Great interview with Waid at Sequential Tart, in which there are lots of juicy morsels for Legion fans. One tidbit:

ST: What's coming up in the first storyline?

MW: Sun Boy and Cosmic Boy at loggerheads about which direction to take the team. Why there are thousands of kids camped outside
Legion Headquarters. How Star Boy can't catch a break. The truth behind the Flight Rings. The disastrous secret that Invisible Kid holds that could cost the team everything. Brainiac 5 plotting Dream Girl's slow, torturous death. I'm lying about one of those, but only just barely.

http://www.sequentialtart.com/mwaid.shtml

Thanks FC!

Mon-El? I love Mon-El and Timberwolf. I can understand why Mon is complicated. *sigh* I hope they figure something out.

Timberwolf? Maybe Waid sees him as a Wolverine clone but I always saw him more like Hawkeye of the Avengers (with more of a temper).

Good interview! Thanks.

Jorge

Great article - thanks for the link FC!

exerpt:MW: Why stop there? Think bigger. Think off-Earth, but in terms of races we've seen before. One of the proposed upcoming members makes Steve Wacker laugh every time I mention his name.

hmmm... could it be ... Mogo Boy??

Bouncing Boy. The new Bouncing Boy will be from Bummb'l!

(oh, and )

Nope, no bashing of anyone else THERE...

I'm excited to read that romance will have a big role in the new Legion! Yay!

I'm stoked to hear that issue #2 will feature Dream Girl heavily. Yay Nura!

Great interview!

The highlights for me -

sales had dwindled to the point where DC's only choices were quite seriously retiring the franchise — or giving it the same treatment that Julie Schwartz gave the Golden Age heroes in birthing the Silver Age by relaunching the Legion in name and concept as if it were created fresh today.

... we came that close to losing the Legion, maybe forever! I hope all those idiots on the DC Boards who are lobbying everyone to boycott the new series read this. I doubt the powers that be will ever give the Legion another chance if this one fails. Maybe someone should start a thread where we discuss what we can do to get more people to read this new series?

ST: What if any non-human characters will be in this Legion?

MW: Some right off, though you wouldn't necessarily know it from what's apparent. Take that as you will.

... alarm bells! Who's he talking about? He hasn't gone the Superboy's Legion route with Jeckie and made her a secret snake after all has he? I guess he could be talking about Gim who's actually a real giant in this continuity but that's been mentioned many times elsewhere so why keep it secret here? Part of me is ecstatic to have a non-humanoid on the team but at the cost of which classic character? More mystery though - I love it!

our immediate ties to the 21st century are downplayed in year one for reasons that have less to do with Legion and more to do with upcoming DCU events that I can't spill.

... more hints about this mysterious big DCU "event" in 2005. Does anyone have any idea on what this is going to be? Some people have mentioned a new Crisis written by Geoff Johns and Phil Jiminez. Rumours? Speculation? Apparently the next issue of Wizard has the exclusive. Very intrigued as to what's going on. Maybe this is the "Crisis" that Lex Luthor was referring to at the end of that Superman/Batman arc rather than Identity Crisis? At least it looks like the Legion won't be affected this time.

Issue two is very much about Dream Girl, and issue three is (appropriately enough) about Triplicate Girl.

... coolio! Probably my two favourite female characters get early spotlights! Can't wait to see what Waid does with them. And am very intrigued by the suggestion that Dreamy and Brainy won't be getting along. Will Nura be brought back to her scientific roots as competition for Querl?

I've told Steve to fire me the day I mutter the words "Darkseid" or "Universo."

... I can understand not wanting Darkseid since he's primarily another franchise's villain and every Legion story he's been in except his first one has been a HUGE disappointment anyway. But Universo is a classic Legion villain who hasn't really been that overused over the years and when he has appeared its been in a good story. I'm all for new villains but it would be a shame to lose all of the Legion's rich back-catalogue of old villains too. There are some really good ones in there.

All in all a really good interview. These little drips and drops of information are making the wait for the new series that little bit less torturous.

Well, I won't give the Legion a chance even if this one succeeds, so we're even. You're being given much less than half a loaf and thanking them for the sumptuous three course meal!

And does this seem to contradict Waid saying before that HE went to THEM to anyone else?

I think it might be Chameleon Boy. I looks humanoid, but maybe his true shape is totally different?

