Book Review: Justice League vs. the Legion of Super-Heroes

One thousand years in the future, a Legion of Super-Heroes comes together to dedicate their lives to recapturing the great age of heroes of the 21st century. When the heroes discover that reality is falling to a great darkness in both times simultaneously, the Justice League and the Legion of Super-Heroes must team up to stop it all.

Soon, the Justice League are trapped in the 31st century, and the looming terror of the Great Darkness hovers over both time periods simultaneously. Even as the great heroes of the 21st century get to experience the fantastic far-flung future, the mysteries behind the Gold Lantern and the Great Darkness threaten all of existence. What is the secret behind the Great Darkness? And will the greatest heroes of two ages be able to stop it before it's too late?

Two of DC’s top super-teams clash, as threads from legendary writer Brian Michael Bendis’ runs on Legion of Super-Heroes and Justice League collide in a story with both the present and the future at risk! Released December 2022, this collects Justice League vs. Legion of Super-Heroes #1-6.

Comic Books of the Week (8/24/11) part 2

This is the second half of books for the week, this my final big week of weekly comic book purchasing. Let's get to these final issues.

Justice Society of America #54 - it seems like this final arc was rushed to fit in the end by the time of the September relaunch. Of course, the JSA are no where in sight for that. So this issue is a swan-song. Getting Jerry Ordway to do the art was the right way to go though. The inks fit perfectly to his style too. I loved seeing everybody in action, though we never did find out how Mr. Terrific got smart again. Oh well. And the shocking death - sad, but it doesn't matter really since reality is getting the cosmic reboot next week. I will miss the JSA. Been a fan since they came back in the 70's in All-Star Comics with the debut of Power Girl and all. You will be missed, old friends.

Legion of Super-Heroes #16 - another arc that seemed to rush to get done in time. Still, it was a good issue. Levitz tied up all the plot threads conveniently, Hdr and Deering did a great job on the art, and everything is set to go forward next month. Like the JSA, I have been a long time LSH fan. Discovered them around the same time - mid-70's - when Mike Grell was setting the 30th Century afire with his amazing renditions of the teen heroes. I was an instant fan. This too is another book I will miss greatly.

Teen Titans #100 - Krul and Scott give us an all-out battle for this anniversary and final issue. The story actually concludes pretty satisfactorily and all the loose-ends are tied up as best could be done. It was a good way to go out. Sadly, I did not snag the variant Phil Jimenz cover - I have seen the image online and it was amazing. The rest of the pin-ups in back were nice as they represent various eras in cast and artists over the long Titans history. You have Liefeld, a fantastic original line up by Garcia-Lopez, the gals by Amy Reeder, boys having fun by Booth and Hunter, and the villaisn by Burnham. Those were a nice bonus.

John Byrne's Next Men #9/#39 - it worked out well that this issue came out this month. It actually ends the story of the group, for now, at least. As I stop getting new books, this was one I would regret not picking up but having the story tie-up nicely here I feel like I am leaving it with closure. Yes, issue 40 is teased for 2012 but I am okay with this. It finishes the story for me and makes my collection complete. I have been a Byrne fan since the days of X-Men in the early 80's and consider him one of my favorite artists.

Wow, a positive second half of the week. I guess I might be getting a bit sentimental as my last comic day approaches Wednesday. Who would have thought it?

Comic Books of the Week (7/20/11)

Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #2 (of 3) - man, this is one seriously violent book. Yes, I know, it is about desperate criminals trying to escape a prison but wow. And I guess when you know your "world" is ending in another month it doesn't matter how many deaths you rack up either. I was kind of disappointed with the fates of Atom and Animal Man to boot. Ah well. I will likely only get the final issue for completeness sake.

Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #2 (of 3) - more key story about the arrangement between Diana and Aquaman, and how everything went so horribly wrong. We get another hint that this war was not of their making - someone was pulling the strings but who? That mystery is enough to keep me coming back for the final month.

Justice League of America #59 - wow, seven of twenty pages spent on the musings of a mad-villain? Seriously? Clearly the passion of the story left James Robinson as the end of the road was coming up fast. His League's run ends next issue. This issue felt like a huge compromise - finish the arc asap so you can do a quieter final issue. I'm not that thrilled.

Legion of Super-Heroes #15 - the same can be said here. There is a lot in this issue, packed in, but it is done so at the sacrifice of some decent explanations. The Levitz Legion run of the past spent time developing and exploring character depths. I guess it all had to be rushed through so the arc could finish next month to clear the way for September. And DC wonders why a lot of fans were giving up on July and August issues after word of the September relaunch came out. It all seems kind of for naught.

