Legion of Monsters

Legion of Monsters (2011) #1-4

by Dennis Hopeless, Juan Doe (Illustrator)

Collects Legion of Monsters (2011) #1-4.

A monster adventure to scream over! Elsa Bloodstone hates monsters - and when the trail of a mysterious serial killer leads to their underground city, Elsa's ready to kick some horrific butt. Morbius the Living Vampire, Werewolf by Night, the Living Mummy and the slithery Manphibian have news for her, though: The monsters are innocent, and the real killer is out there - a creature so terrifying and vicious even monsters are scared to death! And now, Elsa Bloodstone and the Legion of Monsters are on the case!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Vampires, Horror, Ebooks, Graphic Novels Comics

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 11, 2012

About the author

Dennis "Hopeless" Hallum is an American comics writer from Kansas City, Missouri who has written for Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Boom! Studios, Arcana Studio, and Oni Press.

See also under Dennis Hallum

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Manphibian .
That's maybe the most awesome monster name EVER!
So, you can tell right off the bat that this one doesn't take itself very seriously. I don't have any background in any of these characters, so I don't know how well they were represented. Well, unless you count the old Spider-man cartoons that featured Morbius every now and then.
Can I count that?

Anyhoo, there's a virus that's making the monsters in Monster Metropolis act all crazy...like monsters.
Morbius is sort of the Governor of the city or something, so he sets out with Manphipian, Werewolf-Guy, Mummy-Guy, and Elsa Bloodstone to find out what's causing everyone to go nuts.
'Cause normally these monsters are really nice.
There's a few flashbacks, a trip to Hell, and lots of shooting.
Then it's over.

Not a lot here, really.
I think this could have been much cooler if there had been some sort of effort put into making the characters less one-dimensional. As it was, I didn't get anything out of it. If it had been longer I probably would have been more annoyed, but since it only took about 10 minutes to read, I didn't mind so much.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instant Classic.

This really doesn't seem like a Marvel book. Yes, it's got Mobius, the Living Mummy, Werewolf By Night, Manphibian, and the rest of the Legion of Monsters, but the art and writing feel much more like an indie comic. This book's been a long time coming and it's wonderful to have the Legion of Monsters star in their own series at long last. They inhabit a fully developed world beneath New York City and have a terrific adventure. Humor, drama, secrets. This book has everything a comic fan will enjoy.

Highly Recommended.

[Adam Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun. Silly campy monster fun, of course. I loved the style of the art, and Elsa Bloodstone shines. It's a crime she isn't used more at Marvel.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elsa Bloodstone's gravity defying hair cracks me up.

[Soph Swin · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s good! surprisingly weighty and emotional. Jack and Elsa’s dynamic had me LIVINGGGG

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

If only this had been a little longer and less forgettable. The art, by Juan Doe, is incredible and perfectly suited for this type of fun story. I really like the way they brought Steve Ditko's Dimensional Man into the regular Marvel Universe. He has a really cool look and has some potential as a reoccurring character. But story doesn't really do much. Apparently there is an army of monsters that live underground and now, even though the reader has nothing invested in them, they are threatened with extinction. But who cares? It doesn't even get interesting until we get a cameo from the Son of Satan and notice a little possible romance between the monster-hunter chick and Jack Russell. Then it ends. And status quo is retained. Give me some ongoing characterization and shake things up a little, I would be all in for that.

[Matt Sabonis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, it's a 3-star story, but man, Juan Doe's lovely art really kicks it up a notch.

[Kris Shaw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Woe is me. My beloved Bronze Age monsters, Morbius The Living Vampire, The Living Mummy, Werewolf By Night, the Manphibian, and the Son of Satan, all relegated to a Monster Squad ('70s TV series) level of parody. I guess that I should be glad just to see C-and-D-list characters like this used period. I would love to see a non-ironic take on these characters, that's all.

I dislike all cute-sy artwork, as it is lame. I dislike it even more when it is used in conjunction with monsters. It's the worst mix since ironic mustaches met Rock. I've come to the conclusion that if this is what modern comic book fans actually, really want, then I am an old fogy who has no place in the modern comic book world. I'll take my artwork with photo realism and my writing without snark and self deprecation.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this title as part of a comiXology sale some time back and I'm not sure why. But hey, I like self-contained stories and this was pretty good.

We have Morbius trying to bring order to the Monster Metropolis hidden away from the surface world when an unusual virus is making the monsters, well, behave like stereotypical monsters instead of a civilized society. This brings Elsa Bloodstone into the mix and it's weirdly a police procedural with quite a big fight at the end to wrap things up.

I didn't take the book too seriously and I'm sure some will question my 4-star rating. But for what it was, it was still fun and I enjoyed the little hijinks despite how one-note Elsa can be at times.

[Alex Sarll]

Elsa Bloodstone, raised from birth to think the only good monster is a dead monster, reluctantly teams up with the monster police of the monster city hidden beneath New York. So that's the likes of Morbius (soon to be a minor motion picture!), Werewolf by Night, and Manphibian. The case: what's turning previously law-abiding-ish monsters into ravening...well, monsters? Juan Doe's art is suitably buzzing and broad-shouldered to evoke Elsa at her Nextwave best, and the bizarre critters making up the rest of the cast. But Hopeless, on his first Marvel gig, seems a little subdued - though he does provide a really clever resolution to the mystery.

