For part one of Margot Waldman’s deep dive into the history of DC’s Legion of Super-Heroes and its fandom, click here. In 1981, after a baffling run by Roy Thomas, the Legion would get a new writer in DC executive Paul Levitz. He would soon be joined by artist Keith Giffen. Both were avid members…
“A comic strip is like a dream… a tissue of paper reveries… It gloms an’ glimmers its way thru unreality, fancy an’ fantasy.”– Walt Kelly, Pogo “Okay, Lois… but who do you ask to help Superman?”– Paul Levitz, DC Comics Presents #43 Comics are a space for writers to write down their dreams. More than…
Batman, as I think this show has proven, is a character who exists, and works, in an infinite number of permutations. And of all of those, one of the most famous is that of the campy Batman ’66. But does that Batman work with other characters from other franchises, or is his bright world a…
Created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino at the end of the 1950s, the Legion of Super-Heroes were initially a set of powered 30th century teens who traveled back in time to recruit Superboy. As the Silver Age became the Bronze Age, the Legion added members, allies, enemies, a clubhouse and other bits of worldbuilding,…
The Legion of Super-Heroes confront their rogue member but not is all as it seems in Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #2 written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by Riley Rossmo, colors by Ivan Plascencia and letters by Dave Sharpe. Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #2 is only 19 pages. But somehow it felt like…
Greetings and salutations, friends. We’re headed back to the future (Acknowledge the pun! Acknowledge it!) with three time-tossed tales from Detective Comics Comics. First, Brian Michael Bendis and Riley Rossmo future hard with a vengeance in Legion of Super-Heroes #1. Then, Mark Russell and Steve Pugh do their social-issues schtick in Superman vs. Imperious Lex…
Welcome to the world of tomorrow! Superhero comics have regularly featured time travel, possible futures and glimpses of tomorrow for much of their history. Some are utopias, some are dystopias and most are somewhere in between. DC is in the midst of a two-month event, “Future State,” that gives readers a glimpse into the future…
Each week, Xavier Files staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. Chris’ Pick X-Factor #4: As “X of Swords” rolls on, it looks like maybe The Five are about to resurrect someone they shouldn’t have. It’s hard to say when all you have to go…
People like to say the X-Men have the most complicated backstory and continuity in comics. And that might be true. For Marvel Comics. But at least a tie for messiest history would have to be DC’s Legion of Super-Heroes, the teen team from the future. And that’s not even factoring in that we’re on our…