RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Comic Books M'Onel Musings

So, I'm sitting in a coffee shop this morning, drinking an Irish Creme latte, eating breakfast and working on my "morning pages" (a writing exercise recommended by Julia Cameron in her book, The Artist's Way). My ramblings drift to the guy whose picture is on the left of this post, so I thought I'd share it with y'all.

If anyone has any other insights about Mon to share, I'd love to read them. I also hope that this thread inspires others to write about their favorite Legion characters and what they mean to them.

Anyway, here goes:

My Legion message board name comes from M'Onel, a character with whom I've been fascinated for 30 years. Mon is the idealized version of what I would like to be: power tempered by restraint, wanderlust tempered by family ties [e.g., to the Legion]. Mon-El [the preboot spelling] was originally a carbon copy of Superboy -- similar costume and identical powers; he was even introduced as Superboy's faux big brother. At first glance, he seemed redundant in the Legion; if Superboy was there, why did they need Mon-El?

Yet Mon's originality surfaced in subtle ways. He didn't need to prove himself; he knew who he was. He became sort of the "big brother" for the whole team. He was even voted leader -- twice. Ironically, he harbored doubts about leading, but led anyway. Like a good soldier (or brother), he served as needed.

The reboot version of Mon has taken a very different but equally compelling track. He has been elevated from "big brother" to "messiah" -- and a reluctant messiah, at that. Trapped in a void for a thousand years, he emerges to find that his earlier acts of heroism have inspired a religion (Valorism). Mon's story has pulled people from many worlds together -- but he wants none of their worship. All he wants to do is live his own life, free from their expectations. He's a wanderer, after all.

Yet he continually finds himself drawn into the Legion. The need for family and friends is stronger than the pull to wander, it seems, for he has done very little wandering of late. Even when the Legion disbanded and half the team was believed lost, he remained true to its ideals and duty. He become a solo hero, dubbed the 31st century "Superman" -- a role that truly doesn't suit him.

Some heroes just can't help themselves.

I suppose that's why I continue to be drawn to M'Onel after all this time. The old adage says that no man is an island, and Mon is proof of that. He is certainly powerful enough to be an island (or a continent). But he chooses to be a state, instead, united with other states, many less powerful than he is.

There is yet another messianic allusion in all that. Christianity posits that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, dwelled among us to save us. Mon chooses to dwell among the Legion for similar reasons; as its mightiest member, he can help mankind in ways the others can't. Yet (like Jesus Christ), he does not lord it over the rest; his power is there for the asking, should they choose to accept it. But perhaps there is another reason why he remains with the Legion.

Perhaps even a deity can get lonely.

Which begs the question: Why has this M'Onel never been shown to date, despite a brief flirtation with Umbra? Is Mon gay?

I don't think so. Mon is too much of a straight-arrow to be gay. Rather, I think his reluctance to date at this time is due to fear of commitment. He was trapped for a thousand years in the Stasis Zone. Perhaps he is reluctant to make any further ties, apart from the Legion. Or perhaps he just hasn't met the right girl.

Bear in mind that, preboot, it was Shady who initiated the relationship. He remained faithful to her for many years, yet never proposed. It was she who married him -- and only when he was near death and helpless to resist. Mon did not like to be tied down -- as long as the back door was there, he would never have used it, but he had to know it was there.

In the postboot, Umbra has been too busy -- first with being lost in space, now with her loss of power, and just generally being her badass self -- to initiate any kind of relationship. Triad is in awe of Mon, and most of the other female Legionnaires are attached. He did seem to have an interest in Lt. Erin, a non-powered Sci Cop but a resourceful woman in her own right. But if she's waiting for him to ask her out, she may be in for a long wait ...

Mon has acclimated rather well to life in the 31st century -- so far removed from his own time. But, like the heroes of old, he keeps a secret identity; he refuses to let the public at large know he was Valor. And, like the heroes of old, keeping such a large secret often interferes with normal, intimate relationships. Clark Kent's secret identity created a barrier between him and Lois Lane for many years. Mon, perhaps having observed some of that (before and after his entrapment in the Stasis Zone), realizes that such relationships are chancy at best and is reluctant to commit. Or maybe he's just waiting to play the field, when he's ready.

