L.E.G.I.O.N. '91 #29

L.E.G.I.O.N. '91 #29 (July 1991)
title: "Traffic In, Traffic Out"
plot: Alan Grant & Barry Kitson
writer: Alan Grant
penciller: Barry Kitson
inker: Barry Kitson
letterer: Gaspar Saladino
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Dan Raspler
cover art: Barry Kitson & Lovern Kindzierski
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: After the death of Lyrissa Mallor, Dox turned his attention to the Khundian Empire and learned that they were using a captured scientist to build a Doomsday weapon. The team successfully captured both the design plans and the weapon, but the captured scientist was killed. Dox then staffed the doomsday device with a crew from the planet Ogen and placed it in a location where it could strike at either Khundia or the Dominion if they tried to involve any more free worlds in their war. Meanwhile, Stealth continued her self-imposed exile. The birth of her child virtually tore her body apart, but the remains formed a cocoon from which she emerged in a new body. We learned that her violent attack on Dox is the natural manner for her race to reproduce and the men usually do not survive. We also learned that the women usually do not survive giving birth, but Stealth is revealed to be a mutant of her species. The child she delivered is a son and his physical appearances matches his father, Vril Dox.

Dox sends Lobo to deal with some smugglers, which he does in his own especially violent way. But before he can complete his mission he gets teleported away.

After complaining to Telepathy that Dox still blames her for the Durlan's disappearance, she is shocked when he asks her to take over Lyrissa's position as second-in-command.

She soon encounters her first challenge when an argument between two air traffic controllers results in crash in one of the docking bays. One of the ships is carrying explosives and the reactors are leaking but Lady Quark is able to prevent a meltdown long enough for Captain Comet to get the wreckage into space.

Once that situation has been managed, Phase addresses the L.E.G.I.O.N. to inform them of her new role and to finally give full membership to Marij'n Bek and Captain Comet.

Dox is not happy with her decision and tries to get her to recant their appointments but she refuses. He backs down but warns her to keep Comet out of his way.

Back on the smugglers' ship, Lobo returns after having had an adventure in the Demon's series. The last smuggler turns out to be a robot who set the ship to self-destruct but Lobo is able to get out in time. He briefly checks in with Phase after return to L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters.

This one is going to be short because not much happened this issue and I do not have many thoughts on it. Obviously the big development is Phase's appointment as second-in-command. It makes sense in that she really is the character most similar to Lyrissa and it shows that Dox is willing to put aside his personal feelings when he thinks something serves the team's interest.  Beyond that, all that happened was Lobo's mission, which amounted to a lot of panels of him punching people. I feel like his mission was mostly an excuse to take him away from the team so his disappearance to go visit the Demon series would not be noticed.

I think the creative team may have been taking a breather here before next issue, which I expect to be much more interesting. So check back with me next week as we welcome a number of new characters to the team!