Reviewed by: Mathan “Rond Vidar†Erhardt
Story Title: Childhood’s End
Written by: Keith Champagne
Penciled and Inked by: Steve Lightle
Colored by: Sno-Cone
Lettered by: Bill Oakley
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Publisher: DC
Well as everyone should know DC has decided to end the current Legion series and start all over again with a new look at the future. Thus this entire book will be pointless in before the year is out. It’s pretty frustrating to know that the book that you read won’t “matter†this time next year. But perhaps it’s even more frustrating to review that book.
Anyway this issue begins, like all good stories, on Qward the center of the Anti-Matter Universe. Qward is in ruin, they’ve lost their power. But a new leader has risen up and promises to return them to greatness. His name is Lord Thalon. He has a son named Vox.
Vox looks up to his pop, but his pop doesn’t really care about his son, only returning Qward to greatness. It seems Thalon gets his energy from the Legionnaire Wildfire, who is composed of anti-energy. Vox runs afoul with is pop, and goes hiding. There he bumps into some Legionnaires who have been dispatched to save Wildfire.
Vox runs, they chase him. They get in a fight with some Thunderers, and kick some butt. But Thalon stuns the Legionnaires. Karate Kid goes toe to toe with Thalon, and right as Thalon is about to strike down Karate Kid, Vox attacks his father, after discovering his pop isn’t as powerful as he thought. Wildfire emerges from his captivity, looking humanoid, do to the fact that they’re in the anti matter universe, and defeats Thalon.
When they get back to Legion World where Brainy tells Wildfire that do to the energy that was drained from him, Wildfire is that much closer to his energy running out and dying. Meanwhile back on Qward Vox’s hatred of the Legion is growing.
Champagne did a great job with this fill in issue. It’s meant to be disposable but it has some lingering subplots. The Wildfire/energy drain and the potential return of Vox are great ideas; too bad they won’t be utilized. The actual Legionnaires feel like quest stars in the book, as Vox and Thalon are the real stars of the issue. But like I said, this was designed as a fill in book.
Lightle on the Legion is always a great thing. I don’t see enough Lightle period, on covers or anything else, so 22 pages of artwork is a blessing. Everything looks great. Lightle’s attention to detail is still marvelous. The action is perfect, nothing looks cluttered. This could really be the best looking book of the week. Someone needs to get this guy a regular book ASAP.
