I was a total fan of the third series of the Legion, the one that introduced the Trapperverse and the Glorithverse, both wiped away from reality by Zero Hour. Classic stories that I highly recommended, and with the revelations of Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds, both can now be considered both part of reality, and out of continuity. One other treasure to rise out of that mini is that both the Reboot and Threeboot Legions still exist and I truly hope to see a lot more of them in the future.  But now our attention is drawn back to the original Legion, from after the end of the Baxter series, barring of course any continuity shifts of convenience. I haven’t seen any mention of the Magic Wars, but it was nice to see the Great Darkness Saga referenced in the recent issue of Booster Gold.

Of course, the politics of xenophobia seem to have become particularly relevant after the events of last night in the real world. Yet the theme I really want to draw out is that of compromise, of how far the Legion can go following both their hearts and their Constitution, yet balancing that with political realities. Earth has only just been reintroduced into the United Planets, where historically it should be at the very centre of the UP. For the Legion to continue (or rather return to) using Earth as a base for their headquarters, restoring their reputation on Earth and combating the xenophobia, they have to accept Earth Man as a member. Earth Man who tried to kill them all during their reappearance in the Superman titles. Earth Man who on page one, is being held prisoner and tortured as he is de-powered. The only person to question this is one of his Science Police guards. Notably Cosmic Boy, Sun Boy nor Brainiac 5 say anything about this. The latter two I can understand, it’s hardly out of character. But Rokk? The spine of the Legion? I suppose it goes to show just how much water has gone under the bridge.

One final note, it is interesting how in one month we have seen the birth of Titanian society (Last Stand of Krypton) and its death in this issue. With another glance of the hand that created the universe at the dawn of time, Levitz has chosen to begin the series with a big story, and I am glad. Yet the treasured issues of the Legion in my collection are frequently those where nothing that important happened, where the feature was simply on the characters themselves and their lives rather than the threat-to-all-existence-du-jour. I hope this aspect of the Legion is not forgotten, and I cannot wait to see the next Legion Try-outs!

Long Live The Legion!

Blackest Night #2 Cover

Recruiting today! Excellent new cosmic corps with prospects. Wanted, candidates who can give their hearts to the job. Essential requirements: Dead.

Blackest Night really picks up this week with the release of the second issue and Blackest Night – Batman #1. Both of which rock, and as I thought, all of my doubts have been vanquished. I refuse to give any spoilers here, suffice to say that all of my previous questions have been answered with one of the newest Black Ring bearers – Boston Brand, the Deadman.

The horror aspect of the story is played nicely against the form of Tempest the former Aqua Lad, and Mera, and we also get to see how the magical community perceives the threat of the Black Rings. Briefly. Dolphin shows us just how the rings repair their hosts. Meanwhile, we see the fate of Hawkman and it really sinks home – how many more will fall?

I would certainly add a parental advisory to this title. This is not for the youngsters.

Blackest Night – Batman continues some of the story of Deadman, and for a non-Batman reader like myself, grants a little insight into Damien’s personality and the new status quo (for as long as it lasts) in the Gothamverse.

Another treat this week is Adventure Comics #1, showing Superboy back in Smallville as promised, but the final page of his story has a wonderful twist, giving us another glimpse in Conner’s tortured mind. Yes I think he’s tortured, even at the best of times, wouldn’t you be? He hasn’t even had time to react to the knowledge he is half Superman, half Lex Luthor.

The Legion Of Super-Heroes back up story is promising, but I have one point to make. In a roll-call panel, they mix up Night Girl and Shadow Lass! My purist shock and outrage aside, with the enormous cast of characters in the Legion, this is unforgivable, and confusing (or at least it will be) to new readers.

That aside, we learn how the Legion Espionage Squads mission in the past is not yet over. I will contain my outrage and follow the story eagerly!

`Of course I’m talking about the final chapter of Final Crisis: Legion Of Three Worlds. And without gushing and revealing umpteen spoilers, all I can say is it was brilliant.

I have always loved the Legion, and to see Grant Morrison write a Legion story, with George Perez art no less, is enough to give this fanboy an earth-shaking geekgasm. That’s not even to mention the fact it is a team up between the 1980’s Earth One Legion, the Reboot Earth 247 Legion and the Threeboot Legion. (Just wait until you find out where they come from!)

Of course, we’re assuming it’s the Earth One Legion, but seeing how the mechanics have worked so far, I don’t think we can be so sure. Still, it’s a Legion each for the Super-Family, one for Superman, one for the Conner Kent Superboy, and one for Supergirl.

The series so far has been one massive slugfest, but this final issue more than makes up for it as the battle reaches its climax, and secrets are revealed. The nature of the Time Trapper is theorised upon in a way that makes lots of sense, an awesome change of direction for the White Witch and a glimpse of other Legions as well, including my favorite, the Five Years Later Legion. I know they got a raw deal in the reviews, but I always liked them, even the duplicate Batch SW6 Legion storyline, which after this issue, has the potential of making even more sense. Seeing the clean lines of the clean cut Legion is great, but I would hate to think that the Five Years Later Legion was simply forgotten and swept under the carpet. I’m sure I can’t be the only one.

Plus Earth Prime. Wanderers. Dawny and Wildstar finally professing their love for each other (I think I can reveal that one, but I really daren’t say anything else, almost anything I could comment on would be a spoiler). The destiny of Gates. How I’ve missed that little bug.

If you’ve ever been a Legion fan, then you HAVE to pick up this issue, if not the entire series. It’s too good to wait for the trade, and it has me really excited about the upcoming Adventure Comics series, coming August the 12th. I just hope it has plenty of Legion as well as Superboy, as some places have mentioned 8-10 pages.

Although in the style of the older stories, I’m sorry, 8-10 pages is just not enough. Three stories of that length, all Legion, now that would be fine but just one? C’mon, the Legion is far bigger than that. Nevertheless, it has to be said……….

LONG LIVE THE LEGION!