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Because drhayes demanded it (and who says we don't listen to our readers?), DC Comics have released some more information about the Legion of Super-Heroes-related tie-in to summer blockbuster Final Crisis. Called Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds, the five-part series aims to tell a story that "is epic in its scope [going] across the universe, all across Earth, across time and space," according to writer Geoff Johns. Learn more under the jump.
A series that will not only tie in with the eight-part Final Crisis series that runs the entirety of DC history from the first boy on Earth to the last (Yes, Anthro and Kamandi will both appear), but also celebrate the Legion's 50th anniversary and sort out once and for all what's going on with all those multiple versions of the same characters may look like a tall order for most people, considering that that would mean upwards of 50 characters to deal with. Unless, apparently, you're Geoff Johns:
[T]here's a focus on a group of characters. Certain characters will really get the spotlight. A lot of other characters will be in the background. That's what George [Perez, artist on the series as well as 1980s "everyone in the DC universe" series Crisis on Infinite Earths] does. When you have these big epics and you have dozens and dozens of characters, it can get overwhelming, but there's a focus on a group of characters that have their goals and missions that really represent to me the heart of the Legion. And those characters will be getting most of the attention. But everybody will be in there. Just about everybody.
That "just about everybody" includes not just the Legion's regular cast(s), but also Superman-Prime (the nerdy, evil Superboy from Infinite Crisis and The Sinestro Corps War) and Lex Luthor, as well as the final Green Lantern in history. Having a large cast is just part and parcel of the whole "space epic" genre, but Johns doesn't see that as a problem for new readers:
[Y]ou don't have to know anything before you read it. This is Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes vs. Superboy-Prime and the Legion of Super-Villains... [My] goal is to have people cheering for these characters. Some people don't know the Legion yet. Some people don't see the value in the Legion yet. My goal is to have them cheering for them by the end of this. And if you already do know the Legion, you're going to cheer louder.
Expect time-travel, explanations about the mallable nature of reality and lots and lots of punching from the series when it launches in August.
Legion of 3 Worlds, 1: Geoff Johns [Newsarama]
Comments
Will there be a giant worm that can eat time?
I missed the boat with my last, but I may just name my next child after Geoff Johns
Infinite Crisis > 52 > Sinestro Corps > Final Crisis
Suck on that Bendis!
@DeepFriar: Seriously? Infinite Crisis was an absolute mess, while 52 was cool in concept I don't know anyone who actually read it beyond the first month.
The "Universe is in Jeopardy" events that seems to be DC's bread and butter just don't do it for me at all. Since the Original Crisis (which was awesome) DC feels the need to have every event "fix continiuty."
Say what you want about recent Marvel events, but they all worked to make the universe more dynamic, not by "correcting" history, but rather by shifting the status quo. Civil War may not have been perfect but it left the world much more interesting an Secret Invasion looks like it has a lot of potential to really mess with superhero universe.
Epically Epic!
Am I the only one getting sick of that word? It seems anyone who writes five pages these days thinks its epic.
@Ghede: Not to say it doesn't apply in this case.
I read all of 52 and loved it. It was amazing storytelling, and highly compelling across it's entire 52 weekly issues. It also served its business purpose of getting me in the comic shop weekly.
Countdown hasn't been nearly as good, although the last 2 months have been interesting.
I read all of 52 as well, via the novelizations. I certainly can't work up as much enthusiasm as sensenet above, but I thought it was a decent read.
As a major fan of the Legion this is like a wet dream come true. It was a joy to see the old Legion recently in Justice Society and in Action Comics and the current Legion written by Jim Shooter is top notch as well. George Perez on art isn't just a cherry on top - it's sprinkles, nuts, whip cream and 10 cookies. Oh, and you Marvel Zombies, there was already a secret Skrull invasion like 40 years ago - nothing new to see here, just move along.
@loserface: Marvel has its own history fixing going on. They just made things better, didn't piss off fans by destroying the backstory all the sudden, and didn't bother with all the extreme storyline stuff DC put in to legitimize what was, essentially, a move to refresh stale characters and simplify the lives of writers. Marvel's Ultimate books just set the whole thing on another Earth.
Secret Invasion may wind up fixing the continuity errors that exist as well. I've been hearing good things, and Marvel is my choice for the big two, but I haven't read anything in the arc yet.
@Balius: There's no denying that Secret Invasion contains various "continuity fixes" but what I dig about Marvel's approach rather than DC's is that they never set out to completely restart history when things get messy. Instead they create stories that rock the foundation of the characters universe and the characters are affected by these events and have to deal with the ramifications.
Take Civil War vs. Infinite Crisis. Civil War, while admittedly far from perfect, helped make the Marvel Universe a more dynamic and engaging place. The fact that you can have Iron Man and Spider-man both be good guys but on opposite sides of the law and essentially "enemies" is amazing! The world isn't safe, it's believable. With Infinite Crisis, from what I took from it, they explained away years of continuity errors by explaining--in essence--that Superboy Prime was hitting a wall.
In a nutshell (because I am rambling) Marvel events are about characters, DC are about Deus Ex Machina.
The Legion run on Action by Geoff rocked. So if Johns tackles 'em again, I'm there!
That Legion of Three Worlds teaser at the end of Action Comics blew me away. I can't wait for this or Final Crisis.
Also, @loserface: I read all of 52 and you and all you know are missing out on one fun story. When you have the time or the bank, you should definitely check it out.
@Balius: @loserface: Mephisto.
Crsis is the DC no-no word
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