X-Men Legacy: Legion Omnibus

X-Men Legacy: Legion #1-4

by Simon Spurrier, Tan Eng Huat, Jorge Molina (Illustrator)

Legion is the most powerful and unstable mutant in the world, and prodigal son to Professor Charles Xavier. But in the aftermath of his father's tragic death, David Haller will finally attempt to tame his fractured mind, conquer his inner demons and embrace his legacy! But first Legion will have to overcome two new villains -one lurking within his own psyche, and the other hiding among the X-Men! He'll turn down an invitation to join the team, but the young mutant Blindfold will catch his eye! Will their uncanny romance change the fate of mutantkind?

Collecting: X-Men: Legacy 1-24

Genres: Marvel, Comics, Graphic Novels, X Men, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

528 pages, Hardcover

First published April 18, 2017

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

An almost radical change in direction as the book completely focuses on Legion, who with a less fractured mind is looking to continue his father's (Xavier) legacy in his own way. An interesting read that moves away from the usually type of storytelling and feels and reads smarter, but not necessarily better. The comic book covers on this series were superb. 6 out of 12

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a bit of a punt on this one after watching the Legion TV show. I wasn't going to read this but as I was watching (and enjoying though not fully understanding) the show, I decided to pre-order the omnibus. It turned out to be a very good read!

Though for the first couple of issues I was thinking "this is going to be weirder than something Grant Morrison would write" but when it gets going it's much easier to follow.

If other people are coming to this from the show, there are some similarities to be found, mostly in the character David Haller and a little less so in the story and supporting cast. Though they're both very much their own things.

This omnibus is about David trying to over come his multi personality disorder, show the rest of mutant kind he's not as dangerous as they think they are all while falling in love and having to take on a major Marvel rogue (the reveal of which is a surprise so I won't name who here).

The art is a little consistent at times, though it's never too distracting from the story.

[Relstuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than I expected it to be. And, I really liked how the story wraps up at the end. :)

David Haller is the son of Professor X. He has his skill to read the minds of other people but he also has a multiple personality disorder that makes him unpredictable and dangerous because his grasp on reality is not always solid as he switches from personality to personality. The book focuses on him as the main character and how he works on coming to grips with his disorder and in making a place for himself in the world and coming to terms with his past locked away for his own safety and the safety of others.

[Ryan Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

My interest in this was piqued after binging the FX TV show. This was better than I expected.

[Kari (karilovesbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t rate comics because of my weird reasonings, but this story was so powerful and wonderfully crafted, making you think every second of the way, second guessing yourself because of David Haller’s perceptions of the world around him and existence. It’s definitely rereadable to catch and better understand how it all comes together rather than taking it at a first read face value. Brilliant.

[Onur Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ortalama başlayıp muhteşem biten bir seri. Diziyle arasında çok fark olsa da, Legion'ı seven bunu da sevecektir(muhtemelen).

[Rumi Bossche · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending kinda ruined it for me, and its pretty weird, but not to bad. Still enjoyable, and with seriously brilliant covers.

[Lee Battersby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning extension of the graphic novel art that is reminiscent of the high points of Vertigo's initial burst of creativity and experimentation. Superhero tropes are deliberately inverted, then examined and shown to be the ridiculous soap-operas we know they are. The ongoing X-plots and wider Marvel world are confronted and dismissed as irrelevant and trifling. And the book moves beyond them to explore deeper issues of individuality, personality, psychology and conformity through the lens of a potentially all-powerful mind who has finally escaped from years of psychological abuse at the hands of characters held up by the majority as heroes and examples to follow.

The writing is razor-sharp, the art and colours are swirlingly psychedelic, the characters are bright and unusual, and the whole thing grabs the tiger's tail and refuses to let go until the entire dizzy ride is over. Even the ending refuses to back down and soothe us with latex-clad platitudes. There are consequences, and finalities, and when the coup de grace arrives, it does so with *meaning*.

