DC didn't really do anyone any favors by titling this new anthology series " Legends of Tomorrow ." Of the four stories included, only one features a character from the TV series whose name the book is trading on. This comic has nothing to do with time travel, Vandal Savage or the idea of a ragtag super-team battling their way towards legitimacy. Legends of Tomorrow the comic is simply a book featuring four unrelated stories about heroes who have been out of the spotlight for a while. Readers who purchase this comic as a blind buy based on the title alone are bound for disappointment (especially given the high cover price). But those who simply wish to reconnect with characters like Firestorm and the Metal Men will be in for a pleasant surprise.

The one common thread in Legends of Tomorrow #1 is that all four stories have a distinctly pre-New 52 quality to them. While each story seeks to revamp and reestablish its respective heroes, there's no effort to be edgy or change elements for the sake of changing them. It doesn't hurt that DC turned to a distinctly old-school lineup of writers for these tales, with Gerry Conway returning to his signature creation in the Firestorm story, Len Wein handling the Metal Men and Keith Giffen tackling Sugar & Spike.Giffen's tale is actually the highlight of the issue, in spite of (or perhaps because of) their relative unknown status. I have no real exposure to the characters, so I can't speak to how they compare with earlier incarnations, but Giffen delivers a fun little buddy cop tale as the headstrong Sugar and her befuddled partner carry out a dangerous mission in Gotham City. The comedic, down-to-earth tone of the story is very much in line with Marvel's Superior Foes of Spider-Man. Bilquis Evely's art also gives the story a low-key charm that meshes well with that blue collar superhero approach.It's also a treat to see Conway writing Firestorm again, especially after all the chaos the character went through during the course of his New 52 series. This tale appears to be a continuation of the previous book, with Professor Stein still serving as mentor to Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch, but it also offers a clean start for Firestorm fans. Conway offers an entertaining look at the hectic personal lives of both characters before they're both drawn into another superhero fiasco, and Eduardo Pansica's clean style makes the book that much more approachable. The only downside is that Ronnie is still portrayed as a bit too much of a cocky jerk, a problem that's plagued him since 2010's Brightest Day storyline.The remaining two tales aren't quite as successful, but nor are they bad reads by any stretch. Aaron Lopresti pulls double duty in his Metamorpho tale, which is an attractively rendered but pretty by-the-numbers exploration of the character's origin. Wein's Metal Men story is humorous, but it leans a little heavily on the X-Men-esque concept of the public being terrified of the Metal Men (as opposed to the countless other metahumans in the DCU?). On the other hand, Cinar, like the rest of the artists in these pages, gives this story a sleek, classic DC feel.