Review: ‘Legion Of Super-Heroes’ #4 Is A New Spin On A Oft-Told Tale
by Tony Thornley
Over the decades, readers have seen multiple incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes and with those incarnations came their own unique takes on the origin. Legion of Super-Heroes #4 tells that tale again, with some unique wrinkles.
Brian Michael Bendis, Ryan Sook, Mikel Janin, Wade von Grawbadger, Jordie Bellaire, and Dave Sharpe dive into the Legion’s origins.
As unrest continues to grow around the Legion’s actions, the team’s leadership introduces Jon Kent to COMPUTO. The AI proceeds to give Jon a walk-through of the Legion’s founding. However, not all is all as it seems, both in the past and the present day!
Bendis has many strengths as a writer, but his depiction of interpersonal relationships is easily number one. That’s really where this story sings – though the details of the Legion’s origin are largely the same, the bonds we see formed among Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl make the story worthwhile. This issue is definitely the strongest of the run so far, thanks to that, as well as the more narrow focus on fewer characters.
Sook and von Grawbadger’s framing sequence is still strong, with a lot of personality, even through the chaos of what’s happening around the Legion. However, Janin’s pages are really where the issue shines. He’s able to complement Bendis’s script, and show the bonds forming between the trio of Legion founders. Bellaire’s colors set the scene, truly making the 31st century feel futuristic and alien.
Bendis is starting to find his footing with his artistic collaborators knocking it out of the park, and the future is looking bright!
Legion of Super-Heroes #4 is available now from DC Comics.
