February Marvel Previews |
Action Comic #859
Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Gary Frank and Jonathan Sibal
Cover by Gary Frank; Variant cover by Andy Kubert
“Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes” Part 2 (of 6)
Review by Rodney Sweigart
I must admit that I am not a fan of Superman titles. I find him, as well as Batman, to be oversaturated in the DCU. The only reason I picked up the current issue of Action was to see the Legion of Super-Heroes. I don’t read the Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes series either, but I do plan on getting the series when Jim Shooter begins his run (minus the Maid of Steel). Yes, I am a secret Legion lover. To me, they are the Teen Titans of the 31st Century.
This issue is part two of a longer arc, aptly titled “Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes”. After the “return” of the Legion of Super-Heroes during the Lightning Saga in the Justice League/Society, I picked up this issue (and last month’s issue, too). Being a huge junkie for time travel and alternate histories/futures, I was very curious to read it.
The premise is decent. Apparently, Superman was falsely told that he was an alien. He is really an ordinary man with powers granted by Mother Earth to protect her against the likes of Brainiac and Darkseid. Aliens are not welcomed on the future Earth. Modern day Superman has become an icon as a super human (emphasis on human). Add the fact that the sun is now red and he flies via a Legion flight ring. Aliens are rounded up and kept in concentration camps (one is the old Legion headquarters). The surviving Legionnaires are on a mission to restore galactic unity, free their teammates and return Kal-el to our time.
The follow-through was mediocre. The “villains” are not really villains. The bad guys are the Justice League; a motley team of old substitutes, wannabe Legionnaires and rejects, led by Earth Man/Absorbancy Lad. This Justice League is lame. Poor characters in concept and design. They are hunting down the last of the Legionnaires who have defaced Superman’s legacy.
The art took some getting used to. I have said it before and will say it again, nothing is more distracting to a good story than bad art. The artist is Gary Frank, who I am new to. It’s not distracting, per se, but everyone has huge bugged-out blue eyes. Once you get past the “shock”, Gary Frank does the Legion justice.
Was the book stellar? No. Will I still get the remaining chapters and finish the arc? Yes. It’s not a bad issue, but definitely not the greatness that I was expecting. It does have one or two interesting DCU homages.
If you are looking for extra reading over the holidays, pick it up. If you are saving money, leave it on comic spinner.
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