The Legion #31 - Giffen makes another fine mess!

Released March 31, 2004
DC Comics, Color
22 Pages

Housekeeping

Dan Abnett Andy Lanning Keith Giffen - Storytellers
Al Milgram - Inks
Sno Cone - Colors
Rob Leigh - Letters
Stephen Wacker - Apologizes for everything

Synopsis

The day after the Darkseid crisis, Chuck Taine and Gear are snooping around a lab, breaking into a case labeled Experiment N 13.  While finding the experiment, they also come across some pictures of a blonde woman, which Chuck takes for "insurance."  Legion World is apparently in bad shape, and they are grousing about having to clean up after the Legionnaires. They are on the hunt for something in Legion World, but hiding their real purpose being out in public with hazmat suits on which are just holoprojections that disappear as soon as they are out of view of others.  Ten minutes later, an older Cub noses in on their business and wants to help.  Chuck takes a shower in the Medlab, where Gym'll notes that the lab is impeccably clean. Gear is looking for something, but won't say what.  Chuck & Gear run out of the lab.

Continuing with their search on the Command Deck, they note that the surfaces there are extremely clean also.  Triad talks to Chuck, who gets nervous making Lyle wonder if he'd been drinking.  Continuing their search, presumably for something they released, Chuck decides that they need a patsy - Superboy. They go to his extremely messy quarters and enlist his help, claiming that a xeno-parasite is on the loose on the station and it came from his room.  

First stop is the Clubhouse.  Gear suggests using Superboy's bad hygiene to lure out their prey, causing Superboy to yell and get them kicked out.  On Sublevel 17, they find an entire habitat has been completely emptied.  Superboy is suspicious and Gear lets loose the truth - they borrowed an experiment of Brainy's - nanite cleaners - to help with station cleanup, but it escaped. Soon the nanites form into a pale creature which attack Gear before vanishing, leaving him sparkling clean. 

The trio moves on with Gear being magnetically pulled around.  Superboy scans and finds that Rokk is, er, "using his powers" on Jazmin, which is what is affecting Gear.  The nanites attack Superboy, release him, then fade away.  Gear speculates that Superboy's 21st century germs were too much for the nanites. 

Hours later, Brainiac 5 returns to his lab and notices his nanites are missing as well as a note.  If Brainy doesn't say anything about the nanites, Chuck & Gear won't say anything about the "Private Holo" collection of his fellow Legionnaires.

Commentary

Well, that was completely different.  It took me quite a bit of time to sort out how I felt about this story.  I like "day in the life" stories, especially in the Legion, so I generally enjoyed it, but I'm generally not a fan of the later Giffen artwork, although I DO tend to like the nine-panel layout that most of the story used.  The story was entertaining enough, I did find it more interesting to read than the Cub issue in the lead up to Robotica, but I did find it a little weird that they made Brainy out to be a bit of a pervert. Very much enjoyed the focus on Chuck and Gear, two characters that we haven't heard much from.  This story was SO left-field that I wondered if Lanning and Abnett were just along for the ride and this was mainly Giffen's issue all up, especially given Chuck & Gear's dialogue.  It didn't SOUND like them as we've heard them prior.  I think I overall enjoyed the change of pace of this mostly harmless filler issue.  

Legion World sure seemed to take a beating from Darkseid, didn't it?  I mean it looks like there is a bite taken out of it. Very odd given the temporal nature of the experience.  Still, you need a plot, and station cleanup is as good as any, I guess.  

I did find it odd with the use of nanotechnology, Vi wasn't anywhere to be found or mentioned in the story.

The Cub scene is just painful to read. He's sure learned a bunch in five or six weeks...

Okay the clubhouse.  We see Tinya and Brin talking and drinking - presumably with Tasmia and I guess an oddly dressed Jarth???  That whole panel is just weird.  STILL no resolution on Jo & Tinya while she's there happily carousing with Brin and a glum Garth. Mother of the year right there letting Cub roam around the station like that unsupervised.

The question mark shield on Connor's shirt was an interesting choice.

I was confused somewhat by certain aspects of the Cos/Jaz "sex" scene - Either Cos and Jaz are into some weird shit or reproduction on Braal is potentially lethal! I'm not judging either way.   Also, why is Connor happy he has dirt on Cos?  Doesn't everyone know they are together at this point?

Good to see that Laurel Gand's existence was acknowledged, even in an odd way (I am assuming the blonde woman in the photo is Laurel).

Grade- B-