One of the best graphic novels I've read in years. Highly recommended.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel collects twenty-something issues of a comic series called X-Men Legacy. I started it because I've enjoyed the FX series Legion and I wanted to go and read some source material. Having accomplished that one has to say that the comic is only a very broad blueprint for the TV show, but that's a good thing. The comic uses the strength of that medium and creates larger-than-life events, villains and heroes and the usual fare, but it does a very good job of it. Conversely the TV show, which features some (maybe only one) of the same characters is a sort of super-powered opus to reality vs. fantasy, objective truth vs. creative fiction. The commonality between the two is an enormously powerful mutant named David, with the (unliked) alias of Legion, in the comic anyway.

The art is good, the plot is compelling, the silliness is mostly under control (a reason why I don't like a lot of comics). If like the TV show or like dark fantasy comics (like Sandman, for example), read this one.

[Ambra · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

I love David Haller!!! Such an interesting character and I loved how that was explored in this series!!! His and Ruth’s relationship was also super sweet and such a nice touch! And I loved David exploring the feelings around his parents and forcing himself to admit that hey, he had a terrible childhood, his parents could have prevented that, so maybe they weren’t such perfect people after all.

Also, David has trust issues? Not surprising when both his parents kinda abandoned him. When the people who were supposed to help him get better just strapped him down and poked into and experimented on his mind. So yeah David manipulating people is a bit of a step too far (I wonder who he gets it from though, oh idk, maybe his late father) but I understand why he’d have difficulty trusting anyone (anyone other than Ruth that is, because he tries his best to open up to her and by the end of the series those two lovebirds are adorable and totally trusting in each other).

Anyway, I’m not sure how I feel about the ending yet. I knew something bad was coming but dang did I hope it would all turn out all right. Then again, this is the X-Men, I know for a fact David comes back, I’m not sure how that fits into people not remembering him but I’m sure (I hope) it’ll work out. (I’ll find out soon, I’m still working my way through all David’s comic appearances). But yeah, that ending felt harsh, but I also feel like it makes sense. David tried so so hard to make the world a better place for his people, and in the end he tried his best, and when it went all wrong and that thing from his mind ended up hurting waayy more people than his influence could have possibly saved yet, when he unwillingly started becoming the extinction of the very people he tried so hard to save, he did the right thing. And cut his loses (or more accurately, got back to net zero, no people saved, but also no people hurt). That’s a whole lot less destruction than he’s done in the past. I’m weirdly kinda proud of this fictional character. Huh.

Also I totally forgot to mention but I LOVED THE ARTT!!! Especially the first few issues!!!! Super pretty, superb, loved it, 10/10, would recommend!! I just love how David was drawn haha

And I also wanted to mention, David not liking being called Legion! Makes total sense, kinda weird they always define him by his disorder, I love that he’s standing up for himself!!

[Gary Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

If they had half stars I’d rate this a 3.5. The story didn’t hook me right away and I had to push myself to keep reading after the first arc because I just knew it was going to pick up, and it totally did. It’s a mind trip for sure, but with a character like Legion you just or expect it. Let me state that in my pinion, the quintessential Legion story will always be Claremont/Sienkiewicz story in New Mutants back in the 80’s. That being said, this takes the character on a journey that features quite a bit of personal growth and winds up in a place I would never have guessed it would go. I grew to really like the mind space David created for himself that helped him deal with his multitude of personalities (or at least try to). Watching him learn how to confront his issues was one of best parts of the story. Spurrier even states at one point through David that he cannot “fix” his issues, only grow to accept them and learn to love and accept himself. He’s not written as just another “crazy” guy, or even a hero, but as someone who eager to piece himself together and who is learning how he fits into the world and his father’s legacy.

[Andrew Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story... 2 out of 5 stars. Overall, I thought the story fell flat until the very end. From the beginning, I really didn’t like the main character and since the entire story is really about him battling and fighting to understand his inner self, it really left me bored. There was a lot of internal dialogue which caused the story to drag in my opinion. The story had huge potential... It certainly was an interesting take on this troubled character. The only positive was that I thought it ended strong and I did enjoy the relationship between David (Legion) and Ruth.

As for the art.. 5 out of 5 stars. The art carried this story, especially the cover pages. If anything made the story salvageable, it was the interpretation through the pictures.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend. In fact, if I could go back, I wish I had only read the final two issues (#23 and #24) and left it at that. In my mind, I wouldn’t have missed a thing. Those that read the book will understand the irony in this... :)

[Zachary Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique psychedelic colorful story unlike any other X-Men tale that has come before. I missed out on this when it was coming out in singles and decided to pick up this Omnibus after watching the Legion pilot. The show is completely different than this tale but worth the read for any fan of the show. The art is gorgeous throughout this run and it's fun to explore all of Legion's different abilities. Spurrier does a great job of crafting a story with a character who is so powerful.