[Jennifer Juffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a fun read. My first encounter with Elsa Bloodstone was in 'Marvel Zombies-Battleworlds'.
'Legion of Monsters' was definitely not as serious.
It gave a quick synopsis of the 'who's who' in the Monster World.

I was a little surprised at what I discovered.
It was a quick read.
There were a few editing problems, but overall the story was pretty good.
The art went really well with the dialogue.

I can't complain. I'd like to read a few more stories. Bring back the monsters, please! lol

[Sam Whale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good bit of fun with some cool action and decent plot. The story was kind of a who’s who of Marvel Monsters so it was cool getting a taste of so many different supernatural characters. However the characters felt very one dimensional so the book lacked any depth to make it a super worthwhile read.

The back of my book also featured Tomb of Dracula #18 and Werewolf by Night #15 from the 70’s which featured both battling it out for the first time. This was honestly the better read and I had a great time with it!

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad series. Morbius, Werewolf by Night, the Living Mummy, Manphibian, Elsa Bloodstone, and a few others make appearances. Most of the monsters in the Marvel Universe are living peacefully in an underground city, and then a virus appears that makes the monsters go berserk. It's up to the Legion of Monsters (and Elsa Bloodstone) to save the monsters, and humanity in the process.

I prefer my Marvel Monster stories a little darker, as there's a lot of humor in this one and the art is a little cartoonish. Still a decent read though.

[Roman Colombo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopeless's story is really fun and crazy, and you get to know these characters fast. I'm just 4 issues,it feels like you've been reading them for year. The art was mostly great. The monsters looked fantastic. But some of the human characters looked odd t times. Still, great fun.

[Brannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a fun monster comic.

[Caleb Abel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had its moments and comes together well by the end but I felt lost for a while

[devyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

monsters sexy

[Bekka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty fun story, though not a favourite.
TW for murder, manipulation, blood, gore.

[Aran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off strong but by the last issue it felt a bit rushed.

[jason_not_derulo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty bad. Loved Manphibian tho.

[Gary Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Great Marvel Readthrough, pt 161

[Isaac Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would like to see more of this team. And the chemistry between Elsa and Jack!?!? I need more.

[Bryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two days from now, I won’t remember anything about this book.

[Toi Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legion of Monsters was a fun graphic novel. In this collection of stories, 1 - 4, we get to see a ragtag group of monsters, along with a monster hunter, solving a mystery. Parts of it seemed a bit cartoonish, but then there are other parts that are very serious, very dark, and very scary. Simply because I hadn't been able to figure out the ending, I was able to give this book of 4-star rating. It's not the greatest story I've ever read, certainly not the worst story I've ever read, and it was entertaining. I liked the fact that I didn't figure it all out before the end (though I did figure out some of it).

I’d say this is a great short graphic novel for anyone who likes monster or creature stories. I do think it was a nice touch having a female in the lead, alongside this cast of monster characters.

Recommended to monster and comic book fans; suitable for teen and adult readers.

[Artur Coelho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Misturando personagens sobrenaturais do catálogo da Marvel, esta série distingue-se pelo grafismo arrojado que não se parece enquadrar no estilo a que a editora nos habituou. A narrativa é linear e envolve uma caçadora de monstros que forma uma aliança com Morbius, o vampiro vivo, líder de uma força policial que tenta dar ordem a uma enorme sociedade subterrânea habitada pelas criaturas da escuridão nocturna. Cheio de acção, a série leva-nos ao desvendar das causas de um vírus que afecta criaturas sobrenaturais tornando-as mais monstruosas do que originalmente são. Previsivelmente, tudo se conclui num final relativamente feliz. Divertido mas sem ser extraordinário, Legion of Monsters beneficia de um traço e cores fortemente expressivas que deixam de lado algum realismo e a estética tradicional do género.

[T.L. Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.I fell in love with the characters in Legion of Monsters in Rick Remender's "Frankencastle" run. I loved the monstropolis and the banter between these misunderstood monsters. When I saw that there was more, I was very excited. Perhaps I was too excited, and hence my feeling of dissapointment. The story had real potential, with some interesting twists, but the execution was too cluttered, too rushed, and in my opinion, a big opportunity was wasted. Very little is explained, so that the entire story becomes disjointed and in the end- anti-climactic. Focus on the pov of a couple of characters might have helped, and the art work did not always add to the clarity. I hope to see more of the Legion of Monsters, but I hope next time, they are allowed to shine with their monstrous potential.

[Christina Nightengale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a really fun book! Morbius, Elsa Bloodstone and Jack, the Werewolf were great characters and interacted very well together. Gotta love Elsa's inner monologue of Dad would say the Werewolf is not your boyfirend, but she totally wanted him to be. She starts the story hating all monsters and ends it realizing she was wrong, even considering to date one. I'd love to read more about these characters! <3

[Matt Piechocinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. I dunno where Dennis Hopeless came from, but of the two things I've read by him, I've really enjoyed.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monsters!

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great artwork and interesting characters, though I cannot say that I would have bought this had I not gotten it as a raffle prize from a comic book store.