L.E.G.I.O.N. '91 #32

L.E.G.I.O.N. '91 #32 (October 1991)
title: "The Seeds of Dissent"
plot: Alan Grant & Barry Kitson
writer: Alan Grant
penciller: Barry Kitson
inker: Mark Pennington
letterer: Gaspar Saladino
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Dan Raspler
cover art: Kevin Maguire & Karl Kesel
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Vril Dox suprised Phase by asking her to take over for Larissa Mallor as his second-in-command. She struggled with the decision because she believed Dox resented her for the Durlan's disappearance, but ultimately she accepted. Strata welcomed a team of new recruits, which included a Khund and Lydea Mallor, who had killed her mother while under the influence of the Computer Tyrants of Colu. Meanwhile, the gangster G'odd was furious that one of his shipments was stopped by Lobo under the orders of Dox, but we learn that he has planted a spy among the L.E.G.I.O.N. Lobo lost his temper and stormed out to a bar where he met Captain Marvel, who had been transported into space as a result of the War of the Gods crossover. Before their battle could be concluded, the Captain found himself once again transported away. Stealth also returned after the birth of her and Dox's child, and Dox was anxious to learn the fate of their child.

New recruit, Davroth Catto is writing about his experiences with the L.E.G.I.O.N. He mentions a training mission that Strata took them on to see Captain Comet in action and how they observed Telepath conducting an interrogation. Finally, they got a taste of action when they confronted a gang of psycho-bikers attacking a home for the senile on one of the moons orbiting Alroz.

They are successful in taking down the bikers, although Strata admonishes Lydea Malor and Amon Hakk, the Khund, because they were instructed to capture them, not cripple them.  Davroth is interrupted by one of the other new recruits, Ig'Nea, who asks how she looks. He misinterprets her question and asks her out but she mentions that she already has a date with Vril Dox. (Yes, with Vril Dox.)

Vril finally confronts Stealth about the whereabouts of their child, but she refuses to tell him even though he insists that he has changed. He quickly loses his temper, so its easy to understand why she refuses. She asks him why Lydea has been welcomed so easily onto the team but before they can discuss it in depth, they are interrupted by Ig'Nea, who has come to meet him for dinner.

While Davroth continues writing about his experiences, Amon is wondering the halls and happens to come upon Lydea. She has left her door ajar and is changing clothes when she notices Amon peaking.

Phase interrupts before things deteriorate and orders Amon to come with her. Lobo grabs Amon, but Phase tells him to let him go and just escort him gently.  Meanwhile, the gangster G'odd is meeting with the assassin Ice Man to make a deal for him to go against the L.E.G.I.O.N.

Back on Cairn, Phase has telepath scan Amon once again to be sure he is not a traitor but he comes up clean. She apologizes to Amon for the scan but remains suspicious about the rest of the recruits. At the same time, Dox enjoys his date.

Ice Man has heard everything G'odd has to say and informs him that the L.E.G.I.O.N. can be destroyed for the price of one tenth of everything they own. He explains that they need to follow his instructions to the letter while he focuses on eliminating Lobo. Coincidently, on Cairn, Amon vents to Davroth about his anger at Lobo.

Their discussion is interrupted by Ig'Nea, who has returned from her date with Dox. She is excited to share that he is going to an official L.E.G.I.O.N. celebration on another planet and has invited her along.

This is a very interesting issue because it focuses almost entirely on the new recruits. And I love it. Once of the things I enjoyed about this series was the more realistic and organic feel it had over most superhero comics of the day. The L.E.G.I.O.N. was a large organization with a militaristic structure so it made sense that we would eventually welcome new cast members and the creators did an excellent job of making them engaging characters.

The big plotline, of course, is who is the traitor among the new recruits. The most obvious suspect is Amon, but they have gone out of their way to assure us that its not him. The next obvious is Ig'Nea because the entire concept of someone dating Dox is so shocking. Davroth is on the arrogant side, but the mere fact that he is the narrator suggests it is not him unless he is the victim of some sort of brainwashing.

Oddly, the only older member who gets any attention is Lobo. He had started to wear on me a bit at this point in the series when I was originally reading it, but I liked that he was a bit subdued in this and seemed to follow Phase's orders. I have mentioned before that Lobo was a character I really loved when I was first introduced to him in the Justice League series, but became tired of him in the 90s due to over exposure. So my opinion of him here is colored by hindsight, but I prefer him when he is a tad bit toned down. I still enjoy his unpredictability and temper, but I find him more believable as a member of the team when we do get some moments where he unquestionably follows his agreement with Dox, no matter how much he hates it.

That about wraps it up for me this issue gang, but please check back with me next issue to see if we get anymore insight into who the traitor may be!