Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy New Year 2015!

Whether you go dancing tonight....

 ...or go bar-hopping...

 ...or just hang out with friends and family.....

Party like it's 2999....! (No, wait, that's not right...!) 

All joking aside.....just be careful out there. 
If you're drinking, have a designated driver for your space cruiser. 
Or call a Space Cabby to take you home. 
We want you around in 2015!

And here's hoping you have somebody to kiss at midnight! 



 
Happy New Year from the Legion of Super-Bloggers! 

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Happy Birthday, Brainiac 5!

According to the 1976 DC Calendar, today will be the birthday of Querl Dox, better known throughout the galaxy as Brainiac 5.
Brainiac 5 was the tenth member to join the Legion of Super-Heroes, and served as Leader during Year Five.
Brainiac 5 is a Capricorn. He can put all his time and effort into a thankless task, but he can trust that adventure, pleasure, relaxation....all that he feels that he is being denied now...will soon be forthcoming.
As an extra bonus, here is an awesome Brainiac 5 cover by the fantastic Steve Lightle!

DC Comics Presents #80

DC Comics Presents #80 (April 1985)
a review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage
title: "A World Full of Supermen!"
writer: Paul Kupperberg
penciller: Curt Swan
inker: Dave Hunt
letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Gene D'Angelo
editor: Julius Schwartz
cover: Eduardo Barreto (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superman, Chameleon Boy, Element Lad, Phantom Girl, Shrinking Violet, Ultra Boy

Opponents: 
Brainiac
  

Monday, December 29, 2014

TOS: Action Comics #267 Group Review

featuring
The Legion of Super Bloggers Round-Table Discussion on
Action Comics #267 (Dec, 1960)

title: "The Three Super-Heroes"
writer: Jerry Siegel
artist: Jim Mooney
letterer: Joe Letterese
editor: Mort Weisinger

Mission Monitor Board:  
Supergirl (invited to join), Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy, Invisible Kid

Guests:
Superman

Opponents:
The Legionnaires themselves

Synopsis:

The Legion comes to the 20th Century to meet Supergirl and invites her to apply to join their ranks in the 30th.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Art Institute of Zwen: Fred Hembeck's Colossal Boy

The Legion makes two appearances in Abbott & Costello Meet The Bride of Hembeck by Fred Hembeck. One was just a sight-gag comparing the Legion to a buffalo stampede as "Fred" is trampled by "every cartoonist's worst nightmare: every member of the Legion of Super-Heroes....even Tyroc...!" 
The other reference is more important to the DC Super Star Holiday Special we reviewed last week. In this realm where ALL comic-book characters interact with each other, Colossal Boy tells Invisible Girl/Woman how he feels about being "outed" as Jewish....





Saturday, December 27, 2014

LEGION TOYS: Brainiac 5 (Mattel 12-Pack)

Mattel 12-Pack Brainiac 5
by David Weter

When opening the set for the first time, I was filled with excitement. The figures were all top notch, with great choices for costumes, and fun details.

Then, I came to Brainiac 5 and.... I shrugged.

Brainiac 5, who uses his massive brainpower to atone for his ancestor, the Superman villain, Brainiac.

A key figure in Legion history, and one of the most gifted and inspired characters in the early roster. And, yet, I shrugged.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Hot: Princess Projectra Dreaming by Mike Nasser


Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #233 was a treasure trove of hotness and that included this back-up story title 'The Final Illusion' with art by Mike Nasser (also known as Mike Netzer). And the Legionnaire who is the hottest in this tale is Princess Projectra.

In this Untold Tale of the Legion, Projectra is dealing with the fact that Karate Kid has decided to stay in the 20th Century (remember his solo series!). Emotionally distraught, Jeckie enters into a deep fugue state, stuck in an endless dream.

Even asleep, Nasser portrays Projectra in a sensual pose, a look of ecstasy on her face.


In that dream-state, Jeckie is reliving some of her happiest moments with Val, dates at the amusement park, dancing, and generally being young and in love.

I love this panel with Projectra just thrilled to be hugged by Val.


But Jeckie's friends now she can't stay that way. Cham, Saturn Girl, and Dream Girl have to figure out how to wake the Princess.

