Mild Mannered Reviews – Legion of Super-Heroes #5

Legion of Super-Heroes #5

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Legion of Super-Heroes #5

Scheduled to arrive in stores: March 25, 2020
Cover date: May 2020

“Legion of Super-Heroes”

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciller: Ryan Sook
Inker: Scott Godlewski and Wade von Grawbadger
Cover: Ryan Sook
Variant Cover: Alex Garner

Reviewed by: James Lantz


Jon Kent continues his Legion of Super-Heroes orientation as the group’s headquarters is under lockdown by order of Madam President of the United Planets R.J. Brande. He learns that the Legion’s founding members had pure intentions to form the Legion, while Brande may have had ulterior motives. Brainiac 5 felt Superboy must come to the future to learn from the Legion in order to form its values in their past. This is a great surprise to Jon. However, before more could be said or done the discovery of the location of Aquaman’s trident forces a warning of three words to appear – Evacuate Earth Immediately.

5Story – 5: Not much happens beyond the background and history revealing Jon Kent’s importance to the Legion. However, there really doesn’t need to be that much so early on in this new series. Plus, if it can clear up the confusion created by the Millennium mess along the way, that’s okay with me.

I’ve stated that I’m a Bendis fan in spite of his irritating use of parenthetical expressions in dialogue. He’s rebooted the Legion of Super-Heroes for the 21st Century as he’s done with Superman, the Avengers, and so many other superheroes from both DC and Marvel, and he’s done so without ignoring continuity. He’s made his work reader friendly while paying respects to what’s been done. This and so many great character moments make much of his comic writing, including for this series, a fun read.

5Art – 5: The art team is channeling Mike Allred this month. That’s merely an observation as it fits well with the story’s overall atmosphere.

3Cover Art – 3: It isn’t as big as previous issues, or at least, it doesn’t seem to be. Yet the logo distracts too much from the image. Sook put too much in this cover, making it look chaotic in spite of being well drawn.

4Variant Cover Art – 4: I liked this one better than the main cover, but there’s always room for improvement.

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3 Comments
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MattComics
MattComics
March 25, 2020 11:08 am

All he’s done is tear Superman down and his family apart.

Super El
Super El
March 28, 2020 10:18 am

>”and he’s done so without ignoring continuity. He’s made his work reader friendly while paying respects to what’s been done.”

That has to be one of the most blatant lies I’ve seen on this site. I know faux positivity is kind of a staple of these reviews, but to blatantly lie like this is so dishonest. Pay respect to continuity? Bendis’ first Superman issue is literally bringing back Jor-El as a villain despite the previous instance had him dying to Dr Manhattan. And Superman isn’t even surprised he is alive. This review is a joke.

MattComics
MattComics
March 28, 2020 12:53 pm

Also read about that “one true Superman” business. First of all why are they making it a damn competition between Superman and his son in terms of who is a better hero?

Also why does Bendis or DC feels it necessary to down-grade Superman in some way to put Jon up.That is totally needless and nobody wants that. Superman fans like Jon A LOT but nobody wants to be told that he is somehow a more “true” Superman than Clark.

For the love of Rao get Bendis away from these characters!