Coming this weekend - my thoughts about "the New 52" based on the free sampler given out at the comic shops this week.

Comic Books of the Week (6/15/11)

Legion of Super-Heroes #14 - was it just me or did this issue seem a bit rushed? I liked the first few pages, especially the mystry of Professor Li, but the Immortus stuff seemed to go too fast (especially given it was spotlighted on the cover). I liked the LSV pages, but we kept jumping around - it all felt very disjointed.

Teen Titans #96 - on the flip side, this issue seemed very drawn out. Mostly it focused on Beast Boy and Solstice, while Rankor just seemed to stand around. What villain just stands around? I am bored with this plotline yet we still have another issue to go. This is definitely not keeping me interested for the final issues of this run. Bring on Superboy Prime, please.

Flashpoint: Grodd of War - I liked this one-shot. It painted a nice character study of what Grodd would be like if he actually accomplished his goals without opposition. In short, he longs for something more. Will he get it? We'll find out in another of the minis.

Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #1 (of 3) - when I found out Cyborg would be showing up later in this mini, I grabbed this one. Hmmm...a little different. I enjoy Heat Wave usually but this version is just a little too much for me. Oh, and those last pages with Cluemaster and... just ewwwww. Since it is only three issues, I may keep picking it up just to see where it leads.

Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #1 (of 3) - a key issue to why the Atlanteans and the Amazons are at war. This "flashback" explains what caused a union to go terribly wrong, putting the two forces at odds. The question is why? Hopefully we'll learn more.

Comic Books of the Week (6/1/11) part 1

With Flashpoint kicking in this week for the summer, I'm going to break my weekly reviews between those in the regular line and those in that alternate reality. On to the regular stuff:

Adventure Comics #527 - this issue spotlights Comet Queen with her telling her origin story. Paul Levitz does a brilliant job on this issue, adding layers to a classic character. I love that she's got a thing for Bouncing Boy, I love her "irrational" thought process, I love that she has a heart, and I love how it is explained why she's back at the Legion Academy. The art by Geraldo Borges and Marlo Alquiza is solid too. A great companion to the regular Legion book. I will miss this one when the series ends its run.

Secret Six #34 - another fantastic issue from Gail Simone and J. Calafiore. I love how the team handles the scumbag who kidnapped Scandal's new love. I love how Bane's date played out. This creative team shows how far these dark characters will go to protect the ones they care about. I really like to see when "villainous" characters are shown to have so many facets to them. Well done indeed. I really hope this book and this creative team survives intact come September's relaunch of books. It is perfect the way it is and does not need any retooling.

Comic Books of the Week (5/18/11)

Booster Gold #44 - Booster is the only mainline book that is crossing over with Flashpoint, which makes sense since he is a time traveller. This issue begins that arc. We get a little taste of the Flashpoint world, including the changes to Coast City and the government's secret weapon (no spoiler here!). Good stuff. It also marks the return of Dan Jurgens to the writing and pencilling on the book. I am very pleased for that!

Justice League of America #57 - "the Rise of Eclipso" storyline continues. There are nice references to what's going on in JSA as well as the Brightest Day event, but once again the issue's main focus is with Eclipso. The JLA seems to be guest stars in their own title. Hopefully Robinson can resolve that quickly. More kudos to Booth and Rapmund - their art on this issue is fantastic.

Legion of Super-Heroes #13 - the Legion of Super-Villains arc continues nicely. Paul Levitz is the master at juggling huge casts and allowing each character shown to have their moments. My only complaint is the issues go by so quickly. This is a book that could use extra pages each month. DC needs to dump those previews and fold those pages back into the main book for story.

Teen Titans #95 - continuing to enjoy Krul's arc here. It has a nice epic feel with a slow build and lots of character moments. That last page was surprising. "Behold, Rankor restored!" indeed. Not sure how this one is going to end but it will be a big fight.

Comic Books of the Week (4/20/11) part 2

Round two for the week - this time all super-team titles...

Justice League of America #56 - I liked seeing St. Walker and the reserve Leaguers brought in on the fight with Eclipso. Unfortunately I think the team is seriously out-numbered and out-gunned in this battle. And that ending does not look too promising for them. I'm very curious how Robinson is going to spin this one around. The artwork by Booth and Ramund was very good though. I hope they stick round.