Nasser sure knows how to draw beautiful women because Dreamy looks ... well ... dreamy here.

And so the Legionnaires realize that they need to show Jeckie that dreams are empty. She must return to reality. So Saturn Girl gently leads the dream to one of a kiss. But that kiss isn't real. And that reality shocks Jeckie awake.

But this is a 'hot' post, not a review. Look at how these two melt into each others' arms. And Jeckie sure seems ... aroused.

Projectra doesn't make my short list of the most attractive Legionnaires. But this story showcased how someone might call her the hottest.


For completeness sake, and because of my penchant for Kara, I thought I would share some Nasser Supergirl hotness as well, this from Adventure Comics #450, a Martian Manhunter story. Supergirl is beautiful in that whole story. Go here to see more.

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #15

Reviewer: Anj
Super-power: He who damns with faint praise

It has been 4 months since I started to review the 5YL Legion book on this site. For me it has been a bit of a revelation. You see, I loved the book when it came out. But now, rereading the first year of issues again ... this time wearing the hats of both fan and reviewer ... I think I achieved a new level of appreciation. Because I suddenly was reading this book from a new vantage point. It wasn't just a Legion book, it was an experimental Legion book. It was daring, creative, and risky. It shook up a mythology that had become stale, making it seem like something dark and grim to fit into the climate of the day but in reality keeping its core intact. And, looking back at it from the safety of decades of time, I can better appreciate everything that the creative team of Keith Giffen, Tom and Mary Bierbaum, and Al Gordon were trying to do.

But how could it maintain that innovative nature?

Legion of Super-Heroes #15 is a fine issue. It starts a great arc that (re)introduces a bitter Legion villain. It begins a brutal series of issues showing that the reformed Legion, while a bright inspiration, isn't quite bright enough to burn away the darkness. There is still war. There are still conquerors.

But this was the first time in rereading these issues that I felt the title was JACB ... just another comic book. The creative team remains the same on the cover but Giffen only does a couple of pages of art. The war pages are done by newcomer (at the time) Brandon Peterson. Gone are the 9 panel pages. It is, as if, the book was greater than the sum of its parts. Change something, like the art or page layouts, and the book seems smaller ... duller.

Is it still a great story? Yes. Do I love this run? Yes. But boy, looking back at issues 1-12 took my breath away. This didn't invoke that response.

The opening pages show the team getting used to being in their new headquarters on the Talus planetoid. There isn't enough power. It is a scrapyard of buildings, ships, and technology. This isn't the shiny beacon of hope that has housed the Legion in the past. And the constant short circuits and power fluctuations are maddening. Still, it feels fitting for this new dingy universe.

The opening sequence of Brainy reviewing the health of the newly emerald-infused Celeste and investigating the whereabouts of Ultra Boy is done by Giffen.

I really love this page as Brainy continually says Laurel or Rond in the place of someone else. He clearly still cares for Laurel and she (and her relationship with Rond) is worming her way into his mind. This small little dialogue is great showing that Querl has emotions and can still be derailed.


But the main plot is about the Khunds. They are aggressively attacking and conquering worlds in the United Planets. And they are using a new weapon ... the Red Terror ... to basically roll over the forces of these outer worlds.

The Red Terror is a gas which incapacitates anyone who breathes it in. Imagine Scarecrow fear toxin on steroids. The opposing armies fall to their knees in terror and the Khunds simply walk in. And to show this, we see the Khundian forces take over Orando (now back in 'regular space') in moments. Jeckie, no longer Sensor Girl, but acting as Queen, is trembling on the throne.
This is one of the missteps for me with 5YL. Sensor Girl was a way more interesting character than Princess (now Queen) Projectra. We never learn why or when in the 5 year gap she shed that identity.

Now even without the Red Terror, I think the Orandian army and their 'muskets' would not have been a threat. Talk about bringing a knife to a gunfight. At least the Khunds are led by an honorable man, General Kiritan.

The UP has heard that the Khundian army has been whipped into a religious frenzy because their goddess, the Demon Mother, has manifested. With worlds rolling over before the Khundian armada, the UP asks the new Legion to lend their presence to the defense. It seemed just a little early. I mean, they just got back together a few issues ago. And that was just in the context of beating Roxxas. Are they already a recognized entity? Are they powerful enough to be a vanguard for the UP? I almost wish there was one more 'adventure' solidifying they were back before sending them to the front.

