In 2008, DC released the event storyline Final Crisis. Penned by Grant Morrison and drawn by J.G. Jones, Marco Rudy, Doug Mahnke, and Carlos Pacheco, it told the tale of "the day evil won", with Darkseid plotting the overthrow of all reality. And naturally, a big event like this would have lots of tie-ins. And one of them focused on the Legion. Well, Legions.
There had been three main incarnations of the Legion over the past five decades. The original, the 1994 version introduced post-Zero Hour, and a second rebooted version introduced in 2004. This tie-in would be the first time these versions of the Legion ever teamed up. I remember being hyped about this tie-in about the time. In fact, it was the only tie-in mini I remember being hyped for. Hard to believe it's over ten years old already.
But...what kind of threat would need three versions of the Legion of Super-Heroes to combat it? Well, a super-powerful fallen hero might count as that. One we've met before on this blog...before their fall from grace.
So with that out of the way, let's take a look at Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #1!
The cover is awesome! A George Perez and Dave McCaig piece, it focuses on Lightning Lad. We got the original version of the character forming a corona of electricity, with his 1994 and 2004 Legion counterparts within it.
"Legion of 3 Worlds: Book One"
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciler: George Perez
Inker: Scott Koblish
Colorist: Hi-Fi Design
Letterer: Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Eddie Berganza, Adam Schlagman
Executive Editor: Dan DiDio
The story begins with the old Legion foe known as the Time Trapper, standing in his domain. He's staring out at the void that is the End of Time. He notices some cockroaches crawling around and compares their ability to survive anything to the Legion. He tried to make them forget Superman. He tried to attack the very thing that made the Legion what it was, but it seemed fate would not let them forget.
The Trapper then uses his powers to summon a figure. He grabs the figure and sends them careening backwards through time.
The time: 3008 AD, 5:13 AM. The place: Smallville, Kansas. A farming couple watch the news, learning of the arrest of Earth-Man after the events of the Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes storyline. The male farmer's dialogue reveals they're the same farmers that murdered the alien baby that landed in their field in Action Comics #858 (December 2007).
An explosion erupts in their corn field. The male farmer, named Jun, angrily grabs his gun. He screams that anther alien has come to his yard as he heads towards the source of the explosion. He shoots at something, but it has no effect. And it's not hard to see why.
It appears to be Superboy. Or more accurately, Superboy-Prime. You may know of him from my Crisis on Infinite Earths reviews. Basically, he grew bitter that he lost his world and that a new Superboy seemingly "took" his place. He fell into evil, and had some misadventures before ending up here thanks to the Time Trapper. He expresses his displeasure with being shot at by giving the farmers a taste of his heat vision, insisting he's Superman. He discovers that he's in Smallville, which doesn't impress him. The rogue Superboy explores the area and realizes he's in the future. He then notices the Superman Museum, and goes exploring.
I just have to say, I LOVE this spread. So many nods to Superman's mythos and history here. The golden statue in the center is in homage of the cover of Action Comics #1 (June 1938), for example. This also hints that quite a few elements of Superman's Silver and Bronze Age mythos have been restored to canon. For example, look at the flat images on the left. There's Kal-L (the Earth-Two Superman, whom you should know from my Crisis on Infinite Earths reviews), Kal Kent (The Superman of DC One Million), The Superman of the Kingdom Come Elseworlds story (Fun Fact, this Superman joined the mainstream JSA for a while), and Harvey Dent (The Superman of the Tangent Universe). This makes sense, as 52 showed that the Multiverse had returned, and as such, a Superman Museum would touch on alternate versions of him.
Also, look at Lex Luthor. He's not portrayed as a businessman like in the John Byrne reboot post-Crisis, but as a prisoner. Luthor wearing a prison uniform was a regular thing in Silver Age stories. And among on the images on the right side? Kristen Wells, aka Superwoman. Not the revamped version that appeared in the Third Kryptonian storyline, but the original Bronze Age version. Fun fact, that version first appeared in a novel. Yup, Miracle Monday. I want to read that book.
Superboy-Prime is in disbelief. Why would anyone dedicate an entire museum to what he considers a false Superman? He's met by a holographic tour guide in the form of Jimmy Olsen in his Silver Age appearance, bowtie and all. He points out an exhibit dedicated to Jimmy Olsen's various Silver Age misadventures.
Again, much like the images of the Kristen Wells Superwoman and the Silver Age-style Luthor, this hints that Infinite Crisis restored some aspects of the Silver Age mythos back to continuity. The holographic Jimmy Olsen continues leading Prime on the journey, despite the alternate Superman's growing annoyance with it. They go to an exhibit dedicated to the Legion, but Superboy grumbled he liked their old costumes better. Makes sense, as he grew up reading DC books of the early 1980s. Superboy is more interested in another exhibit. He flies off to the exhibit dedicated to Superman's villains.
