#threeboot

I find the whole idea of the Threeboot fascinating. The Legion as a youth movement? Awesome! Totally makes sense considering the types of characters the Legion attracts. (I saw somewhere a minific where R.J.Brande’s death is the driving force behind the Founders coming together, which would have been super awesome.) So the entire premise of the story, in my opinion, was good and solid. Most of my general annoyance with this reboot comes from the handling of individual characters. 

Take Jan Arrah, Element Lad, for example. In the Threeboot, his powers of transmutation only last around 60 seconds. However, in all the other reboots, where Jan can transmute at will for however long, his powers play a big part in his general nature, his religious tendencies, and his general reservedness. Because they could transmute at will, Tromites had to teach their little children not to turn their playmates into helium just because they were angry about a toy. Basically non-Threeboot Jan was so disciplined in thinking his actions through, and not giving into desires, that his entire character was based around that discipline. By making his power only last for 60 seconds in the Threeboot, Jan’s entire character gets thrown away.

Brainiac 5 is a whole ‘nother mess of bad characterization. They made him act way too Machiavellian, far too interested with power, and not quite interested enough in just being left alone to science. I felt like his entire personality was swapped with Vril Dox II (whom I love to death, but is not Brainy).

I hate a bunch of other stuff in the Threeboot too, such as:

Cosmic Boy being a general dick

Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad breaking up

Ultra Boy being an Ultra Jerk

Brainy’s original costume

Cos and Brainy legitimately disliking each other

The destruction of Colu

Not to say everything in the Threeboot was bad. Triplicate Girl’s origins were kinda cool (I stand by that her best characterization was in the Archie Legion), Val and Shady teaming up was so awesome, Dream Girl and Brainy’s relationship was entertaining to watch, and that whole scene where Brainy uses Light Lass and Star Boy’s power to recalibrate the universe was THE COOLEST THING EVER OH MY GOD I LOVE THAT PART.

Other good parts of the Threeboot:

Salu and Lyle’s big sis little bro relationship

The new uniforms

Dream Boy. I will forever root for him to make a return

All the Legionnaires living outside 

Garth having Legion Leader issues™

Nura’s ‘I am better than you’ spiel on Naltor

The original Sun Boy character design

Chameleon being non-binary

So yeah, Threeboot would be my least favorite Legion reboot (I’m sure many people would agree with this sentiment), but I can see many good pieces of it which, if I were to write the Legion (no one should let me do this, it would be a Lyle Norg 007 story) I would definitely take to use.

Of course, there are also parts that are best forgotten. I’m talking about Jan. And that whole thing when Brainy had sex with a medium channeling Dream Girl. (That actually needs to be talked about, but its a whole ‘nother can of worms we ain’t getting into today)