The thread where we sing the praises of the new Legion series

This is the only comic that I'm consistently excited to read every month. Please tell me that I'm not alone in my continuing love of this series, and its rather brilliant balance of telling tightly plotted episodes that build an increasingly complicated longer arc. I don't understand why more comic series aren't like this - it's definitely more like tv than modern comics in this respect.

I have always liked the Legion, but I don't remember that many times when it was this enjoyable, and I think that if there's ever been one Legion run capable of making readers out of nay-sayers, it's probably this one, especially because of the way characterization is being handled. I suppose the casual reader might have found it a bit unmanageable in the past, but I like to think Waid has found the way to make it work with this current structure of self-contained issues spotlighting on the development of two or three characters while the big stuff happens on the background. Plus, even though I have always been a fan of Waid, I have to admit he has been especially inspired for the last couple of years. It seems like he's found out the way to get the juice out of his huge background as a reader and use it to make something true to the premise, yet fresh and exciting.

I don't think Waid's as bright as someone like Morrison, but the feeling I get from his Legion or Fantastic Four or Birthright is quite close to the one I get from Morrison's mainstream stuff. Both of them seem to be writers having the time of their lives with their characters, kinda like they were writing the comic books they've been thinking of since they were teenagers.

I correct myself: it's so much the development of characters but the development of the relationship between them and the readers; that's what makes it so engaging.

I meant: it's not so much...

But I shouldn't pass up new fun, so I'll be checking out the Legion as soon as I have the time.

After the axe came down on the Abnett / Lanning Legion (which I was catching up on via back issues, & enjoying in an easy-breezy way), I was a bit "meh" on the notion of yet another reboot - not that I'm a long-time LOSH head or anything, but sheesh. It's safe to say that my own expectations have been exceeded beyond anything I could have hoped for.

And it's "Matter-EATER Lad".

I wish I liked these characters even a tiny bit.

I do kinda wish the series had better artwork, though. It's not BAD, but I wish Kitson would draw the characters so that they looked more unique rather than being like manequins wearing different costumes and wigs.

Yeah, that's the feeling I get whenever I read a comic book filled with ideas and every single one of them works and adds to the main premise. I cannot picture anybody having so many good ideas and making them fit so accurately in just one month! This has to be something out of the margins of his sheets of paper when he was at some boring history class in high school, and he's been refining for years and years.

Which is the same feeling I used to get from Morrison's X-Men whenever I bumped into stuff like Fantomex or his great portrayal of Cyclops.

The thing with Morrison is that...well, I don't know what's the deal with Morrison nowadays. I still keep enjoying him, but ever since The Invisibles (or maybe Flex Mentallo), his more personal stuff has been harder to connect with. I believe his work is becoming more and more demanding of repeated readings but there's still a heart in there, it's just waiting to be found instead of jumping out of the pages.

I really don't know what to say. I was going to write that he's been focusing more on making the reader go through an experience instead of a read, but Doom Patrol was a great experience too. And I don't think the fact that his emotional stuff (which is still there) is more hidden than what it used to be in Doom Patrol or Animal Man ranks necessarily as an improvement. So I'm not really sure about wether he's becoming better or worse or if he's keeping his standards. All I can say is I still connect with his comics (though not as much as with Doom Patrol, but that happens only once in a lifetime) and I'm really happy he's done with his invisible-esque stuff. Don't get me wrong, I loved The Invisibles, but I think he couldn't go much further that way.

On the other hand, Seven Soldiers is packed with non stop action and is telling a straight story. Now that it's beggining to come together as a "macro series" I think I'm starting to like it more (at first it seemed a little too light). I guess it's one of those things you'll be able to enjoy better when it's over.

Back to the thread, this weekend I read the 8 issues of Waid's Legion so far and I must say it's great. Always liked the Legion and I'm amazed Waid has found so many ways to tweak and modify the original premise while at the same time telling a great story. And the thing is fucking crammed with ideas!. Besides, it makes Brainiac 5 the greatest character of the last years. Now that I think about it, it's like Waid is taking his cues about Brainy from Vril Dox of L.E.G.I.O.N. About time someone made him the manipulative bastard he was born to be.

Waid puts so much heart into his stuff, it's pretty easy to throw yourself into it, cos he clearly cares so much, and his enthusiasm is contagious. Sometimes Morrison's enthusiasm seems slightly removed and sorta distant.

... ah, another informative post.

As a child I didn't know what "matter-eater" meant, and I asked my mother, who thought I'd said "manure-eater."

