Reviewer: John Babos
Story Title: Superboy and the Legion – Part One
Written by: Geoff Johns
Penciled by: Mike McKone
Inked by: Marlo Alquiza
Colored by: Jeromy Cox
Lettered by: Comicraft
Associate Editor: Tom Palmer Jr.
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC
DC’s 31rst Century Legion (of Super-Heroes) comes head-to-head with the 21rst Century Teen Titans… with Superboy torn between 2 worlds, 2 times, and too many villains.
Penciler Mike McKone returns to the TT with this issue and brings team MVP Robin (Tim Drake) with him as writer Geoff Johns explains how Conner Kent, Superboy, ended up in the 31rst Century a few months back in Legion #25 during that title’s Foundations arc – the trade paperback of that arc should be on stands now with the below cover…
In Foundations Superboy ended up in the future with no recollection of how and when he came from. This was the plot device that allowed the character to be both the TT and Legion series monthly, although clearly out-of-time in the latter title.
TT #16 explains the “when” and “how” Superboy traveled to the 31rst Century… as the 21rst Century boy of steel swaps places with his 31rst Century self care-of the Legion foe Persuader of the Fatal Five . There clearly is a head spinning space-time paradox / chicken-and-egg problem here, but suspend your disbelief for that one point (major as it is) as the rest of the story is quite engaging. It’s a remarkable human and emotion-filled tale for a sci-fi cross-time adventure.
There are some fanboy moments in TT #16 as the Titans sport Legion flight rings that time-displaced Titan Kid Flash immediately notices and understands as significant – he’s from the 31rst Century after all and reveres his heroes: the Legion.
This story has it all. Action. Drama. Solid pencils. Dynamic lettering. Vibrant coloring.
TT #16 leads directly into a concluding one-shot that was supposed be out this Wednesday, Teen Titans / Legion Special, but has been pushed back a week to a October 6th release date…
TT #16 is a creative masterstroke by all involved. Clearly a solid team effort with everyone performing at their peak. Excellent and highly recommended!
