LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #1 (DC COMICS)
LONG LIVE THE LEGION!
One of the most fabled superhero teams in all of comics has returned! When a boy from Krypton crashed into Smallville, Kansas years ago, he became the inspiration of many in the future. Those powered beings went on to become the next generation of heroes of the DC Universe.
That same future is now in danger. A shocking murder threatens to halt this from ever occurring. It’s up to Brainiac 5 to solve the murder before all hope for a better tomorrow gone forever!
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1 by Joshua Williamson, Hayden Sherman, Tamra Bonvillain & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (DC COMICS) presents a new vision of the heroes of the 31st Century!
Let’s take a closer look at this debut!
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1 by Joshua Williamson, Hayden Sherman, Tamra Bonvillain& Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Williamson welcomes everyone to an incredible opening chapter. It is prefect for new readers to jump in with, but seasoned fans will enjoy what they see. The beginning spends a brief moment showing Superman’s impact on the future. Once the time jump occurs, the mood switches very drastically. The crowd standing around a murder scene ushers in the quirky yet enjoyable paring of Brainiac 5 and Matter Eater Lad.
Their assessment of the situation leads into an investigation of the affair. Readers witness how Brainy breaks down the scene with precision. This is vintage B5. It serves as a pivot point to begin re-introducing the core trinity of the Legion. Lightning Lad’s intro is filled with optimistic hope. The conversation with Alya is engaging as it shows Supers influence on him. Saturn Girl and Cosmic Boy both have solid pieces but are more serious in delivery. This pushes events to a dramatic close and shocking reveal. An excellent start to one of the trickier franchises to create with.
LET’S TALK SUPERMAN: YEAR ONE THOUSAND!
Sherman and Bonvillain come out guns blazing for this debut. The opening page of Superman’s history captures classic moments while establishing the influence. An incredible two page spread welcomes readers to Superlopolis, the capital of Earth in the 31st Century. This opens the path for Brainiac 5 and MEL to start looking around the scene. Sherman’s staging of panels makes every little detail pop from the pages. A stunning full page spiral welcomes readers into the search for clues. It results in a launching point for the trinity.
A fantastic two page spread shows a young Lightning Lad at work. It sets a kinetic pace as the action flies. Once events return to his home, the family talk is very traditional in nature. There’s a great homage to Superman with a strong attention to detail. This allows movement into the other trinity members. Cosmic Boy gets impressive full panels tying into his powers. The same goes for Saturn Girl. There may not be enough accolades to describe how amazing the art is. As events move to close, the panels pick up the intensity as Brainy’s discoveries lead to a dangerous revelation. The final image screams volumes as the mystery just gets started.
FINAL GRADE: 9.7
A brutal murder threatens all hope in the future with Brianiac 5 attempting to solve the case before all is lost. Williamson opens the doors to all the great elements of the Legion with an amazing script. Sherman and Bonvillain impress on every level with the art. An outstanding debut ushering the future of hope in the DCU.
Let me know your thoughts on LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