I did like this scene. Cos pulls the team together and asks them if they should help fight the Khunds. He wants a vote. But this Legion knows it's right. Laurel Gand says it outright in that middle panel. Wonderful.
Not everyone is heading to the front.

Cham is using his mercantile powers to work with someone named Orlak. Orlak is a Khundian double agent, selling information and technology. These weapons are alien to the Khunds, gifts of the Demon Mother.

Can you trust a Khundian informant?

Giffen and the Bierbaums do a good job of conveying just how insane and chaotic this war is. The setting changes every other page or so, showcasing just how stretched thin the UP is.

Cham is gathering intel.

Vi and Ayla, meanwhile, are boots on the ground on Venegar trying to hold back the Khundian invasion. And we learn very quickly that this is serious business. Vi's right leg is blasted by a Khundian weapon. It will eventually be amputated. And the Red Terror gas is cause for immediate retreat. Venegar falls.

This is all too easy for the Khunds.

And things are getting worse. Even though they are walking over their opponents, the Khunds are working all the paths the victory. On Talok VIII, they are luring the Hill people to join the Khunds and overthrow the City people. Why not let the people of a United Planet world tear themselves apart instead of losing Khundian troops.

 It is fascinating to see the variety of cultures on all these worlds. Orando was more feudal in nature. Talok VIII is almost nomadic.

Again, the honor of General Kiritan precedes him. He will keep his word and let the Hill People run the world for the Khundian Empire.

And once more it is knowledge of Talok VIII and the politics of that world that show that the history of the Legion is not only known but utilized. The Hill tribes!!


The weapons of the Khund and their apparent military might is making this whole thing look grave. But finally it looks like the UP has something it can use to even up the odds. The Khunds are over-extended. They need pluridium for their starships and they need a supply near the front. That means the next world to fall will either be Talok VIII or Xolnar. And the UP will be ready.
Given the prior scene, it seems that Talok VIII is the obvious target.

It turns out that the leader of Talok VIII, the new Shadow Champion, is Grev Mallor, Shadow Lass's cousin. And his wife is Lady Memory, the former high priestess of the Hill tribes and enemy of the Legion.

There doesn't seem to be too much love here. This seems to be a marriage of convenience of politics. She basically laughs at him and his worries as she lounges in their bed.

And then ... out of the blue ... they show up!

Mon-El and Shadow Lass! Or should I say Valor??

It had seemed that Giffen and the crew were uninterested in using these characters after the universal rewrite and re-rewrite. Remember, in a text piece, these two went into deep space to explore.

To be honest, I wish they stayed away. The Valor story is even more convoluted now. And we have Laurel Gand now!

Well, it turns out that the Talok VIII business is something of a feint.

The Khunds invade Xolnar, an arctic planet and current site of the United Planets Military Academy. This academy is basically the new Legion Academy. Chuck Taine and Luorno Durgo run it. And old friends Power Boy and Nightwind are their drill sergeants.

This isn't the academy though. This is a very real threat. Alas, poor Nightwind, we barely knew ye.

How the heck is the UP going to survive?

And what about Earth in all this?
The Dominators' rule has been exposed. They have been running things from the shadows. But now, with the curtain lifted, they may as well run things the way they want. No more niceties.

So the Legion is finally reformed. But they have little chance to pause and let out a sigh. We are suddenly in the middle of an intergalactic crisis. And all this while the Dominators close their fist around Earth even tighter.


The text piece in the issue is the announcement of the wedding between Lady Memory and Shadow Kid. These pieces deepen the lore of the Legion by adding context beyond the panels.

Time to damn with faint praise.

This is a really good issue. Giffen and the team again shows that they know Legion history inside and out, weaving in old enemies and minor characters to build this Five Years Later universe. With the team finally together, why not make a big splash and have them save ... well ... everyone. And judging by the letter columns, fans were champing at the bit for something just like this.

But this is the first issue, taking place in 'the present' that didn't have Giffen on art, that didn't have the 9 panel format. This was the first issue where we weren't learning what happened in the 5 year gap, that we weren't watching the team come together. Instead, we have a mission, a standard story. Squint away the 5 year differences and this could have been an issue in the prior Baxter series. It felt ... safe.

