In which Jim Shooter wraps up the storyline he set up in his first issue, over a year ago, in a very satisfying manner. Using a combination of smarts and powers, the Legion convincingly dispatches the threat of the Intruder Planet.It's scintillating stuff, but there's something missing. A small thing . . . where the heck is the resolution of the 'Projectra's an evil old bag' storyline? Last month she nearly killed Phantom Girl, mindwiped Saturn Girl and swore to destroy the Legion and United Planets. This issue?
Not one word. Yes, this is the final issue, and the main storyline had to be wrapped up, but there are moments that could be cut to allow a few pages to wrap up the Projectra business. It's hardly a small matter when one of their own goes rogue. Instead we had a happy ending that was lovely for the characters involved, but wrong emotionally for the reader.
Apparently Shooter wasn't happy with the way things turned out, as he's under a pseudonym this time, as Justin Thyme (ouch). Well, I assume it's him - feel free to correct me, anyone in the know. I doubt it's Steve Apollo (old-time Legion ref there, not worth explaining, really). It's a shame that a great run of scripts has ended on a downer.
On the art side of things, Ramon Bachs and John Livesay do a decent job, though one Legionnaire looks far too young in a scene in which he's meant to look young (he wrote awkwardly, trying not to spoil things). The run's regular artist, Francis Manapul, supplies the powerful double cover, aided and abetted by Livesay and colourist Jo Smith.
No matter how good the next version proves, Jim Shooter's intelligent scripts will ensure I'll miss this version of the Legion.
LONG LIVE THE LEGION!
Well, Mart, I'm glad you liked it. I didn't really find it all that satisfying. Possibly because Shooter had planned the story to play out 3 or 4 more issues and had to cut it short. But it felt too incomplete to me. Maybe that has a lot to do with what you pointed out...what happened after last issue with Projectra.
ReplyDeletePlus, I really did not care for the art at all. I really enjoyed the energy that Manapul brought to the book and it was sorely missing in this issue.
Have you seen the previews of Manapul's art for a Superman/Batman story? It looks splendiferous.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newsarama.com/comics/010926-Manapul.html
That's a shame the non completion of the Princess plot.
ReplyDeleteAnd would you ever expect Shooter to not show hubris?
Manapul is illustrating the Secrets and Omens story for Adventure Comics 0 with Geoff Johns; make of that what you will.
I can't believe you managed to say anything nice about this pile of sh**!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the worst comics I've ever read.
Shooter didnt write this issue. Or at least they didnt print what he submitted.
ReplyDeleteConsider the following, this is what was advertised;
It’s the final issue! The climactic conclusion of the Universal Annihilation War is here and every Legionnaire, every reservist and even the United Planets’ Young Heroes battle to save existence. Also featuring the return of Cosmic Boy, the death of a longtime Legionaire and a gorgeous wraparound cover!
Now how much of that did you see?
The planned climatic story with Pricess Projectra being the Big Bad gone. The return of Cosmic Boy? Gone. The death of a Legionnaire? Gone. The appearance of every Legionnaire, reservist and the Young Heroes? gone. Resolution to Universal Annhiliation War? Gone. And the story is also only 22 pages long.
Did they hate shooter that much that they sabotaged the final issue?
Heaven knows. I tend towards the idea that the words are Shooters but the script was eviscerated to fit the smaller-than-announced page limit, Rich Johnston thinks it's likely a jam job. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19802
ReplyDeleteWhatever the case, you're right to be annoyed.
I'm told there are some who will send their issues back to DC and demand a refund, since comic book stores won't do it. I'm sorely tempted, but knowing how little they think of their public, I imagine they'd simply keep the books and try to resell them. Bastards. 'Long Live the 52' my ass: "Reimburse me for 50" is more like it.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know how they get on. Certainly they have DC on the misleading advertising front.
ReplyDelete