disappointed? Please share your thoughts!