This new WB series featured the introduction of a new style of animation for the new Millennium of DC audiences. Once WB broke out of the Bruce Timm era, “Teen Titans” ushered in a semi-anime style that was influential and hipper, arguably. The quasi-anime was appealing to the pre-teens and tweens who didn’t quite like the Timm blocky style. “Legion of Superheroes” is a much more dramatic turn for the animation aside from the goofy and often over the top “Teen Titans.” Inspired by “The Animated Series,” the Legion needs the help of their god, the one and only Superman. The Legion now lives in a reality where Superman is the one and only inspiration for young avengers, even with monuments built in his honor.
Anxious for help against a great menace, they recruit a young Superman, and add yet another variation on the Superman mythos. This one explores a young Clark Kent learning the specifics of his powers thanks to his young cohorts. Here, he learns how to gain a better identity thanks to them. This is one of the many cash-in DVD’s from Warner Brothers and other studios who rather than releasing a solid season set, is just releasing a volume set of a few episodes, and that’s sad. There are collectors like me who’d love a season set, instead of spending twenty dollars on a “volume set” with only two or three episodes available. “Volume One” has four episodes available, and they’re four considerably good ones. As a series it’s still finding its voice; it’s not sure yet if it wants to be a stern action science fiction series, or a prepubescent adventure. That’s made apparent by Bouncing Boy who shifts consistently from comedic relief to leader, and then the addition of Chameleon Boy in Season two who seems to be there as a quasi-Beast Boy to pop wise cracks.
Featured in this DVD are the first four episodes of Season one. “Man of Tomorrow” features the introduction of the Legion into the DCU, with a new Superman variation stemming from “Smallville.” Clark is now living only with Martha sans the presence of pa and comes closer to learning what he will become by helping the Legion against the Fatal Five. “Timber Wolf” is the introduction of Legion member Timberwolf who was born as a genetic experiment and nearly goes feral until his conscience goes into play and is tamed by the group who make him a member, “Legacy” involves Superman’s accidental involvement with a young female millionaire who becomes obsessed with the man of steel and seeks to take him away with her at the cost of the Legion’s health; one of the better episodes of the season, this features a surprise ending you won’t see coming.
Finally, there’s “Phantoms” which is sadly a regurgitation of a “Teen Titans” episode in which the group goes aboard a deserted ship and faces their worst fears in the darkness. As a series “Legion of Superheroes” is just okay, because while the animation is great and void of the gags “Teen Titans” held, its lethargic pacing and energy makes it a much less interesting viewing experience in the end. From a kids perspective, there’s nothing here that wouldn’t serve as great entertainment. We’re not fed morals and life lessons, but thankfully we’re given some great characterization, and the evolution of the Man of Steel.
The voice work from folks like Yuri Lowenthal and Andy Milder is great, and the stories are mostly self-contained with every episode. Kids looking for more superhero team series, “Legion of Superheroes” is your best bet. If you want to have “Legion of Superheroes” by all means wait for a season set, if it ever comes. Spending almost a hundred dollars on only half of the season is not much of a wise financial decision. However, if you’re saddled with kids who want their quick action fixes, then this is a safe bet. “Legion of Super Heroes” is safe, nonviolent, action packed fun for the kids, and it features Superman, so it can’t be too bad.