Teenagers from the Future: The Legion Thread

[TimothyCallahan]

This is the place to talk about "Teenagers from the Future: Essays on the Legion of Super-Heroes" or any other Legion-related topics.

If you haven't already picked up your copy of the book, Amazon now has it in stock:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615203221/ref=cm_cmu_up_thanks_hdr

Read it, read anything Legion-esque, and come back here and talk about it.

I'm biased, and I adore everything in "Teenagers from the Future," but I was particularly blown away by Sara Ellis's essay on the architecture of the future. I thought it was a brilliant, insightful piece.

What say you?

[Pól Rua]

I am a huge Legion fan and have been since I was a wee kiddie back in the 70's when I was picking up black and white Aussie reprints of DC Comics.
Back then, I'd get a handful of change to spend on comics, and I had a simple system.
The more superheroes you got in a comic book, the better.

Superman or Batman? Mediocre at best,
World's Finest? Getting better,
An Anthology like Adventure or Super-Action Comics? Better Still,
Justice League? Kickass! (Big Superfriends fan),
Legion of Superheroes? Jackpot!

So many heroes! And strange, new ones I'd never seen before! As a child, I was familiar with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman (from their TV Shows), Aquaman (from Super Friends), and even Green Lantern & The Flash (from a couple of Super Friends guest appearances and their short-lived Filmation cartoons)...

But Ultra Boy? Brainiac 5? Lightning Lad? Wowzers! It was like a candy store for me!

And hell, what kid wouldn't love to (when he finally attained the lofty heights of teenagerdom) have his own flight ring, live in the future, have superpowers and hang out with the coolest friends ever!
And this was before I realized what that funny sensation I'd get looking at some of Dave Cockrum or Mike Grell's drawings of Shadow Lass was.

So yeah, as a kid, I loved the Legion, but slowly, reading their stories, I grew to love their history... oh yes, it's that old devil, continuity... but with the Legion, it was manageable. Because the Legion was separated from the rest of the DC Universe by a thousand years.
So you didn't need to read every DC comic... you just needed to read one!

Unfortunately, this story has a bit of a sad ending, because after collecting and loving the Legion for almost 30 years, I've finally got to the point where I can't be bothered reading the title. Too many reboots have made me aware that the history of the title means nothing and the characters even less. I've got to the point where I can't be bothered trying to keep up because it's turned into a kind of Superhero etch-a-sketch, where if you don't like where something is going, you can just give it a shake and it all goes away.
I'll always keep an eye on it, but I haven't read a Legion comic properly in years now, which is a damn shame.

That said... keep them Showcases coming!

[ejulp]

I'm a recent Legion fan, as of the Action Comics arc a few months back...I'm reading it and I discover exactly why there is a rabid fanbase for this book (oh, and how a Superman comic should feel in compliment to the All Star style).

So yeah, just wanted to say I'm going to look for your book (Borders? or is it just an online order?) as your articles have seemed pretty vibrant and hope (in regards to today's column) that you please do a story on "embarrassing teen fanfic-pitch ideas." I think that anyone here reading this column has tried this, and looks back on it with equal parts embarrassment and fondness.

[TimothyCallahan]

"Teenagers" is available via Amazon.com and other bookstores can order it through their normal bookstore channels.

I SHOULD do a follow-up on "embarrassing teen fanfic," you're right. I could certainly talk about my own bad ideas, and I'll see if I can embarrass any of my other writer friends.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I've got to the point where I can't be bothered trying to keep up because it's turned into a kind of Superhero etch-a-sketch, where if you don't like where something is going, you can just give it a shake and it all goes away.


In a way, it's like the golden and silver age stories of the past, pre-continuity!
So, in a way, it's everything you love!

That said, you should grab the first two trades of the latest reboot, it's one big story and it's quite fun - the start more than the finish, but what can you do?
Obviously, having not read any other Legion bar this, I can't comment on how it holds up comparatively, but on it's own, a good fun read.