Of course, given how busy he finds himself, it may be another thousand years before he feels ready.

Nice post.

Thanks.

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them."

I think all three apply to Lar Gand - one of the Legion's most interesting characters.

He is least comfortable with the greatness thrust upon him. In the "Valor" story, he was shown as a leader, but victory over the Dominators came from teamwork. To have himself singled out as the great hero, when he knows how many other people contributed to success, must continually rankle. To be elevated by others beyond what he really did may be the source of his continual self-doubt.

Recognition is appreciated, but who truly wants to be put on a pedestal and worshipped? (I remember one of the Beatles (Lennon?) talking about this as being absolutely frightening.)

Lar - in his best characterizations - has always been brooding, weighed down with dark secrets, world weary. Even the Rob Cobb times presented him as older, more mature - but without the depth that we saw in later Legion stories.

The current characterization, the fight with Ra's, confuses me as to where DnA are taking Lar Gand. I don't believe it's sloppy writing but rather a build-up to another crisis of confidence story. Maybe not. Interesting that he went back at the end to talk with Ra's - loneliness? Seeking another being who has "lived" through 1000 years of history?

He doesn't seem to have any close friends post-boot. Adventure era, he was pals with Superboy; then Ultra Boy, which carried through the TMK series - but now, he seems that much further removed from the other Legionnaires.

It would be nice if Triad would lose the fangirl adoration and become a close, reliable friend (not a romance, I'll always see her with Chuck).

Good insights, Fats. I missed out on the Valor series, so I was unaware of others who assisted him in the "seeding of the worlds," if that's what you're referring to. Viewed in that light, it truly would rankle him that so many others were forgotten by history while his own role was inflated.

I'm confused with where DnA are taking him, too. His actions in the Ra's arc -- bringing the villain to Legion world without clearing it with the the Legion's leader first -- at first seem atypical. I, too, hope DnA are going somewhere interesting with it.

Good call about Triad becoming a friend, if not romantic interest. I think she has matured somewhat since the Legion's disbandment and reformation, and has lost some of her fangirlishness. Not all, but some.

Yep, Chuck -n- Lu were really nice PREboot, but this is POSTboot and nothing is the same!

I'm the loudest "Pro" vote for a M'Onel/Triad romance, probably.

Y'see, 1 of Lu can retain the fangirlishness, 1 of Lu luvs his hot Daxamtie bod and 1 of Lu is a level-headed combination of those.

Ever since THE LEGION # 8 and seeing M'Onel and Triad take down Ra's together, I've wanted to see them pair up.

I think DnA *have* dropped some hints to this effect, but hints ONLY.

And I'm curious to where the Ra's/Mon relationship is headed.

Interesting PREboot Mon-El moment:

during TERRA MOSAIC when Monica Sade called Lar to task for not tearing the Dominion a new ass.

She had a point, as did Lar in response to her. But I'd still like to see M'Onel just BUST LOOSE sometime and kick some serious ass.

I would rather M'onel and Triad not hook up any time soon -- at least not until she gets over her awe of him and really gets to know him as a person first. It would be weird for M'onel to knowingly get involved with someone he knows "worships" him.

I kinda like the idea of him and Svaughn Erin though -- it almost makes sense he would date outside the team since postboot M'onel keeps a certain distance and the idea of the most powerful Legionnaire seeing someone without powers is also a classic sort of situation.

A M'Onel/Shvaughn romance would be intriguing. Both are slightly older than the rest of the Legion and both are highly dedicated to duty.

Although I agree that Monel and Triad look good together at first glance I wondert if a Daxamite could love a human? I mean in the physical sense, without ripping them apart.... super ejaculation anyone? (no, I'm not offering...)

I just hope he wouldn't be faster than a speeding bullet in all things

Well, since Kryptonian's can know a human in the biblical sense, I'm pretty sure that M'Onel and Triad could work.

