Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Long Live the Legion! [Final Results] Legion Week-in-Review

Have you ever wanted to write a review of a Legion book but never got a chance to read it? Well this may be your chance!

This poll will determine if there is enough interest to have the general membership write reviews of the Legion, from day one.

"But I don't have Adventure #247, one of its many reprints or the Archive edition," you say. Never fear, LL is here! Each week I will provide an electronic copy of the comic to be reviewed. You will need a simple piece of software that allows you to view the file and a way to download the book. That's it. Once the software is installed and the book downloaded, just double click on the icon and presto! Instant Legion collection!

For the sake of saving space, the book will only be available during the week it's up for review. But if you should want a copy after the week, just drop me a line.

This is the grooviest idea since sliced space-bread!

Definitely COOL!

Thanks, LL!

What?! They're slicing space-bread now? Sheesh! The next thing you know they'll be putting Silverale in cans!

Cans? How 21st century...

A fascinating idea.

I'm not sure my current crappy system would allow me to fully participate, but I support it.

Nah. The syringes are too cost-effective and easy to carry.

Scott's idea is a superb one, folks -- and the free viewing software he describes works beautifully. I've tried it with a version he generously provided of the 64 pages of That Damned Tabloid (All-New Collectors' Edition C55, Imra and Garth's wedding). It's utterly easy to view and move among pages.

You need at least Windows 98 for CDisplay Comic Reader, and it helps to have at least 1024 x 768 on your full-screen resolution. It uses your full screen -- you activate program controls with your right mouse button, and move forward through the book with your spacebar and arrow keys.

Scott is doing a great benefit in providing such scans, and deserves our thanks. I hope many will want to take part!

Wow, major thanks, LL!

Thanks everyone, especially Grey. I was going to wait until the end of the poll to give more details but he explained CDisplay perfectly for me. For those wanting to give it a try go here and download it. When I get home I'll upload a small file (under 5MB) that can be viewed with the software. I do have to warn you in advance though, most full issues will be between 15 and 25 MB in size so this is not for the weak-hearted downloaders. If we get enough participants I may put together a few discs that can be mailed back and forth between members.

And before I forget one big THANK YOU to SanityorMadness. He pointed me in the direction that has enabled me to come very close (now within 15 issues) of completing my Legion scan collection. Without his help I'd be scanning until the Legion's founding date of 2958.

Are there any potential copyright issues with this otherwise excellent idea?

And Scott, what issues are you missing. If I have them, I am happy to loan you my copies if you need them.

For the purposes of reviewing I don't think we'll run into a problem. There are numerous sites that publish a whole book or story right out on the web. This is just one example of at least two sites I know of that have Adv. #247. Of course the more learned among us may know better. Perhaps we should consult Quislet?

I'll let you know after the poll ends. Like I said I'm only missing about 15 issues, the majority being Adventure ones, that I don't personally have to scan. I'll continue to try and get them from the group that I'm in sharing scans. If I can't get them I may take you up on the offer Duke. At least to have you scan them for me and just send me the scans to compile into an e-book. Thanks.

I'm not a lawyer, just a copyright maven of many years, but it would be prudent to look into hosting the "review copy" of the week on a server other than the one used for LW.net.

That would at least separate the "fair use" exemptions applying more to the larger site (commentary and reporting) from those applying to this project (reviewing).

It's also creating less of a target. Using scans of individual panels from the comics makes them, clearly, accessories to commentaries. Using scans of entire issues may be needed for reviewers, but they're treated far less favorably under the copyright law's "fair use" definitions.

For the purposes of reviewing I don't think we'll run into a problem. There are numerous sites that publish a whole book or story right out on the web. This is just one example of at least two sites I know of that have Adv. #247. Of course the more learned among us may know better. Perhaps we should consult Quislet? [/b]

I don't know enough about copyrights to offer a legal opinion.

My comments about copyrights on my thread are just my opinion and not legal opinions.

I imagine the poll will show favorable results, but either way, thanks for offering to do it LL -- It's a great idea!

great idea, Scott !!!

Matthew.

So here is the example I promised everyone. First, you'll need to go here to download the CDisplay Comic Reader software. Then click here to download a copy of Action Comics 386. The download for the comic is about 4.5MB and is one of the smallest I've got available.

Once the software is installed it is very simple to use. Just double click on the comic book (noticable by the word baloon icon) and the book will launch. You use the arrow keys to move down the page being view then hit the spacebar to turn the page. The page up will move you back up a page and page down will move you down.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Well, I did get some good news this morning. I've finished my electronic collection of regular Legion appearances. That means I have all of the Action, Adventure, Superboy, Superman, Legion v's 1-4, and The Legion in an electronic format. Now I just need to fill in all the special appearances but that will take a while.

But for the purpose of this endeavor we will have all of the books needed for reviewing.

That's awesome! Thanks for doing all this. It'll be great to have a Legion comic every week to read along with my regular purchases!

Scott, you rock....

Wow, Scott! Thanks for doing this. I just read a brand new Legion story that I have never seen before. Come to think of it, I've never read any of the Action issues before, so this will be a real treat. And I had no idea that the Time Trapper gave Superman fits in his own comic. Cool!

I'm curious about this. Is there some online repository where people can get scans of old comic books?

There is in a way. There is a file sharing program call DirectConnect that allows you to connect to hubs that have various communities, a few of which are comic book/cartoon/anime based. The one I used that SoM pointed me in the direction off, requires that you have at least 1GB of comic books scans to share. Here is one of the software sites.

Well it looks like the overwhelming majority (76%) want to participate. Even those who don't want to participate but still want to have a book a week available is overwhelming (84%).

We'll also just be staring out with 1 book a week. If it seems to slow down I may add a second book later on.

So, look in the next week or two for me to start up a new thread with our first issue, Adventure #247. I'll be trying to stick to the order established by John Censullo's Legion checklist but not including, at this time, any of the non-Legion Legion appearances. Maybe we'll include those at a later date.

Thanks to everyone who voted.

This is a great idea, I won't be able to participate but still a great idea! (I have a mac ;-( )