For some of us The Legion was the first really interesting comic book We read. It was the first group that have discussions, arguments between them and some times even serious fights. It was the first comic book that killed some of the heroes (and They did several times trough the years) Although some of the names were really childish, I thought that the legion books were among the most interesting around. When They rebooted the first time in 1994 some of us felt lost and didnt really trusted the change (although need to admit it was seriously in need of change, cause the stories began to be somehow difficult to follow) But the new stories were really good and found their way around, so when DC announced this new reboot, I personally thought maybe it was going to be really for the best, even thinking that the stories in the running series were good and meaningful. I'm sorry to say that this was a step back. As another reviewer wrote this feels lik a flower power thing gotten in the future without a really good script. Yeah, right a galaxy needs to be ruled by hormonal, teenagers with superpowers. Now I'm terminating my 30 years allegiance to the book, I'm sad to say.

Okay if you want an idea of what this new series is all about picture a bunch of hi-tech hippies with super powers in space. Well that's the feeling it gave me at least. I mean there is this big social movement called the Legion that most parents despise as being a bad influence on society and the kids all think the adults don't get it and only they have the answers. And society is sterile and individuality is frowned upon. Sounds like a hippie rehash of the sixties to me. For me this trade just didn't have any kind of spark to it at all. Just a bunch of disfunctional future heroes arguing with each other.

This relauch disappointed me mostly because of the art. I don't believe Kitson draws these characters as teenagers (which is pretty important). The characters look like adults (and pretty generic ones at that) and don't convey the spark of youth or energy that I would think would be so vital for a book about teenage superheroes in the future. Waid's updates to the setup behind The Legion are for the most part improvements that expand and deepen the future environment and worlds represented; however, I feel the art hinders the book enough to make these enhancements incidental.

Call me crazy, but in a world of entertainment full of "Chosen Ones", "anti-heroes", and enough teen angst to make you keel over and cry uncle, it feels wonderfully refreshing to read a graphic novel that concentrates on interesting characters, an interesting world, and leads into...a fantastic story.

First of all, I'm no veteran of the series. This is the first time I've ever read any of the Legion Comics. I don't know anything about the previous installations and "reboots" of the series, so I won't even try to guess what they were like. What I will do is tell you this: if you love great comic books you owe it to yourself to check this series out.

You don't have to know anything about the Legion to start reading this story. It's totally self-contained and explains the characters from the ground up. To some this could seem a daunting task given the sheer number of members of the Legion. So, the writer Mark Waid did sometime you might not have expected. He focuses on the feelings of one or two characters at a time, letting their actions and words define them even more than their fights or homeworld.

The first issue defines the Legion. The second defines Dream Girl. The third defines (haha) Triplicate Girl. The fourth defines Invisible Kid and Phantom Girl. From there...the real story begins. The wonderful thing about the way the story is told is that we continually gets surprises and insights into the characters (and see that the same powers that give them strength can also be their weaknesses). And once the characters have been clearly defined, (something that a lot of comics seem to toss out the window) we feel much more strongly about them when they are in danger. This made all the better by every character being a a unique individual with good and bad points (Brainiac 5 argues with Cosmic Boy, Cosmic Boy is spying on the other Legion members, Ultra Boy is out of control, and Invisible Kid really needs to assert himself more).

If this series trade has one low point it's definitely the art. Not that it's exactly bad. It's just that with the incredible story and dialog, the Sunday Funnies looking artwork seems rather lackluster (kind of like how Benes' excellent pencils were ruined in the Birds of Prey Trades by a lackluster inkist and colorist). If anything, this trade is proof that you don't have to have good artwork to have a great graphic novel (although that seems rather contradictory when I stop to think...).

The story that begins in the fifth installment gets a nice plot twist in the final issue of this trade, but you'll have to keep reading right up through issue 13 to get the full story arc. And that's something that you're either going to love or hate. Personally, after reading a single issue of this comic I was totally hooked on the story and fantastic writing. I bought every back issue up to issue 1 and followed each new installment with breathless anticipation. In the end all I can say is if you like this book you'd better keep reading, because from here things only get more dramatic, more intense, more epic, and more entertaining (and starting in issue number 9 the artwork seems to get a bit of an upgrade). In fact, I'd say issues 9, 10 and 11 are three of the best comic books I've ever read. Read this book. You enjoy a good story, you won't be disappointed. It only gets better from here. Long live the Legion!

I was always rather intimidated by the Legion of Superheroes. I always felt like I had not anchor, no point at which to start out with them. I also have to admit, the names always seemed irredeemably hokey to me.

Well, that was then, this is now.

Mark Waid has made a convert out of me.

I cannot wait for Matter Eater Lad.

Someday I will need to look up the Legion stories that came before, but I was content to start out with Teenage Revolution. I was not dissapointed with the read. The book lays out the foundation for an all new Legion legend, requiring no prior knowledge to enjoy the book, but it still seems to lovingly respect what came before it. All the elemets of the old Legion seem there, just revitalized, but what is most appealing about the book is that is just a great teen superhero book.

The Legion taps into the energy of youth and idealism we so often lose as we grow older. This energy is perfectly presented here, it makes the legionaires idealistic, uncompromising and at times brash and a bit foolish. The characters are complex but fun. No mindwipes or crippling self doubt. These are old school superheroes. :)

The book comes highly recommended, and I cannot wait until Waid brings back Matter Eater Lad.

And...

um...

"Eat it, grandpa!"

Hee. I said it.