Legion of Super-Heroes 8

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Legion of Super-Heroes. It was a series that was always aware of its own absurdity, with its multitudinous cast of members, all of whom had ridiculous names and often even more ridiculous powers. Yes, this was the series that gave us Bouncing Boy and Matter-Eater Lad and the Chlorophyll Kid (there was also an Infectious Lass, but then those were more innocent times).

It’s a concept that sits poorly today where superheroes are ultra-tough, ultra dark and strain for profundity. There have been attempts in recent years to reboot the series many times, but without success. So here comes a reversion to the comic’s roots, with the writing chores handed back to Paul Levitz, and several of the core team members reintroduced.

How is it? It’s not bad. A United Planets Councillor has been murdered by alien renegades. The murdered councillor was also worshipped as a messiah figure by other members of the selfsame alien race who blame the Legion for his death and proceed to attack them.

Cue many fight scenes. They’re rather tiresome, and lack invention, especially when you consider the variety of members that the Legion has to offer. There’s lots of punching and rather repetitious sound effects (Whamm and, even less inspiringly, Thump), and you get the impression that events that have been spread out over an entire issue could easily have been covered in half that space. The pleasurable moments come as asides: the election of a new team leader; the interaction between the characters; and a moment of intentional humour where the depiction of Colossal Boy’s groin gives his name an entirely new twist. You get the impression that Levitz is trying to balance the demands of the marketplace with his own interests and recollections of the Legion, and the balance isn’t quite right yet.

The art chores are handled by Cinar and HDR. It’s pleasant enough to look at, well-laid out, and is clear and uncluttered with what appears to be a slight anime influence. The faces are distinguishable from one another, always a problem when you’re dealing with as many characters are there are in this book. It’s not going to set the world alight, but it’s of a standard that you wish other comics artists would try and reach as a bare minimum.

This isn’t a return to the Legion’s glory days by any means, and you wish Levitz would indulge a bit more in the elements that obviously give him pleasure rather than being so concerned with creating a commercial comic. It’s a competent piece of work nonetheless, and if it’s not essential, then at least I didn’t feel I’d entirely wasted my time reading it either.