The Legion of Super Heroes v5 #6 - Meet the Legion!

Released May 25, 2005
DC Comics, Color
31 Pages

Cover Title - Meet the Legion of Super Heroes

Mark Waid & Barry Kitson - Storytellers
Art Thibert - Inker
Chris Blythe - Colors
Stephen Wacker - Editor

Synopsis

Cos and Star Boy discuss Legion finances and we meet the bankroller of the Legion - Princess Projectra herself, a powerless snob who spends most of her time in her tower arguing with her parents via crystal ball. Her father the king is concerned about dark forces on Orando.

Brainy and Dream Girl investigate Terra Firma but are stymied by the identity of the leader.  In the icy tundra of Sydney, Australia, Shady, Karate Kid and Ultra Boy work to fix whatever Jo's mental block is that is making his powers go crazy. Val and Jo spar while Shady uses her power of super snark. 

Projectra and Cos start to spar over her being used for her money when the king calls back.  Orando is under attack and is being devastated. The team tries to get enough energy together to transmatter, but the king is murdered by Elysion. The Legion is forced to stand down.

SYNOPSIS II - "Who?"

Mark Waid - Writer
Scott Iwahashi - Artist
Dave McCaig - Colors
Stephen Wacker - Editor

Brainiac 5 is in his lab obsessing over the mystery leader of Terra Firma, when the man physically appears in the lab.  We meet Praetor Lemnos and hear his story; a mutant with the power to make people forget and we see his backstory of how he rose to power. He monologues about his mission - he wants to threaten civilization with Terra Firma so that he can be the one to save it. He leaves and Brainy resumes his investigations, forgetting Lemnos was even there. 

Commentary

This was an interesting issue in that it gave us a lot more backstory as well as finishing up the setup of the first arc.  The first six issues are the first volume of the threeboot omnis, and it makes sense to stop here as we've learned a lot about this Legion and how it works. I was intrigued that Projectra from Orando was the Legion's financial backer versus the traditional R.J. Brande path. While I was intrigued from the perspective of the story, although I don't think it ultimately works for me. That said, the main plot of Orando being in jeopardy worked really well, as we know the pure destructiveness of Terra Firma, but we are hearing it all second hand.  The Legion's inability to get there in time also drives up the tension culminating in Projectra's father's murder, further casting Elysion into a cold villain.  

I'm not sure where the Ultra Boy B-story is going, but it is further making me feel sorry for any UBoy fans. This guy's an idiot. Granted we get a good joke at his expense, but as much as I complained about reboot co-dependent Jo, I'd have him any day of the week instead of this moron.  Another interstitial scene where Cham quizzes Lyle on classic comic characters doesn't add to the story other than the discussion of Cos' strictness.

The backup story telling Lemnos's tale does its job serviceably, although I still don't see evidence of how the universe is stable to the point of stagnation. Lemnos wants to shake up the system, but by means of a fire cleanse versus the Legion's means.

Art is pretty solid throughout. The Kitson main work is solid as ever, and the visual storytelling of the rush to save Orando even as its coming apart works really well, as does the devastation of the team after, particularly Projectra. Iwahashi's work is fine, but very different from Kitson's and the color choices were a bit more washed out for my tastes, so I didn't like the entirety of the package there.

So let's get to the best part of this issue - the illustrated Letter Column!  This was such a cool idea; I believe it's Kitson doing the art here, but its a great way to break the fourth wall with these overly serious teens.  Cham and Cos read and respond to letters over a three page spread. The interesting thing about this particular one is that Cos answers a question about the tenets of the Legion. Cos' sales pitch really doesn't do anything for me, but also the fact that the question has to be asked and answered in the sixth issue via a lettercol is kind of telling. Again, the setting of rebellion, teenage or otherwise didn't age well. I've had my fill of rebellion the last couple years, thanks.

Some other bits:

I'm curious where they take Projectra as Cos is very explicit about her not having powers. She's like Batman from Justice League. 

The bit about Sydney being frozen was interesting, but I would think that the 31st century technology would still allow folks to live there with weather control. 

As I mentioned above, Projectra being the financial sponsor of the Legion is an interesting idea that doesn't really translate well for me in the setting.  With Brande as patron, we had the reason for the Legion coming together as well as a reason to have money.  Now we have neither.  Just an odd choice. 

Also, I have to say, we have a new Legionnaire here who is, like most of the others, not comporting herself as likeable. 

The Brainy/Dreamy dynamic is really good, and a highlight of the book for me so far. 

It occurred to me that Lemnos is kind of a spin on The Mule from the Foundation series.

Grade: A-