Mini-Series Review: Legion of Monsters

Writer: Dennis Hopeless
Artist: Juan Doe
There aren’t really any notable releases this week, at least not any that I picked up myself. As a result, I’m going to review an entire mini-series that finished this week instead, and I’ll try and use this tactic whenever there’s a week in which I can’t find anything to review. Therefore welcome to my first Mini-Series Review, which is for the just completed Legion of Monsters series.
I’m quite partial to the supernatural side of things, which is evident when you look at all of the Dark series I pull from DC. Marvel doesn’t really corner the supernatural very much, at least not regularly, so when a mini-series about all of the monstrous characters in the Marvel Universe popped up, I grabbed at the chance to read it. Relative newcomer Dennis Hopeless tackles fan favourite characters such as Morbius the Living Vampire, Manphibian, the Living Mummy, the Werewolf by Night, and monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone. Joined by Juan Doe on pencilling duties, this mini-series could have gone one of two ways: monstrously good, or supernaturally bad.
I found myself amazed at how much I did enjoy this series; Hopeless has a wonderful way with each character, completely nailing their voice on the team and making sure that they each get time in the spotlight, even if certain characters aren’t as essential to the plot as others. There’s even time for guest stars like Dracula, who slide in effortlessly and always bring something new to the table. It’s evident that Hopeless is a fan of these characters, and this makes them even more fun to read here.
Of course, good characterisation is nothing without a good plot, and Hopeless delivers on this front also. Whilst a little cliché in places, he spins an intriguing yarn that keeps the reader guessing as to the true villain all the way to the end of the book, and he isn’t afraid to pull things out of left field and hit the reader with some whiplash inducing plot twists. There’s even space for a trip to hell, a budding romance, and some hijinx along the way too. Even when the book is just expositing, it is never dull because of the well crafted narrative Hopeless provides.
A quirky title deserves a quirky artist, and Juan Doe has quirk in spades. Despite a sketchy style, nothing ever looks out of proportion or unbelievable, and when you consider that this book is set in the world of monsters, this is an even bigger achievement. Each character has their own way of moving and individual body language that helps them communicate Hopeless’ plot across. There is plenty of opportunity for Doe to let loose as well, with monsters galore and huge scenes full of crowds that he goes to town with, but he also knows how to reign it in for more subtle scenes like a conversation. His style could easily run away with him and become a mess, but instead Doe has a fantastic time with the book and compliments the story perfectly.
With Marvel’s new initiative on lower selling books and smaller mini-series, we probably won’t see anything like Legion of Monsters again for a long time, which is a damn shame considering how enjoyable this book is. It is consistently good fun, well scripted and excellently drawn, providing something that fans of the characters can go back to every now and then to remind them that their favourites can be treated properly when Marvel want to. Whilst it may not be about the bigger selling teams like the X-Men or the Avengers, there is always a place on the market for niche books like Legion of Monsters, and hopefully both Hopeless and Doe are given the opportunity to create something like this again.
8/10
All four issues of Legion of Monsters are now available in your local comic shop, and the collected edition featuring all four issues will be available in paperback on March 28th.


