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Legion of Super Heroes Volume 1
Warner Bros. // Unrated // August 28, 2007
List Price: $14.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The young hero-themed "Legion of Super Heroes" nicely fills in the hole that was left when "Teen Titans" went off the air last year. Which makes sense, as "Legion" is pretty much "Titans" recast for the 31st century - even if comics fans will be quick to tell you that the "Legion" comic book was created years before "Titans." No matter. Both teams focus on teenage superheroes, and both series, from the seemingly infallible combo of Warner Bros. Animation and DC Comics, supply a terrific mix of colorful action, lighthearted comic relief, and exciting visuals.
The show, which began airing Saturday mornings on the Kids WB! Network in the fall of 2006, updates the Legion team, which, as in the classic comic, is a group of teens fighting crime a thousand years in the future. The comic began as an offshoot of the 1950s "Superboy" line (with the Smallville champion traveling to the far future), and while later incarnations would rework this concept over the decades (including one version featuring Supergirl, who appeared with a slightly different Legion in a popular "Justice League" episode), the cartoon returns to the team's roots. Here, a young Clark Kent is recruited by a Legion in need of help from Earth's greatest hero; the problem is that they went back a little too far and find Clark before he's figured out all his powers. (To avoid legal troubles resulting in the current dispute over ownership of the Superboy character, this series just calls him Superman, even though he's obviously a young, skinny version of the hero.)
With a seemingly endless supply of Legionnaires to use, the series' creators stick mainly with the early roster: hothead leader Lightning Lad, who shoots electricity from his hands; telepathic Saturn Girl; Braniac 5, a super-genius android; Bouncing Boy, whose rotund shape can morph into a giant bouncing ball (!); and Phantom Girl, who can "phase" through solid objects. Also on the team, although not in every episode, are such characters as the werewolf Timber Wolf and Triplicate Girl, who can turn into three of herself.
The series borrows heavily from the clean visual style of the 1990s "Superman" cartoon (itself a streamlining of "Batman") while veering away from the anime influences of "Teen Titans." The result is colorful and simple, in tune with the show's knack for breezy, bright action-comedy.
The series' scripts stick mainly to familiar kids' show territory - one episode has Clark abandoning his friends and later learning his mistake - but the quality of the writing is solid enough that we don't mind the use of formula. The storylines may seem stripped down to clichéd essentials, yet there's enough going on here with the strongly developed characters that the basic structure of the storytelling helps, not hinders, the overall series.
Indeed, for a youth-oriented show, the series finds a commendable amount of time for character growth. Superman is a teen coming to term with his destiny, while other characters have to deal with famous parents, or loneliness, or jealousy, and so on. Even though the stories whiz by, we're still given solid characters, a rarity in this genre and a specialty of Warner/DC.
The show also sticks closely to the comics' heightened use of fantasy and sci-fi elements. This is a natural for the children's cartoon, as it can let loose with the imagination and get away with it - it's "just a kid's show," so why not crank up the more bizarre elements? It helps make this an inventive and engaging adventure, one that seems to genuinely enjoy the thought of exploring wild new worlds.
The DVD
Warner Bros. collects the show's first four episodes onto one disc simply titled "Legion of Super Heroes: Volume 1," set to be released a few weeks before the second season premieres on Kids WB!
There's some minor controversy surrounding this release, as it counts its "first four episodes" in terms of original air date and not by production number. Considering that episode-to-episode continuity does not play a major role during the middle of the first season, this does not seem to be a problem. The episodes included on this disc are:
"Man of Tomorrow." Looking to find a way to defeat the Fatal Five, the Legionnaires travel back to present day Smallville and recruit an awkward, pre-hero Clark Kent. A delightful episode and a perfect introduction to the Legion. The shot of Clark trying on a baggy, ill-fitting Superman costume is a keeper.
"Timber Wolf." The Legionnaires answer a distress call from a mysterious scientist, only to discover he's something of a Dr. Moreau, creating monsters out of his own family. As the title suggests, this episode introduces new teammate Timber Wolf.
"Legacy." Superman befriends a spoiled rich girl, who lures him away from the Legion, just when they need him most. The rich girl's name? Alexis Luthor. Clever!
"Phantoms." Superman accidentally opens the Phantom Zone and unleashes Drax, a villain from the past with all of Superman's own powers - and knowledge of Superman's own weaknesses. Note the smart way the writers avoid any Clark-learns-about-his-own-future entanglements: it's said that all information on Superman was "lost," and only legends remain. Again: clever!
Video & Audio
As usual with Warner Brothers' handling of their TV cartoons, "Legion" looks mostly fantastic, with eye-popping colors and crisp animation - all hindered by the occasional blurriness and jaggedness that arrives during many motion sequences. Presented in its original 1.33:1 broadcast format.
There are no problems to be had with the vibrant Dolby 2.0 soundtrack. A French stereo dub is also available, as are English for the Hearing Impaired subtitles.
Extras
"We Are Legion" is an eight-minute rundown of the comic book and the road to its small screen adaptation. It's fairly light on information and centers mostly on the show's creators talking briefly about how much they like the characters, which, as fluff pieces go, make it par for the course in terms of Warner/DC DVD bonus material.
A collection of previews for other Warner cartoon titles rounds out the set. One of those trailers (for "Chill Out, Scooby-Doo!") also plays as the disc loads; you can skip it if you choose.
