R.E.B.E.L.S. '95 #11

R.E.B.E.L.S. '95 #11 (September 1995)
writer: Tom Peyer

penciller: Derec Aucoin

inker: Mark Propst

colors: Stuart Chaifetz 

letters: Gaspar Saladino
editor: Dan Raspler
cover: Derec Aucoin & John Dell

Reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Having been presumed dead, Vril Dox reunites with his fellow fugitives from L.E.G.I.O.N.'s tyranny in the haven of the lawless world of Raxull.

Meanwhile, Dox's old ally, Captain Comet, returns to the L.E.G.I.O.N. homeworld of Cairn, unaware of the terrible changes that have occurred in his months long absence.

Two L.E.G.I.O.N. troopers pull their guns at the newly arrived ship, unaware of who is aboard. Captain Comet steps forth and demands to see Chief Dox on a matter of utmost urgency. They recognize Comet and welcome him back, but he questions why his ship was shot down after he transmitted the appropriate access codes. They explain that the codes were changed as a security measure and warned him that a lot of other things have changed as well.

On the planet Raxull, Dox has been working to disconnect Garv from their ship before it causes him permanent brain damage.

While Garv and Strata get reaquainted, Dox explains to Stealth that they need time to take stock of their situation before engaging L.E.G.I.O.N. She agrees and goes to kiss him but when he flinches, she realizes that he is still covered in burn scars from his battle with Ign'ea.

While she takes him to get medical care, Captain Comet is brought before the new leader of L.E.G.I.O.N., Vril Dox's young son, Lyrl. Comet is anxious to report that Lady Quark is an imposter, but the child assures him that they already unmasked her and that the imposter was slain by Comet's girlfriend, Marij'n. When asked about his own whereabouts, Comet explains that he had been left for dead by the imposter on the planet Ith'kaa and was marooned there with a pre-industrial civilation. 

It took Comet only six months to industrialize a tribal civilization, which impresses even Lyrl. Comet asks to see Vril Dox, and is told by the child that his father is dead. Once Comet gets over his shock, he asks to see Marij'n, and Lyrl says he will have her brought to his quaters. Once he leaves, Lydea expresses concern that Comet will not be easy to fool, but Lyrl does not share her doubts.

Lyrl checks to make sure that Marij'n has fully undergone the same brainwashing as everyone else in L.E.G.I.O.N. Once he is satisfied, he sends her to visit Comet but advises her to keep her obedience to him a secret for now.  Soon, she greets Comet in his quaters and they embrace. She tells him she has to change and gives him one of Lyrl's headset's to keep him occupied until she returns. He throws it aside and grabs her, using his telepathic abilities to join their minds. 

Once her mind is freed, the two try to slip quietly out of L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters. A guard fails to stop them and is unable to alert Lyrl before they escape. Lyrl orders several interceptors after them and Marij'n is struck in the fight. Comet destroys their pursuers and takes Marij'n to a secret cabin to treat her injuries.

Elsewhere, the representatives of L.E.G.I.O.N. are meeting to discuss the murders of their heads of state, and have concluded that the deaths were caused by the terrorist known as Stealth. To catch her, they have called for the most fearsome bounty hunter of the galaxy.

So there was alot going on here, but let's start with how happy I am to see Captain Comet back! As a teenager picking up L.E.G.I.O.N. for the first time, I was fascinated by Comet & loved the concept of a 1950s hero being injected into this very modern team. And his absence was missed during the first half of this series' run. 

Now that he is back, almost our entire cast has been reunited. The one exception is the original Lady Quark but I am okay if she does not come back. I really enjoyed the fact that Comet seemed oblivious to everything going on, but once he was alone, he was quick to realize Marij'n had been brainwashed. 

One of the odder developments over the last two issues was how affectionate Stealth has become with Dox. She is the mother of his child, but as we have discussed several times, she was in heat by the standards of her people and raped and murdered Dox.  I am not sure how much to read into her actions but seeing her have feelings for Dox is unsettling to say the least.

Lyrl's plan seems to finally be falling apart but that doesn't necessarily mean he cannot recapture control. Please check back next week and we will see if the momentum continues to build against Lyrl or if he manages to recover.