I hope we get another Legion run in the future that can match this run.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so painful to finish. The overly wordy, decidedly meaningless story of David Haller's quest to control himself ultimately was a waste of time. Of the 24 issues, there were a handful of decent ideas but it was mostly drivel. I did enjoy David and Ruth's relationship but I feel like it will amount to nothing. The art was mostly atrocious. The covers throughout the series were fun. Overall, for completists only.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now collected in a handsome omnibus, Spurrier's Legion continues to be brilliant. I mean, David's always been a great character who's received great attention, with his New Mutants intro and the Age of X being the main standouts prior to this series. Spurrier follows that up with a great look at his mental landscape across the volume. But he also tells a moving story with a beginning, middle, and end, and even more so offers one of the most touching X-Romances. Terrific!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible graphic novel. I wanted to read this since watching Legion. It was wonderful, great for fans of the show and for fans of the weirder side of superheroes. I love the driving idea of this story and the use of mental health as intertwined with his powers. The dialog writing is flawless and the art is gorgeous.

[André Habet · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing x-men book from start to finish.

Loved the art, the dialogue, the regular turns in the narrative. I screenshot at least one page every issue just to marvel at later.

Interesting to see what spurrier did with David after this during the krakoan era. Would love to see a third part close this trilogy out in another 10 years.

[Pie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me at the start of this comic run: hah I wonder what adventure this Scottish guy with strange hair who only wears pajama bottoms and his prophet girlfriend will get up to together
Me at the end of this comic run: crying

[Nate Deprey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely admired this collection more than enjoyed it but Spurrier's Legion gives you a lot to admire. The art is nothing short of visionary and you can see why someone might want to make that, along with an intoxicating mix of power and mental illness, the canvas for a tv show.

[Loki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully deranged story about the most crazy of all Marvel's mutants, Legion David Haller, and his struggles to find a place of ethical autonomy in a world that, even when it doesn't hate and fear him, almost always misunderstands him. And gets his name wrong.

[Jamie Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

[Jemiah Jefferson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad - but also not as interesting as I had hoped.

[Rachelle Hinkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will not expect the ending, that's for damn sure.

[Eye-ra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn. What an amazing ride. Quite frankly one of my personal favorite books I’ve read in a good while.

[Noah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proof legion is a superhero

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only the second comic to make me cry.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very solid book. I ranked the individual volumes much lower upon initial read, but this compendium proves that it reads so much better in a single volume than broken up issue by issue or volume by volume.

My only reason for ranking it a 4 is the ever-changing artists, none of whom lived up to the work being done by Tan Eng Huat.

[eric garza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this book. David’s voice got a little irritating, and the book could get confusing at times, but when the story is good, it’s really good.

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read any Legion books previously. (I have watched the Legion TV show, but that was not like this and not like many other shows. I thought the depiction of David's brain and the way his powers interact was unique. There was a solid arc throughout this book; I'm glad I read the omnibus. There was a lot of narration and self-dialogue in this book, as David interacts with his conscious and telepathically with others. I would recommend this if you're interested in Legion. I don't think you need any prior knowledge to understand the story.
This is a sidenote, but this book says the world "gestalt" so often.

[Chris Carlisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just a very psychedelic and colorful ride that was surprisingly full of meaning. Every story had a different meaning in it, and I really learned some things. The dialogue is very clever and witty, plus the art is just phenomenal. Don't listen to the reviewers who say that the art is inconsistent, they are just nitpicky, or we didn't read the same book. The book is highly adventurous and has a plethora of characters that you will love, including the X-men (of course). All of Legion's (erm David Haller's) personalities are unique, and by the end you will find yourself loving them all. If you want to read a comic book series that is fun, funny, colorful, and full of deep meaning, give this a read. This story has it all!

P.S. Do yourself a favor and buy this from Instocktrades. They sell it for about $45 brand new. Happy reading!