LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1: Dawning of a New Age.

A new future inspired by The Man of Tomorrow is here! The future that was promised, however, isn’t how it was meant to be, as heroes are outlawed and The Persuaders are on every corner, ready to enforce the rules and keep everyone in check. RJ Brande, the universe’s last bit of hope, has been mysteriously murdered on top of it all. Now it is up to Braniac 1 of 5 to assemble a legion of superheroes to not only solve the murder but restore hope!

Creative Team: Joshua Williamson, Hayden Sherman, Tamra Bonvillain, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

The Story:

This is a futuristic and highly anticipated story by an all-star team that has had my attention since it was announced. A universe where heroes are outlawed intrigues me so much and has so many questions needing to be answered. Superman was a legend, and in this case, Superboy is the legend people still look up to, so what happened? How did this come about? I know there will be answers, but it’s one of those things that hooks us into the story. Williamson is no stranger to a larger collection of heroes, as he has many titles under his belt, and reviving this franchise has the right team behind it. Spinning out of this murder mystery where Braniac 1 and his bodyguard Tenzil are attempting to solve the murder of R.J. Brande has made me want to read into the various versions of Braniac. When a story introduces characters that instantly intrigue me enough to go find other works, that’s how I know a writer is doing an incredible job. There is a solid foundation laid out and some personal homework I need to do, but I will be checking out the next issue that’s for sure.

The Art:

Hayden Sherman and the way they craft panels and introduce so many fine and intricate lines within the art need to be discussed far more in the community. This issue is an artistic spectacle right from the jump. Every page introduces a variety of artistic ideas that left me in awe, whether it was featuring split panels, pages with fractured-like panels, or so many complicated-looking designs; there was something new to gawk at on every single page. Tamra’s work with the variety of coloring and the way Tamra was able to get eye-popping colors into even the hardest and tightest of spaces shows a tandem that is in sync. Visually, this is one of the more stunning books that I have read this year and complex at that. Even Hassan manages to get crafty with the lettering, whether there is a blur effect jumbling some words and aiding in crafting the mystery or the robotic, matter-of-fact tone of voice Braniac uses. The art team should be taking a bow, and don’t be surprised to see this issue up for every art award there is in the community.

Final Thoughts:

Legion of Super-Heroes #1 is something complex and dystopian as it brings about a world where powers and heroes are outlawed. The art is nothing short of stunning, while Joshua Williamson weaves a tale that will sit with the reader and truly made me think about it for a while. I’ve got some homework to do coming out of this issue, which is a good thing as the team has made me want to learn more about these characters and their histories. Give it a try; this is truly unique and has a Mad Max-type of feeling to it that I will come back to next issue.

Overall Grade: 9.3/10

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