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THE LEGION #25
"Foundations"
Recommended (8/10)
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DC Comics
Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Pencils: Chris Batista
Inks: Robin Riggs, Chip Wallace & Doug Hazlewood
Additional Art: Eric Wight, Tony Harris, Tom Feister, Dave Cockrum, Al Milgrom & Paul Rivoche
Colors: Sno Cone
Letters: Jared Fletcher
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Price: $3.95 US/$6.00 CAN |
Long-time Legion fans, or at least those who were around through the 90's, will remember that the shaky foundation upon which the Legion was based, post-Crisis, and indeed the thing that sent the whole thing toppling down, was the presence of Superboy. When the character was erased from continuity, it set in motion a chain reaction of events that, years down the road, would lead Legion fans and creators Mark Waid and KC Carlson (among others) to look at the whole of the Legion universe and realize that the only way to fix it was to reboot entirely. I bring this up not to say that I think bringing Superboy back into the Legion is a bad idea (I think it's a great idea, actually), but to indicate the kind of pressure that had to be on Abnett and Lanning when they decided to do this story. Happily, if this first issue is any indication, that pressure has pushed them to succeed, because the first part of a story that reintroduces Superboy and puts the Legion on a collision course with Darkseid is a solid tale, and, thanks to the story taking place during "Foundation Day" where the Legion's history is remembered, it's also a great jumping-on point for new readers.
In fact, the only reason I have mixed feelings about the issue has more to do with the rotating art teams than it does the writing. While there have been occasions where more than one artist on an issue works, they are a rarity, and for the most part, the changes in art styles tend to look jarring, and it reads more like scheduling problems than a deliberate celebration of different talent. Such is the case here, as I found myself very happy with everything Chris Batista turned in and uncertain about most of the rest of the artwork. Batista's work continues to impress, and I especially loved his spiffy designs for the Legion cadet uniforms.
Which is certainly not to say that the artwork was bad. Wight's minimalist style reminds me in some ways of Darwyn Cooke or Cameron Stewart, whose work I love, and it has a certain Kirby-esque vibe that's appropriate to the flashback sequences he's drawing. Paul Rivoche's gritty rendition of Jan Arrah's time in another dimension, alone as he tried to keep the Legion alive, is fantastic, and actually the only place where I think the guest art was as good as if not better than Batista's work. And Cockrum and Milgrom, while definitely turning in an old school style, are definitely capable. It's just that the change in art styles was very jarring, and it made this read like a bit of a patchwork. I also have to admit to being disappointed in the complete stylistic change that Tony Harris has undergone, because while I love the sort of animated cel appearance for the covers, I thought it looked too artificial and stiff for interior work, especially when I loved the style he used to work in on Starman.
Leaving aside the notion of artistic shifts, we have the story, and it appears that Abnett and Lanning have done it again. They create a history-rich yet accessible narrative, with plenty of nods for the Legion faithful and a pretty expansive cast, but without writing a story that you have to have a Bachelor's degree in Legion lore to understand. The artistic shifts are understandable, if not to my liking, because the story here is really several stories. It's the story of Jan Arrah, a reflection on the events of Legion Lost which delivers a surprising revelation. It's the story of Foundation Day, which is a celebration of the Legion's history as well as the introduction of some intriguing new characters. It's the story of Superboy and his first meeting with the Legion, which is a continuity conundrum with a twist ending. And it's the story of a deep space rescue, which ties into one of those other stories. There's a lot going on in these pages, but Abnett and Lanning avoid overcrowding the book at the same time... although I'm sure the double-sized nature of the issue helps in that regard.
There are some big twists and turns in these stories, which is to be expected from the creators who pulled a fast one with the Universo not Darkseid switch of "Dream Crime" and who have managed quite a few other surprises in previous stories as well. I'm very curious to see where they're going with this version of Superboy (or is it versions?), and while it's interesting enough just from the point-of-view of making it fit in continuity, it's clear that the story here isn't going to be just an elaborate retcon, that the creators have a story to tell about bringing Superboy into the team. Also, I don't want to give away the surprises, but this issue features the return of a lost Legionnaire, almost in two different ways and through two different characters. The Legion #25 is overflowing with ideas, and I'm looking forward to seeing those stories explored throughout the "Foundations" story arc, which is touted as "celebrating 40 years of the Legion." Now if only DC would celebrate with some damned Legion trades, I'd be even happier.
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