In some ways, Millennium is a more elegant introduction to the new series. It's not strictly essential in terms of plot, but the fact that those two issues are framed specifically around Rose and Thorn helps ease readers into this futuristic setting. By comparison, Legion #1 throws readers into the deep end as it showcases the entire cast and their chaotic first mission.
Still, Bendis never lets this issue get too bogged down in minutia. He's also made it clear the team will eventually break off into smaller, more manageable factions once the early legwork is out of the way. If anything, this first issue toys with the fact that the roster is so massive and unwieldy. There's a very tongue-in-cheek, self-aware quality to the way the characters are introduced and Jon reacts to the sea of faces. It all helps create an inviting feel. It even helps counter a common flaw with Bendis' team books - that the various characters all have similar voices.
Sook's art further adds to that comedic energy. As much as Sook's name calls up images of dark, foreboding stories like Seven Soldiers, this series shows a much lighter side of his work. There's a strong contrast between the moodily lit action scene that opens the issue and the brighter, more hopeful team-building scenes that follow. That's a particular strength of colorist Jordie Bellaire, who proves to be right at home in this futuristic setting. Inker Wade von Grawbadger helps bring out the detail in Sook's lines. Between the thoughtfully redesigned characters and the intricately rendered facial work, this issue provides an appealing new take on the 31st Century.This relaunch is unusual in that it draws in a number of heroes from different time periods, many of whom have never been associated with the Legion in the past. While not all of those characters are integrated into the book just yet, this definitely gives Legion a New Avengers vibe. And while it never hurts throwing a Batman into the mix, this issue makes it that much clearer there's a specific plan in the decision to include so many pre-31st Century characters and elements into the book. Bendis seems intent on tying past, present and future together in a meaningful way, creating a clearer road map for how the present-day DCU eventually becomes the DCU of the Legion's time. That alone provides a compelling reason to follow the series.