Monday, August 13, 2007

Goodbye, Mister Teeny Eyeballs

newlegionduds

Remember that alternate-universe Legion I glimpsed on my way back from the 21st Century? The one where everybody had taut, vaguely-English faces with tiny noses and tiny mouths and tiny eyeballs? Where everyone's hair was feathered (or else looked like Toni Tennille's) and nearly every female wore a belly shirt? Yeah, that one. It was horrific.

Well, a friend of mine from the Time Institute space-mailed me a snapshot of that Legion, and I have to say those poor shmoes seem to be pulling themselves together! For example, that Legion finally has an Invisible Kid whom I don't instinctively want to punch in the mouth (the better to wipe off that stoner smirk, y'see). My friend's letter quoted that Legion's new costume designer, one Mister Francis Manapul, as saying "I'm trying to simply rather than modernize. I think simplicity carries over and creates a timeless look." Amen, brother! Finally, that Legion has somebody working for them who shares my aesthetic. Not that it's a complete success, but still, it's a step in the right direction. Let's review...
  • I'm pleased as punch my "off-the-shoulder" look for men is catching on, as Timberwolf is wearing... oh. Those are just orange patches on his shoulders which are blending with a crappy spray-on tan. My bad. It's still a pretty sweet costume. Love the bare toes! (Although I thought they'd be hairier.)
  • No more belly shirt for Light Lass! It looks like a proper costume now! Huzzah! See what a difference it makes when you don't go for a trend... that expired eight years ago? Also, I love the longer hair on her. Very fetching.
  • Alternate-universe versions of Triplicate Girl continue to be prudish frumps with Moe Howard haircuts, I see. And this one's cape still has that ridiculous cowl-neck... presumably so she can duck her head down into it like a turtle whenever the paparazzi show up. Ugh. Why is mine the only universe where Luornu is allowed to be sexy?
  • Not sure why Shrinking Violet (or Atom Girl or whatever the frig they call her over there) needs hotpants. Whatever.
  • Their version of Element Lad still looks like a complete tool.
  • Is it just me, or does Colossal Boy (or Micro Lad or whatever) looks way better, proportionally, if you mentally erase the random-looking brown quilting on his arms, neck, and head? Also, who designed that thing? The Constrictor? He looks like he's part-armadillo now.
  • Chameleon (Boy?) is dressed for Ye Olde Renaissance Faire and I have no idea why. It's not an unattractive costume; it's merely generic and blandly colored.
  • Sun Boy's still in his "pants on fire" costume which does absolutely nothing for me. For someone with an allegedly "dynamic" personality he sure looks insipid and tacky.
  • Brainy's tunic rawks. I heartily approve! Let's hope he doesn't still have those dumb Bedazzled cheeks anymore.
  • Shadow Lass's costume? Still slutty. I don't care if you put a grandly proportioned cape on her. I've seen hookers with floor-length mink coats; it didn't stop them from looking like hookers.
  • Star Boy and Karate Kid? Been there, done that. Big yawn.
  • Ultra Boy's costume is an old reliable, but at least it's not boring. Not sure about the cut-outs on his forearms. Maybe his forearms need the freedom to expand in battle, like they get really huge, like Popeye's. Also, I'm sure he'll pass that kidney stone eventually.
  • Interesting variant on the classic Lightning Lad costume. Simple, but it works. And I applaud the absence of white on this version. It's actually kind of refreshing. Assuming that's not a printing error. For example, the lightning crackling from his hand has been rendered totally invisible, and it's making Saturn Girl's thighs look all wrinkly. And with this much yellow, I wonder if the navy blue should have been replaced with black. Or maybe a deep red! That'd be cool.
  • Saturn Girl's costume got a deep, gravelly, rollicking laugh out of me because although I like it, I couldn't help thinking that in a Grant Morrison/Frank Quitely universe all the white bits would be exposed skin.
  • Princess Projectra is still in her Count Jugula get-up with the stupid collar on it. Feh.
  • Phantom Girl... yikes. I'm sorry, but the sheer number and placement of those cut-outs are just sad (and desperate). Whenever a group of people is ignoring her -- which is often -- she whips out the scissors and cuts another chunk out of her leotard. She's fast approaching the point of "no return," where she'll just be walking around buck-naked clutching a few scraps of fabric to her bosom and ladycrotch.

7 comments:

Scipio said...

I, too, am delighted, on the whole. Brainiac 5 FINALLY looks like, well, himself AND gets a logo.

But Element Lad IS a tool; works for me.

I assume Colossal Boy is wearing a boa, which is fabulous.

Cham, generic and blandly colored? A consistent choice for a shapeshifter who blends in.

Projectra? I assumed that was Dream Girl. If they have Projectra how could they NOT use the Sensor Girl outfit, one of the greatest costumes of all time?!

Jeremy Rizza said...

The only way I could remember it was Projectra and not Dream Girl is that Dream Girl is dead in that universe. (Which I learned from reading "The Brave and the Bold" and not this fugly new Legion book.)

Bill S. said...

It looks a heck of a lot better. A lot closer to the Legion that I fell in love with than it's been in a long time. Thank heavens the feathered hair is a thing of the future's past.

I miss gay Element Lad, with his honky afro and pink outfit. I liked that version much more than the moony, nudist, straight -so-far current version.

I look at Phantom Girl and all I see is a Power Girl fetish.

Jeremy Rizza said...

I've never seen any pictures of Barry Kitson, but I imagine he has a huge mop of elaborately feathered hair and miniscule facial features. And that new version of Element Lad is a nudist? Shouldn't his "action costume" therefor look more like Doctor Manhattan's? Or at least Tyroc's? Freakin' Kitson...

Ami Angelwings said...

I like Kitson. :(

But I luff these costume designs too :)

Jeremy Rizza said...

Thanks for stopping by the blog, Ami! (And thanks to When Fangirls Attack for linking to this post!) Kitson is much beloved (especially by Mark Waid, as I recently read) so I'm probably one of the few hold-outs. That's art, though... it's totally subjective.

Also, this post got a much better audience response than last year's extended screed against Scott Kolins. (Which got no comments whatsoever.)

MaGnUs said...

I love these designs, mostly, except for barefoot Brin, and the huge honking 90s boots some of them sport.

And I love the return of cleavage on Phantom Girl's costume... that girl has a special place in my pan... heart...