A thoughtful thread. I'd better add something before we get the you're-too-serious razzberry from our friend LardLad {grin}

HWW noted the messianic thrust put upon Lar Gand. I'd like to suggest another ancient legend or role that applies, that of the Wandering Jew.

For those who don't know: A businessman in Jerusalem supposedly stood aloof and questioning about the absurdity of Christ's sacrifice, when the crucifixion was at hand. Jesus was said to have told the man that he would have to learn the lesson of what was being done by observing humanity, in all its faults, virtues, and variety, "until I come again." Whereupon the Jewish man wandered the world, immortal and not aging further, yearning for the grave at times, but usually making the best of it by observing fallible man and taking part in historical events.

The parallels to Mon-el's exile in the Phantom Zone, and his wandering as the nearest thing to an immortal in the run of creatures in either century (20th/21st or 30th/31st), should be apparent. I always saw his role as being apart from the action, the ultimate backstop, the ultimate historical resource, the Legion's hidden power, never moving the organization along, but always supporting it.

And always being unable to fully empathize with the others, when it came down to thinking about himself, what he wanted, where he fit in. He couldn't abide a fixed role, stable expectations, even constant friendships. (I speak of the preboot, before grand roles were thrust upon him and he reluctantly acquiesced.) That is, beyond his being close to Tasmia. She was his unacknowledged balance wheel, not just in the Legion, but against a whole era and century around him.

I wanted to imagine what would happen if he lost that balance which she represented, and where he would find it again, and wrote about where he might find solace with another wanderer. I kept thinking that the character needed someone who resonated with him, not in contrast to him. He never could accept Legion life and his role in it as a final social and personal reality for him.

I've always been intrigued by the many ways that Mon-El (okay I'm feeling stubborn right now) is different from Superboy/man. In fact, I find those who still want to cast him as a stand-in for Superboy kind of frustrating.

The thing that makes Mon more interesting to me is his depth. I still think we've only scratched the surface of what a thousand years of captivity would do to the mind of a noble man. Especially when you consider that he was surrounded by thieves, murderers, and worse, for the entire time.

The fact that he could emerge sane is a miracle. The idea that his ideals could stay intact is a testimony to the ultimate power of good.

Still, I think we've not come close to understanding what goes on behind those eyes.

Steve Lightle

I don't have anything to add just now- though I will after some thought- but I wanted to say how much I enjoyed this post and the spirit behind it.

I wish there could be a board somewhere with the characters as the topics always-- no-one would ever drop past the first few 'pages'.

I love all the other topics, but this is something I remember from the DC Legionnaires board in that twilight time when the LMB was first forming an identity.

Good work, HWWie.

TN

Wow. Great thread HWW. Finally got around to reading it and I'm glad I did.

He Who Wanders, wrote:
"Some preboot stories tried to deal with this by portraying him as a man who had blotted out the traumatic memories of his imprisonment. One story (of which you were the guest-penciller, by the way) had him going mad at the prospect of being sent back into the Phantom Zone."

You'll notice that, although Paul Levitz frequently mentioned that I contributed to the plotting, this story is the only example of my getting an official co-plotter credit on Legion.

Before "Back Home In Hell" Mon had always been shown as a Superboy type. Clearly, Jim Shooter considered him to be a lesser Superboy. Occasionally it seemed that Mon-El had a slightly more serious attitude, as if the burden of the responsibility weighed a bit heavier on him than on Superboy. At least, that is how I cam to interpret it. Chances are that writers simply saw him as inferior to Superboy, even in personality.

To really deal with the Phantom Zone realistically you are almost forced to imagine that he previously had been suppressing the true trauma of the experience ... probably to preserve his sanity. I never intended that he should wander around with psychological open wounds from the experience, or that he should have panic attacks whenever the Zone was mentioned in conversation. Mon-El was stronger than that. Think of him as a "man of steel" who had his steel refined and purified in a thousand years of flame.

