I have to be honest, the concept of "super evolution" that was introduced in the tail end of the Ra's Al Ghul arc nearly drove me off this book. However, a well-timed review by Geoff Johns convinced me to give it one last look, and I found myself once again hooked by the Robotica story, as the seemingly-unbeatable foes conquered the Earth, forcing the Legion to seek very unusual and powerful allies. This issue is a turning point in that conflict, as we learn more about enemies and allies, and see a face-off that should make any DC fan's heart shine a little: The Legion vs. the JLA. Abnett and Lanning introduce the conflict in a neat way, bring it into the overall plot of the Robotica conquest, and don't let the whole thing drag on too long. And Coipel, always impressive and always improving as well, does both of these teams proud, making me even more anxious to see his work on Avengers and more nervous about how on Earth the new Legion editor is going to replace him.
The cover image promises a fight between the Legion and the JLA, and it's not a hoax. Though there is some high-tech trickery involved, and it's not "really" the JLA (which will surprise no one), it's close enough to be real and it's a clever way to introduce these 31st century heroes to their 21st century counterparts. There's plenty of mileage to be gotten out of this meeting, and Abnett and Lanning throw a little bit of character dynamics into the big fight to keep things interesting. Coipel, for his part, depicts a variety of different fighting styles, from bruisers to shapeshifters to martial artists, to keep the fight entertaining throughout.
Though the conflict is certainly important, it's actually little more than one obstacle placed in the way of the Legion, or one element of a plot that jumps around to various galaxy locations and characters. Most will argue that the trick to writing the Legion is a large cast of characters and a skill at juggling them so that no one gets ignored, and it seems that Abnett and Lanning have that skill. In addition to the big fight, we get some exposition with Braniac and Computo, a little more insight into new team member Gear, the growth of Kid Quantum into the leadership role and a little quiet time with RJ Brande, the reunited Tinya Wazzo-Nah and Timber Wolf. That's not to mention the ulterior motives that drive one of the allies of the Legion in their fight against Robotica.
Keeping up with the changing scenery and the vast array of characters is no small challenge, but Coipel is more than up to it. Where I once found his work a little abstract, I now see a lot more precision, and I've always been fond of his detailed backgrounds and technology. The shot of the Warworld Dreadnought is truly impressive, and the captured A.I. scene is stunning as well. Credit should also go to Jason Wright, whose colors are strong throughout but amazing on the detailed work of the Dreadnought or the orange glow permeating the Khunds' detainment chamber.
The Legion at its best is a combination of super-heroes and science-fiction, done in an epic scale that spans the galaxies that require a legion, instead of a team, of heroes. While Abnett and Lanning have faltered at times, this Robotica story has regained the strength that I saw in Legion early on, and as a casual Legion fan, I'm pretty happy with the book. I'd be even happier if DC would show a little more promotional support, such as reprinting the earlier stories that set the foundation for this book.
