Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Visionaries of Tomorrow Francis Manapul Interview: The Start of Something Big!

Did Lyle ever wear that blue jacket and uniform in your avatar?

I just like the fact that they don't all look like spandex superhero costumes. With a few exceptions, the outfits actually look like something wearable. I'm excited to have a new artist/writer for the anniversary year. I have to admit I'm a little disappointed that after all of the Legion teasers/guest appearances we've been getting, it's still the threeboot Legion. I thought/hoped that between the Lightning Saga and Countdown we might see something different.

armsfalloffboy, i agree. I am waiting for "THAT" announcement.

But I'm digging the latest creative team and I like this new preview pic...a lot!

Colossal Boy / Micro Lad looks *far* too much like something Liefield would draw. I bet those brown things are pouches...

I think he wore it in the Titans/Legion Special just before the relaunch. Since then he really hasn't had a consistent look.

hey guys I just wanted to say thanks for all the kind words thus far, they really have me excited and looking forward to bringing you guys the best Legion you can possibly get! This is my very first time to be drawing a superhero book let alone a TEAM Superhero book! Needless to say I might make a few mistakes along the way but I promise it'll be a fun ride!

I'm actually pretty overwhelmed by the response so far and I'll try to address a few of the questions. Regarding Saturn Girls costume it's a combination of her "pink bikini" outfit with the current one. Like I mentioned in the interview I really wanted to pay homage to Mr. Cockrum and his legendary run on the book. Timberwolf's design.. well again I wanted to combine some of the old designs with the current. His bare feet can totally be blamed on me. I thought it'd be a cool idea to have it bare, not so much to show how much of an "animal" that he was but more because I thought out of all the characters he's the most in tune with nature. I figured a character such as him would want to "feel the salt of the earth" so to speak. Kinda like how when you see Tarzan with a suit but bare feet! I figured he might be more comfortable and that he'd be able to be more aware of his suroundings by being more in "touch" with the ground. The rest of the designs are pretty much just a simplification of the current designs combined with the old. To be quite honest when I was redesigning them intially I was thinking of a total overhaul. But instead I thought it'd be a lot cooler if it were more of the best of the past and the present which will take us into the future! Anwyays I'll be around and I'll try my best to answer all your questions. Thanks again for welcoming me into your community!

Looking forward to your run, Francis! Sorry again for the delay here. I'm one of those unsure of whether or not the Legion needed a new overhaul, but I'm certainly along for the ride and can't wait to see what's next. I do see a lot of the past versions of the Legion in your costume designs. And that can't be a bad thing.

Whose idea is the belt insignia? Is it a homage to the Sprouse designs? Also who colored this image and will any of the colors be changed by the time it's published?

Also, how much Legion history are you familiar with? If you are a fan, then which Legionnaire not in the publicized line-up would you like to see a member again?

Who will be the writer?

don't worry about it nightcrawler! not a problem! Yeah I was thinking the same thing as well whether or not I needed to make drastic changes or just slight tweaks. I decided on slight tweaks.

The insignia was something I brought up to my editor as something I wanted to bring back. To be quite honest it was mostly because it's what I recalled from my memory of what they looked like. Also I thought visually it was something that unified them as a team.

The colors are not final, there are still quite a lot of corrections that needs to be done. The colorist on that was Brian Buccellato who was my longtime collaborator back when I was at top cow.

To be quite honest I know very little about their history. I've read a few blurbs here and there online and the first trade of Waid and Kitson's run. As well as watched the cartoons. I'm coming into this world with really fresh eyes so I'm still familiarizing myself. I've actually been looking around at those old Legion Archives but dang their expensive!

As for the writer it's.......................

Yeah, you're going to fit right in.

As for reference material, all you have to do is ask. Between Nightcrawler and myself we have every Legion appearance and, if it already isn't scanned, it can be scanned very quickly.

So, clear something up. Is the cover to issue #37 or #38? The news sites credited it as #38 but your pencils image is name #37.

Another update from Michael gives some reasoning on how it might actually be Shooter. We also now know the name of the inker for the series, John Livesay.

thanks Lighting Lad!

regarding 37-38 to tell you the truth I may have written down the wrong number, I should actually check with my editor to make sure..

well, if the writer IS Jim Shooter, you can bet the Fatal Five will be popping in.
welcome Francis. dynamic art teaser you gave us there. please do feel free to share sketches, etc. Barry Kitson spoiled us with his generous sharing of behind the scenes sketches and penciled covers.

Some have observed that Brainiac 5 looks like a dictator. If the shoe fits... he probably sees himself as a benevelont dictator, even if he does cede power to others.

Thanks for participating here, Francis. We love to hear from the creators! I'm looking forward to your villains - whether or not the Fatal Five is on the schedule (but I hope they are).

How about Superboy and the Legion of Super Heroes?

Oh, hey, how about that?

Except for a handful of people, I am always horrible at remembering what creators have done. I'm a little better at remembering artists, mainly because of visual references, I guess, but I suck at remembering what writers have done.

For those with better memories: has any artist used interlac for the ring and belt insignias?

Not for the belt. The ring might be harder cause it could have been snuck in. But I've never seen interlac used in that way.

I recently read the entire Shooter run and must say if it wasn't for him the Legion wouldn't have been as popular as it became. There is a guy called Levitz that did pretty good but again if it wasn't for Shooter...Levitz wouldn't have had that oppurtunity I believe.

This will be interesting if it is Shooter. He certainly has changed as a writer since last he wrote the Legion. I hope he doesn't try to reinvent the superhero wheel here (though i think he is capable of that).

The other Jim (Robinson) is pretty exciting prospect as well.

Francis I really like the Colossal Boy design! Not sure about the brown padding. Maybe make it blue or orange instead?

Any LW members remember my Kitson inspired costume? It's pretty similiar to the new one. So like I said I really like it.

I would bet on Shooter too.

Bah on Shooter and his newfangled ideas!

I remember the little upstart from 1966. I was like, Whoa! waitagoshdarnedminute, what happened to the *real* Legion.

I'm taking bets as to whether Ferro will actually get to be black this time. Also should one of the Trips be concerned?

Brainy looks all enlightened despot because he's created a planet with the perfect society. Next issue Lu gets sent down to check something out and BAMMO.

Interesting interpretation. I could be wrong, but I don't think anyones ever looked at him that way before. It makes a lot of sense. Living in such a high tech civilization might make him feel caged a lot of the time. It'd certainly explain his attitude.

Brin really hates wearing the Legion ring, belts and don't even mention the telepathic plug ear pieces!