The revelation in June that DC's Legion of Super-Heroes wouldn't be set in the 31st century in the upcoming reboot, but instead the 32nd, came as a surprise to many longtime fans of the teenagers of the future. After all, the team's adventures have traditionally taken place 1,000 years from the "present" of the DC Universe. Confirmed by writer Brian Michael Bendis, that change in setting seemed in line with his pledge that "Our Legion is going to be a little different than past Legions." However, the variant cover and solicitations for Legion of Super-Heroes #1 suggest the team is staying put after all.
Artist Ryan Sook's cover depicts the reflection of Jonathan Kent, aka Superboy, in a monitor as he's about to begin his "31st century orientation." Of course, that's not the only surprise, as the screen also alarmingly depicts the destruction of Earth, which signals that this is, indeed, a very different future. But one thing at a time: The solicitation text begins, "Welcome to the 31st century!," meaning we can dismiss any notion that the lettering on the cover might have been a mistake.
The shift to the 32nd century was presumed to have been necessary for Bendis to create a cohesive timeline in Legion of Super-Heroes: Millennium that could accommodate such disparate futuristic properties as Batman Beyond, Tommy Tomorrow, Booster Gold, OMAC and Kamandi. The latter requires the apocalyptic event known as "The Great Disaster," which may very well be the destruction of Earth depicted on Sook's cover for Legion of Super-Heroes #1.
So, why the apparent move back to the 31st century? It's possible Bendis figured out a timeline that permits the Legionnaires to remain in their traditional home. However, given the Legion's propensity for time travel, there's a chance the young heroes could hop between eras in an effort to fulfill their guiding principal, "to stop a galaxy from repeating its past mistakes."
Legion of Super-Heroes #1
- written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
- art and cover by RYAN SOOK
- card stock variant cover by JIM CHEUNG
- card stock variant cover by RYAN SOOK
- blank variant cover
- Welcome to the 31st century! Inspired by the acts of and lessons learned from the greatest heroes of all time, the Legion of Super-Heroes have gathered together to stop a galaxy from repeating its past mistakes. The greatest lineup of heroes in comic book history returns with new, fresh, and reader-friendly stories!
- Eisner Award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis reteams with master artist Ryan Sook (Action Comics) for one of the most ambitious mainstream comic books ever created! Why have the Legion of Super-Heroes broken the cardinal rule of the United Planets and inducted Jon Kent, a.k.a. Superboy, into the Legion? What are they hiding? And what does it have to do with Aquaman’s long-lost trident?
- ON SALE 11.06.19
- $3.99 US | 32 PAGES
- CARD STOCK VARIANT COVER $4.99
Legion of Super-Heroes: Millennium #1, by Brian Michael Bendis, Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen, Andrea Sorrentino, Andre Araujo and others, arrives Sept. 4, followed by Issue 2 in October. Legion of Super-Heroes #1, by Bendis and artist Ryan Sook, arrives Nov. 6.