Utopia and the success of the Legion of Superheroes

[Jefferson l.o.b Sergeant]

In most comicbook depictions of the future the dominant image is one of a dystopia, DAYS OF FUTURE PAST being the most prominent.

The Legion throught its many versions has always maintained the youthful optimism presented from their Silver Age debut. When the backdrop is one of galactic utopia it seems to lack the conflict that drives so many other adventure stories.

I have to wonder if the Utopia of the 31st Century is exactly the thing that keeps the LSH from thriving for an extended period?

Thoughts.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

In most comicbook depictions of the future the dominant image is one of a dystopia, DAYS OF FUTURE PAST being the most prominent.

The Legion throught its many versions has always maintained the youthful optimism presented from their Silver Age debut. When the backdrop is one of galactic utopia it seems to lack the conflict that drives so many other adventure stories.

I have to wonder if the Utopia of the 31st Century is exactly the thing that keeps the LSH from thriving for an extended period?

Thoughts.

Wow....you really don't seem to know much of the Legion of Superheroes history. Beyond some early versions of a "utopia future setting" the Legion has suffered painful loss with team mates and having even the entire planet once turn against them.

The Giffen LSH run had this happen as the Dominators were pushing to take over Earth. In a grim future the LSH have to re-unite whats left and win. Plus watch as Earth is destroyed.

Its not so much a peaceful utopia . There are wars , plagues and death. Even if its the future.

[Jefferson l.o.b Sergeant]

Wow....you really don't seem to know much of the Legion of Superheroes history. Beyond some early versions of a "utopia future setting" the Legion has suffered painful loss with team mates and having even the entire planet once turn against them.

The Giffen LSH run had this happen as the Dominators were pushing to take over Earth. In a grim future the LSH have to re-unite whats left and win. Plus watch as Earth is destroyed.

Its not so much a peaceful utopia . There are wars , plagues and death. Even if its the future.

I know a lot about the Legion's history actually.

Despite the 5 year gap and The death of Karate Kid, the overall setting for the LSH is one of unity and a general utopian view of the future. While you have a natural dynamic of conflict to propel stories between good and evil, for the most part; the 31st Century of the Legion is the most optimistic setting of any comic oustide of GENERATIONS.

Think about the eras that truly define the Legion: Shooter, Levitz, Giffen, you can see that its unlike any of the futures seen in mainstream comics.

Look at DKR, The END series from Marvel, FUTURE IMPERFECT, KINGDOM COME etc. I think the distinction is pretty clear.

[WorstThingUS]

Wouldn't a successful book still be running?

[Joe Acro]

Wouldn't a successful book still be running?

It had the numbers to continue going.

Creative differences killed it.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I know a lot about the Legion's history actually.

Despite the 5 year gap and The death of Karate Kid, the overall setting for the LSH is one of unity and a general utopian view of the future. While you have a natural dynamic of conflict to propel stories between good and evil, for the most part; the 31st Century of the Legion is the most optimistic setting of any comic oustide of GENERATIONS.

Think about the eras that truly define the Legion: Shooter, Levitz, Giffen, you can see that its unlike any of the futures seen in mainstream comics.

Look at DKR, The END series from Marvel, FUTURE IMPERFECT, KINGDOM COME etc. I think the distinction is pretty clear.

I don't see Earth's destruction as a "peaceful Utopia" setting. LSH future is a little like Star Treks in a way. There are thiusands of planets and races , they all are part of the Federation and there is the rogues like the Klingons , Romulans etc etc. In the LSH its lthe Knunds and Dominators ....

Wouldn't a successful book still be running?

Basically its the changes at DC that really hamper the series at most turns. This is a group that pushed Superboy from his own title , and took it over. Then DC saw a chance to cash in on the direct market and did the Baxter series and kept it going awhile.

Then once Superboy was removed from the DCU history due to Crisis , Giffen & DC decided they needed to get as far from mentioning Superboy as possible and did a 5 years later relaunch. But that too got bogged down to more strict DC edicts that Superboy no longer be mentioned !

So at some point DC realized they had wrote that current LSH into a hole and needed an escape plan so they basically ...ended them. Doing a Superman style revamp and started over at square 1 on LSH. And that ran for 10+ years and had 3 books and mini-series and did well.

But Infinite Crisis came along and DC decided that the LSH needed another Superman style revamp. And that series started off well with Mark Waid and soon Jim Shooter coming on. And make no mistake...Jim Shooter kicked ASS on LSH. He brought his A-Game to that book.

Then DC editoral decided , hey ya know that 1st LSH that existed from 1960's-1994 ...well lets bring them back. And sorry Jim , even though you are doing a very good LSH and have a big 18+ isssue epic arc your gonna do , BYE BYE.

Its time for the Old LSH to return ! Good-bye LSH of Earth 3.