In DC’s vast catalog of superhero franchises, The Legion of Super-Heroes has always been arguably the toughest sell for casual readers. Part of that is the dorky Silver Age trappings that have persisted across the decades, but it’s mostly down to the sheer size of the massive ensemble cast and the fact that the series is constantly being retooled and rebooted every few years. The very nature of DC’s sliding time scale means the future is always in flux, and so we’re constantly treated to a different take on this team of idealistic teen heroes.
That all being said, DC has been finding great success in revamping old properties with the DC All In/Next Level initiative, so it only makes sense that the Legion be given the same treatment. And while the prospect of rebooting this convoluted franchise yet again is a little tiresome, the results speak for themselves. This is an engaging and gorgeously rendered entry point into The Legion of Super-Heroes.
Not that fans should have expected any less, given the pedigree of the creative team. The new volume is written by Joshua Williamson, a writer who’s been busy these last few years transforming Superman into one of the best monthly books on the stands. It’s illustrated by Hayden Sherman, an artist so talented that they were responsible for two of the five books nominated for IGN’s Best Comic Book or Original Graphic Novel of 2025 award. Backed up by colorist extraordinaire Tamra Bonvillain and master letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, it would be shocking if the book weren’t a success out of the gate.
Williamson is able to cut through the noise and the convoluted Legion trappings to focus on a few key elements in issue #1. His script reinforces the idea of legacy, always a powerful theme in the DCU. The Legionnaires are a group carrying on a proud tradition that started the first time a young Clark Kent put on a costume and started saving lives. There’s also a central murder mystery fueling the conflict in issue #1, one that helps give the plot a greater sense of urgency and reminds us that the future isn’t necessarily going to play out the way we expect.
It also helps that Williamson and co. don’t immediately bombard readers with the full Legion cast upfront, but instead introduce a handful of key players scattered on different worlds. The script still assumes some basic familiarity on the reader’s part with the likes of Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl, but by the end, readers should have little trouble connecting with them and their collective desire to use their powers for the betterment of the galaxy.
It’s a solid script that lays out the basics of the series nicely, but make no mistake, the art is the real selling point in Legion of Super-Heroes #1. It’s hard not to resent this book on some level, simply because it threatens to pull Sherman away from Absolute Wonder Woman. But the Absolute Universe’s loss is clearly the Legion’s gain.
Where to start? Sherman’s figure work is exquisite. The characters are full of life without being burdened by excessive amounts of detail – one of the hallmarks of their style. What the lines themselves don’t fill in, Bonvillain’s colors are there to flesh out and add depth. The character designs themselves are a real treat. Sherman reinterprets many of the classic Legion costumes, transforming them into 31st century fashion designs moreso than actual uniforms.
Sherman’s page layouts are also a true visual feast. They constantly play with the format and structure of the page, creating collage-like layouts of panels that evoke the work of J.H. Williams III (terrific company to be in). The reader’s eye is constantly pulled in different directions, but the storytelling always remains clean and clear. There are other visual flourishes worth pointing out, like the lettering that forms the trail of Lightning Lad’s electric bike and the nonverbal thought balloons that convey Saturn Girl’s psychic conversations. In both cases, I’m not sure how much is Sherman’s doing and how much is Otsmane-Elhaou’s, but it doesn’t much matter in the end. This art team is fully in sync, and the book benefits tremendously from having such an elegant, warm, and visually dynamic look.
The Verdict
DC fans can be forgiven for feeling burnt out on the idea of Legion of Super-Heroes reboots, but that’s no excuse for passing up this latest new launch. DC picked a terrific creative team with which to construct a brand-new take on the futuristic super-team. Joshua Williamson crafts an accessible entry point into the 31st-century DCU, and the series looks every bit as stunning as you’d expect from the pairing of Hayden Sherman, Tamra Bonvillain, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Chalk this up as another success for the DC Next Level initiative.
