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 Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 484
in hiding
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in hiding
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 484 |
Actually I like the way we're doing it. It hasn't been done before, as far as I know.
If you wanted to break it down more systematically you would have far more volumes. For instance, there was the pre-Adventure run, the Hamilton/Siegel Era, the Shooter/Bridwell Adventures, the Action backups, the Superboy half-issues (including Cockrum's run) and the return to full-length stories via the takeover of the original Superboy book...that's six volumes (or even seven if you count "Superboy starring the Legion of Super-Heroes" and "Superboy And The Legion Of Super-Heroes" as separate volumes) and we still haven't gotten to the official vol. 2 yet!
First comic books ever bought: A DC four-for-47-cents grab bag that included Adventure #331. The rest is history.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 40,393
Trap Timer
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OP
Trap Timer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 40,393 |
Yeah, we've done things by era before, and there's always a question of how finely you want to draw the lines where one era begins and another ends.
But with vol. 7 ending, I thought it would be fun to just take things straightforwardly on the basis of series that have been titled "The Legion of Super Heroes" and see how things play out without trying to impose order on the Legion's bizarre publishing history.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 34,634
Bold Flavors
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Bold Flavors
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 34,634 |
I like the way you did it too, Eryk--nicely different.
For me, it was really only two that could possibly compete: the first is V.2, which started as Superboy, and TMK. V.2 had the awesome second Levitz run (and I kind of include Superboy and the Legion as well). But ultimately, I voted for V.4 TMK, which not only had the best written Legion ever, it also included the early reboot issues, which I also hold in extremely high regard.
Last edited by Cobalt Kid; 08/26/13 09:15 AM.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,364
Wanderer
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Wanderer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,364 |
Volume 4 was a real oddity in that it was, in many ways, three different books. There was the 5YG run, which pretty much ended when the Earth blew up, the end of an era period, including the much-hated Legion on the Run sequence, and finally the reboot, including the Blight stories that led into Legion Lost.
Each of those three were wildly different from each other, making it difficult to vote for that volume.
Although I thought the 5YG stuff was very well crafted, it was ultimately harmful to the franchise itself, as it replaced the idea of a universe where good was the norm and the bad guys were aberrations that the Legion was there to counteract with a universe that was actually quite depressing (and the legion itself quite ineffective). As I feel that operating in a positive future is an integral part of what the Legion is all about, I have to put the 5YG stuff in the minus column.
I actually consider the first couple years of the reboot to be among the best Legion books ever, but I preferred the Manga influenced Jeff Moy art in Legionnaires to Lee Moder's exaggerated stylings in the main book, and some of the other artists that worked on the book after Moder left were just awful, IMO. Plus, although there were a couple decent 20th century stories in the issues leading up to #100, I am, and have always been, against having Legionnaires interact with present-day characters. My main reason for this is that Legionnaires have always been allowed to grow as characters, while DC's present-day characters are, for marketing reasons, static entities who are forced to undergo periodic retcons to remain relevant. The two just don't mix well.
And then there was the post-5YG era in which the Legion was floundering around waiting for the reboot to happen. The less said about that period the better. This post so perfectly echoes my view, it's like I wrote it myself. Despite my Reboot love, I voted for vol. II because I think that the 5YL ultimately harmed this franchise in a way it's never been able to recover from.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 83,816
Unseen, not unheard
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Unseen, not unheard
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 83,816 |
As of now V4 is winning! But is it because of 5 Years Later fans, Reboot fans, or both?
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,247
Time Trapper
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Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,247 |
As of now V4 is winning! But is it because of 5 Years Later fans, Reboot fans, or both? It's probably benefitting from fans of one or the other. I voted for it primarily for 5YL, but I liked much of the reboot stuff therein as well.
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,247
Time Trapper
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Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,247 |
And, also, V2 is technically considered from #259-on, right, when "Superboy" was dropped? At least one person who voted for it cited Levitz's first run factoring in. Oh, what a long, strange trip it is to be a Legion fan! 
