We needed to slow down a bit as preceding issues were at a break neck pace. And if we are going to spend time with these characters for quite some time, we needed a back story. Well done Mr. Bendis and the gang! Read Full Review

I've always liked the concept of the Legion, although certainly the book hasn't always been a "must buy" for me. Read Full Review

It's an intriguing issue that works to better establish the characters we're going to be spending most of this run with. Read Full Review

Legion of Super-Heroes #4 is without a doubt the best issue of the series so far, and that's not saying much, really, however, Bendis FINALLY leans into the characterization and makes Imra, Rokk and Garth feel real. This should've been done in issue #1. With this issue, Bendis FINALLY creates a connection for readers and promises some hope for the future. Read Full Review

I've read and experience what feels like a million different Legion origins over the decades and it all blurs even when presented with something new. I think it's done well enough even though it's focused in short-form style and I don't mind that because this series is just too big and sprawling to get mired down in background stories just yet. But that's the problem because without getting into the weeds it's going to feel superficial. Read Full Review

Overall, I found Legion of Super-Heroes #4 to be an enjoyable book. It succeeds in introducing several key Legion characters on a more personal level, even though this comes at the cost of once again stalling the main narrative. As long as you are ready for a slower burn, character-driven story, I think there is a lot to enjoy in Legion of Super-Heroes #4. Read Full Review

This issue balances the big and the small without ever tripping over its own ambitions, which are just beginning to feel appropriately grandiose. Read Full Review

This is an engaging retelling of the classic Legion origin, but it just needed that little extra oomph Read Full Review

This issue was a decent step in fleshing out the Legion, but Bendis dependency on dragging out so many plot points keeps the title feeling very unfocused. Read Full Review

Bendis has set this series up for some fascinating answers, but we don't get them quite yet. That's a little frustrating, but overall the issue is enjoyable. Read Full Review

There is a great story here but my fear is that its potential will escape Bendis, much like Aquaman's trident abruptly escapes the possession of the Legion at the end of this issue - (interrupting both Superboy's orientation and the reader's welcomed enlightenment on the backstory of this beloved team).  Given how much time was focused on the first three issues on acquiring the trident, having it stolen back by unknown forces off-panel is frustrating, to say the least. Nonetheless, “Long Live the Legion”.  My Frichtman tag says “Comic Boom” and I award this issue a:  Read Full Review

Ryan Sook and Mikel Janin do great work with the art in this issue. They take the visuals and make them awesome to look at, but there is nothing going on in this story that lets the art shine. Read Full Review

Despite some cosmetic changes, Brian Michael Bendis' foray into his new spin on the Legion's origin feels more compulsory than inspired. The art is still great, but a mere four issues in, and this title suddenly feels like it's treading water. Read Full Review

We are officially past the point where the Orientation gag is any fun, but there's a lot of information and interesting world-building to be had in these pages, even if the pacing/presentation isn't to my liking. Read Full Review

Bendis doesn't have a feel for these characters and it shows. Ryan Sook and Janin are great artists but their artwork can't save this book. Read Full Review

If you like zero character work, a story as thin as rice paper, zero plot lines and no plot progression all wrapped up in a bunch of dad jokes then Legion of Super-Heroes #4 is the comic for you. For everyone else? Avoid Legion of Super-Heroes #4. There is literally nothing in this issue that would even be worth a .25 cent cover price let alone a $4.00 cover price. Read Full Review

This is a very difficult series for me. I've been reading Legion stories since the late 60's and have went through good (Mike Grell) and bad (did not like Legion Lost at all). I' still having a problem with Lightning Lad. It's just not him. So far the characterization is weird and I can't get past the needless cosmetic changes. With the 4th issue, we got back stories. Amazingly Saturn Girl's was too shallow. Conceptually intriguing, but just bland. Cosmic Boy's was still a familiar character, the cosmetic change was still close enough to not be bothersome. Lightning Lad though, was just too different. I liked Lightning Lass for some reason. I just feel Lightning Lad was a wuss that basically followed the group and got bullied non-stop. I never felt dislike for a character that basically is DC's version of Peter Parker to me. Someone point me to an article why they've destroyed Lightning Lad, please. The 'new' R.J. Brande was really creepy. She? It? felt like the vampire character from Green Lantern Blackstars. Ick for looks and character. As for art in Issue 4, I was a little let down. Actually for the series so far, the layouts and angles are bland. I loved Keith Giffen's style before he went wherever he went. In some places I had an odd art feel of Gray Morrow. New Earth is very jarring, but it's going to be like how Dave Cockrum's designs were simplified after he left. I don't think most artists will be able to keep the designs going for long. more

Points docked for the confusing stuff set in the present that bookends the origin story. And for maybe overplaying the "teens want to change the world" stuff in Garth's part of the story.

But the art is stellar - Janin is the best, period - and that moment when the founders go into action for the first time brought a tear of fanboy joy to my eyes.

Prelude:
Time for more Bendis and the Legion. Let's see how it goes.

The Good:
As always Ryan Sook's art was great.

Getting some backstories is good.

The Bad:
Bendis Speak.

Everyone sounds the exact same.

Rather boring too.

Conclusion:
Usual Legion stuff but it was nice to get some origins here.

Just another ingredient in Bendis' patented goop. On Sale Now.

While I like the final cliffhanger and idea behind it, I can't stop thinking that Bendis just wasted everyone's time coming up with some of the least inspired, generic origin stories out there. With Imra, it's literally "oh, I'm going to college, cool". I wish I was kidding, but it really feels that bland. I wouldn't be urprised if we were dealing with a dozen new characters, and some of them lacked good story behind, but with merely 3 protagonists, it is simply unforgivable.
Maybe the next issue will feature something worth following, hopefully this month's twist won't go to total waste, since I see potential in it... but I wouldn't hold my breath.

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• myconius

myconius - Feb 19, 2020

YEESH! so this was what Bendis ruined Jon Kent for? ...nice going Bendis!!

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This is not a very good comic. I’d say it’s not a good story, but... what story?

This crap will never make the grade and this version of the LSH will join all the other reboots in the dustbin of history. The art is quite good though.

This, to put it simply, just isn't good.

As I've stated before, the Legion is my favorite group in all of comics, but this isn't the Legion. I don't understand the need to pander and change the characters so much.

Usually when the backstory of a character is expanded on, it adds to them and showcases more of who they are. All this is issue does is elaborate on the “secret origins” of the 3 so-called “leaders” of the Legion.

Thing is, this simple premise is botched completely. Somehow each of the leaders feel like less of a character and just a pointless addition to the roster than before.

The actual information added from the multiple pages of this issue expanding on character story could be fit into a small blurb in a character introduction.

This is lowest tier writing. I kinda question why I even read it, because it’s a waste of time and NOTHING HAPPENS.

Bendis needs to go!!!!! The absolute worst story writer in history of comics