Yeah, I got a red flag about the insinuation that not all the characters are as they seem.

If they bring back Snakejectra, I'm going to be very disappointed.

The same Timber Wolf that _predate_ Wolverine is a clone of him? How is that possible?

This shouldn't really be a surprise. Cham's race is not exactly know for their humanoid appearances. Heck, postbook Cham "really" had one of those ugly squid faces.

Well if Gails story is a hint maybe Ultra Boy will be less human this time around.

Anyone watch Babylon 5? The centauri looked very human apart from the fact that the males had six (erm...say reproductive organs) at least one of which was over six foot long and prehensile.

In Star Trek we had the Trill with a cute little alien bug in the tummy.

So i am thinking that maybe this is the way Waid wants to go.

Rimborians organs are different maybe others are too.

Of course this could make romance between Jo and Tinya problomatic.

That link to Gail's story is an interesting idea, Far.

I was thinking of something a little less reasonable - like Invisible Kid is really a Dominator who had plastic surgery. His parents are Dominator sleeper agents and this is what he's really rebelling against....

Are we still looking a human-seeded worlds? Or are we supposing that the changes over the last 1000 years are so vast that basic functions have changed (as opposed to just the addition of powers or traits like twinning)?

Great, great interview, possibly the best one yet on the new Legion series.

After this, I'm more optimistic than ever. For anyone who wanted to hear Waid being plain honest about LSH continuity and where he's taking the series, check it out.

So what you're basically telling us Reboot is that you'll never read another new Legion story again!

Because if this relaunch is successful, then that's you left behind forever and if its not, then that's the Legion dead (in all likelihood).

Either way, your days with the Legion are over it seems.

P.S. I don't know how you can call something you haven't even seen yet (and refuse to) "half a loaf" especially when all the wonderful things we've been hearing about it (IMO), and that Barry has shown us, make it seem in my mind much closer to being a "sumptuous three course meal". And you know what, since everything DnA did after Lost was nothing more than dogfood anyway I'd take that "half a loaf" any day.

... Hmmm all these food metaphors are making me hungry!

You haven't read many of my posts, have you? I've said explicitly umpteen times that I don't expect to ever buy a new LSH comic again. Go on & check. I'll wait.

Reboot, last thing I heard was that Waid was offered Legion rather than sought it out. And with a name like yours it's hard to believe you can't get behind reboots.

To some degree, I get what you're saying, but I really haven't seen "my" Legion for over a decade now. To me, this new version looks more promising that what we had over the past decade.

*goes to recheck his earlier interviews*

Actually this is where the name mostly comes from. The rest is deliberate irony.

I would rather have NO Legion than this Legion.

The things I miss out on because the school server thinks they're dirty...I can't access the website from school. Double farts.

I'm glad to hear that the focus will not be on the villain-of-the-month. To me, that was boring. I'm looking forward to Waid focusing on the heroes, as he stated. What a concept - a comic book where the main characters aren't in life-threatening danger every issue. Maybe someone has finally realized that there's more to a story than the fight.

That was a GREAT interview!

I'm actually heartened by the comparison to the Schwartz-era Silver Are reimagining. Truly, these are NOT going to be our father's LSH, and rightly so. Also, I think the very LAST thing Waid would do is resurrect the snake. He's not THAT suicidal!

And SoM, I'm starting to think that you're just enjoying all the attention you're getting by being the ultimate Anti-Legion force on Legion World. How very diva of you.

Heh

I'm being 100% honest on my feelings about this, although, staying on the full-honesty tack, I've been more vocal because many disagree with me.

The problem with Universo is that no one has come up with more than one plot for him -- he controls the world/universe EXCEPT for SOME Legionnaires, who have to use their wits to defeat him.

It's a fun story, but it's been done 3 times now.

I'm surprised he didn't say Mordru or Time Trapper, too.

I'm not fond of the Mordru story lines, but I do think Time Trapper has a lot of mileage left in him. I don't think his story have ever been satisfactorily explored.

Hmmmm, dare I say the dreaded "P" word and risk getting banned??.... no, I think not

Waid wouldn't dare! Would he?!?

Yes, there was apparently a bad confusion, and this is how a certain member should have looked in the preview

Alright. Drake, Reboot. Out of the pool!

Hey Scott I thought you were saving that post for Lash.