Teen Titans #94 - the teens follow the trail of the kidnapped Wonder Girl, but it doesn't go so smoothly. This issue sort of seemed like it was stuck in a slow gear. I know there was some character development going on but I don't feel the story progressed far enough. I'm hoping for better movement in the next issue.

Legion of Super-Heroes #12 - lots of jumping around in this issue, which I understand is necessary for such a large cast. But, the negative is we only get a page or two in each area before the next jump. This issue felt kind of short too. I like having the letter columns back but I think those six pages of previews need to be cut out and given back to the titles for story. Just saying.

Comic Books of the Week (3/23/11)

Green Lantern #64 - the "War of the Green Lanterns" arc kicks in with this issue and I have to say I'm impressed with this opening chapter. Everything about it worked for me. Is that enough to get me to follow the story into the other two GL titles? Probably not. Still, this should prove to be epic which is what I've come to expect from Geoff Johns on this title.

Justice League of America #55 - the "Reign of Doomsday" arc crosses into this book for an issue, taking away time from the Eclipso arc. Booo! I could have done without the Doomsday stuff. I have no plans to follow the story in the other titles I don't get. It was a distraction for me. Still the art by Booth and Rapmund was very nice. Also glad to see what has been happening over in JSA is being acknowledged here.

Justice League: Generation Lost #22 (of 24) - and the crossing over continues. Now we get stuff from Wonder Woman's title. Yawn. Two more issues and this mini will be over. I for one am glad. While it has its moments, I found that for the most part it has been pretty uneven. And I was always a fan of the JLI. Oh well. Lesson learned.

Legion of Super-Heroes #11 - this book is on fire (and I'm not talking about Sun Emperor here)! Levitz and his art team are reminding me why I loved the Legion so much in the 70's and 80's. This book is back to its former glory and fans should be checking it out if they are not. Turst me, you won't be disappointed. This issues focus on Timber Wolf was nice.

Comic Books of the Week (3/9/2011)

Batman: the Brave and the Bold #5 - the Caped Crusader teams up with the abrasive Green Lantern Guy Gardner to battle an army of Manhunters. The story also features another surprise guest-star. It was an okay issue with a good plot and decent art.

Birds of Prey #10 - "the Death of Oracle" story line concludes. The plot was interesting enough with some decent character moments, particularly for the Huntress and the Calculator. Gail Simone's writing is solid as always. I wasn't as thrilled with the art though. I understand a new regular artist is coming on board soon, so I hope that helps elevate the series for me. So glad to see the letter column back in this book.

Booster Gold #42 - yawn. Wake me up when Dan Jurgens gets back to this book. I have little interest in this final arc by Giffen and DeMatteis. Best part for me was the return of the letter column in this book as well.

Justice League Generation Lost #21 (of 24) - the ramifications of the end of last issue are felt this time, showing us how the various cast members deal with grief. The ending wasn't a surprise for me at all - I knew things would be rectified soon enough. Now let's get to taking out Max Lord, please.

JSA All-Stars #16 - the end of the Puzzlemen arc. It all felt a little too "convenient" how everything came together for a quick defeat after such a big build-up. I was a little disappointed. Since this is a "dead book walking" with only two more issue left until cancellation, I'm not expecting a lot before the final curtain. I do hope some of these characters fold back into the main JSA title though.

Legion of Super-Villains one-shot - the greatest villains of the 31st Century get the spotlight in this one. I always enjoy getting into the motivations of the super-villains; it gives them depth and makes you appreciate their roles more. The writing and art are outstanding, what I come to expect from a Legion title. This is a must-read for anyone who is following the current Legion series as this is just the beginning of what looks to be an incredible story arc (the places the LSV go to gain power will show you this is truly a huge DCU event for their time period).

Wonder Girl one-shot - this was actually from January. I didn't pick it up then but read recently how the issue introduced Solstice, a new heroine that would be joining the Teen Titans. For that reason, I went back and grabbed this one. I found it to be an okay intro - a shame Wonder Girl had to share her spotlight with a new character though. And the threat seemed to just be an opening volley to something bigger. I guess we'll learn more about all this in Teen Titans soon enough.

Comic Books of the Week (2/23/11)

Green Arrow #9 - the mystery of the forest continues with an all-out battle with the Demon. Why the Phantom Stranger dropped for four panels and left I don't know. The rest of the issue was okay, even though it was all just a battle. Reminds me of when we used to play Champions (a majority of the game session was taken up by combat that in real life would have lasted about a minute or two tops).

