A Shout Out To Lux #4 And The Lore Of Runeterra

ModCaliCoastReplay·Aug 15, 2019·16 votes·8,602 views

No matter how many balance issues this game goes through - and there are a lot, and even as a mod I find I agree with the Boards more often than not as to when the game slips into "this feels bad to play" mode - the lore of Runeterra keeps me coming back.

For those who overlooked it on the client home lobby, the free viewing of Lux #4 - the comic series by Marvel/Riot about Lux and Demacia - is completely amazing, and I encourage people to view it.

Take a break from the game and learn more about Runeterra! I absolutely will reiterate my calls for a League movie or cartoon series.

https://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_US/comic/lux/issue-4/0/?utm_source=LeagueClient&utm_medium=OverviewTier1

10 Comments

RiotL4T3NCYAug 16, 20198 votes

http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/IoQBWXhpwsd0c/giphy.gif

I'll +1 that.

KüramaAug 17, 20191 votes

Why are you no longer the Featured Game Mode Lead?

patmax17Aug 16, 20194 votes

Can I ask what you find particularly well done and/or interesting in that series? I honestly think it's quite underwhelming, it doesn't get me invested in the characters, they and the story are quite flat and predictable... The only thing that I really liked is how powerful Gare is portrayed when he fights, but that's not enough to make the series a good series. I liked the series on Ashe a lot better, for example, it had interesting and strong characters, unexpected story developements and a beautiful art style.

I'm honestly here to hear what you think of the Lux comic, I'd like to hear a different, more positive point of view ^^

HaeringAug 16, 20191 votes

I agree it lacks something, but I still find it fairly enjoyable. We are also seeing some champions finally develop, pushing the plot forward, so that scores a big point for me. Xin Zhaos new short story is much better though.

ShadowGlaive213Aug 16, 20194 votes

I think the series is interesting simply from all the new information or confirmation we're getting in terms of the fact that Sylas can't detect all forms of magic, that Garen's weapon is blessed by Kayle, Kayle and Morg fought in the halls of Demacia, it's implied that Jarvan loves Shyvana and that she left, the potential of yet another party involved that has yet to be identified etc. Granted this is kind of a low bar set by years of next to no development.

While I think it's a decent comic, it fails as a Lux comic. She only appears on 5/20 of the pages of the latest issue and we've still yet to learn anything new or interesting about her, so I've actually been calling it a Sylas comic.

ModCaliCoastReplayAug 16, 20192 votes

{quoted}

Can I ask what you find particularly well done and/or interesting in that series? I honestly think it's quite underwhelming, it doesn't get me invested in the characters, they and the story are quite flat and predictable... The only thing that I really liked is how powerful Gare is portrayed when he fights, but that's not enough to make the series a good series. I liked the series on Ashe a lot better, for example, it had interesting and strong characters, unexpected story developements and a beautiful art style.

I'm honestly here to hear what you think of the Lux comic, I'd like to hear a different, more positive point of view ^^

Sure! I'd nominate the 9 of 11 two-page sequence where Sylas deposes JarvanIV on the dais of Demacia as the main thing that brought me here yesterday to say this, particularly the little details like some in the crowd calling to kill the prince and others to save him - clearly Demacia is always not the united, principled nation it often believes itself to be, but a deeply divided country with deep scars and wounds in need of healing.

I can relate to that.

The art is clean and appealing in my eyes, but even better - it has to do with the notion that I find one of League's basic writing principles to be incredibly interesting - all the characters are written as incredibly human. That is of course, unless they're not, word to the vast non-human League roster - but still, no matter the faction and race, Runeterra's heroes are flawed and vulnerable and frequently fail and/or are injured or lose their power, and the villains have committed the darkest and most terrifying sins to acquire power.

Going further might break the Boards policies against political/non-League-related discussion. I will only say that I have some small experience in politics - and this kind of writing is in my opinion so much more deep and effective in helping art become a mirror to reality that deepens us and helps us relate to our world better than more immature characterizations of simple "good guys" and "bad guys".

I find myself in some ways compelled to root for League's antiheroes and villains in the lore even more so than the heroes - something I certainly try never to do in reality - because they are so well-written and relatable. Despite the notion that Sylas is by this point an embittered, revenge-obsessed violent mage-supremacist radical who wants to bring about the fall of Demacia - I still find myself sympathizing with his pain. Who couldn't relate to being imprisoned for an event that happened only because he didn't understand his powers in a country where magic is a crime? Yes, he killed three people - but how many people have died because of the Lightshield family's wars and draconian anti-magic regime?

These questions aren't easy to answer, and they make for good writing in my eyes. Your experience may vary, but this story really appealed to me. I'm glad some of the others appealed to you! I don't think I've read a bad League comic yet; and I feel it's important to put energy into supporting Runeterra's lore - I have many friends who just say they can't play League anymore, they have too many toxic experiences and the game isn't casual-friendly anymore - but to a person they all still love the lore!

patmax17Aug 19, 20193 votes

Thanks for clarifying!

Now I better understand what you liked, and I agree on most of your points: I too appreciate how Riot's been trying to have less b/w, more nuanced characters and situations (it's one of the things I liked most of Ashe's story, Grena is full of contradictions, she has tons of charisma but also makes terrible mistakes because of her nearsightedness). The world is nuanced and noone is the villain in their own story, and that's definitely something Riot's been working towards in their lore.

BUUUUUT, I think that these points are true for LoL's lore in general, in Lux' comic in particular the ideas are there, but for me the execution didn't satisfy my expectations. But from your and the other comments, it could be a matter of where one sets the bar, while this comic isn't bad, I think it isn't particularly outstanding either. There are good ideas but I think they could have been brought into play better, the writing and art are a bit lacking imo. I see the effort to make the characters sympathetic and less flat, but I don't think the result is as good as it could have been, the dialogues are simple and sometimes stupid and the choices characters make are naive and/or predictable.

I hope Riot continues to put out lore, in the form of written stories (Silence for the Damned was SO GOOD!), comics and maybe even other media, and that they push the quality higher and higher. I still think this comic in particular isn't one of Riot's best lore outputs, but I better understand what you and other players/readers liked. Thanks for taking the time to write your reply :)

patmax17Aug 19, 20192 votes

Oh, and another thing that I read in the other comments: the fact that the comics gives us more information about the setting/magic/story, and that it pushes (or might push) characters further and develop them from how we know them isn't a merit of the comic itself as a comic, it's kinda like a side-effect of the story. I.e. I definitely appreciate worldbuilding, but it's not one of the main aspects of the comics. I definitely appreciate character developement, but it's not enough for me in and of itself, it has to be well done, and in this comic...eeeeh :/

So yeah, there are good ideas and good things, but what I mostly judge in this comic are the writing, the dialogue, the story itself and the art. Worldbuilding is appreciated but doedn't make the comic a good comic itself. I definitely want character developement, but it must be good character development (think Grena and Ashe in their comic, think Udyr in the short story, or the story with Yasuo and Riven). Development for development's sake isn't enough for me :)

IlyaK1986Aug 26, 20191 votes

The Ashe series was VASTLY better. And young Sejuani was the most badass adorable character ever. I hope current Sejuani didn't kill off that young, snarky, lovable self and that we can get more wholesome Ashe x Sej in the future. Maybe capture Sejuani, tie her up, and subject her to...NEARLY ENDLESS PORO CUDDLES!