Prior to this, there was energy and vibrance and ... and newness in this series. Back matter and 9 panel grids. Text pages of Rokk beating Mordru with conversation. Universal rewrites and humor issues. It was just an explosion of creativity.

I love this series. And I even love this arc.

But I don't know if this series ever recaptures the zeal and creativity of that first year.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas 2014!!

Merry Christmas from the Legion of Super-Bloggers!!  

This is wrapping paper that I purchased waaay back in 1980. I would buy anything that had Aquaman on it, so it was a definite purchase when I saw it, but take a close look....there are Legionnaires in that group shot! What the....!?!?

This confused me! DC enthusiast that I was (*and am) wanted to know why, in lieu of Justice Leaguers or Teen Titans, we had Legionnaires!
So...if you have a back-story idea to explain why Mon-El, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, and Dawnstar are there in the Hall of Justice on Christmas morning, leave a comment below! We'll see if we can reach a consensus as to what they're doing there. Maybe we can guess what Brainy is giving Kara...or is it what Kara has given Brainy?!


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Super-Star Holiday Special

Super-Star Holiday Special (DC Special Series # 21) (Spring 1980)
a review by Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Kyle "Metropolis Kid" Benning

title: "Star Light, Star Bright, Farthest Star I See Tonight!"
writer: Paul Levitz
penciller: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez
inker: Dick Giordano
letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Adrienne Roy
editor: Len Wein
cover: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez (signed)

Mission Monitor Board:  
Superboy, Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl, Wildfire, Lightning Lad, with brief appearances by Mon-El, Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, Sun Boy, Chameleon Boy, and Colossal Boy

Monday, December 22, 2014

Happy Birthday, Polar Boy!


According to the 1976 DC Calendar, today will be the birthday of Brek Bannin, better known throughout the galaxy as Polar Boy.
Polar Boy was one of the founding members of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, and served with distinction with them until he disbanded it in order to join the Legion. He became the 34th member and was elected Leader in Year 15.
Polar Boy is a Capricorn. He is intrigued by the type of danger that risks not his health or safety but just his ego and emotions. A daring leap into the unknown will pay off for him in January.

As an extra bonus, here is Polar Boy without his cap on, as illustrated by the great Steve Lightle!


The Lightning Saga (chapter 1): JLA (v2) #8

Title: "The Lightning Saga 
Chapter One: Lightning Lad"
A Review by David Weter
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Penciller: Shane Davis 
Inker: Matt Banning
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: Michael Turner
Variant Cover: Phil Jimenez

Mission Monitor Board:  
Karate Kid, Starboy (Thom Kallor)

Opponents: 
Memory Loss, The Justice League, The Justice Society
  
Synopsis: 
Members of the JSA and JLA fraternize, with Mr Terrific playing a game of chess against Green Lantern and Black Canary at the same time.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

The Art Institute of Zwen: James Sherman & Jack Abel


In the 1978 DC Calendar, each month featured a different hero versus a different bad guy.
For December, the poster was of the Legion of Super-Heroes facing off against The Toyman. Some of the Legion come back to 1978 to visit Karate Kid to help him celebrate Christmas. Karate Kid was back in the past due to events occurring in his then on-going series, Karate Kid.
Art was by James Sherman, who was the then-current Legion Of Super-Heroes artist, and Jack Abel.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

1987 Tyr Trading Card

Back in 1987 (and again in 1989), DC Comics printed a very unique set of trading cards. These cards were printed on comic backing boards sold with three-packs of DC comics at large retailers. The 1987 series had six different sheets of 8 cards, making for a set of 48 different cards. The cards were printed directly on the backing boards with dotted lines for kids to cut out. Cards featured “Great Heroes”, “Great Villains”, and “Great Moments in Comics.” Tyr was included on card #21, appearing on a board along with Firestorm, Cyborg, Flash, Man of Steel #1, Detective Comics #38, Captain Atom #1, and The Key. Below is the front and back of Tyr’s card. 




Below is an example of an uncut sheet of cards.