He wants to know where he is. He sees Bizarro, Brainiac, Luthor, the Kryptonite Man, even the version of General Zod, Ursa, and Non from the Last Son storyline that was co-written by Richard Donner. Yes, the very same guy who directed the classic 1978 Superman movie. But where is he? Where is Superboy-Prime? After all, he killed the Conner Kent Superboy, he rampaged throughout the universe, crushed a ton of Green Lanterns. He must be highly honored as Superman's greatest for, right? Well, with the aid of some telescopic and X-Ray vision, he finds his own statue...in a closet.
The holographic Jimmy Olsen explains that Superboy-Prime is looked at in the future as...a bit of a joke. A loser. A whining crybaby who always went on about how everything was better on his Earth. Holo-Olsen recounts the Flashes and the Conner Kent/Kon-El Superboy beating him up during Infinite Crisis and Sodam Yat wiping the floor with him during the Sinestro Corps War. Yeah, during that story, Prime had made a Guardian of the Universe explode, and the energies released sent Superboy-Prime into the restored Multiverse, but as far as the heroes knew at the time, he disappeared. This ENRAGES Prime, who screams that it's all a lie.
The Kryptonian throws a fit, destroying the villain exhibit. He spots a statue of the Conner Kent Superboy with the Teen Titans. This only makes Prime angrier, screaming he killed Conner. The police arrive. Prime rants to them about how he killed the "fake" Superboy a thousand years earlier, and yet he's forgotten and seen as a joke despite it.
He then gives the cops some freeze breath and shatters them. He then destroys the Legion display, vowing to burn down everything Superman has ever inspired. The holographic Olsen, misunderstanding the crazed Kryptonian, thinks Prime wants to see the exhibit on the Legion of Super-Villains.
In Metropolis, the United Planets Council is having a meeting. The subject? The Legion of Super-Heroes. They believe the galaxy has no use for them, that they're an old-hat failure. The alien worlds view Earth as a planet plagued by xenophobia, but the President of Earth points out that humans on other worlds are getting attacked, too. The President suggests that maybe it's best if Earth leaves the UP.
The Legion's founders (Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad) try to convince the council the Legion is not a failure, that they still do have value, especially now. Superman brought out the best in them, and they can bring out the best in others. When one of the Council members suggests that it's time for the Legion to grow up, Lightning Lad angrily screams that the Legion grew up saving the galaxy constantly, risking everything in the process.
Speaking of Lightning Lad, his twin sister Lightning Lass, alongside Shadow Lass and Phantom Girl, are in the Phantom Zone. They're looking for someone, and they find their target...getting his butt handed to him.
Shadow Lass is able to send the Kryptonian prisoners packing, allowing Phantom Girl to retrieve Mon-El.
The Legionnaires are able to get Mon-El out of the Phantom Zone. General Zod nearly manages to escape too, but Lightning Lass blasts the generator, destroying it and keeping the rogue Kryptonian trapped. This angers Brainiac 5 as he could have just shut it off. Mon-El is delirious from lead poisoning (He's a Daxamite. They're allergic to lead), rambling about his being sent into the Zone by Earth-Man. Brainiac 5 fixes that by giving him his anti-lead serum. Lightning Lass says they should get Sun Boy to help power Mon-El back up to fighting shape. After all, he could do it faster than the Sun can, but Brainiac 5 reminds her that he's in no condition to help anyone.
After the events of Superman and Legion of Super-Heroes, Dirk Morgna is dealing with some issues. Polar Boy tries to counsel him. He talks about his loss of his arm. Dirk reminds him that to Polar Boy, being a Legionnaire is his big dream. The pinnacle of his life. Dirk feels the Legion's time is over...and he himself is burnt out.
Back in Metropolis, there's more arguing about the Legion with the Council. Myg, the second Karate Kid, recalls his brief time with the Legion, pointing out the bile between Shrinking Violet and Chameleon Girl. The tension is high, and it seems like a fight will break out. But someone comes along to seemingly defuse it all.
R.J. Brande. The mega-gazillionaire who helped found and fund the Legion is back. And he wants to explain why the universe still needs them. To Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, and Cosmic Boy's amazement, the Council agree to hear him out. Money equals power, indeed.
On the prison world known as Takron-Galtos, Superboy-Prime is on the rampage. He tears apart their defenses like they're tissue paper. What is he after? He's after the Legion of Super-Villains...well, three of them in particular: Lightning Lord, Cosmic King, and Saturn Queen. When he liberates them, they reveal something interesting: That much like Superman was an inspiration to the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy-Prime was a sort of inspiration to the Legion of Super-Villains. And they hope he'd lead them to final victory over their heroic counterparts. The three want to build a new Legion of Super-Villains. It's membership: Every prisoner in Takron-Galtos.
