DC Comics reviews 11/6/19 – Justice League #35, Batman #82

Legion of Super Heroes #1

Brian Michael Bendis’ first dedicated Legion of Super Heroes issue reads like someone telling an extended inside joke that only he gets.

This was the worst case scenario for this latest crack at the Legion. Bendis gives in to all of his worst instincts of rambling conversations, non-distinct characterizations and a story that grazes through a plot before the issue ends.

It’s wild how this is the fourth glimpse of the team yet they’re still just as big a blank slate as they were with their debut in Superman #14. Rose, the major focus of the Legion of Super Heroes: Millennium, gets a handful of panels that amount to nothing. It’s a further indictment on the lack of purpose for the two Millennium issues.

The Legion is the biggest cast of characters Bendis has worked with and there’s little indication that he’ll do anything different to make the various characters stand out. It’s concerning that for another issue it’s mostly just the Legion mobbing Superboy and acting like star struck fanboys/fangirls.

Bendis invokes Mordru in hopes of exciting fans with regards to how he’ll handle one of the team’s biggest villains.

Artist Ryan Sook doesn’t get a lot to work with besides page after page of mass talking heads. There’s some slight action, but Bendis and Sook aren’t on the same page in terms of what’s happening. Colorist Jordie Bellaire does the best work this issue with bold color combinations.

This wasn’t the most promising start for the Legion and Bendis critics will find a lot to dislike without much effort.

Rating: 3 out of 10