Cary Bates/Mike Grell Legion - 09/09/12 08:18 PM
I started reading Legion in 1978...so I missed the entire Adventure run..I did go back and purchase some Adv. issues over the years and I have every issue of Superboy Cockrum run into issue 197, when the Legion got it's own book. I also have every issue since 197 in all the Legion's incarnations. That being said, I have started to re-read every issue starting with 197 like most of you long time Legion lover's do on occasion and thought it would be fun to revisit these issues after many years...so I would love some feedback from my fellow Legion lovers! One thing that really stands out is some really good stories and Mike Grell's very original art work. Their run was a lot longer than people give it credit for specially when compared to Dave Cockrum's! What follow's are alot of observations I made during my first chunk of issue's #197-#239.
1. The very long gap between adding new Legionnaires..from Timber Wolf and Chemical King to Wildfire there was a huge gap with no new Legionnaires...one of the biggest I believe.
2. Cary Bates makes a concerted effort to clean house of some "uncool" Adventure run Legionnaires "Matter Eater Lad" and Bouncing Boy" and to some degree "Duo Damsel" and one very long term member "Invisible Kid" in a very, very short span of time..they are all gone from issue #200 to 212"..so in a year roughly are four out. They are replaced by Wildfire and Tyroc both more diverse and more powerful than the four. I feel all these were good choices even Invisible Kid because of his closeness of powers to Phantom Girl.
3. Some Legionnaires hardly seen today are very common. almost panel hogs, in this run. A casein point my favorite Legionnaire Shrinking Violet who is in almost every issue even spot shots.
4. There is some continuity during the run. Tharok's robot half being destroyed, rebuit, then returning is a perfect example...as well as Mon-el being leader. Although, the way Invisible kid's death is basically never mentioned again with the exception of issue #206 clone issue, is a little odd. How can you work/live beside someone for all those years and have very little emotional fall out...
5. Tyroc and Chemical King under used and non players is very weird. With Tyroc it's like let's introduce this great new hero with an interesting power and then pull him and act like we never did...why? Chemical King there is not excuse..a member who had been around for years and always portrayed as intelligent, and even a little cocky..like in the issue where he "killed" Roxass and then ..poof. GONE. His powers were very easily explained he controlled chemical reactions. Why was that so difficult to write? Jim Shooter, his creator, seemed to have no problem.
6. The same villians...over and over again..Fatal five was constantly in this book...a far, far cry to their appearances in the last 20 years! They are and always will be, the iconic Legion villians!!
7. The costumes....ICONIC LEGION COSTUMES..nuff said!
any thoughts?
1. The very long gap between adding new Legionnaires..from Timber Wolf and Chemical King to Wildfire there was a huge gap with no new Legionnaires...one of the biggest I believe.
2. Cary Bates makes a concerted effort to clean house of some "uncool" Adventure run Legionnaires "Matter Eater Lad" and Bouncing Boy" and to some degree "Duo Damsel" and one very long term member "Invisible Kid" in a very, very short span of time..they are all gone from issue #200 to 212"..so in a year roughly are four out. They are replaced by Wildfire and Tyroc both more diverse and more powerful than the four. I feel all these were good choices even Invisible Kid because of his closeness of powers to Phantom Girl.
3. Some Legionnaires hardly seen today are very common. almost panel hogs, in this run. A casein point my favorite Legionnaire Shrinking Violet who is in almost every issue even spot shots.
4. There is some continuity during the run. Tharok's robot half being destroyed, rebuit, then returning is a perfect example...as well as Mon-el being leader. Although, the way Invisible kid's death is basically never mentioned again with the exception of issue #206 clone issue, is a little odd. How can you work/live beside someone for all those years and have very little emotional fall out...
5. Tyroc and Chemical King under used and non players is very weird. With Tyroc it's like let's introduce this great new hero with an interesting power and then pull him and act like we never did...why? Chemical King there is not excuse..a member who had been around for years and always portrayed as intelligent, and even a little cocky..like in the issue where he "killed" Roxass and then ..poof. GONE. His powers were very easily explained he controlled chemical reactions. Why was that so difficult to write? Jim Shooter, his creator, seemed to have no problem.
6. The same villians...over and over again..Fatal five was constantly in this book...a far, far cry to their appearances in the last 20 years! They are and always will be, the iconic Legion villians!!
7. The costumes....ICONIC LEGION COSTUMES..nuff said!
any thoughts?