Also, I defend Mon-El's breakdown in "Back Home In Hell" as being much more than a tantrum. Although a line or two of the dialogue may sound a bit whiny, really what is being shown was a psychological collapse. It was something along the nature of a devastating panic attack ... an unreasoning and momentarily overpowering fear. Realize that Mon-El, after his one thousand years in the Phantom Zone, probably seldom encountered anything that instilled fear in him, certainly not a physical enemy. To be confronted with his one true fear, to my thinking, was worse than any threat he had ever faced with the Legion.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Superboy had placed Mon-El in the zone, promising that he would dedicate himself to finding a cure. Assuming that Superboy meant what he said, we can assume that Superman spent a good deal of his lab time in the Fortress of Solitude working on the cure that always eluded him. In the issue, I even drew an image of the adult Kal-El, as seen from Mon's point of view in the Phantom Zone. Still, keep in mind that Kal-El NEVER found the promised cure. Chances are that Mon-El watched Superman grow old. Mon-El must have seen the one person, who knew of his captivity in the Zone, die. Did years of hopelessness follow? Did that thousand years then seem like an eternity that would have no ending? Just how did this man preserve his dignity, his faith, his ideals? We know that somehow he did, and I find that incredibly intriguing. Mon-El is not made weak by his traumatic experiences in the Phantom Zone, rather, the remembrance of them stands as testimony to his strength.

I'm convinced that Mon-El should be portrayed as the most serious and most compassionate Legionnaire. He should also be the most emotionally reserved and the possess the most complex personality. There should be an enigmatic aspect of Mon-El, which his team mates, and we readers, might never fully understand.

He's a noble survivor, tried by a thousand year flame ... for all his great powers, still a man, capable of fear and doubt, but always clinging to his unshakable belief that he serves a high calling ... a purpose greater than himself. Mon-El represents the victory of order over chaos. Darkseid is his ultimate opposite and his greatest physical enemy.

That's how I see Mon-El.

Steve Lightle

All good points again, Steve. I want to make it clear that I did like "Back Home In Hell" (though I was unaware it was your only Legion co-plotting credit). I just felt that Mon going beserk at the prospect of returning to the Zone was a bit much.

It seemed that, in the few stories in which Mon was called on to be emotional about something, he'd turn into a violent madman. There was an earlier story (also by Levitz?), in which he nearly pummels Sun Boy after Shady gets injured.

I agree that Mon is a very complex character and should be somewhat enigmatic to the other Legionnaires (perhaps that's DnA's take on him, and why he seems to have no close friends among the current Legion). Still, why does this guy keep hanging around the Legion -- being part of it yet apart? In the preboot, he and Superboy had a brother-like relationship that anchored him to the Legion. By the time Kal was no longer appearing on a regular basis, Mon was involved with Shadow Lass. But why does he stick around in the reboot? There have been no satisfactory answers to this (just speculation on my part).

As for Superboy's promise to free Mon from the Phantom Zone, one wonders just how dedicated he was to keeping that promise. We know that he retained his memories of the Legion and Mon-El's place in it when he returned to his own time, so he must have known that Mon would not be freed from the Phantom Zone until 1000 years hence. That means that Superboy knew that if he found a cure in the present day, it would contradict future history as he knew it.

Kal would have been in an unwinnable situation. Does he keep his word and try to free his brother, knowing that he would be doomed to failure? Or does he respect the timeline as the Legion knew it and abandon his search for a cure?

If the latter, did Mon know this? If so, it adds a whole new dimension to their "brotherhood," doesn't it?

He Who Wanders :

Love the Mon - El thread you started.
I don't know what else I can say to add
to it that you haven't already said.

I, too, feel Mon has a lot to be explored,
within and without himself.

Be kind of good to see him thinking
things over..I prefer MY heroes to be
the deep, Introspective types.

That was what I liked about the Shooter
era Legion. They had a LOT of thoughts.
I'd like to see THIS Legion have more
thoughts, too.

I, too, wondered about Kal - El and his
promise to free Mon.

Mon never seemed resentful about it with
Kal, but then, that aspect of Mon - The
emotionial being - has YET to be fully
explored.

