The Comic Book Bin
DC Comics (1430) Articles


TopShelf Month

Darkhorse Month

Women's Month


 
Comics : Comic Reviews : DC Comics
Last Updated: Oct 20, 2009 - 7:25:21 AM




The Legion of Super-heroes # 39
By Koppy McFad
Mar 1, 2008 - 1:33:59 AM

Publisher(s): DC Comics
Writer(s): Jim Shooter
Penciller(s): Francis Manapul
Cover Artist(s): Francis Manapul
Email this Article
 Printer Friendly Page
 Mobile Friendly Page

Add to Del.icio.us     Add To Reddit
Add To Digg     Add To Stumbleupon
Add To Technorati Favorites     Add To Ask


legion.jpg

The now-penniless Princess Projectra tries to put her life back together while the rest of the Legion encounter various threats both criminal and bureaucratic.

The return of longtime Legion writer Jim Shooter has not meant a return to the simpler times of the 1960s-1970s when the Legion of Superheroes were at their peak and the future was looking bright. The continuity set up after the latest reboot still remains in place with the Legion, a band of super-teens in the 31st century who are tolerated but not totally trusted by civil authority.

At least the Legion is starting to come together as a team instead of feuding all the time. In this issue, they largely take on common criminals, except that in the future, even street thugs have the weapons and abilities to can match those of superheroes.

The art is reflective of the tone of the series. It is still mostly dark tones, gray backgrounds and scratchy lines, not the shiney future of Curt Swan, Dave Cockrum and Mike Grell. Frankly, despite some good scenes, (like Projectra in the ruined castle), the art is still a little too 'busy,' to the point that it becomes tiring to follow the story.

This issue is a little more accessible with small captions explaining who the major characters are and what their powers are. But at the same time, some of the dialogue is almost incomprehensible due to the frequent use of futuristic slang. Yes, the slang does convey a sense of how different the future is but it also simply gets in the way of telling a story, to the point that only the longtime readers can understand what the florg is happening. Or maybe that is the intention. Perhaps DC Comics has decided that the Legion is now a niche comic book that can only appeal to die-hard fans.

All in all, this issue gets three stars out of five.

 



Related Articles:
Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds # 5 (of 5)
Long Live the Legion!
Legion of 3 Worlds #4 (of 5)
Devil's Due Celebrates "I am Legion"
Legion of Superheroes # 50
Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds # 2 (of 5)
Legion of Superheroes # 41
The Legion of Super-heroes # 39
Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes # 31
Legion of Superheroes in the 31st Century # 2



Comment Script Join the discussion:

Add a Comment

Comments


© Copyright 2002-2009, Coolstreak Cartoons Inc. - All rights Reserved. All other texts, images, characters and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Use of material in this document(including reproduction, modification, distribution, electronic transmission or republication) without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.

Top of Page

Action Comics #883
Nighwing and Flamebird make their public debut and start the hunt for Zod’s most dangerous sleeper.
Blood and Water
Vampire stories are all the rage these days. Most are silly teenage romances, but every once in a while a vampire tale comes along that doesn’t, um…suck.
Justice Society of America # 32
Mr. Terrific is dead... but not if the Justice Society can help it.
Secret Six # 15
Deadshot tries to come to terms with his homicidal impulses.
Blackest Night #4 (of 8)
Barry Allen does his best to rally the heroes, but will they be able to stand against the arrival of Nekron?
Superman: World of New Krypton #9
Jemm storms New Krypton’s High Council Chamber demanding an audience, Kal-El and Zod meet, and the first murder on New Krypton is committed.
Madame Xanadu #16
The return of series artist Amy Reeder Hadley also marks the start of a new, creepy, and great Matt Wagner story.
Superman #693
General Lane makes Mon-El an offer he has to refuse, but an unlikely ally might just save Mon-El’s life.
The Brave and the Bold # 28
The Flash travels back in time to World War II where he joins forces with the fabled Blackhawks.
Blackest Night: Titans # 3 (of 3)
The Titans in a final showdown with their deceased members.
Northlanders #21
A settlement along The Volga River in Russia deals with the onslaught of a plague in the start of a new story arc.
Superman: Secret Origin #2 (of 6)
Young Clark Kent experiences a bit of a super identity crisis, but manages to get by with some help from his parents and some new friends…Long Live The Legion!
Superman/Batman #65
The Scarecrow takes Superman, The Batman, The Joker, and Lex Luthor on a fear gas induced Halloween nightmare ride.
Azrael #1
The new Azrael’s ongoing series debuts with the death of a major character…
Supergirl #46
The Metropolis Three finally capture Reactron, Thara and Kara make up, and some more light is shed on Lana’s mysterious condition…