L.E.G.I.O.N. '89 #8

L.E.G.I.O.N. '89 #8 (September 1989)
title: "Don't Look Back"
plot/breakdowns: Keith Giffen
script: Alan Grant
penciller: Barry Kitson
inker: Mark McKenna
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
assistant editor: Art Young
editor: Karen Berger
cover art: Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

L.E.G.I.O.N.airres: The Durlan, Garryn Bek, Lobo, Lyrissa Mallor, Stealth, Strata, Vril Dox.

Opponents: Themselves

Recap: Vril Dox has used clones of Lobo to conquer the Planet Cairn and unite iys police force into his new Army. Meanwhile, Stealth exhibited increasingly bizarre and violent behavior. After killing two men, she severely beat Dox and appeared intent on raping him.


Some time has passed and Lyrissa checks on the status Stealth and Lobo, who have both been imprisoned. Stealth is still catatonic, apparently unable to come to terms with what she has done. Lobo is...well, unsurprisingly, he is furious that they locked him up after breaking both of Bek's legs. It also appears that his clones have disappeared, as has his ability to make them.

Lyrissa experiences a flashback to discovering Stealth covered in blood and we realize for the first time that she actually murdered Dox. Lyrissa also flashes back further to when she was handed over by her people to the alien Alliance during the Invasion crossover. Not only her by people, who she had tried to serve as a hero, but also her by her own husband.

Lyrissa goes to check with Strata on a special project. While their conversation is vague, they allude to gene splicing and "the body" having been fresh enough to salvage what they needed. We also see that Strata's formerly rocky body has completed the transformation she has been undergoing over the last few issues, and we learn why. (Keep in mind that up until now her gender had not been identified in story and most readers assumed she was male - I noted in an earlier post why I chose to go ahead and reveal her gender early in my writer-ups)

Lyrissa also checks with Bek who is overseeing the project. We learn that he is having to work with his estranged wife and he is not happy about it. Lyrissa insists that its necessary because she is the only one who can help them. They still remain a bit vague about the project but we do get a further hint as to its nature when we are introduced to Bek's wife.

There is a brief interlude checking in on the Computer Tryants of Colu, who have gone to Lyrissa's homeworld. The planet appears to be in some sort of upheaval but we are not given the details. We only learn that the Tyrants are pretending to be allies of Lyrissa and have offered their help in ushering a new era for their world.

On Cairn, the Durlan informs Lyrissa that Stealth has snapped out of her catatonic state and appears almost normal. She denies remembering anything about her recent actions but insists it will not happen again. Lyrissa is skeptical but the Durlan has discovered some evidence that may support her claim.

Lyrissa feels overwhelmed and her stress is not helped when she sees a news report praising Dox for his glorious campaign. It is mentioned that envoys from all over the planet are converging on Zalman City demanding an audience with Dox. Strata proposes that despite Dox's personality, his ultimate dream of freeing and uniting the planet was a good one. She also notes that their team could continue making a difference if someone were to fill the gap he has left.

Back at the cells, Lobo has broken free and is battling the Durlan. Despite how powerful Lobo has been portrayed over the last few issues, the Durlan is able to easily incapacitate him, although he tells Stealth this is only because Lobo has not fully recovered yet. 

Unaware of what has happened, Lyrissa is thinking about her homeworld and how she was sacrificed by her people. She also thinks of a daughter who will never know her mother. In the end, Lyrissa decides to continue Dox's plans and take the lead in his absence.

This issue was light on action but very thoughtful and a nice chance to take a step back and reflect on the ramifications of everything that has happened. Its been obvious for some time that Lyrissa has taken on a leadership role among out group so she is the natural choice to step in for Dox. But this is the first opportunity we have had to see the circumstances that led her to being held prisoner in Invasion! and her tragic separation from her child. While she is reluctant to lead, her character has been established as far more noble than Dox so in some ways this could be a relief for the reader. Certainly, we have been given more than enough reason to fear the idea of Dox gaining too much power.

Speaking of Dox, while his death was shocking, we were given hints almost immediately that he may not be completely gone. Or at least that some sort of clone may be coming. To what extent it may or may not resemble Vril, we will have to see. But in light of his family history, there has to be some danger at the prospect.

Finally Strata has stepped to the forefront more. She is obviously the most gentle soul of the group, albiet also the most physically strong (excluding Lobo.) We have seen hints of a growing bond between her and Lyrissa but with this issue its clear that they have developed a meaningful friendship.

Until last issue, Stealth had also been something of a blank slate. She definitely made an impact to the story but her trustworthiness is now in question. The one problem I do have with this issue is how quickly the team seems comfortable with her being free. She not only murdered Dox but two other men as well. She also seemed intent on raping Dox, as if she was in heat like an animal, although the story sidesteps that issue for now. I understand the Durlan provided some physical evidence that whatever occurred with her is over, but he seem to be speculating for the most part. I would think the Lyrissa would want much more study done before freeing her.

The other characters do not get too much focus, but we are teased with the Durlan being more formidable than has been shown in the past. Lobo may have been recovering but the Durlan still seemed to take him down remarkably easy. The story of Bek and his estranged wife is just beginning but I could see many readers fearing that it may be played too comically. But having read it, all I will say for now is that her future goes in a very unexpected direction.

That about wraps it up now. We now essentially have a planetary police force under the control of our heroes, so lets check back next issue to see if things are going to start moving beyond just Cairn.