DC Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #1 [of 2]
Scheduled to arrive in stores: January 26, 2021
Cover date: March 2021
“Legion of Super-Heroes: Future State” – Part One
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciller: Riley Rossmo
Inker: Riley Rossmo
Cover: Riley Rossmo
Variant Cover: Ian MacDonald
Reviewed by: James Lantz
The United Planets, or rather what little remains of it, now governs on Daxam. The Legion of Super-Heroes has disbanded and divided in various teams throughout the universe. All involved have one question on their minds. Where is Element Lad, he who betrayed the Legion and the United Planets? Whoever finds him will have to deal with his followers who believe themselves to be the true Legion, and if Brainiac-7, Bouncing Boy and others find him first there could be a War of the Legions of Super-Heroes. If that happens, the universe may never recover from its repercussions.
Story – 4: While there are some scenes and dialogue that feel disjointed or that they lack a connection to this saga, this is an overall decent tale of the Legion of Super-Heroes. It does feel like more was meant to be revealed in this book or the main series. This left me feeling like I came into the story somewhere in the middle instead of at the beginning. Or is it the end? Darn time travel! Does Bendis have more Legion stories in him? I hope so, even if it means filling gaps and tightening loose, dangling plot threads.
Art – 1: This issue features the worst art I’ve ever seen in comics, and I’m old enough to remember when Rob Liefeld was popular. The horrid visuals distract the reader from Bendis’ story way too much.Cover Art – 1: How in the heck does this awful art get approved by DC Comics? This art is extremely hard on the eyes.
Variant Cover Art – 5: This variant is incredible. It’s a pity Ian MacDonald didn’t do interior art in this one.
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Bendis said in an interview (I’ve forgotten where) prior to “Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes” #1 coming out that he *purposely* picked Riley Rossmo as the artist for this miniseries — and it was particularly after Bendis saw Rossmo’s work on the Steve Orlando penned “Martian Manhunter” series. While just ok, this particular, longtime Legion fan honestly hopes, *pray* that this potential future is *not* where Bendis wishes to go with the beloved and fan fave franchise upon it returning (as it is, DC’s still not listed anywhere as coming out, even in the month of April). The titles I… Read more »