I recall a Levitz Story about Mon's
Lead serum becoming less & less
effective, and how he went nuts and clobbered
half the Legion before being subdued and
put briefly back into the Zone until
Brainy was able to find a BETTER serum for
Mon.

But Mon does NOT have to go nuts to
explore his pysche. Just a little upset
would do.

You are Correct, He Who wonders.
It takes an EXCEPTIONAL being NOT to
lose his mind during a thousand year
sentence in the Phantom Zone.

Mon IS that exceptional being. But
he is STILL a creature of emotions.
I'd like to see those emotions
explored MORE, not to any true
extreme, but God, Mon - El has
SUCH a Full background......
A true waste NOT to exlpore it.

"With powers identical to those of his friend Superboy, Mon-El has long felt a need to be his own man....and perhaps this explains the intensity of his anger."

One take on Mon-El from Gerry Conway, SLSH #232

I would not like to see M'onel "go insane" again, regardless of his troubles and the weight of his history. Withdrawn and depressed seems to be more in character - which he has been in the past. I wouldn't think that the degree of emotional control he would have developed in the Zone would abandon him at this point.

People do snap, of course, but I would see someone like him just draw deeper into himself. And who could reach out to pull him back?

Remember the the scene in 5YL stories, after Valor got trashed for not taking on the Dominators, it was young Violet, shy, nervous, hesitant and immensely respectful, who brought him out of the brooding. I always saw this as him reacting in a noblesse oblige sort of way, but maybe it just shows that he was simply touched - and restored - by Violet's innocent kindness.

In other words, help and support for Lar could come from the unlikeliest character(s).

A bump for a thread with substance to it, before it sinks beneath the waves. I'd add something else to it now, but the NyQuil is talking, and I don't trust myself *sigh*

Wanna know what sinks like a rock? This guy:

Just don't pop him in your mouth.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled musings.

Awww, but...

I don't know if his creators knew this or not, but Monel is an actual metal alloy. It's very similar to stainless steel, with a higher amount of nickel in it, making it sturdier. Think of it as the ultimate form of steel.

Sorry, hehehe, felt I needed to contribute and didn't want to add my own phiolsophical rants...

One of M'onel's greatest traits is his optimism. He's here fighting to save lives despite all he's witnessed. More than anyone, he understands our place in the grand scheme of things, and he still gets up everyday and goes out to meet the challenge of daily life. It's a testament to his character that he keeps a positive view of the world and our experiences in it.

Trapped in the Phantom Zone, M'onel spent a thousand years watching the story of the universe unfold. He was able to witness life in all corners of the universe, quite possibly the multiverse. During that time, he must have witnessed entire lives, from birth to death, watched beings struggle to survive and flourish in all kinds of situations. Much like a compelling TV series, some of these beings must have caught his attention and kept his interest through the years, if only to relieve his boredom.

Imagine the stories he seen, the lives that fascinated him. And, for all the joys he saw, he also saw sorrows, and the eventual end of those lives. How many of your close friends could you watch die, helplessly and painfully in some cases? That he hasn't become numb to existence, or grown distant beyond all extremes defends his his moniker of Valour. He maintains his strength of character, his mental acuity, and he forges ahead, beyond a thousand years of evidence of futility, to make a full life for himself.

Strong character indeed.

CJ, I figured the name did come from the metal and was chosen as a play on "man of steel".

He is one of the more interesting characters, I hope DnA put some focus on him and work out (for the rest of us, at least) where they're taking his personality.

Something just occurred to me. M'Onel's (that is a lot of apostrophes) life is from a thousand years ago. His family and friends, the things he like to do (movies, games, etc.) Sure, he's built a new life here. But that doesn't mean he's forgotten his former life.

Ra's is the only link he has to those days. A villain yes, but one familiar with things like Supes and Bats and other 21st century things. Maybe he feels a certain kinship with Ra's. They are both men out of time, but M'Onel even more so. Maybe that is why he is so soft handed with the guy. Ra's is his last link to the life he knew beofre imprisonment.

Man, this guy has more depth than most of the 21st century DCU.