There was a second series of backing board trading cards produced in 1989.  This set consisted of 72 different cards. 120 cards all together and Tyr is the only Legion-themed card. I suppose Tyr's Super Powers action figure made him popular enough to merit a card!

For more information and a complete list of these cards, check out these sites:

I’d never even heard of these cards until a few months ago when our buddy Aaron Bias presented a couple of them to me. Thanks Aaron!

Long Live the Legion!

Friday, December 19, 2014

Happy Birthday, Princess Projectra!

According to the 1976 DC Calendar, today will be the birthday of Projectra of Orando, better known throughout the galaxy as the Legionnaire Princess Projectra. 
Princess Projectra was the twenty-second member to join the Legion of Super-Heroes. She served with distinction until she retired to rule her planet, Orando, upon the death of her father, King Voxv.
Princess Projectra is a Sagittarius. She might feel as if she is missing the point, but it will hit her when she is ready. The lessons she didn't learn during this part of the journey will be repeated in the next. 

As an extra added bonus, here's one of the greatest Princess Projectra fight scenes ever, from Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #31 by Greg LaRocque and Mike DeCarlo!

5YL Legion of Super-Heroes #14


Reviewer: Anj
Super-power: super-happiness that Calorie Queen gets some screen time

For those who are new to my reviews of the 'Five Year Later' Legion, one of the things that I have tried to point out as I move through the issues are some of the creative risks that the team of Keith Giffen, Tom & Mary Bierbaum, and Al Gordon made in this re-imagining of the mythos.

Many of these creative risks have been applauded by me. The nine panel grid, the brighter shine of the Legion in contrast to a darker universe, the mature take on many of these characters, the rewrite and rewrite of the universe, and the flashback issues all worked for me as I embraced this particular Legion.

In Legion of Super-Heroes #12, the Legion was finally back together. The first year's plot of Roxxas and the Earthgov and the unification of the team all came to a very emotional conclusion. In Legion of Super-Heroes #13, the table was set for new plots. Starfinger is scheming to kill someone in a children's medical center. Jo is still trying to get home from a Khundian/Dominator galaxy. Laurel is fighting the Khunds on the galaxy line. And Glorith finally decides to take over the universe, finally eliminating the Time Trapper and embracing her role in the current timeline. That was a lot to chew on ... and I was ready. The set-up was sweet. But now was the time to plow forward.

So what does the creative team do in Legion of Super-Heroes #14? What direction did they go now that the team is back together and subplots are brewing?

They do another Matter-Eater Lad humor issue!

Now the creative team does know to infuse the comedy with Legion goodness. And it is funny.

But it is a bold decision to once again pause in the main story arcs to put in a humor issue. At the time, I wanted this book to careen down the track, to show me everything and fast. These pauses ... a creative decision I would not have made.  Bold!

And, as before, the creative team decides to sift through the history of the Legion and find a little known character to showcase. We have seen Eltro Gand and Glorith highlighted. Here it is Prince Evillo! It once again shows that this creative team, even though they are softly rebooting the Legion, are respectful of its history and its fans' love of history.

Here, Evillo is set up as a powerful tyrant of a Hellish world of Tartarus. But he is also a loving Dad! Even though he rules with an iron fist, he cannot refuse his daughters' every whim. That, in and of itself, is amusing.
We also see that he has somehow bewitched the powerful Saturn Queen. Here we see her prancing around in Evillo panties (that symbol was on his tunic in his first appearance), begging him to pay attention to her. That is not at all like the strong-willed powerful villain I have seen before. The fact that he thought she would be a 'challenge' implies he has had many other wives. And it also implies that maybe he has some sort of power to mesmerize or seduce women like this.

Evillo's daughters want to meet a Legionnaire. So he has the transport carrying Matter-Eater Lad, Polar Boy, and Calorie Queen brought to Tartarus.

Tenzil is, of course, the focus of the humor in this issue. Despite Evillo being demonic and a super-villain, and despite people disappearing when Evillo grows horns, Tenzil thinks his Bismoll diplomat status will protect him. Polar Boy knows that is insane ... but we are talking about Tenzil here.

And Giffen and the crew again throw in some Legion history. Evillo's lackeys ... the Devil's Dozen ... has never reached 12 members. It is more the Devil's half-dozen.

As a bonus, we do get some Taryn Loy! Calorie Queen!