Justice League: Generation Lost #20 (of 24) - Winick gives us another bit of past tweaking by shuffling up and filling in some holes on Max Lord's history. Not much else happened after the end of last issue - when Blue Beetle II was shot by Lord, just like his predecessor. Did history repeat itself? We'll have to see. I am looking forward to this mini ending as it has been a little uneven.

Justice Society of America #48 - my dislike of this storyline and Guggenheim's writing grows. I think issue 50 might be my jumping off point. I love the team but I hate what he is doing to them. This title deserves to be great. It is far from it.

Legion of Super-Heroes #10 - while the elected team leader is away, the deputy leader is in charge. And boy does Brainiac 5 get things done. Clearly he knows how to efficiently dispatch the team and get things under control. Will they stay that way? Nice to see Yera again. I had almost forgotten about her. This book is really a gem and I am glad it is back in great style.

Teen Titans #92 - since I didn't pick up the crossover issue with Red Robin I was a little out of sorts. Krul caught me up well enough. Good to see Tim Drake back with the gang but I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Having Damian on the team was a wildcard, one I didn't know well. With him out and Tim in (? not clear on that.) is this book more of the same old/same old? I hope it doesn't get that way. At least Krul is tying up some loose ends from former runs (dealing with the death of Marvin and the missing Kid Eternity). Points for that.

Showcase Presents: Justice League of America volume 5 - classic b/w reprints of the team from 1970 to 1973. This was the era I discovered the JLA. The first issue reprinted (#84) was the first one I ever remember owning as a kid. The run goes sequentially all the way through issues 105 and 106, when Elongated Man and Red Tornado join the League respectively. Dick Dillin's art evolves nicely over these issues - you can see the progression of his style. He was the League artist for me as a kid. Hopefully they can put out one more volume in this line (taking us to the late 70's).

Comic Books of the Week (2/2/11)

Brightest Day #19 (of 24) - First, Deadman questions the white ring after what happened at the shocking end of last issue, and he doesn't like the answer. Then the Aquawar is here! The rest of the issue is devoted to Aquaman and Aqualad as they face Siren's army and Black Manta. And this issue ends with a shocker as well! The third act is looking good so far as we race to the conclusion. Bravo to Johns, Tomasi, Reis and Prado on a well done book.

JSA All-Stars #15 - part two of this arc introduces the menace of the Puzzlemen, a weird and wacky ancient threat. I think Matthew Sturges and Freddie Williams II are hitting their stride now with this book. I hope they continue, especially with the character growing subplots.

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1 - While I have been loving all things LSH since the book's relaunch last year, including the use of Adventure Comics as a second outlet for the group, I just didn't feel this annual. While Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen made a great team on this group back in the day, today it didn't work. Paul's story was all right, and Keith's layouts were fine but where it broke down was Keith's finishing on the art. It seemed to "blocky" and "unattractive", something that happens a lot when he does full art on books. It sort of ruined the epicness of the story of this latest Emerald Empress for me. I did like the presentation of the LSH history via a board game (cute idea) and the Interlac A To Z feature.

Secret Six #30 - a nice part 1 of a two-part crossover with the Doom Patrol. Unlike last month's crossover with Action Comics, this one really worked for me. Gail had the team back to their usual form, and the introduction of Eric and his "rat-pack of crime" mentality was fun. This is Gail at her best. Calafiore's art was great too. I'll definitely be seeking out part two in Doom Patrol later in the month.

Time Masters: Vanishing Point #6 (of 6) - Dan Jurgnes ends this mini series on a strong note. The whole "search for Batman" thing was sort of secondary as an excuse for Dan to get Rip Hunter, Booster and some guests in for a good time travel adventure. I love how this mini brought in 70's characters like Claw the Unconquered and Starfire (a sci-fi heroine) into the mix along with menaces like Professor Zoom and the Black Beetle. And, of course, the best part is that the fun doesn't stop here. It continues in Booster Gold #44 and Flashpoint #1. The icing on the cake would be if Jurgens would return to story and art on Booster's title. He really does these characters proud.

Comics of the Week (1/19/11)

Brightest Day #18 - first, a nice cover of Hawkman and Hawkgirl by David Finch. Inside, while the story touches briefly on a few of the cast, it mostly centers on the Hawks on Zamaron. And while they do win the battle, did they lose so much more? That last page is a shocker and makes we want to read more! Nicely done.

Justice League of America #53 - final part of the "Omega" storyline, which I am glad to see finish. While I've loved Mark Bagley's art on this run (this is his last issue), the story seems to have dragged too much for me. I hope I like the next artist who comes on board.

