(The cover for LEGION LOST #1 by Pete Woods)

In LEGION LOST #1, seven heroes from the 31st century will find themselves in the present day. Their purpose? To save the future from being annihilated by the mistakes of the contemporary world. We talked to writer Fabian Nicieza (BATMAN, RED ROBIN) and got an insider’s pass into what to look out for when the book is released on September 14th.

THE SOURCE: What about DC's new 52 titles excites you the most?

FABIAN NICIEZA: The fact that I'm writing one. There are only 52 slots and Lobdell has 49 of them, so the odds were stacked against me.

How and why are you shaking up the series' status quo?

I'm among the rarities who don't have to worry too much about shaking up the status quo. The Legion's status itself remains stable in the future. The real shake up comes from the fact that my group is trapped in the present day and they can't go back without risking destroying Earth in the future … and they can't stay here for fear of destroying Earth in the present!

What new characters will debut in the series?

Lots and lots of new characters as villains and antagonists. The premise for my book is that a pathogen has been released into the atmosphere which is creating Hypersapiens -- human beings transformed by alien DNA into hybrid beings. That in and of itself allows me to create a host of new characters.

Will we see new character designs?

For the Lost themselves, Pete Woods and Jim Lee have modified many of their costumes just enough to make them seem new, but with plenty of touches from long-established looks.

What's the first line of dialogue in the first issue?

"Please -- let us help you -- "

But I'd rather tell you the last line, which is a million times cooler... but I won't.

What's the biggest surprise you've had working on this character/book?

No surprise at all. The greatest pleasure is in reigniting my love of the Legion characters and the chance to reread a truckload of great comics with great writing by Cary Bates, Jim Shooter, Paul Levitz and others with great art by Dave Cockrum, Mike Grell, Pat Broderick, Keith Giffen, Steve Lightle and more!

What secret has been the hardest to keep?

I'm not trying to keep any secrets, really. It doesn't need too many, outside of exactly why characters form the future would or could be stranded in the past with no way to get back home and with great trepidation about contacting the people they know in the present day.

I have an ongoing QnA thread on the Legion DC Board where, short of giving away actual story details, I'm more than happy to talk about the characters and the approach to the book itself.

What’s the unofficial tagline for this series, in your own words?

“They came back in time to save Earth. They failed.”

What were your thoughts about the day-and-date digital announcement?

I think it's great, quite honestly.