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The
Fanboy Planet Preview Spotlight 05/25/05
brought to you by Brian's Books of Santa
Clara
Each
week we look through the upcoming releases to offer our two
cents as to what's hot and what's not. You can agree with
us or not, but spend your money wisely. Legion
of Super-Heroes #6
writer: Mark Waid
artists: Barry Kitson, Art Thibert and Scott Iwahashi
Six issues into
this relaunch, Waid and Kitson still have not missed a beat.
Every story offers a new surprise, creating a crazy quilt
of radical rethinking that absolutely deserves a huge readership.
Yes, for years,
the Legion has been a mess, though a fun mess to those of
us with fond memories. Each time Waid and Kitson (they take
credit as storytellers together) introduce a new member
of the Legion, the game of trying to play recognition can
only last a panel. Though they use the same characters,
they really have started over.
Case in point:
this issue's introduction of Princess Projectra of Orando.
Originally a Jim Shooter character, she started as a hot
platinum blonde with the ability to cast illusions. After
the last revamp, she had the same power, but now Orandans
were actually giant serpents; "Jeckie" only briefly bothered
disguising herself as a hot blonde.
Now the character
sort of returns to her roots. Still a Princess, still a
blonde, only now she has no power but her parents' wealth.
And another piece to the puzzle of the Legion's formation
falls into place, even as the impending galactic war grows
closer.
The storytellers
continue rethinking the future in subtle ways. This 31st
Century falls short of dystopia, though it's not as bright
and shining as the adults would have everyone believe. The
reasons for discontent are just subtle enough that you can
understand why a lot of the population has no problem at
all; despite it being fun, Legion of Super-Heroes
refuses to be a simple book.
It also refuses
to spell anything out. DC comic books actually exist within
the storyline; it's quite possible that the heroic age these
kids worship is fiction to them, too. After all, we have
no proof.
In a back-up
slot, Waid teams with Iwahashi to shed light on the mystery
villain of the piece. Suddenly this coming cosmic conflagration
looks like it could easily stand beside "The Great Darkness
Saga" and other classics of Legion lore.
The emphasis
remains on great plotting and great fun. Waid and Kitson
even take the time to script and draw the letters column,
addressing the readers directly and definitely in the spirit
of one of the most vocal subsections of fandom.
Legion of
Super-Heroes has gone from being continuity-heavy to
one of the most accessible books on the stand. Put aside
any lingering prejudices about its impenetrability and pick
up this book.
Runners-up:
Captain America
#6: Supposedly one arc ends, but it really rolls right
into the next one (or an arc to be determined later and
thus drive us all insane with anticipation). If Brubaker
actually does what he seems to be doing, he has finally
done the unthinkable. And that might turn out to be the
coolest thing ever done to Cap. There. Done.
Fantastic
Four #527: A few details are sloppy, at least to those
of us actually in the Silicon Valley, but Stracyznski
sets up a good direction for the book, plus a great situation
for Ben Grimm. There's a reason Marvel signed Mike McKone
to an exclusive contract, and this book proves it.
The OMAC
Project #2: Greg Rucka has picked up plot threads from
years ago, proving that if you're reading a title by the
crime novelist, patience will be rewarded. But you have
to have a lot of patience. Jesus Saiz should be on
tap to be a superstar in the industry. With that combination,
plus this all being part of the Countdown, this is a book
you're going to want to buy.
Runaways
#4:
Oh, it plays
hob with continuity, but what the heck - Marvel cares less
about that than sales, and perhaps rightly so. This is one
of the best books on the stands.
X23 #6:
Pardon me while
I continue eating crow. Crap, I am so tired of the lingering
taste of black feather in my mouth. It stings my tongue.
Sight Unseen:
Armor X #3:
In a couple of months, DC fans will want to be reading this
series written by current JSA inker Keith Champagne,
driving back issue prices up and up. You'll have been smart
and bought this at cover price while you could.
DC Special:
The Return of Donna Troy: As if anybody didn't see this
coming. And still we plan on dropping our shekels on it.
Girls
#1: The Luna Brothers launch a new mini-series that
should please fans of their book Ultra. We interviewed
them a few weeks
ago. Prove there's a connection between Fanboy Planet
and quality!
Green Lantern
#1: Hal Jordan returns. Really. Officially. Carlos Pacheco
draws him. Geoff Johns writes him. And the members of H.E.A.T.
can return to their normal little lives, at least until
the next host of the Spectre appears.
New West
#2: The team that brought us Beautiful Killer
returns with this strange post-apocalyptic noir.
Disappointment
of the Week:
Machine Teen
#1: Maybe it's just me, but it seems like bad storytelling
when the "secret" of the plot, "revealed" on the last page,
is actually given away by both the cover and the title of
the book. If there's no suspense to the story, why bother?
Hey,
write to us and let us know what you think, or talk about
it on the forums!
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