Superboy’s Legion #1 (2001)
by Mark Farmer & Alan Davis
This two-issue miniseries is generally well-remembered by the Legion fandom.
Personally, at the time I thought it was overrated. But that’s probably because I saw it being brought up CONSTANTLY in opposition to the reboot, as if this was “the real way to do the Legion”.
Probably just by the most vocal part of the fandom, but as a fan of the reboot Legion the whole thing soured my opinion of the miniseries. I’ll do my best to stay objective, but just a heads-up.
One thing is for sure: the artwork is flawless, as it’s to be expected from Alan Davis.
Mike Farmer is mostly known as an inker, but he’s also the writer on this one.
The premise of this Elseworld story is that Superboy doesn’t reach Earth in the 20th century because the ship surviving the destruction of Krypton gets stuck in space.
So he’s rescued by R.J.Brande in the 30th century.
And Brande adopts him, raising him as his son.
Also, at the beginning of the story Superboy is 14 years old. That’s one of the thing that distinguishes this Legion, it’s probably the youngest version.
Superboy’s relationship with his father is strained by the fact that he keeps using his powers.
Naturally, being the son of the richest man in the Galaxy and growing up in an utopia, there is no reason to have a secret identity.
But he’s still Superboy, so he still ends up being the hero when he helps a random Green Lantern in a fight against some Khunds.
We also learn that Daxam was “annihilated” in something related to the “Sinestro War”, presumably back in the 20th century when Sinestro was around.
This might be the reason why Mon-El does not show up in this continuity.
But more importantly for the plot, Superboy learns that the Green Lantern are no longer able to cover as much space as they used to.
We see more familiar faces at a ship where Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl are on a date (!!!).
Which is interrupted by a weird energy alien.
The combined effort of the couple and Superboy saves the ship.
Alan Davis is one of my favorite artists, and he’s fantastic in this series… although I get a little bit weirded out by some of the faces he draws.
As you might have figured out, these three are the founders of this version of the Legion.
The good news is that we’re going to get some Legion tryouts.
The bad news is that Jimmy Olsen managed to reproduce.
Potentially as Elastic Lad.
Nice homage to the original Legion cover. Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl are even in the right spots!
One of the reasons for why this miniseries was well-received was definitely the use of ALL the pre-Crisis codenames and most of the original looks (the reboot changed nearly all of them).
But it’s not exactly the pre-Crisis characters: for example, Element Lad being a strong pacifist carries over from the reboot.
Not sure where the mention of the “Krilli religion” comes from, though.
Most of the costumes are just slight variations from the classic ones.
There is one BIG exception: Shadow Lass, surprisingly showing even more skin than in the 70s.
Her reboot counterpart does eventually wear something similar, though.
Something else that carries over from the reboot: she doesn’t just create shadows, she can manipulate the darkness (similar to how Darkforce works at Marvel).
Although this MIGHT have happened before the reboot version mastered it.
This means the audition admits 6 new members, making it the most successful audition we have seen so far.
Lots of familiar faces miss the first tryout. Most of which will show up later, either in this issue or the second one.
You’re probably not surprised to learn that Superman missing from the 20th century is not a good thing. More on that next issue.
Plus his upbringing means that this is a fare more boisterous Superboy than we normally see.
I wonder if it’s also a factor for Karate Kid being rejected: would THIS Superboy be impressed by him putting up a good fight despite not having powers?
Also, of all the characters fulfilling the “I didn’t even want to audition” trope, I wouldn’t have expected Bouncing Boy!
First mission for the Legion: saving Ultra Boy’s planet.
Which is shockingly underpopulated!!!
The depiction of the planet is just full of cameos from all minor aliens from the Legion universe.
Speaking of Ultra Boy: Phantom Girl can’t be far behind, and he can’t shake off his connection to the seedy parts of Rimbor.
Speaking of reboot influences: the reboot swear word “sprock” carries over.
Phantom Girl’s mother will be a VERY important character both in the reboot and in the cartoon series. In both cases she’ll be the President of the United Planets, but she’s a queen here.
And apparently Chameleon Boy’s employer.
Speaking of Chameleon Boy, he gets the most extreme makeover.
I think it’s the only misfire when it comes to this series reimagining the Legionnaire looks. If it wasn’t for the color of his skin, would you even recognize him?
More things carrying over from the both the original and reboot versions: both Flight Rings and Tran-Suits™ are here. Although I wonder who invented the rings here, since Brainiac 5 is not part of the team yet.
Guys, I have a good feeling about how Superboy is going to handle this.
This is when Invisible Kid and Brainiac 5 are properly introduced in the story. Although neither is using a codename.
Since Superman never existed in the 20th century, it’s no surprise that the original Brainiac wouldn’t have the same impact on Superboy… but the fact that he seemingly didn’t exist in the first place feels a bit odd.