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 33,081
Time Trapper
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Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 33,081 |
The good of the 5YL/Reboot eras outweigh the bad and therefore it overtakes all other volumes in the poll for me.
Of course, the S/LSH era (esp Cockrum/Grell) trumps them all. *smile*
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 40,393
Trap Timer
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OP
Trap Timer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 40,393 |
Okay, at the end of the day, my heart told me to go v4 as well!
Though either Adventure or S/LSH would have trumped it!
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,695
Legionnaire!
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Legionnaire!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,695 |
Another vote here for v.4
Absolutely a volume with a split-personality, but that first half (5YL) as - in my opinion - one of the most compelling and intelligent super-hero comics ever written, tips the scales and earns my vote.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,188
Legionnaire!
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Legionnaire!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,188 |
V 2 here, though in my heart it also includes the excellent Tales run and first few years of reprints, because that's how I read it.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 703
And then there was steak!
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And then there was steak!
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 703 |
I went with V4, but only because it included the Reboot. I don't much care for 5YL.
So where does the "later" Reboot fall in? Does that not count as V4?
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 40,393
Trap Timer
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OP
Trap Timer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 40,393 |
Almost all of DnA's run was published in titles called something other than "Legion of Super Heroes". So, Legion Lost vol. 1, Legion Worlds, and The Legion. So, like the Adventure Era, it's excluded for the purposes of this poll.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 33,081
Time Trapper
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Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 33,081 |
To clarify my position, I say S/LSH trumps Adventure because it includes some of the best Adventure era stories... I read classics like The Adult Legion, The Luck Lords, The Outlawed Legion, Super-Stalag of Space, and especially The Forgotten Legion (from ADV 350-351) right alongside the super-sexy current-day adventures via reprints published during the S/LSH era.
It was truly a time like no other to be an extremely young, impressionable fan.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 703
And then there was steak!
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And then there was steak!
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 703 |
Almost all of DnA's run was published in titles called something other than "Legion of Super Heroes". So, Legion Lost vol. 1, Legion Worlds, and The Legion. So, like the Adventure Era, it's excluded for the purposes of this poll. Ooohhhhh, I hadn't really thought of that! I tend to just lump certain boots together and assume they're "volumes". XD
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 24,141
Not much between despair and ecstacy
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Not much between despair and ecstacy
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 24,141 |
Oh, what a long, strange trip it is to be a Legion fan! Yes, but it's so groovy. :needajerrygarciasmilie:
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,929
Time Trapper
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Time Trapper
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,929 |
I can't pick one volume. It makes me frustrated and angry to have to try.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,929
Time Trapper
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Time Trapper
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,929 |
My brain froze yesterday when trying to decide between ... first Giffen run ... and 5YL ...
I have decided, after shutting down and restarting that 5YL is the best "book" of the LSH (critically .. I think it is one of the best comic books in history) but ... my heart belongs to the SECOND Giff run ... pre and during Magic Wars. THOSE COSTUMES were on FIRE.
yes I said it ... it dosn't get any better than a cute Pol Krinn, short haired Saturn Girl and Lightning Lass, and Mysa on an Arch Mage rampage!!!!!!!
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,802
Wanderer
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Wanderer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,802 |
I've amazed myself. Before just now, I would never believe I'd vote the way I did. I did a quick browse of the covers to refresh my memory. I bought the books as they came out and, for the most part, haven't reread them since. Therefore Volumes 1 & 2 are at a disadvantage except for a few very memorable stories. Overall, the old-school style doesn't appeal to me that much now, although there's some nostalgia. Volume 3...overall, not too memorable either. Seems rather dated in an unappealing way. All that said, it was the first three volumes that made me love the Legion. And as I reread them, as I'm beginning to, I may change my "favorite." Volumes 6 & 7 I remember too well and they're definitely not my favorites. That leaves 4 & 5. Volume 5 I endured as the series was published, but looking back I find I remember the stories and characters fondly, and actually enjoyed some parts of it. Or at least my memory filter now says I did.  It's probably my second favorite. Volume 4, very surprisingly, got my vote. I'm surprised because I despised the darkness and destruction of 5YL. I couldn't stand Legion on the Run. I despised(!) the Blight. I hated the art on all of them. And yet, these stories are by far the most memorable to me. Not in a nightmarish way, but because, I suppose, of the way they caused me to engage more deeply with both the story and the art. Funny that Volume 4 hardly represents what I love about the Legion. Suddenly I feel schizophrenic.  