And the daughters ... Styx and Mephista ... are giddy that Matter Eater Lad is there. Giddy!
What would they do if Evillo brought Ultra Boy?

Meanwhile Tenzil corners Saturn Queen and asks her if she needs to be saved.

He knows this subservient Queen is not the same Saturn Queen that he knows.

But I wonder ... she seems in control of herself here ... perhaps even mocking Tenzil's rescue efforts. Could she be faking all of this? The Five Year Later universe is a harsh one. Could she be 'hiding out', leading a cushy life on Tartarus, and faking being controlled?

Regardless, I did think it was noble and heroic of Tenzil to offer to bust her out. He would help a villain escape a bad place.

This conversation is interrupted by screams ...

It seems Evillo tried to get handsy with Calorie Queen and she wasn't going to have any part of that. She slugs him with her super-strength and lets loose with a volley of insults that makes me happy. I love me some Calorie Queen!

Unfortunately, a 'woman with spirit' seems to inflame Evillo even more. While Taryn can handle herself, Tenzil arrives to 'rescue' her. But somewhere along the way, he changed into his costume!

When Calorie Queen calls Tenzil on it, he responds "Hey I'm a Legionnaire. When trouble strikes, we put on costumes." Hilarious.


But Tenzil being so bold to stand up to Evillo doesn't sit well with the villain. He sprouts his horns and banishes Matter Eater Lad to 'The Realm of Darkness'.

Okay, so maybe I wasn't thrilled that we got a humor issue at this point. But at least it is funny! This made me chuckle.

This is the place where all the people Evillo has banished languish. They are placed in cuffs which can punish them. They are put to work, blowing into giant accordians and protecting evil candles. It is ludicrous. And Tenzil's 'matter of fact' acceptance is silly.

One thing I found fascinating was that Giffen decided to break the 9 panel rule himself in the pages in this Hell. After a year of the grid, these pages stand out as different ... even odd. By mixing things up like that we definitely have a sense that this is a whole new landscape.

The whole issue isn't just Tenzil's adventure. We do get a little Legion stuff too.

We see Jo sneak onto a Dominator ship while on the Khundian planet and try to figure out where he is.
And lastly we see a gift from Garth to Rokk. It isn't pretty ... but here is the new Legion Headquarters. It is on a salvage planetoid so there is lots of technology to scavenge. And it isn't bright and shiny and loud. It isn't a target. The Legion is just forming.
I do like the conversation between Rokk and Cham. Cham, of course, of the megabuck Brande family, the guy who overspent on costumes, doesn't think this sends the right image. But Rokk knows they just need a place of their own and away from innocents.

This is the perfect Legion headquarters for the dingy 5YL universe.

Meanwhile, Tenzil runs into Sugyn ... one of Evillo's Devil's Dozen who has been banished. Tenzil eats their punishment cuffs and decides they can break out. All they need to do is blow out the giant candle, the 'candle that must never ever-ever-ever be blown out'.

This whole thing is ludicrous.
But it works! When Sugyn blows out the candle, the entirety of the realm is transported back to Tartarus.

With Tenzil in the realm of darkness, Evillo leans on Polar Boy to be a mentor to Styx and Mephista. But I love the gelding comment.
But just then, the candle is blown out, and the realm empties. All the rotting corpses return to roost, including Evillo's prior 11 wives. It is horrifying. And hysterical.

Look at that last panel. Saturn Queen is now fully dressed, with an arrogant look, and she welcomes Brek to the family. Could she have been faking being in Evillo's thrall all this time?

It all ends well.

Tenzil's 'death' led Bismoll to pick a replacement for him in Congress. Who better than Calorie Queen herself? She has seemed eminently more qualified than Tenzil the entire time. Hurray for her!

And Tenzil? Well, he may as well join the Legion! Kono already exists as a comedic element in the team. Do we really need another 'funny' Legionnaire? We shall see.

I will admit that when the issue came out I questioned the pause in the progression of the team. Now, knowing that the next issue is one away in the long box, I can appreciate it more. It is funny. And it once again shows some of the interesting creative decisions the team made.

A humor issue? Breaking from the 9 panel grid in the Hell scenes? And, happily, some Taryn Loy!

Daring!