From the Desk of the Liquid Engineer

I never really got into The Legion of Superheroes comic book series, in any of its incarnations, through no fault of its own. It’s just…some of the set up turned me off. I like to fall in love with characters and get attached to them, and that’s just hard to do with a series that’s got dozens and dozens of heroes, at least in book form. It made casual reading difficult for me, because every time I tried to pick up an issue and get into it, I’d not recognize half the characters. And finally, I think one of the things that really turned me off was the idea that it was the 30th/31st century, which meant that all the regular DCU heroes I loved were dust on the wind. The idea of superheroes aging into their twilight is a major turnoff for me, and one of the reasons I never really loved Batman Beyond, even if it did have its moments.

Having said that, I’ve caught the last few eps of the new Legion TV Series, and I’m really digging it. It takes a JLU-style approach of a core cast that makes regular appearances along with guest-star Legionnaires, which keeps me from feeling overwhelmed, and there’s not 50+ years of continuity to get bogged down in. In short, it’s accessible for the casual viewer, which I count myself as even though I’m neck deep in the mainline DCU. It’s also a lot of fun, so I don’t consciously dwell on the fact that it’s the 4th millinium and all my favorite heroes are dead. Most of all, though, it’s a really character driven show and even the bit-player heroes are given enough depth and handled with enough seriousness that I can’t help getting attached to them. To the point, even, that I wish some of them could be pulled into the mainline DCU, because I want to see them played off their 20th century predecessors, and their animated versions are just so much less screwed up and weighted down than their comic counterparts. Brainiac 5 and Tim Drake (before the canon screwed him up). Secret and Triplicate Girl. Bart Allen and Matter Eater Lad. Triplicate Girl and Killa Nilla (this is not a typo). The list goes on, and gets weirder, because I’m wicked nuts. These interactions would rule, and I can say that secure in the knowledge that it’s not just my crossover kink egging me on.

I include now a brief list of a few of my favorite Legionnaires, in no particular order. I should note that I’ve researched in depth their comic counterparts, and can say for certain if the comics had been my sole introduction to these people, I would not now be their lifelong fan, because wowzers, the angst. Not to say I don’t like those who aren’t listed here: I in fact think Timber Wolf rocks, but I’m trying to focus on those who aren’t part of the core team or are in other ways unique.

Because I realize some of my readers may already be bored to tears, the rest of this entry is ensconced underneath a cut.
For those who go on, be aware there are some very slight spoilers ahead. I try to keep them as vague as possible.

[tags]dc comics, legion of superheroes, losh, dcu, batman beyond, justice league unlimited, jlu, brainiac 5, querl dox, robin, tim drake, secret, the secret, greta hayes, the flash, kid flash, bart allen, triplicate girl, luornu durgo, timber wolf, brin londo, matter-eater lad, matter eater lad, tenzil kem, squirrel girl, doreen green, ferro lad, ferro, andrew nolan[/tags]

1. Brainiac 5: What’s there to say? Supergeek genius with body armor and energy weapons. Idolizing Superman as the big brother figure he never had, which is somehow incredibly poignant given this version of Superman knows nothing about how much the original Braniac exists just to screw him over. No android will ever do the wanting to become human thing as well for me as Commander Data, so I’m not just enamoured with that part of his characterization, but it’s nice to know it’s there. I also love how he’s the arbiter of what makes someone really heroic: witness his interactions with this so-called Superman-X clone introduced in the Season 2 premiere. Maybe B5 will have some problems in the future, if Superman-X is telling anything close to the truth, but right now he understands the heroic ideal as defined by a prototypical Superman, and he’s doing his best to follow that example both because he wants to do good and because he wants to atone for Brainiac’s sins. In short, I’m joining my friends on the Brainy Love Train.
2. Matter-Eater Lad: I love superheroes who can take an apparently lame power and be incredibly awesome with it. That’s probably why I’ve sworn undying loyalty and adulation to Squirrel Girl. But even further on the Apparently Useless Power Scale than the Hazelnut Princess* is Matter Eater Lad. Yet, he wins at life, the universe, and everything, because he shows you exactly why being able to eat anything is in fact the most hilariously hardcore superpower ever. Add to that the fact that, at least in his apparances I’ve actually seen, he never speaks, so he’s got the goofy silent type thing going on. Then there’s his costume, which looks homemade (not so much in stitching as aesthetics) and is incredibly cute. It’s like, “I can eat anything, so what if I look a little goofy?” And if that weren’t enough, every time I think of him, I think of Jeffrey Steingarten, author of The Man Who Ate Everything, which is an endlessly entertaining mix of mental images. Matter Eater Lad, I salute you.
3. Ferro Lad**: Being able to turn oneself into a giant metal conductor (specifically iron) may seem passe, what with not one but two versions of Marvel’s Collosus running around, but animated FL is strangely endearing because of his seemingly constant quest to be useful, as he and others view his powers as not being as widely applicable as some of the other heroes’. At least in my case, that endearment was cemented and augmented in his last appearance in the show, which for lack of spoilers I will only say is moving and awesome and shows just how brave and heroic this character is. He reminds me of Spock, in a way.
4. Triplicate Girl: Now, I honestly can’t say why I like Triplicate Girl so much, as I’m really not completely sure. Out of all the Legionaires that I’ve seen, she seems especially down to earth. And this is totally my opinion, but out of all of them, she’s one of the very few that seems to be a human first, and a superhuman second: all the others are so deep into their roles as heroes it sometimes takes a moment to remember there must be times when they’re not in costume, and they refer to themselves by their given names. Not to say that TG isn’t heroic–she is. Her humanity and more importantly failability just don’t seem as suppressed. To put it another way, she’s more committed to using her powers for good and to help others than to remaking herself into a superhero. There’s a subtle difference. This is even reinforced by the fact that her powers aren’t at all unique. She just happens to be the only member of her race to think of using them as she has (explicitly and selflessly for the good of others as a costumed criimefighter/vigilante***). Honestly, I didn’t realize how much I liked her character until she was, for lack of a better term (at least, one that isn’t totally spoilery) grievously and permanently injured in the Season 2 premiere. I remember sitting in front of my TV and going “Did they just–they can’t do that to Triplicate Girl! That’s terrible! Oh my God!” Maybe if I had been into the comics I would’ve been prepared for it, but it totally blind-sided me. I’m anxiously awaiting part two on Saturday. I just hope she isn’t removed from the show or turned all emo-angst-cakes on us.

*I just made this up right now, and yes, you can shoot me later.
**Why is everyone in the future a Lad, or a Boy? It’s like, so 1970s, and mildly disturbing. I keep waiting for the appearance of Hydro Chum, or something.
***It’s a big stretch calling any member of the Legion a vigilante. They’re like, sanctioned by the government and kinda like a corporation/business in a way. Given that I’m so into the idea of those who have to work outside (but never above) the law, this is probably another reason I’ve never really gotten into them before now.

You may have noticed I didn’t link to any of my Legion All-Stars profiles on Wikipedia or a similar site. As I said, most of them have half a century of history behind them, and they’re far too overwrought and angsty (and in some cases retired) for my tastes. Stick with the animated continuity and bring in elements of the comics unless you’re willing to go into full scale, buy-every-issue-and-a-lot-of-back-issues madness. My wallet flatly told me we weren’t doing that.

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