Adventure Comics 525-529

Adventure Comics #525
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Phil Jimenez and Geraldo Borges

In the main story, Lamprey and Power Boy are put through a test and it seems like Cosmic Boy has decided they don’t have what it takes to join the Legion sadly. Jimenez’s art rocks and so does Levitz’s storytelling. In the backup Black Witch defeats Mordru although I can’t remember why she was fighting him to begin with. I really liked Borges’s art too.

Adventure Comics #526
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Geraldo Borges and Jeffrey Moy

I liked this issue much better. It was fun and easy to follow as the Legion Academy uses magic to remove the gene mod from a villain. Borges’s art is quite impressive and he seems to be a good storyteller. In the second story, Nigh Girl asks XS to help train the Legion Academy and in the process learn about Earth-Zero. I like that Levitz is following up on Final Crisis : Legion of 3 Worlds here. Levitz is a class act and a lover of continuity. XS declines the offer but is creating some kind of mosaic to honor her family and connects with the speed force having a vision of her running with Impulse and the Flash. Very cool! I have no idea where this is going but I like it.

Adventure Comics #527
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Geraldo Borges

In this issue, Comet Queen explains her origins as a Legion Fan girl who deliberately gained powers in order to join the Legion and be with her crush, Bouncing Boy. She eventually graduates from Legion Academy only to be told she is joining the Legion of Substitute Heroes. During her time with the subs, her mind is erased by Saturn Queen and although most of memory has returned there are some things still missing. It was a fun straight forward issue that I enjoyed a lot. Levitz seems to really enjoy writing this character and I enjoyed reading about her.

Adventure Comics #528
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Geraldo Borges and Ransom Getty

In this issue, Cosmic King breaks into Legion headquarters and quickly knocks out the only Legionnaires around at this time – Bouncing Boy, Duplicate Girl, and Night Girl. Therefore it looks like in the next issue the Legion Academy will have to take him on. I felt that the art was a little weak this issue but it was otherwise good.

 

 

Adventure Comics #529
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Geraldo Borges

Sadly this is the final issue of Adventure Comics. DC brought this historical title back only to get it pushed away by the dumb New 52.  And sad this issue was. The Legion Academy defeats Cosmic King but only by losing one of their own – Variable Lad. Who I thought was one of the best of them! So sad. I am glad the Legion is back in the rebirth DCU and I hope we see more of these Legion Academy in the future.

Legion of Super-Heroes 12-16

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #12
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Yildiray Cinar

It is fun to be reading Legion comics again, especially when Paul Levitz writes the book. He really loves these characters and puts so much story into every issue. This issue was packed with action, dialogue, and plot twists galore. This is a man who deserved to remain in charge of DC. I am a huge fan and I look forward to seeing where this storyline is going as Saturn Queen is now the big bad.

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #13
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Yildiray Cinar

Sometimes I like Cinar’s art in this issue and sometimes I didn’t. Anyways, this was still packed to the brim with action and intrigue and we had great moments with the “weirder” Legionnaires like Quislet, Tellus, and Gates. This was a fun comic.

 

 

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #14
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Fernando Dagnino

Levitz writes another action packed issue of the Legion. As usual, he hits it out of the park here. Not much else to say besides I love Mon-El with a power ring and the Saturn Queen sure is evil.

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #15
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Yildiray Cinar

This is Yildiray Cinar’s last issue of the Legion and I just got to say Cinar had a great run! This issue improved on the last with more action and we even get to see some of my favorite Legionnaires like Gates and Tellus. I am not sure where this is all going with the three immortal worlds but I am loving the ride.

 

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #15
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Daniel HDR

In this final issue of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Mon-El gives up the ring and Earth-Man sacrifices his life to save the Legion. It is sad to see this book go but I am so glad the Legion have been brought back with DC Rebirth. Paul Levitz had a great run here.

 

Bad Aunt

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #10
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Yildiray Cinar

 

So it was Chameleon Boy’s aunt all along behind everything as she wanted Brande’s money to pay for rebuilding Durla (That is if I am not mistaken) this was a good issue but the resolution seemed a little fast. Not much else to say here.

Attack On The United Planets

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #9
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Yildiray Cinar

 

Hmmm so who is Chameleon Boy’s aunt…could it be Harmonia Li? Where is Chameleon Girl in all this by the way? All good questions. We still haven’t seen Mon-El find out he won the election but I suppose we will eventually. I like this issue and it is still great to see Levitz utilize Tyroc and Gates. Good issue.

The Missing Leader

Adventure Comics #522
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Geraldo Borges

 

Despite the Legion taking the cover, this was more of a Mon-El solo issue as he takes on a new villain Sun Killer trying to free Saturn Queen. I wonder how Levitz is going to get out of this considering he has Mon-El declare he has no plans to return to earth and frankly acting kind of harsh with his new-found power ring but at the same time he has just been elected Legion Leader. It should be interesting to see.

Durlan Foes

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #8
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Yildiray Cinar and David Hdr

 

The Legion continues to fight the Durlans that blame the United Planets for Brande’s death. It was pretty good and Levitz continues to kick ass at writing this book…I was a tad disappointed at the outcome of the election but I can see why people voted for him considering his recent rise to stardom in the DC Universe. I guess XS isn’t an active Legionnaire which kinda blows…maybe Johns is saving her for Flashpoint?