Congrats on 10000 posts. WOW

Thanks Darden. But I did save it. You probably read this thread after my actual 10,000th post over here .

Ooooops.


Serves me right for opening mouth without operating brain.

nice to know you to did it together.

You type with your TONGUE? Eugh...

With all due respect, Blacula, that is the silliest thing which I have ever heard. The Legion will never be retired permanently. It will always be trotted out with a new coat of paint every time that it fails. It didn't go away forever after Mort Weisinger retired, it didn't go away forever after the five year gap, and it didn't go away forever after it was cancelled due to low sales before Legion Lost and Legion Worlds. It might go away for a while, but it'll always be back. Those aren't positions for life at DC; new faces mean new policies. Plus, you have to take everything which Mark Waid says with a grain of salt; he's been known to exagerate.

I know Brin predates Wolverine. I just think since the characters are somewhat related many people see Brin as a Wolvie knock-off instead of vice versa. Even then their personalities are very different IMO.

Jorge

I also really liked the "no villain of the month" thing...no Universo or Darkseid. In DnA's defense I think THAT Legion needed that...atleast for me. I never liked the postboot until DnA took over especially the latest series.

I wouldn't mind NOT seeing Mordu or the Time Trapper personally either.

Much like Star Trek rather focus on the challenge being a problem that needs to be solved, etc.

Jorge

Could be worse Reboot could be worse

Anyway, for all you know I could have a beer flavoured keyboard

Brainy planning the tortuous demise of Dream Girl?

Sounds fun! I like homicidal intellectual rivalry!

Huzzah for Barry!

I love that it appears that Nura will be super smart again in this new legion. I loved the DnA Nura but the fact that she was super sexy and smart was what made her such a great character.

Interesting bit on the motivation of the Legion:

Which--aside from its relevance to the current geopolitical situation--is kinda interesting when you compare it to what we've seen in the previews. There, the authority figures are ticked off that the Legion kids are fighting threats without permission. Here, Waid says that youth in general are expected to go into battle--but only when they're told to do so.

So the Legionnaires are volunteering as countercultural heroes to forestall all the other kids' being drafted into establishment-sanctioned heroism. I like that.

The whole "flavor of the month" villain aspect I think means that villains only will be introduced when it makes sense. It doesn't mean we won't see The Legion of Super-Villains, Modru, etc. But that only as context of the stories allow. I think a lot of the villains still have a lot fo great potential, maybe jsut not as they are currently being thought. Look at what Geoff Johns did with Mordru in JSA.

This interview did instill a little more hope in me about this series. I was ready to doom it, but I'll give it a chance based on reading this. I'm confussed why Waid would have problems with Mon-El being shared with the rest of the DCU; he's a Legion character, and no one else uses him. How is there a problem?

Oh, and go first post on the boards.

Well, Mon's origin is firmly planted in the present DCU (it was last time I checked), which might bring a whole lot of continuity headaches. He not only did the whole "Valor, seeder of worlds" thing but also served with L.E.G.I.O.N. Who knows if Waid plans on using this version or if he has a new one that'll be dependent on whatever the status quo of the present DCU is after this upcoming "event".

First Mon-El...there are ways I think to use Mon-El with a different origin of sorts. BUT when it comes to my fave comic I like to keep things simple...even if it means not using one my favorite characters. Sadly I would sacrifice Mon-El being in the book for a less complicated Legion.

Villains? I honestly don't think we will get a LSV...and while I love Mordu...well I think Waid may balance the "superhero-y" fanboy stuff with CHALLENGES/CONFLICT versus traditional villains. Mordu may appear at one point but the LSV? I have a feeling they will never appear.

Jorge

So if the Legion is trying to prevent a war, WHO are the UP about to go to war with?? The Khunds? The Dominators? The Thanagarians....?

Maybe the Romulans? And that is a good page to take. With all the evil alien races including the evil humans...who needs super villains?!

Love, love, love, love Mon-El, but there are DCU reasons that he's problematic from the get-go.

-- The Legion without Lar Gand? Inconceivable! If Mon-El doesn't work, bring him back as his alter ego, Bob Cobb, super hair-brush salesman.


Issue two is very much about Dream Girl

-- I'm thrilled to hear it, but I wish Barry had featured the beauteous Naltorian on the cover of #2 instead of the tiresome Saturn Girl.


[My responsbility is] To tell good stories, give them their money's worth, and not kill Hawkeye.

