eldarwannabe

I like Geoff Johns a lot, actually. He's a crazy fanboy, and sometimes I think that crazy fanboys shouldn't be given certain properties (LET THE CHARACTERS DO NEW THINGS, STOP REHASHING) but as comic books are an increasingly niche medium full of people that go "YAY" over cameos and sly winks from the writers (guilty!) that's going to happen anyway. And I really do like a lot of his stories.

But...he's going to be writing Superboy. And while I understand that character growth mean that my favorite Superboys of look-I-have-my-own-series-and-control-my-own-life and the Young Justice incarnation are irrevocably gone.

But his name is KON-EL. Not Conner. First of all, there's already a Connor in the DCU (Green Arrow II) and secondly, he didn't use Conner as his pseudonym last time he went undercover, there's no reason for him to do it now. (There's also no reason for him to be forced to conform to the life of a normal teen - he's not normal, he never was. Conner is his secret identity, Superboy is his real identity (reverse of Clark/Superman and he lived for years on his own before suddenly being forced into the teen pidgeonhole.)

Yes, this is a ridiculous pet peeve of mine. Yes, I need to let it go, there are much bigger problems in comic books.

It just drives me SOOO crazy.

Also, Batgirl.

http://comics.ign.com/articles/983/983030p1.html

I'm not saying that you can't expand the Bat-franchise if you want to, DC. In fact, it's been done successfully before. But you have a very bad habit of trying to revert to the silver age status quo constantly, you have mishandled/ignored/killed MANY of the Batfamily expansion pack, and (someone needs to say this) Gotham is JUST ONE CITY. It shouldn't need quite this many heroes, honestly. If we're really supposed to believe the Bludhaven pitch, I think a couple of heroes should migrate down the turnpike and help out there (if it's not still an irradiated mess. Don't get me started.)

So really, DC, stop this right now. Your time would be better spent building up some of the Wonder Woman cast so we can really believe you when you sell the "Trinity" concept to me. 'Cause I'm not buying it (LITERALLY).

Plus, what exactly are you planning to do with Cass anyway?

It really makes a lot of sense for the threeboot Legion to be from Earth-prime. It has been established in their continuity that they have the same comic books that we read today, and the premise of Earth-prime it that it's just like our Earth, but with a Superboy.

So, with a little handwaving, threeboot Leigon is inspired by Superboy (the only superhero of their Earth) and the idealism of superhero comic books from the 21st century. Cool.

Except for the whole "Earth-prime was destroyed in the Crisis!" Isn't the whole point that Superboy-prime doesn't have a homeworld to return to!? I admit to not having payed a lot of attention to the more recent (ie: that past 4 years) development in crises because they were coming fast 'n furious and not always easy to follow.

But like I said. Handwaving all around.

Animated DC shows are taking a new turn, as displayed by The Batman, and Superman and the Legion of Super Heroes. The animation style of both is a sharp turn from the "classic" animaated style of the old Batman, Superman and Justice League, which mangaed to hold a cohesive plot line throughout all the seperate shows. Now, I thought that was awesome. And I really liked the animation style of these shows. I HATED The Batman when it first permeried and I watched a couple of episodes. I stopped watching, but I've heard it's gotten a lot better from what it was.

But I'm not here to talk about The Batman, or even the direction of the animated DCU, because I don't have the time. I'm really here to talk about the Legion of Super Heroes show.

Now, there was a precedent set for the Legion of Super Heroes in the animated DCU in both Superman and in Justice League Unlimited, where they show up and everyone goes to the future and Yay!. But in this new show, all of that continuity is erased. In fact, while it should have been Superboy and the Legion of Super Heroes, it becomes Superman and the Legion of Super Heroes. I hate lawsuits.

Anyway, the first episode was eh-eh. I noe of the characters were really fleshed out, Cosmic Boy was no where to be found. and the art style was a shock. The second episode was cool, but a bit odd considering Timber Wolf was in the opening animation from episode one. And Triplicate Girl disapeared. And Saturn Girl kept fainting. "Oh, I am the damsel. Watch me faint at the most inconvenient times!" But I did find the plot pretty deep considering the age group the show is aimed at, which made me happy.

The third episode was awesome. Alexis *coughLUTHORcough* was awesome! Her characterization was a teenage, girly version of Lex, her hair falling out was the most unsubtle hint ever and Brainy! Oh, Brainy! Even if you are a robot, I love you! And it only got better from there.

This show is chock full of happy little fannish moments. For instance, Garth Ranzz, aka Lightning Lad. First, his older brother (Mekt) shows up, and they act all snarky and jealous of each other. I can't wait until Mekt reappears as Lightning Lord and attempt to kick Legion butt, as subtly hinted at in the episode. But my favorite moment by far has to be the bit in episode five when we see Garth's room. There are TWO beds. A blue and a pink. Naturally, Garth claims the blue as his own. Now, we never see who sleeps in the other bed, but us fans know the truth-Ayla! Garth's twin sister. I had such a fan moment when I saw that second bed.

The art style has been growing on it, and I've become quite fond of it, actually. The stories have been showing progressive depth and wit, and the rotating cast gives each episode a fresh tone. (But where is Cosmic Boy, dammit!?)

"Perhaps if I think hard enough, Saturn Girl will notice my brain-waves"
-Brainiac 5

In conlusion, a snippet of a ( Harry Potter plot bunny (don't ask> )