CBR: Levitz Discusses Dominators and the "Legion of Super-Heroes"

[CBR News]

"Legion of Super-Heroes" writer Paul Levitz spoke with CBR News about the Dominators, Dragonwing, the series' upcoming guest artists and more.


Full article here.

[CMBMOOL]

Outside not being able to travel into the past, what other affects did Flashpoint caused to the Legion timeline ?

[Spidey Sense]

Interested in the Lightle issues. What an awesome artist. His Flash really stands out.

[doordoor123]

Heres how to get me to read your book:
Introduce a few characters. And sure it can be about seven. Give me time to get to know them. Sure three issues is enough. Make those seven that I met the main characters in every story. At least until the second arc. You can hint other "heroes" before the second arc but nothing more. Then introduce maybe two more heroes for the second arc. Make sure we get to know them though. It can be very simple if they are stereotypes. i.e. a clumsy comedic character or a quiet bad boy type character. Once we get to know them for an arc we have nine characters we can use that I will know. From there you can slowly introduce more with cameos and slowly introduce them more into the comic. Make sure there are two or three characters that everything revolves around though. Like Cyclops and Wolverine.
You can have a crappy story but if the character is there, I'll read your book. Heck! I'll read any book with good character. I haven't read one Legion of Superheroes book with good character. Good luck with that!

[El Sombrero]

Interview didn't really say much but this has been a really solid series so far.

[Island Summer]

If there is any doubt that the series is good again, reread issues 1-4 in one sitting. It's just like the last time Levitz was at the helm of the book.

This long-time fan is quite satisfied, and the occasional guest artist on 'done-in-one' stories is a dream come true.

[semicyon]

Heres how to get me to read your book:
Introduce a few characters. And sure it can be about seven. Give me time to get to know them. Sure three issues is enough. Make those seven that I met the main characters in every story. At least until the second arc.

Well, that sort of IS what Levitz' run in Adventure Comics was with the Legion Academy: Six new-ish characters without much backstory (Comet Queen was older but she was also a minor character that had been mindwiped) and different established LoSH brought in, primarily as instructors. After Flashpoint rebooted the numbering on the various series, four of those six characters (Glorith, Comet Queen, Chemical Kid, and Dragonwing) continue on as ones new readers can explore at the same time as older readers.

[ultraaman]

Something is just not gelling with me since this version of the LSH came back 2 years ago. I was in the middle regarding the pre-Flashpoint version and I'm still there.

I'm not sure what is missing. I can tell you that I was underwhelmed by this first story arc. It didn't feel like a debut or an introduction of any sort which I felt was really needed. I've been reading LSH since 1978 so I don't need a primer on the characters but this book should have kicked off with a grander re-introduction and instead what we got was LSH V.6 #17.

And I've got some significant issues with some of the story elements:
#1) 7 Legionnaires are dead yet no one seems to really care except for a few random comments - but Earth Man gets a statue in Shangalla? Of course we know they are stuck in the 21st Century but the LSH doesn't know that which is why I would think this a great story point that should be explored and it has been shuffled off to the side.

#2) I simply don't buy the idea that people INEXPERIENCED with both their powers and working as a team would be called into Legion membership regardless of the depletion in ranks caused by the loss of 7 members. The very notion that they are not in complete command of their powers should negate them from joining.

Why isn't the Legion reaching out to the homeworlds of these lost Legionnaires for suitable replacements? Even if they were turned down that would make a whole lot more sense, and a more interesting story, then these children joining.

#3) As for the replacements themselves, I only like Glorith because she is interesting, magical, and linked to Black Witch and Blok who I both miss. I'm on the fence about Comet Queen, the same as I was the last time she joined. Dragonmage is Ravager-lite and I don't like the others powers or personalities. Why does everyone who works with the Legion have to be a member?

And I don't like the art. There I said it. It's like reading a comic from the 80's - that's not a compliment.

Levitz familiarity with the Legion is turning into a drawback. He's trying to give us too many character moments all at once and it is distracting. Take a small number of characters, focus on them for a few issues with 1-2 minor asides max, then switch it up and do it again, then again, then do a big story that hits everyone.

[Lexor7]

Levitz's return to the Legion a few years ago was my first exposure to the team and I've really enjoyed it. The "new 52" launch has been a solid continuation (though I could see how it might confuse new readers). I think I'd be more lost now if I just jumped on board at the new 52 then I am having read the past two years of LSH & Adventure Comics as it feels like a continuation Vs a new start (like Batman & Green Lantern).

For me the best part of Levitz coming back to Legion is the new hardcover reprints of his first run in the 80s. I never read those issues before, and I devoured both collections that have been released. Really, really good stuff.

[Zero Hunter]

Why isn't the Legion reaching out to the homeworlds of these lost Legionnaires for suitable replacements? Even if they were turned down that would make a whole lot more sense, and a more interesting story, then these children joining.

If you look most of the missing Legionaires are unique to their races. The only ones that aren't are Tellus and Chameleon Girl, and they have Cham there to fill her role plus I think Tellus is much more powerful than the other members of his species. Gates, Tyroc, Wildfire, Dawnstar, Timber Wolf are all different from anyone else.

[CyberCoyote]

Ridonkulously cool avatar there, Zero Hunter.

[MajorHoy]

I'm glad we'll see a mix of longer and shorter stories in this title.

As an older reader, I get really tired of the modern conceit that story arcs have to be six-or-seven issues (at least!) just so they can be collected in a tpb or hardcover collection down the line, no matter how much padding or additional pretty-but-not-really-needed splash pages you have to add to the story.