This debut issue was released last week, during our holiday hiatus. Randy and I have both received a number of e-mails from readers, wondering if we would sound off on the book anyway. I decided I would, but not because there was some call for it. Mark Waid, a longtime Legion fan, surprised me with this new revamp. While it still incorporates a lot of elements from past incarnations of the Legion, especially the campy but wondrous Silver Age, the writer has offered up a dramatically different interpretation of the concept here. On the surface, this is a super-hero story, but in reality, it's about social structures, about philosophies and the divide between an idealistic generation and the pragmatism of an older one. Waid does turn to the 1960s for inspiration here, but it's not Silver Age comics storytelling he explores. Instead, it's rebellion.
In the early days of the 31st century, an idea, a new movement, has taken the galaxy's youth by storm. It's the Legion of Super-Heroes, a group of super-powered teens who have banded together for two purposes. First of all, they seek to save lives, to protect others from the selfish or murderous intent of criminals and warmongers. And secondly, they have chosen to take a stand against the establishment, against governments and other authorities dominated by the will of an older generation. The Legion brings a message of freedom for youth, and the message is spreading like wildfire.
Kitson's art a real treat. What's most apparent about the strength of his work is his sense of design. He's mixed the sleeker designs of the 1990s Legionnaires with the campy wonder of the 1960s. He captures the grand scale of the backdrops and the brutality of the war in the issue's climactic scene. The crowd scenes feature stunning levels of detail as well. But the most important contribution he makes here is how he conveys the youth of the title characters. Their optimism and attitude shines through, as does the wide-eyed awe of the heroes' followers.
There couldn't be a better time for a super-hero comic to revolve around the idea of questioning authority. The rebellious spirit of youth of the 1960s has never been matched by the young people to follow. The sort of dedication and radicalism that was commonplace 40 years ago is all too rare in Western society today. Waid's expansion of the idea of the Legion as something more than simply a team of super-heroes is amazing, and even more interesting is how he's tossed out the notion of the group as an extension of government, of the establishment.
Bringing greater credibility to this more philosophical and political slant, though, is Waid's apparent acknowledgement that it's a somewhat flawed movement. By becoming a recognized galactic force for good, the Legion is slowly becoming a part of that which it opposes: authority. Cosmic Boy is trapped between two worlds as the Legion's leader. Ultimately, the message of youthful rebellion is a hopeful one, but Waid balances it with an exploration of its shortcomings as well. 9/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
