RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Comic Books I like Umbra AND Lightle

A great combo, IMVHO.

In the latest DnA interview [URL= www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=2438 ]DnA at CBR[/URL] DnA mention that the characters aren't changing relative to past portrayls, they're just getting different aspects shown.

Umbra is certainly no Shadow Lass, so I guess DnA are only going back to the reboot. That's fine - the original Tasmia was too much of a Lar-groupie for my taste (hey - you're a warrior girl*! Act like it!); in fact, she even claimed that she joined the Legion for the strong men or to get a boyfriend or something....

Umbra is living up to her name - she does indeed take umbrage with many people and situations. Some definitions of umbrage from my dictionary: a reason for doubt: suspicion; displeasure, resentment. That's certainly how she left it when she returned to Talok in her wonderful ceremonial costume.

Can't hardly wait to see why she lost her powers. I wonder if she's fighting all those bad guys on the cover without her powers, or does she get them back? I suspect she's tough enough to take on all comers without her darkfield.

* Scholarly footnote: "Young women had started to reclaim the word girl, just as the gay movement had reclaimed the word queer, and they were using the previously forbidden word in the titles of their comics: Real Girl, Action Girl, Deep Girl, Girl Hero, Girltalk, Girljock, Rude Girls and Dangerous Women. (It's interesting to note here that throughout the 1990s, "bad girl" comics - the kind produced for adolescent and teenaged boys, and starring hypersexualized women with large breasts and little clothing - are often preceded by the word lady, as in Lady Death, Lady Justice and Lady Rawhide, while the feminist comics have the word girl in their titles.)" - from Trina Robbins, From Girls to Grrrlz

Rude Girls and Dangerous Women - that's my Umbra!

Steve Lightle will have to be Nice Guys and Great Artists, I guess.

Ms. Cramer, I'd have to agree that a warrior like Umbra shouldn't seem so dependent on men. I've always felt that the match between Mon-El and Shadow Lass was a bit forced. A more interesting match, if we want to talk about Tasmia's potential partners, might very well be Val Armorr. They are both skilled warriors with exceptional hand to hand skills. The difference is that Karate Kid is all about discipline and Umbra is wilder. There is much potential in such a match.

Just a thought.

Steve

See, I always saw it as Tasmia would only go for strong men. Warrior men. Someone like Lyle or Garth wouldn't do it for her. She'd eat them alive. (so she'd think.) That's why she went after Mon. She damn well knew his legacy, if not who he is. It wasn't because she's a Mon-el groupie, but rather her knowing what she wanted out of a man and only the legend of Valor was gonna suit her.

Certainly heritage or lineage are things that are important to Tasmia. Remember that her first interest preboot was Brainiac Five, and that she went for Mon-El only after she discovered he wasn't available.

Preboot every once in a while Shady would get snippy, her dislike for T-Wolf for example. Postboot she really has a lot of growing up to do IMHO. In that miniseries a couple of years ago didn't it show that her people were glad to see her leave? I like that she isn't totally a goody two shoes but wouldn't mind her finding her place in the Legion

I didn't object to the match between Shady & Mon, just the way she subjected herself so completely to him - not that he showed any indication that he expected this behavior. Now I know there are plenty of relationships like this is reality, but it did not ring true to me that someone raised from birth to be a warrior and a Planetary Champion would lose her self in anybody, even a legend like Valor. She basically gave up her life, did the nun routine and abrogated all her responsibilities after his death. For years after his death - and this only ended when he came back to life.

Personally, it might be a nice fantasy to have someone so devoted to you that they can't live without you, but it's kinda unhealthy too. After Valor's death, I would have had Tasmia turn a little harder, angrier, a loner - but still out there fighting.

In the current story line, I agree she would eat someone like Lyle or Garth alive. They'd probably avoid her like the plague, maybe they're even scared of her in the way that you momentarily freeze when someone really unpleasant comes after you (usually to give you shit about something). She probably doesn't even know someone like Brainiac 5 is alive.

Tasmia and Val could be interesting, in that he would appreciate the warrior ways but could provide some calm and meditative balance. Teach her a few things and he wouldn't put up with any b-s either. She could have a lively relationship (not necessarily romantic) with Wildfire also - there's a guy who can give as good as he gets, mouth-wise. Yet he doesn't seem to have the anger that Umbra has.

Another (poor sap) match-up would be Timber Wolf. He's tough, he's a fighter and he falls for the wrong girl. It would be tragic, but possible. He would be too nice, try too hard to please and would never be good enough for Miss Planetary Champion. (Actually, I think T-Wolf deserves a break this version.)

Preboot, Shadow Lass was the planetary champion, but she wasn't raised to be one.
She just sort of 'fell' into the position when she happened upon the cave with her cousin, Grev.
So, it rather made sense that she chose to be with Lar and gave over the title to Grev.

Postboot, Umbra is a whole nother story.
She'd choose a man to father her children for the family line, the most powerful and best that she could find, IMO.
But, I don't know that she'd ever marry or 'follow' a man anywhere.
sigh
I enjoyed the old Lar/Shady relationship, in a lot of ways, because it was rather unique in the Legion relationships.
And I loved that Lar chose to love her as much as she loved him ~ again, rather unique and rare, in reality AND in the comic world.

Shady

Add my name to the list of those that never liked the Shady-Mon relationship. It just didn't work for me though they have always been two of my all time favorite members.

Pairing her with Val makes a great deal of sense but I must admit it had never ocurred to me. I always thought she & Jo would make a great couple. She always saw through Jo's "dumb jock" routine, IMO, and would have seen him as a worthy partner in battle and in life.