Legion Comics To Read Before The TV Show

Amy Awesome

12/22/2016 12:30 pm EST

Legion, from Marvel's X-Men is getting his very own series on FX which will premiere this coming February.

David Haller is the powerful Omega-level mutant known as Legion. He possesses hundreds of mutant abilities ranging from telekinesis to reality warping, but each power is controlled by a different persona, which could be either benevolent or malevolent.

The new psychological thriller TV series created by Noah Hawley (Fargo, Bones) follows David Haller, a troubled young man who may be more than human. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But after a strange encounter with a fellow patient, he's confronted with the possibility that the voices he hears and visions might be real.

Each persona manifests and controlls a different superhuman ability. Because of this he posesses both psychic and physical mutant powers.

Legion is the mutant son of Professor Charles Xavier and Gabrielle Haller, who has a mental illness which was passed down to David.

His other powers due to his split personalities and ability to absorb the consiousness of other mutants and humans include:

Time-travel, shape-shifting, being a werewolf, superhuman strength, sonic blasts, flight, X-ray vision, super speed, inter-reality and interstellar travel, skin manipulation, healing, transmutation to salt, omniscience, time control, duplicate generation upon physical contact, weapon's mastery, emotion manipulation, pain transference...

And finally the uncanny ability to alter reality to the point where he doesn't actually know what is real and what is not.

While some of these comics may be hard to find...they are Legions best story arcs...

X-Men Legacy: Legion Omnibus

Legion is the most powerful and unstable mutant in the world, and prodigal son to Professor Charles Xavier.

But in the aftermath of his father's tragic death, David Haller will fi nally attempt to tame his fractured mind, conquer his inner demons and embrace his legacy!

But first Legion will have to overcome two new villains -one lurking within his own psyche, and the other hiding among the X-Men!

He'll turn down an invitation to join the team, but the young mutant Blindfold will catch his eye! Will their uncanny romance change the fate of mutantkind?

COLLECTING: X-MEN LEGACY 1-24

(Photo: Marvel Entertainment)

New Mutants Classic Vol. 4

Legion's first appearance and introduction occurs during Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz's classic work on New Mutants in the mid 1980's.

You can get a feel for the whole New Mutants run as part of the Claremont X-Men reading order.

Legion's epic first story arc follows hot on the heels of the "Demon Bear Saga" which is well worth a read for any fan.

Collects: New Mutants (1983) #26-34

New Mutants Vol. 1: Return of Legion

They're back together again! Cannonball, Dani Moonstar, Karma, Sunspot, Magma, and Magik have been gathered once more, but can they stand against one of the most powerful X-Villains of all time?

Legion is back, and the villain that thrust us into the Age of Apocalypse is scarier than ever.

But what does he want with the New Mutants? Zeb Wells (Amazing Spider-Man) and Diogenes Neves (X-Men: Worlds Apart) bring your favorite teen heroes into adulthood. Don't miss it!

Collects New Mutants #1-5 and Marvel Spotlight: New Mutants.

(Photo: Marvel Entertainment)

Muir Island Saga

The Muir Island Saga is a five-part Marvel Comics crossover event involving the X-Men and X-Factor, published in 1991. It was written by Chris Claremont and Fabian Nicieza.

Professor X lands on the island himself, but finds Legion holding all of his students captive. Legion is attacked unexpectedly by Storm, freeing the X-Men. He retreats and unleashes the X-Men and Muir Island inhabitants to take down his enemies.

Professor X decides they must attack the Shadow King on both the physical and astral planes to defeat him, so he sends half the team to break the nexus formed with Polaris and the other half to protect his body while he is on the Astral Plane. He begins his battle with the Shadow King, but now the villain has become too powerful to attack.

In the aftermath, Professor X fails to repair the mental damage to Legion's mind, leaving Legion brain-dead, but is comforted by X-Factor's decision to rejoin the X-Men. Val Cooper, returned from Shadow King's control, recruits Polaris, Guido Carosella and Jamie Madrox into a new government-sponsored team to replace Freedom Force.

Muir Island was destroyed and Legion was left in a catatonic state, in which he would remain until the lead-up to Legion Quest.

COLLECTS: Uncanny X-Men #278, Uncanny X-Men #279, Uncanny X-Men #280, X-Factor #69, X-Factor #70

Legion Quest

Legion returns to the pages of X-Men in the mid-90's as part of the Legion Quest crossover, which sets up the X-Men's Age of Apocalypse.

After awaking from a coma which he has been in since the Muir Island Saga, Legion finds his fragmented mind healed. He wants to make up for his past shortcomings and the pain he caused his father, Charles Xavier.

To do that, Legion comes up with a plan to travel back in time to kill Magneto, the greatest opposition, that Xavier's dream of peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans, ever faced. Some of the X-Men go after him, but they fail to stop him.

However, Legion's plan backfires as he accidentally murders Xavier, and as a result, erases himself from history. The early death of the founder of the X-Men creates an altered history that replaces the mainstream Marvel Universe.

More Legion: New Legion Trailer / New Legion Promos / Danger Promo / Jemaine Clement Joins Legion / Legion Producers Talk X-Men And Marvel Universe Connections / How Legion Could Fix X-Men Continuity / Legion Promos

Legion is created by Noah Hawley (Fargo), who will also serve as showrunner, and is a co-production of Marvel Television and FX Productions. Legion stars Dan Stevens as David Haller, along with Rachel Keller, Jean Smart, Aubrey Plaza, Jeremie Harris, Amber Midthunder, Katie Aselton, and Bill Irwin.

Legion premieres on Feb. 8, 2017, at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

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