And The Ring Goes To…

Adventure Comics #521
Written by Paul Levtiz
Art by Geraldo Borges
Co-Feature by Jeff Lemire
Art by Mahmad Asrar

 

Well I won’t spoil it…but I don’t know how I feel about the one who finally gets to be Green Lantern of the Future…it makes sense…it is just not anything new and I guess I was expecting something more surprising. Element Lad kicks ass here with his powers and I wonder why we haven’t seen much of him in the main legion book. The Atom back-up was okay and it is the last time we will see that back-up in this book, which I don’t mind, I am still to pissed about Ryan Choi to enjoy Ray Palmer.

Xenophobia

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #5
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Yildiray Cinar and Francis Portela

 

A xenophobic group called EarthForce attacks the refugee camp for the Titanians and it is up to the Legion to save the day. There was a lot of good stuff and some interesting revelations about Harmonia Li – apparently she is immortal or something like that. I still think she is up to no good. Earth-Man seems to be changing rather quickly – and seems to be a lot less Xenophobic now, even sleeping with Shadow Lass – that was quick, too quick! I wonder if something is up with that and he isn’t being genuine or his mind is being effected. I don’t know but Levitz continues to bring the Legion to new heights.

Darkseid Worshippers

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #3
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Yildiray Cinar and Francis Portela

 

Levitz knocks it out of the park for the third time in a row as his Legion is filled with so many twists, turns, action, and character moments. There is just too much I could talk about here. Earth-Man’s ring bringing him to planet to save sentient bugs, the defeat of Saturn Queen and her revelations about the history of Titan, and finally Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl discovering Avalon worshipping Darkseid???? No idea where they are going with this but I am excited and I am not even a fan of THIS version of the Legion. Great stuff.

Time Loops

Adventure Comics #514
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Travis Moore
Co-Feature by James Robinson
Art by Bernard Chang

In the main feature Brainiac 5 delivers Brainiac to the Coluans and Vril Dox and then delivers the Lanothians to Titan where they will be ruled over by Jemm and called Titanians from now on. I love the use of Legion continuity here and really establishing the origins of these places. I wonder if Titan will interact with earth at all in the 21st century? The back-up was an excellent ending to James Robinson’s entire run on Superman. He wraps up Mon-El’s storyline by having him return to the Phantom Zone and then arriving in the future all the way back to whatever issue of Legion he first appeared in the future in. I liked that he didn’t just leave but gave the letter to Billi Harper and remembered that he spent a year in this century on earth. I will miss his character and I think Robinson – in the end – really did a great job with him.

Three Fronts

Adventure Comics #512
Written by James Robinson, Sterling Gates, and Eric Trauttman
Art by Travis Moore, Eduardo Pansica, and Pier Gallo

 

The main feature is Part 4 of the Last Stand of New Krypton Storyline that began in Last Stand #1, and continued here and here. Robinson’s portion of the story is more of a catch-up on the history of the Brainiac’s and we learn that the reason why the past is changing is because somehow Brainiac kills Superman so Brainiac 5 is going back in time to help stop that from happening. It was good. It is not the Legion that I am familiar with and I do miss them, but it is still cool to see all those Legionnaires. I like that XS and Gates haven’t been forgotten! The Sterling Gates written part of the storyline takes place in the present as Tellus uses his telepathic powers to convince the Kryptonians to work together. It was all good nothing to complain about. Finally Trauttman’s story deals with the sleeper agents on earth in a rather interesting way. All of this was good stuff I am loving this crossover so far!

Wanted More

Adventure Comics #511
Written by Sterling Gates, James Robinson, and Eric Trautmann 
Art by Travis Moore, Julian Lopez, and Piere Gallo

 

This issue serves as Prologue to the Last Stand of New Krypton story that begins next week. In it we get three separate stories. One deals with the Legion in the future, one with them meeting up with Superboy and Mon-El in Smallville, as well as a third story dealing with General Lane unknowingly hiring a Kryptonian into Project 7734. It was all entertaining and revealed some more secrets but I feel like it didn’t further the story as much as it should have. Something better happen soon! We get a better understanding of why Lane hates Kryptonians although its clearly a hate bread from fear, which is what all hate is. I liked that and I like all the Legion stuff but I guess I wanted more from this issue then I got.

Return Of The Boy Of Steel

Adventure Comics #504
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul
Co-Feature by Johns
Art by Clayton Henry

Superboy is back! I find it amusing that people around the blogospher are referring to Connor in their reviews as the “new superboy”. A character that has been around since 1994 is definitely not new. None-the-less, I am excited to have Johns write the adventures of Superboy in smallville. Johns sets up everything quite well in this issue and introduces concepts I am sure he will follow through on and even a future friend turned archenemy for Superboy. Manapul’s art is gorgeous as always. Henry’s art on the Legion back up was fine but I wish Manapul did that as well he is that good and it would be fun to see him draw the Legion again (even if this isn’t the same Legion). The only possible complaint I have is that I still don’t care for the whole “omg I have Lex’s genes, what if I become evil!” subplot and Johns continues it here. I have never bought the idea that Connor would even think that he could become like Lex just because of his genes. Anyways, Starman was as usual – hilarious – in the back up and I am looking forward to this series from here on out.