Mon Oct 8, 2007 4:34PM10 comments ›
Mon Oct 8, 2007 — by Martha Thomases
Television Review: The Legion of Super-Heroes
Hungry like Timber Wolf?
One of the major criticisms of comics like The Legion of Super-Heroes
This past Saturday, the first new episode of the season explored the origins of Timber Wolf. I’m old enough to remember when Timber Wolf was introduced, in the late 1960s. In fact, I still think of him as a “new” character, one of the edgier Legionnaires with a mysterious, tortured past.
The animated Timber Wolf also has a tortured past. Like the original, he is Brin Londo received his powers from his father. On this episode, written by comics veteran J. M. DeMatteis, Brin is charged with the murder of his father. The Legion convicts him of the crime, and he flees to clear his name.
Unlike the original, this Timber Wolf is angry and violent, not shy and timid. He fights first and may ask questions later, or may run off and hit something else. In this, he is not unlike the other Legionaires. The others will often burst into a room and start attacking whatever seems to be abnormal. Of course, since this is children’s network programming, they rarely actually hit anyone, but instead use their powers, aiming rays of energy, cold or heat in a way that is not easily imitated by anyone without a squirtgun.
Why do they do this? I imagine the producers think it’s “action.” I don’t. I think it’s a waste of time, a way to pad the time between commercials. It’s not typical of DeMatteis’ work, and it’s not typical of Legion stories.
In the television series, Brin discovers that his father is still alive and only faked his death to frame his son so he could start his experiments anew. Like Cyborg’s father before him, this father thinks his son exists as his only personal lab rat, not a separate person. Is this a common feeling among sons? Or just among sons who also write DC Comics characters?
The show keeps a lot of Legion lore alive. There are off-hand references to Takron-Galtos prison, for example. The cast is full, and the characters are clearly drawn. The friendships among Legionnaires are real and believable. Shawn Harrison, the voice of Timber Wolf, is especially good at conveying complex feelings in just a few words.
With the Kids WB line-up ending after this television season, it will be interesting to see if another network picks up the Legion. I’m betting there is a legion of kids out there who can explain why they’d like to see new episodes.
Jump to comments (10) 
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Comments (10)
Rick Taylor (5:05 PM on Mon Oct 8, 2007)
Being a long-time fan, the new Legion series has me as confused as the nine or so restarts of the comic series post-Crisis. They now have two SuperMEN (not SuperBOY). This is most surely a result of the lawsuit. They exist in the 31st century now (not sure why) and although they pay lip service to the original series, it's obvious that they want to imitate the success of the Teen Titans show which in my opinion was just as convoluted. As a kid I would have loved to see a Legion animated series. As a chronilocical adult I can honestly take it or leave it. For me the Legion stopped when Bates, Shooter and Cockrum left. I never thought I would have such an inflexible opinion. Sigh, I have my old comics and that's enough.
David Gallaher (5:07 PM on Mon Oct 8, 2007)
>> This past Saturday, the first new episode of the season explored the origins of Timber Wolf >>
Actually, it was the third new episode of the season. The first two episodes dealt with the threat of Imeperiex and the new Superman
Rick Taylor (5:19 PM on Mon Oct 8, 2007)
The Imperiex thing was kinda clunky, too. I guess every show needs it's Darkseid. I've honestly only seen about half of the episodes produced (and it's always the same four shows). That may be be a sign that I'm not dying to tune in and see them all. I think the lack of time travel, it's distance from the DCU and the missing status of Superboy and Supergirl (until recently) lead to my lack of interest (even when I worked at DC) in the comic. Like I say, too many restarts (Dark Legion, Clone Legion, etc., etc.) and a general shoving the kids into the farthest corner of the DCU as possible. The TV shows, both Legion and Titans have that 'pick-and-choose' point of view about both series histories that I find a little boring.
Mike Gold (5:22 PM on Mon Oct 8, 2007)
I miss the efforts of Dini and Timm. What I'd like to see is a Green Lantern Corps series, but without the style, energy and craft of the Justice League Unlimited / Batman Adventures folks, we're probably better off without.
Rick Taylor (5:42 PM on Mon Oct 8, 2007)
Honestly, the best thing about the TV Legion was the Happy Meal toys and the possibility of Mattel figure.
Now that the series future is in question, who knows if it will happen.
Rick Taylor (10:05 AM on Tue Oct 9, 2007)
BTW Martha. I believe Timber Wolf was introduced earlier than the late 60's. He was Lone Wolf as a one off who had a thing for Light Lass. Later, when Shooter did the story where Colossal Boy got sent back to the Legion Academy because crooks were holding his folk hostage. That netted the group Timber Wolf and Chemical King. Just being a geek.
Martha Thomases (10:49 AM on Tue Oct 9, 2007)
According to a site I looked up to check my history, Brin joined in the year 2967, or thereabouts. I figured that meant the story was published in 1967. However, since my mom threw out all my comics, I'll admit to the possibiity that I'm wrong.
Rick Taylor (3:35 PM on Tue Oct 9, 2007)
I Googled the Legion and the site I found listed the Lone Wolf story as published in 1964 and the Colossal Failure 2 parter as seeing print in 1968. But their research could be wrong, too.
David Gallaher (5:00 PM on Mon Oct 8, 2007)
This past Saturday, the first new episode of the season explored the origins of Timber Wolf
Actually, it was the third new episode of the season. The first two episodes dealt with the threat of Imeperiex and the new Superman
Jonathan Miller (3:26 PM on Tue Oct 9, 2007)
Martha--the character appeared several years before he actually joined the Legion (after the first Legion of Supervillains story, same time as Chemical King). It was in this second story that he was first called "Timber Wolf" (as opposed to the original "Lone Wolf"). So the site you checked was right, but the character still appeared earlier than 1967.
This has been your pedantic Legion fan (who loves the new cartoon, by the way) comment for the day. ;-)