-- I hope Waid has the same protective feelings towards Element Lad, Lightning Lad, Colossal Boy and Triplicate Girl's third body.


Sun Boy and Cosmic Boy at loggerheads about which direction to take the team.

-- Good! Finally someone with guts enough to stand up to Comatose Boy. It'd be cool if Sun Boy were deputy leader .. or even leader.


Why there are thousands of kids camped outside Legion Headquarters.

-- Maybe those two goofy looking characters on the cover of #2 are among the Legion's fanboys, er, fan-sentients.


How Star Boy can't catch a break

-- Things don't sound too bright for Star Boy. Mr Waid, please refrain from murdering the black dude this time, okay?


The disastrous secret that Invisible Kid holds that could cost the team everything

-- Now THAT'S intriguing.


Brainiac 5 plotting Dream Girl's slow, torturous death.

-- Hee, hee. Brainy sounds like the *perfect* foil for our new Dream Girl.

I know that Mon-El has all sorts of ties to the present, but I always thought those appeaances should take backseat to anything the Legion might want to do with him. After all, if Byrne can totally reboot the Doom Patrol (not something I Agree with), why can't Waid have stuff from Mon-El's past be ignored to use him in the book? Just playin Devil's Advocate here.

As for sacrificing characters for the sake of a more simple Legion... No. Sorry, but that was what they tried to do last time with Superboy, and look what happened - they wound up bringing him in at the end, only to have it become "confussing" again. I've occasionally found the Legion confussing, but I've always considered that a strength, not a weakness. Too bad I'm one of the only ones.

And Waid saying that fans in the past woudn't pick up a Legion book because of the back story - Does he really think this time will be any different? How hard are the LCSs going to push that this is a reboot, and how many new fans are going to jump onto it, especially if they know its likly that anything they like will be taken away from them the next time its "failed"? We've all had to face this at least three times now, and how many here are tired to the point of giving up on new Legion stories? If the dedicated fanbase is discouraged, how does he hope to build upon that?

Sorry to become negative. I'm going to give the new series a shot, but I have a lot of doubts - not about how Waid is going to handle the characters, but the thinking behind a reboot, re-visioning, new focus.. whatever. It still seems like change for change's sake, and those never work.

Euromutt, trust I really love monel...i can write essays on the guy. To me he's this noble samurai silent...bordering on dark/brooding which may (or may not?) be a result of the 1000 years in the phantom zone. I see him a powerful sci-fi hero like Superman but with almost a metaphysical cloud around...like the Phantom Stranger.

The problems comics and Legion get into is when things get complicated someone tries to "fix it" and then someone reverts, and someone again fixes it...and then it's really a complicated mess.

Since this Legion seems to be "all new" I think if the do introduce Valor they should rethink of how to make him exclusive to the 30th century. Look at Laurel Gand and Supergirl? For all intents and purposes we can have Valor/Mon-El without the baggage? But there will always be baggage. If the stories are good I can live without one of my favorite Legionnaires.

Jorge

mon-el, the last samurai
wasn't Tom Cruise in that?

as usual, we see pretty much eye-to-eye on these things, blacula ... i'm a little more optimistic about the rebooted legion (mostly just from Barry's participation on this board)

this reboot could work if DC is concientious about putting out a Legion book that appeals to a new audience too -- and judging from my own local comic shop, that would have to include: ongoing press (interviews, etc. - glowing reviews don't cut it - witness the great & low-selling FALLEN ANGEL), timely publishing of digest-sized trades (something DC hasn't been consistent about), more innovative design work on the covers and book itself (and Barry's stuff so far has been great IMO and really stands out, but the real test is when it's on the rack, right?), and a focus that somehow stretches across sci fi & super heros (kinda like Transmet)

while i think waid & kitson have the creator pull at DC to get the trade collections (eventually), i hope that it's not solely up to them to promote the book (pushing to get trades out, getting interviews, etc)

Quote

... whatever. It still seems like change for change's sake, and those never work.