Told you I had a good feeling.
Another unexpected twist: Star Boy turns out to be a surprisingly big deal.
Although I have to say the fact that he’s been having interstellar adventures for the past two years makes the Legion far less special.
The plan works: Superboy is able to destroy the meteor and save Rimbor.
Ultra Boy has some words for Superboy for how he handled the crisis.
Check out the design of Chameleon Boy’s ship!!!
Specifically, Ultra Boy is mad at Superboy because the meteor pieces that were not destroyed are too big to burn up in the atmosphere and therefore endanger the planet.
The Legion takes care of it with an impressive display of power.
At the time when this miniseries was being praised, some in the Legion fandom complained that the reboot Legion was getting too powerful. Even if that was true (which I don’t believe), this team is doing the same.
Still, Rimbor needs A LOT of help and the Legion’s gonna Legion.
Brainiac 5 being spotted into the crowd is a big deal, because Coluans are basically never seen.
The near destruction of Rimbor is just the latest in a long string of worlds outside the United Planets that have been targeted, if Star Boy and his weirdly shaped head are to be believed.
Prior to the Legion showing up, Ultra Boy planned to use a bomb to destroy the meteor.
It wasn’t a good idea.
And then SUDDEN FATAL FIVE!!!
They DEFINITELY show up in style!
This version of the team is even more brutal than both the classic and the reboot versions.
Mano even has powers on BOTH hands!!!
Shouldn’t he be Manos then?
Even more impressively, Persuader finally gets to cut SOMEONE with his axe!!!
The Fatal Five reach their goal of kidnapping Brainiac 5, and they leave.
Colossal Boy is the first Legionnaire to die. Man he really couldn’t catch a break in the post-Crisis era, couldn’t he?
Even in the reboot, he doesn’t get a happy ending.
The Fatal Five are not the ones behind what’s destroying worlds outside the United Planets, but they do work with him…
…LEX LUTHOR.
Well… kind of.
Does any of this show up in any regular continuity?
SHOULD any of this have happened in regular continuity?
I don’t think that anything introduced here shows up afterwards.
Silver Age-ness: 2/10
At the beginning we’re led to believe this is basically the pre-Crisis universe, but it turns out to be far more violent and cynical.
Superboy does have some of his old powerset, complete with massively faster than light flight.
Does it stand the test of time? 8/10
I still believe the fandom overrates this, but I do admit it’s better than I remember… as a standalone story. I still maintain that as a foundation for the Legion it doesn’t hold a candle to the reboot, but it’s not what the story sets out to do and it would be unfair to judge it that way.
As a story it does several things right: the plot and dialogue are solid, the mystery is intriguing, the action is great, and it has Alan Davis pencils (the last one adds a full point on its own).
The updated looks are great; I think the only one that doesn’t work is Chameleon Boy.
On the other hand it throws A LOT at the reader in fast succession. I think anyone not really familiar with the Legion would be overwhelmed, and even as a fan things are moving too fast.
We still don’t know barely anything about most of the Legionnaires, some of which only get a few inconsequential lines. Superboy has an interesting dynamic with the team, but he quickly becomes a walking (flying?) stereotype. Even his relationship with his adoptive father, which is initially pushed as a major point, rapidly fades from the spotlight.
Some of the decisions of what to change from other Legion versions are baffling, although that will mostly be a problem with the second part. Even here, though: what’s the deal with removing Lightning Lad? He does show up later, but his role is entirely taken over by Cosmic Boy!
Even the artwork is not perfect. I still can’t get over those faces.
We are legion
Active Legionnaires: 8
-Superboy
-Cosmic Boy
-Saturn Girl
-Sun Boy
-Element Lad
-Shrinking Violet
-Bouncing Boy
-Shadow Lass
Deceased members: 1 (Colossal Boy)
9 people have been members
I am not currently counting the Legion allies: Brainiac 5, Invisible Kid, Star Boy, Ultra Boy and Phantom Girl. As of now, they’re not members.
Legion rejects: 14
Lucy Lastic is explictly a reject, and doesn’t show up later.
I’m also adding all the people seen in the audition; some of them will appear as part of the Legion in a montage at the last page of the second issue, but enough time passes between these two events that they still all count.
In order from left to right:
-Fire Lad
-“Balloon Boy” (no actual name given)
-Dream Girl
-Wildfire
-Night Girl
-“Riddler Boy” (no actual name given)
-“Generic Bug Mask Boy” (no actual name given)
-Stone Boy
-Ferro Lad
-Karate Kid
-Bouncing Boy
-Polar Boy
-Chlorophyll Kid
I can understand the reasoning behind the rejection of most of these, but Wildfire???