Back in Metropolis, Brande gives a speech. He talk about how the Legion were able to overcome their differences and work together. The universe has had it rough these last few months, but the UP can't let that fracture them. The Legion can teach and inspire, like they did for Superman. Satrun Girl taught him to always seek truth. Cosmic Boy taught him to embrace all cultures as his own and to help anyone who needs it. And Lightning Lad taught Superman to always fight for justice, even if it means breaking a rule or two. That is what the Legion can remind the UP to do.
Brande's speech appears to be working. Everyone is calming down, but Saturn Girl senses a mind that she didn't pick up earlier, like it was hidden. Until now.
Brande's old business rival, Leland McCauley, pumps Brande full of bullets, but gets blasted with lightning by Lightning Lad. Cosmic Boy is horrified as his magnetic powers couldn't stop the bullets. But that wasn't his fault, they weren't made of metal. Nor was his gun. Dr. Gym'll grabs his med-kit and tries to save the industrialist. However, it's in vain. His final thoughts are telling Imra that he wants the Legion to not give up. And with that, Brande dies. Dr. Gymll notices that his blood is turning green. No, Brande is not a Vulcan, he's a Durlan. That's a long story, but he's also the father of Legionnaire member Chameleon Boy.
McCauley starts ranting and raving about him being the greatest human industrialist ever. An enraged Lightning Lad threatens to fry the crazed businessman, but the Science Police demand the Legion hand over their flight rings because they want to question the Legion and McCauley. Cosmic Boy has had enough. He can endure hours of being berated, but he's not going to hand over his ring. He shows this by giving the SP officers a taste of his magnetic powers. Saturn Girl tries to read McCauley's mind to find out who sent him, but he ages into dust before their eyes. The Time Trapper watches this silently, implying he was behind it.
Chaos is erupting around the galaxy, and the Legion is still scattered. Back at the Legion clubhouse, most of the reunited Legion hold a small private funeral for their benefactor.
The Legion argue over what to do next, but a new problem pops up. And they're going to need some help. This is a job for Superman. They call in the Man of Steel from the 21st century, and show him what's up.
Takron-Galtos is wrecked. The prisoners are freed, 20,000 are dead, and that flaming "S" symbol is still burning. Smallville has also been destroyed. Phantom Girl shows footage of Superboy-Prime taking his armor off his statue. This is something the Legion do not need right now. Brainiac 5 says that to take care of this Super-Problem, they're going to need some help.
They'll need the back up...of the Legions. Two other versions from parallel worlds. Superman hints they've met before. Mon-El barely remembers it. Superman notes that Superboy-Prime is full of rage, and he will never stop killing and destroying...unless something drastic is done. Lightning Lad thinks Superman wants to kill him, but Polar Boy angrily shoots that suggestion down. Superman doubts killing him is even possible anymore. Does make sense. This is a pre-Crisis Kryptonian we're talking about here. Superboy-Prime has the power of a god.
Phantom Girl asks what the Man of Steel is suggesting. Superman says simply that they have to reach out to the angry teenager, and remind him of the hero that he once was. The hero that helped save the universe during Crisis on Infinite Earths. The story ends with Superman saying they need to redeem Superboy-Prime.
This comic is awesome. Legion of Three Worlds was the only Final Crisis tie-in I was genuinely hyped for, and when I got this comic, I was far from disappointed. This first issue is such a great start for the miniseries. I get the feeling Geoff and George were just having a blast making this. We really get the idea that right now, the classic Legion is undergoing its darkest hour. Their benefactor is dead, the United Planets are fracturing, the Legion of Super-Villains are back and led by a twisted version of Superman, and the heroes are scattered. No wonder they need Superman right now. It's a great setup that has plenty of nods to Superman's history, and raises some interesting questions about it post-Infinite Crisis.
The story hints that Superboy-Prime was a sort of inspiration for the Legion of Super-Villains. Some may see that as rather fanfic-like. I get why, but I can see why Johns would go that direction. It makes a bizarre form of sense. The Legion of Super-Heroes were inspired by the DCU's greatest superheroes, why wouldn't their villainous counterparts be inspired by a twisted psycho version of said hero? Also, Superman's statement about Prime at the end made my jaw drop when I first read it. It left me wondering "How are the heroes going to pull that off? I doubt even an act of God will help there!"
As a tie-in to Final Crisis, it doesn't really contribute much to the overall story of that event. It's really best read as a standalone story, in my opinion.
If you ever find this story, pick it up. I highly recommend it. The ending is a bit wonky in certain places in my opinion, but it's still really good. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, spread it around! And if you want to give this blog some extra support, please feel free to drop a tip in my Digital Tip Jar! Next time, it's February, and it's Black History Month. So, lets return to my favorite era of the Avengers, as they get a brand new member...
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