Legion of Super-Heroes #9 - another solid team cover and continued focus on the Durlan plotline. Unlike Adventure Comics last week, here we get a bigger focus on more team members. This is classic Paul Levitz writing - many subplots advanced along with the main plotline too. Brings me back to his writing run on the team back in the 80's - a run I enjoyed a lot.

John Byrne's Next Men #2 - after fifteen years hiatus, this title came back last month and I'm so happy he found a new home for the book at IDW! Byrne is one of those creators in my top-five, one who I'll give a chance on whatever he is working on. Here we have his original creations with this issue focusing on three of the cast lost in time. He handles the period settings quite well.

Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago... volume 3 - Dark Horse has been reprinting the classic Marvel Comics issues of Star Wars, with a volume coming out every three or so months. This one covers issues 50 to 67, plus annual #2. You get a lot of color comics for the price - less that what it might cost if you had to hunt down the back issues. The book is slightly smaller than the original comic size but so far everything still looks good at the slightly reduced size. This has been a fun return to those "in-between film" adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie and the droids. Good stuff.

Comics of the Week (12/22/10)

DCU Legacies #8 (of 10) - this "recap" of the DC history through the eyes of a retired Metropolis police officer continues with the days following the death of and the return of Superman, plus the fall of Hal Jordan. I loved the artwork by Dan Jurgens who did much art originally relating to these events from years back. The backup story with the New Gods was sort of odd - funny time in the series to touch on them since this stuff originally appeared in Jack Kirby's run back in the 70's. Overall, this mini has been pretty good artwise even if the story has taken some liberties with the continuity of events.

Green Lantern Special: Larfreeze's Christmas - this one-shot features that greedy orange energy wielder Larfreeze and his quest for the utilimate holiday provider - Santa Claus. This was a fun issue, something that we used to have when I was a kid growing up - something that comes out just in time for the holidays to give you that warm, fuzzy feeling. It was like a Rankin-Bass Christmas special. Enjoyed it a lot.

Justice League: Generation Lost #16 (of 24) - this biweekly mini continues to move along, a little bit at a plodding pace. Unlike its brother mini Brightest Day, this one seems to be stuck in neutral. I guess though since I've invested as much time and money in it so far that I should see it through to the end.

Justice League of America #52 - this storyline also seems to be dragging. A battle with the Crime Syndicate and Omega Man should be a big thing, but I find it taking a long time to get to a satisfying conclusion. Maybe next issue? I do love Bagley's art though. Very clean and solid.

Legion of Super-Heroes #8 - LOVE THIS BOOK! Levitz continues to capture that classic feel of his run on the book in the 80's, and the artwork is perfect. This issue features the election results and it should prove interesting after the developments of the previous issue. If you loved old-school LSH, this is a must-buy book.

Comics of the Week (5/19/10)

Batman: the Brave and the Bold #17 - a week in the life of Batman as he has many team-ups (running two to three pages each). This issue is sort of filled with the typical opening teasers of the book. Kind of fun to see lots of different heroes and villains in this animated style.

Brightest Day #2 (of 26) - first, great cover. Inside, we get a lot more in the stories of Firestorm and of Hawkman and Hawkwoman. And that works. Since this book is biweekly, rotating who gets the heavier focus each issue is fine by me as long as all the stories continue to move. That last double page spread - OH BOY! I don't wish to be in Boston Brand's shoes right now. ;)

DC Universe: Legacies #1 (of 10) - Len Wein is back with a ten-part mini looking at the various heroic ages of the DCU from the pre-WWII days to today. The art teams will rotate - this time we get the work of Andy and Joe Kubert. Good to see the classic creators involved. The backup this issue focuses on some of the mystic heroes of the golden age. This should be a neat read and definitely good for folks new to the DC history.

Justice League of America #45 - the prelude to a summer JLA/JSA team-up continues here as Jade returns to Earth, something is going on with GL Alan Scott and Supergirl slugs it out with Power Girl. I'm enjoying Robinson and Bagley's take on the line up. It is not a great comic but it is enjoyable.

Legion of Super-Heroes #1 - Paul Levitz is back scripting a title he helped make great in the 70's and 80's. This was an outstanding relaunch - building up elements and plots introduced by Geoff Johns in the Legion of 3 Worlds and his arc in Action Comics. The story has a lot of things for old fans to enjoy but it is pretty assessible for newer readers too. Highly recommended.