Final Thoughts
"Legion" is a fantastic series and a worthy addition to the Warner/DC animated line. And yet we all know that a full season set is bound to be released eventually, and at only a slightly higher price than this collection. Why waste your money now, when all 13 episodes will be yours later? Still, this is an excellent introduction to the series, so those curious about this new show should definitely Rent It to see that the studio's still churning out solid work.
The show, which began airing Saturday mornings on the Kids WB! Network in the fall of 2006, updates the Legion team, which, as in the classic comic, is a group of teens fighting crime a thousand years in the future. The comic began as an offshoot of the 1950s "Superboy" line (with the Smallville champion traveling to the far future), and while later incarnations would rework this concept over the decades (including one version featuring Supergirl, who appeared with a slightly different Legion in a popular "Justice League" episode), the cartoon returns to the team's roots. Here, a young Clark Kent is recruited by a Legion in need of help from Earth's greatest hero; the problem is that they went back a little too far and find Clark before he's figured out all his powers. (To avoid legal troubles resulting in the current dispute over ownership of the Superboy character, this series just calls him Superman, even though he's obviously a young, skinny version of the hero.)
With a seemingly endless supply of Legionnaires to use, the series' creators stick mainly with the early roster: hothead leader Lightning Lad, who shoots electricity from his hands; telepathic Saturn Girl; Braniac 5, a super-genius android; Bouncing Boy, whose rotund shape can morph into a giant bouncing ball (!); and Phantom Girl, who can "phase" through solid objects. Also on the team, although not in every episode, are such characters as the werewolf Timber Wolf and Triplicate Girl, who can turn into three of herself.
The series borrows heavily from the clean visual style of the 1990s "Superman" cartoon (itself a streamlining of "Batman") while veering away from the anime influences of "Teen Titans." The result is colorful and simple, in tune with the show's knack for breezy, bright action-comedy.
The series' scripts stick mainly to familiar kids' show territory - one episode has Clark abandoning his friends and later learning his mistake - but the quality of the writing is solid enough that we don't mind the use of formula. The storylines may seem stripped down to clichéd essentials, yet there's enough going on here with the strongly developed characters that the basic structure of the storytelling helps, not hinders, the overall series.
Indeed, for a youth-oriented show, the series finds a commendable amount of time for character growth. Superman is a teen coming to term with his destiny, while other characters have to deal with famous parents, or loneliness, or jealousy, and so on. Even though the stories whiz by, we're still given solid characters, a rarity in this genre and a specialty of Warner/DC.
The show also sticks closely to the comics' heightened use of fantasy and sci-fi elements. This is a natural for the children's cartoon, as it can let loose with the imagination and get away with it - it's "just a kid's show," so why not crank up the more bizarre elements? It helps make this an inventive and engaging adventure, one that seems to genuinely enjoy the thought of exploring wild new worlds.
The DVD
Warner Bros. collects the show's first four episodes onto one disc simply titled "Legion of Super Heroes: Volume 1," set to be released a few weeks before the second season premieres on Kids WB!
There's some minor controversy surrounding this release, as it counts its "first four episodes" in terms of original air date and not by production number. Considering that episode-to-episode continuity does not play a major role during the middle of the first season, this does not seem to be a problem. The episodes included on this disc are:
"Man of Tomorrow." Looking to find a way to defeat the Fatal Five, the Legionnaires travel back to present day Smallville and recruit an awkward, pre-hero Clark Kent. A delightful episode and a perfect introduction to the Legion. The shot of Clark trying on a baggy, ill-fitting Superman costume is a keeper.
"Timber Wolf." The Legionnaires answer a distress call from a mysterious scientist, only to discover he's something of a Dr. Moreau, creating monsters out of his own family. As the title suggests, this episode introduces new teammate Timber Wolf.
"Legacy." Superman befriends a spoiled rich girl, who lures him away from the Legion, just when they need him most. The rich girl's name? Alexis Luthor. Clever!
"Phantoms." Superman accidentally opens the Phantom Zone and unleashes Drax, a villain from the past with all of Superman's own powers - and knowledge of Superman's own weaknesses. Note the smart way the writers avoid any Clark-learns-about-his-own-future entanglements: it's said that all information on Superman was "lost," and only legends remain. Again: clever!
Video & Audio
As usual with Warner Brothers' handling of their TV cartoons, "Legion" looks mostly fantastic, with eye-popping colors and crisp animation - all hindered by the occasional blurriness and jaggedness that arrives during many motion sequences. Presented in its original 1.33:1 broadcast format.
There are no problems to be had with the vibrant Dolby 2.0 soundtrack. A French stereo dub is also available, as are English for the Hearing Impaired subtitles.
Extras
"We Are Legion" is an eight-minute rundown of the comic book and the road to its small screen adaptation. It's fairly light on information and centers mostly on the show's creators talking briefly about how much they like the characters, which, as fluff pieces go, make it par for the course in terms of Warner/DC DVD bonus material.
A collection of previews for other Warner cartoon titles rounds out the set. One of those trailers (for "Chill Out, Scooby-Doo!") also plays as the disc loads; you can skip it if you choose.
Final Thoughts
"Legion" is a fantastic series and a worthy addition to the Warner/DC animated line. And yet we all know that a full season set is bound to be released eventually, and at only a slightly higher price than this collection. Why waste your money now, when all 13 episodes will be yours later? Still, this is an excellent introduction to the series, so those curious about this new show should definitely Rent It to see that the studio's still churning out solid work.
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