"Everything about this is going to feel different." (Saturn Girl, Legion of Super-Heroes #1)
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,247
Time Trapper
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Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,247 |
And so far, V4 has half the vote! So of 26 voters to this point, many must have felt most engaged with it for various reasons. It's also, by the way, the longest of the 7 volumes by a lot. (V2 would be longer if you count the pre-259 co-starring issues and its run as "Tales..." Still, no love for Vols. 5, 6 & 7 in the poll! For some reason, though, I feel the need to concur with LT that Vol. 5 wasn't ALL bad. I pretty much enjoyed all of Shooter's run, honestly. Too bad about Justin Thyme, though...  Vol. 6, I felt, was going pretty well until the extra pages were taken away. I think Paul was telling pretty entertaining stories with the extra space. I think cutting down to 20 pages made him equate with cutting out the "extraneous" things that we used to love about his writing. Loved the annual, too! Vol. 7.....almost a total train wreck. That "day in the life" kind of issue with Walt Simonson was very good, though. Probably because it devoted a whole issue to the kind of stuff we wanted from Paul all along. Otherwise, almost completely forgettable.
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,929
Time Trapper
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Time Trapper
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,929 |
Vol. 7.....almost a total train wreck. That "day in the life" kind of issue with Walt Simonson was very good, though. Probably because it devoted a whole issue to the kind of stuff we wanted from Paul all along. Otherwise, almost completely forgettable.
that simonson issue is the only issue I have of that volume! reminded me of volume 3.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,802
Wanderer
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Wanderer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,802 |
Too bad about Justin Thyme, though... No question, that gets my vote for least favorite Legion thing ever.
"Everything about this is going to feel different." (Saturn Girl, Legion of Super-Heroes #1)
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,188
Legionnaire!
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Legionnaire!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,188 |
Well, logically, Vol 4. is the only representative of two separate runs, so It makes sense it's pulling ahead since both have their ardent fans, as daft as they may be (**ducks**). Whereas the Levitz era straddles Vol.2 & 3.
Someone dug those the reprints though.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 83,816
Unseen, not unheard
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Unseen, not unheard
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 83,816 |
Interesting that V2 is so far trouncing V3, despite both being part of Levitz's acclaimed run. Perhaps we should be giving more credit to some of the other creators who've worked on the Legion, and whose work appears in v2!
Last edited by Invisible Brainiac; 08/28/13 07:16 AM.
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Re: Favorite Volume of the Legion of Super Heroes!
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872
More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
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More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872 |
Interesting that V2 is so far trouncing V3, despite both being part of Levitz's acclaimed run. Perhaps we should be giving more credit to some of the other creators who've worked on the Legion, and whose work appears in v2! I agree. I will do so right now. Volume 3...overall, not too memorable either. Seems rather dated in an unappealing way. How so? Because I think v2 is far more dated. Giffen's pre-Omen art might have looked impressive thirty years ago, but now it looks underwhelming, and the drab coloring doesn't help either. People complain about the garishness of the coloring in v3, and while I do think it wasn't suited for certain comics, it did fit the LSH like a hand in glove. And I also think Greg LaRocque and Steve Lightle both trounced any version of Giffen soundly. As for Levitz's writing on v2 and v3, I find it pretty much the same throughout, except for the last year-and-a-half (Conspiracy through Magic Wars), where I think there's a steep decline in story quality.
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