REVIEW: Legion Lost #4

Or – “Still 5 And A Half Legionnaires Left…”

…which, now that we mention it, is one more than Def Leppard has got goin’ on.

LEGION LOST #4
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Artist: Pete Woods
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Editor: Brian Cunningham
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Previously, in Legion Lost:  Alastor (not, as I have occasionally asserted, Alaktor) travelled back in time 1000 years with a terrible plan to release biological weaponry on the DCU of the present.  Seven members of the Legion of Super-Heroes (Wildfire of Earth, Dawnstar of Starhaven, Timber Wolf of Zuun, Tyroc of Marzal Island, Tellus of Hykraius, Gates of Vyrga and Chameleon Girl of Durla) followed him through time, but were too late to keep him from releasing his genetic weapon.  Gates and Chameleon Girl were seemingly vaporized by the weapon, but the Legionnaires found that a strange human/Durlan hybrid was actually a contemporary human somehow partially merged with Chameleon Girl!

CHAOS IN THE MALL!

Each issue of this book impresses me just a little bit more than the previous one, probably as I slowly overcome my distaste for the seemingly careless fate given poor Gates and Yera in the beginning of our tale.  This month’s issue is narrated by Dawnstar, which is always a little dicey, given her generally standoffish nature.  Still, the tone works, as Dawny and Tellus float in the lower atmosphere, combining his telepathy with her tracking powers to track Alastor, also allowing her a birds-eye view of everything that happens in the issue.  After last issues weirdness involving his powers, Timber Wolf once again is the motive force within the story, and Tyroc and Wildfire (never shown to be friends, or even really interact all that much) have a wonderful bad-@$$ moment in the middle of the issue wherein they quickly and efficiently end a standoff with police.  I have to admit that the conversations between them were the absolute pinnacle of this issue, especially as Tyroc kept stopping his end to utilize his sonic powers and keep himself aloft.  Pete Woods does an excellent job with the art throughout the issue, making me wish that he was drawing a full-scale all-out LSH title, especially given his gorgeous Dawnstar (and the only successful costume I can remember Tyroc EVER having.)

ALIENS IN THE ATMOSPHERE!

Given that this is one of the only titles that is allowed to overtly reference the past (or, more to the point, the future) before the relaunch, it’s interesting to see that even these characters are getting slightly new takes on their lives.  Dawnstar and Tellus manage to find Alastor (and the image of Dawnstar superimposed on a starfield is superb) and ignore the advice of their teammates by engaging him directly.  Fabian’s work on New Warriors back in the day was marked by his tendency to make even the villain’s perspectives understandable, and he does that with Alastor here.  There’s a cameo appearance from an old standby (though not, it should be noted, a standby from the Legion’s history, or even the DCU) while the issue ends with another revelation about Alastor’s power-set.  Here’s a hint:  Luornu should sue for gimmick infringement.  Either way, it’s a nicely balanced issue with action, some nice discussion, a resurrection of sorts and some fun character work from Timber Wolf, Tyroc and Wildfire (which, I believe, was also a touring funk band of the late seventies…)

THE VERDICT: WELL-DRAWN AND ENGAGING…

Long story short?  This one is good.  Legion Lost is some of the most successful LSH storytelling since Geoff Johns brought the original team back in Action Comics some years ago, and the use of a limited group of Legionnaires has seldom been so versatile.  I’m still a little bit unclear on what Alastor is doing or what he wants, but this issue reveals a little more about his motivation and backstory, all the while emphasizing Dawnstar’s alien nature and alienation.  Just the fact that Tyroc has been cool as hell has this series on the positive side of the ledger for me, but add to that some truly pretty art, and you’ve got a winner on your hands.  Legion Lost #4 is good stuff, building on the momentum of the relaunch to tell a fresh story, earning a very strong 4 out of 5 stars overall.  If you’ve wondered what happened to the best parts of 90’s comic storytelling, this issue might be a good place to start looking…

Faithful Spoilerite Question Of The Day:  Do you think there’s any justification for my hope that Gates will return?