It's true, though, about the coloring!

That being said, I've filled my #4 issue gap and I'm enjoying this series inmensely. Though the gap has moved to #9 ish now; every rose has its thorn...

I kind of respect any half-decent comics writer who sticks it out through shit like that. I'd completely lose my mind if I had to constantly deal w/incompetent collaborators.

I was at my parents over the weekend, and my brother pulled out the old Trivial Pursuit Youth Edition and we played a round. You would be shocked at how many LOSH questions there are. SHOCKED. It's weird to think that at one point in the not-so-distant-past, the 30th Century could be expected to be common knowledge.

though I don't think J. Bagge has ever coloured anything other than those last half-dozen Hates, so not necessarily all that relevant. Tatjana Wood gets on the list though, she was good on Swamp Thing (although no longer wife then obv.)

*-ish: Jeff Johnson's stint might have been between the two. due to life changes since then he could be someone's wife now though!

Slap on the back of the head to Scott Iwahashi, who draws the origin of Forgettor Boy while leaving out his main distinguihsing characteristic.

SPOILER

The big reveals with Shrinking Violet and Sensor Girl were especially inspired!

Finally caught up with this, from issues 1-13. Absolutely loved it to start with, but am gradually losing interest the more "DOOM DOOM" and less single!-issue!-fun! it gets. Has it improved since?

It's pretty easy, start with the first trade! "Teenage Revolution", it is called. Great fun spandex stuff, and really I don't think that if you handed this and "Kingdom Come" to someone I doubt they'd be able to tell it's by the same guy ("Kingdom Come" is just such a lowpoint for Waid, and the superhero genre in general.)

i was given the trade by a longterm/disgusted legion fan and while i cldn't give two squits for LSH history/lore, i did think the waid version was boring and pointless - still too many unmemorable characters (i can never remember all their names), too involved and creepy for the uninitiated, a needlessly hep/self-aware re-write of a much-loved-blah-di-blah (what slocki used to slag off the Ultimates for being!! )

X-POST!!

(O I AM A BICH)

But I think the book is suffering somewhat without the big macroplot in the background - not all of the characters are fully formed, and I think this series either needs to develop them better, or focus on Big Stories.

I just (finally) read the first trade. SO GOOD. how long does it stay good?
Also, does current issues has COUNTDOWN dressing?

I think the first 18 months are spot-on - it's still pretty good after that, but Waid didn't even make it to #30! WEAK!

I am sometimes envious of people who like LSH because it seems like they have a lot of fun reading their stories. I get over it when I remember that I like other things.

Is Bedard THE new LOSH writer? I ask because he seems to be DC's go-to-guy to bridge the gap between Old Writer and New Writer.

The first two trades are the best, but the rest are pretty top notch.

I'd try and **cough-the-internet** some of the issues, as they have a bunch of extras (like cartoon lettercols!) that aren't in the trades.

Bedard seems like the least bad writer on Countdown, as far as I can tell, which isn't very much, cause I'm not reading it.

Bedard should be alright. He wrote bits and pieces through the Waid run, so he's on the level.

I'd try and **cough-the-internet** some of the issues, as they have a bunch of extras (like cartoon lettercols!) that aren't in the trades.

Hay guy, the first Supergirl and the LOSH trade has a cartoon lettercol!

I should also say that LOSH completely turned around my opinion of Mark "Dwyane" Waid. I may very well pick up his FF trades now.

The Barry Kitson dissing is uncalled for, though!

I just picked up the FF trades, going very very cheap at a local secondhand store. They're great. A bit like Doom Patrol for kids.

Two FF Waid questions:

1. Is his pre-Weiringo run worth getting?
2. If not, is it ok to jump straight into the Weiringo stuff w/o knowing about any of the run beforehand?

Well, Waid begins scripting at the same time as Wiering begins drawing, at least in his latest run, and it isn't necessary to know anything beforehand. Their first issue is a neat encapsulation of what makes the FF work and it's absolutely wonderful (the whole run is great). It's the famous 9 cent comic.

Yeah, Waid & Wieringo were THE TEAM to start off Waid's run, & it's definitely easy to get into. It might be worth a caveat to mention that their work could stress your tolerance for whimsy (cf. KIRBY IS GOD), but it's definitely worth a read.

Doi on me, the LCS had only vols. 3, 5, 6 in stock, and I'd assumed Waid started with some mid-volume number. Are the multi-volume hardcovers a good deal?