The Legion & Clark: Best Friends Forever

[jlroberson.insanejournal.com]

From the the end of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's Legion of Super-Heroes story, Action Comics #863. Regardless of my criticism of his writing, it's scenes like this, of convincing humanity and warmth, that make certain I always have time for him. It also follows Grant Morrison's insight that Superman's story is in a way, everyone's internal story. And the Legion are "the Friends That Understood You When Others Didn't." It's not that easy to wrote moments like this that are sentimental, but genuinely so. This scene might not so so much tell you about Clark, and his friends and his childhood, but about you. And yours. And what we miss when we grow older.

Comments

[taggerung301.insanejournal.com]

awww, damn that's cute

[lieut_kettch.insanejournal.com]

Just realised Garth (and I guess Ayla too) is yet another "L.L." in Clark's life.

[katzedecimal.insanejournal.com]

I belieeeeeeeeve there actually was a scene (60s or 70s, I believe) that had Supes contemplating the L.Ls in his life and yes Lightning Lad was right up there with Lois Lane, Lana Lang and Lori Lemaris. We shall of course disregard the fact that his name is really Garth Ranzz, in favour of the much more interesting slashy implications.

[richardak.insanejournal.com]

Well, Lex Luthor is technically A. L., for Alexander Luthor, or Alexei Luthor on Earth-2. But he still counts. Also, Lara Lor-Van is technically L. L. V. or maybe L. L-V., but she still counts too. So I don't have a problem with counting Lightning Lad and Light Lass.

[jlroberson.insanejournal.com]

I think it's interesting that Geoff Johns has basically made Garth the Friend You Have A Beer and Kick Back With for Kal. Which he never had, I think. I just read the one where Batman comes in on them and maybe it's just that Johns doesn't like Batman, but MAN did the contrast with Garth make it clear Kal and Batman aren't so much friends, as Superman really wants them to be.

[ashtoreth.insanejournal.com]

That sounds really interesting. This is from Action?

[jlroberson.insanejournal.com]

Yeah, it's the last two pages of the "Superman and the Legion" story, from action 858-863, which is a LOT of fun. (And Gary Frank draws really cute women as well, but that's just me--my favorites being Lightning Lass and Dawnstar)

[04nbod.insanejournal.com]

http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/492779.html#cutid1

Its action #864 and isn't TPB'd with the rest of that legion story

[sistermagpie.insanejournal.com]

Awww. I love how vulnerable Clark looks in his eyes too.

[filkertom.insanejournal.com]

Okay, that's really great.

[bradygirl_12.insanejournal.com]

Aww!

[volksjager.insanejournal.com]

See I actually like the Connor is the Superboy who goes into the future theme. It sorted out the mess of Legion history that has been dragging the book down since crisis in Infinite earths.

Also did Valor ever exist now ?

[jlroberson.insanejournal.com]

Well, enjoy that. But in my mind it's this. I really never read anything with Conner and don't really care about him.

[nymphgalatea.insanejournal.com]

Awww. I really loved this story. It was just so...happiness-inducing!

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

That's nice. I've always liked the idea of the Legion as this really cool club that you - yes, YOU - just might get to join, with a little luck and skill (and superpowers - but come on, EVERYONE has those, right? You know in your heart that you just need to tie that towel on a bit tighter next time, and you'll fly for sure). Moreover, it's in the future, so for Clark, it's almost like going to Oz, or Narnia - you get to go what is essentially this other world, have wild adventures, and then come back - there's a wonderful fantasy element to it. *sigh* If only...

[cmdr_zoom.insanejournal.com]

Motto.

And at this time in his life, it's the only set of real peers he has - his parents know the secret, and the town might know of him as Superboy (depending on the current legal status of that name *cough*), but this is people his own age that he can truly be "himself" around.

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

Which makes him even more of the metaphorical everyman (everyboy?) that he already is - who hasn't felt that only a few people understand him/her at one time or another? The fact that these friends of his live way out of town, as it were, only makes the connection more poignant - even for Superboy, time-traveling is a reasonably big deal; he can't just do it every day.