We're still getting some very wacky ideas from what should have been a straight-forward plot, such as the issues where the Legion teams up with a Science Police officer, or when Princess Projectra keeps getting sick. The women also keep getting weaker and weaker. The time will come when male writers will figure out how to tell a love story in a comic book without the woman becoming utterly hopeless. An exception creeps in with Night Girl's romance with Cosmic Boy, but her costume had to lose most of its fabric. I love Mike Grell's art, though, it's classic pop comic. He will make some questionable choices with costumes, too, but we'll get there when we get there. There is tension building in this series, and I can almost feel the Legion about to spring forward into the dark '80s. It's just waiting on the write author to pull all of the elements together.

Legion of Super-Heroes

Next: 'Volume 12'

Previous: 'Volume 10'

This volume contains Dave Cockrum's landmark stint as the new illustrator for the series. The early 1970s was a tumultuous time in the industry and the many titles were being revamped and or canceled to make way for new creators and lines. Cockrum was fan of the series and made many costume decisions for the series, for better of for worse. He also made many character contributions. In the end, he committed fully to Marvel to work on the revived 'X-Men', creating Storm and Nightcrawler.

Despite other advancements, the stories here are still pretty shallow. The main writer is Cary Bates who doesn't seem to plan much for the long term in his storytelling. A lot of the new costumes were fan-service for the dudes that seem even more dated than the early '60s originals. In fact, there was a whole spread of costumes sent in by fans that thankfully were used only once or twice before settling into a slightly-less-cringey holey-jumpsuits and bikinis. Notably Phantom Girl gained pigtails and bell-bottoms and Princess Projectra's front bodice is only held together by two threads, for example. Chameleon Boy and Colossal Boy got thoughtful recreations of their costumes that complimented their characters. Huh. Funny.

Still, a whole lot of fun.

Legion of Super-Heroes

Next: 'Volume 11'

Previous: 'Volume 9'

This volume collects issues mostly from 1969, which was also the year that the Legion stories were pushed from the lead feature of Adventure comics to a second-stringer in Action comics.

The stories however...a lot seems to have happened in the volume I had to skip due to costs. Action-wise, certainly, but character development is happening and the stories are taking on more stakes. These issues are sharper and (relatively) heavier-hitting. This includes the first "drug" storyline printed in a comic book after the comics code authority banned the subject - writers got around the censors by making the story about "toxic fruit". That story, as well as an earlier one where a criminal apprehends mind drugs that were for United Planets study only featured great psychedelic art. These issues also see the beginning of new costumes, open romantic relationships and dating stories for legionnaires, and other signs that these babies are growing up!

The Legion very easily could have been cancelled after the switch in venue, but they carry on stronger than they ever were before. The only blah note was the constant referring to the women as "doll". The women have always been treated as equals in 'Legion' stories, and it doesn't go away, but I could really do without the late '60s lingo in the 31st century.

Legion of Super-Heroes

Next: 'Volume 10'

Previous: 'Volume 8'

by Brandon Sanderson

This is a sample of a combined trilogy, but it actually has the full first book which is only 79 pages sold separately.

The concept is very original. Jake has a reputation for getting things done, but he's schizophrenic and has effectively invisible friends, who he accepts are hallucinations, with various skills that allow him to accomplish things he doesn't believe he could do on his own.

He has a real butler and housekeeper who play along, pretending to hand drinks to his 'aspects' as he calls them and such. Anyone who deals with him has to accept that these imaginary people are his team and make enough room for them in the car or wherever. This leads to much amusement in a story that is otherwise a Mystery/Action Thriller/Spy novel.

The situation is that a company has developed a camera that can take photos from different moments in time and the main developer has stolen it. The woman from the company who comes to Jake with the case raises suspicions from one of his more astute aspects and Jake ends up watching his back from all sorts of angles.

It's a fun story and I bought the second book before I had got very far into this one. Definitely recommended for anyone with a sense of the bizarre.

I was able to listen to this audiobook for free so I jumped at the chance. I really enjoyed the series that I had read so far and wanted to continue. Ember is still badass and one of my favorite characters that Julie Kagawa has come up with. She is smart and strong, and a dragon!!! Too bad she is literally born for someone else's gain. I was surprised by my interest in other characters that I may not have appreciated as much in the previous books. They were supposed to be the bad guys, but you learn not all is what it seems. I'm so glad the book took the turn it did. I faded in and out while listening, but I captured enough to want to read Inferno next! Fans of this series will really love the action in this book!