this i totally agree with ... while there was definitely a need - IMO - to switch the DNA creative team, it's a little hard to believe a reboot was the only option possible ... it's clear that waid & kitson wanted to start fresh

i'm hoping DC goes for it (the way they will in their Vertigo & Wildstorm lines) and lets the Legion team create a visionary, thrilling future not bogged down by being locked into ongoing (& changing) DCU continuity or bound in Legion in-jokes that only the subscribers to APA or Klordny will get

yes, i'll probably read Legion 1 with a glass of Maker's Mark ... either to celebrate or feel better

we'll see

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 235 - Andy S:
this reboot could work if DC is concientious about putting out a Legion book that appeals to a new audience too --

i'm hoping DC goes for it (the way they will in their Vertigo & Wildstorm lines) and lets the Legion team create a visionary, thrilling future not bogged down by being locked into ongoing (& changing) DCU continuity or bound in Legion in-jokes that only the subscribers to APA or Klordny will get

One thing that struck me about this interview was it's location - at a site oriented to female comic fans. Mark Waid has not given that many interviews about the new series, and to have one at Sequential Tart suggests to me that there may be some effort to reach out to a broader audience. Now if he could get into the New York Times (and be well received), then maybe we're talking sales - although that would probably be a TPB-only audience.

The in-joke thing ... I don't know how much this affects reading for the uninitiated. I only found out a few months ago that the TMK stories had a number of references to actual fans or friends of theirs in the naming of characters - didn't make any difference to me at the time. However, if dialogue or a story element is dependent on getting the in-joke, I think that's bad for expanding your readership.

Actually, that wasn't me who wrote that Andy... but I can see where the confusion came from.

Sorry Blacula. I can change my icon if you want. I figured it was a good one for my name, but you were obviously here first with it.

ooops
my bad


HEY EUROMUTT! Welcome!

(Why are all men dogs?)_

I don't think you need to change. I know that when I saw someone with "my" icon, I just found another one that worked for me. I'm not two removed from that original icon, but there was no particular reason for the change.

I'll admit that when I see your icon I think "Blacula" first, but we can all adjust.

Hi EuroMutt! Welcome to Legion World!

Its completely up to you what you want to do with your icon. If you like it and want to keep it then feel free.

I've grown quite partial to that cute little Krypto picture though so I don't plan on changing mine but I'm sure Legion World won't crash if 2 people have the same icon.

If you do keep it we'll just have to watch ourselves that we don't keep reading each other's posts and start thinking "I don't remember writing that!" I know I've already done that a few times since you started posting.

Look forward to seeing you round the Boards!

Arf! [happy tail wagging]

Thaks everyone for being so easy going. you've made me feel pretty welcome her right away. I'll look for a new icon that works for me, but until I'm happy I'll keep this one.

Boys. Girls.

Do you trust me?

You should.

I love the LEGION.

I *love* Gates. A finer character can't be found in comics. ANYWHERE. I've looked.

Tyroc? He kicks ASS. Trust.

What does this all have in common with the new WaK Legion? Well, not much, maybe.... but then again, it might. Trust me.

We're in good hands.

Do you mean to tell me that Gates is a finer character than Tenzil Kem? I'm somewhat shocked to hear that from you.

So am I.

Though I totally agree with him.

I've always had a soft spot for the teleporters. Add in a personality like Gates' and, well...

"OMG WAID SUCKS or Stupid Overreactions to the ST Interview"

OMG Waid's not gonna ever have any supervillains!

OMG Waid's bring back the Legion stripe!

OMG Projectra's gonna be a snake again under her illusion!

OMG Jenni's toast his own character that bastard!

OMG he must be talking about Hawkboy from Thanagar!

OMG this is gonna be a boring political comic


OMG Waid hates TW


OMG he just slammed Bendis

....

good for him


OMG the Legion rogues are toast I'm dropping this book


OMG the whole team's gonna be snakes like projectra or raccoons in disguise


OMG this books gonna be a orgy I'm un-dropping it


OMG they're gonna kill the black guy like in every sci-fi story except star wars

OMG Lyle's a gay profem user

......

Actually, this interview has me very interested in his take on the LSH, esp. the talk of seemingly humanoid but vastly inhuman species on the team.

And your point? Beyond belittling those who don't want anything to do with the re"imagining"?

Actually, I think its eerie how perfectly he captured the tone of the official DC Legion message board.

Hey man, I listened to Mark talk about the Legion Saturday and once he starts he just keeps going for a while. It's really hard to get it all down. He really seems to be excited about it but all in all we got the mostly the same information we've had from previous interviews and convention write ups.
Except maybe for Barry confessing that he does all the work.