L.E.G.I.O.N. #35

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #35 (January 1992)
title: "Aftershocks"
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: Kevin Maguire & Karl Kesel
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Review: After the L.E.G.I.O.N. welcomed a group of new recruits, we learned that one of them was likely a mole planted by the gangster G'odd. Agents of L.E.G.I.O.N. throughout the galaxy began to act more like villains than heroes, placing the team's reputation in jeopardy. Phase attempted to deal with the blowback from member planets with no help from Vril Dox, who seemed only focused on his burgeoning relationship with Ig'nea, one of the new recruits. Despite the team's troubles, and Dox's increasing isolation, everyone was still shocked when he gathered them to announce that he was disbanding the L.E.G.I.O.N.

This issue opens with a news story covering Dox's decision and its ramifications for the galaxy. The Inter-Gal stock exchange has plummeted, ending two years of upwardly mobile prices, and business leaders that serve the L.E.G.I.O.N. are preparing for bankruptcy. Authorities expect a significant increase in the suicide rate as a result, and crime rates have already soared.

Most of the team is furious and Stealth points the blame at Ig'nea, but she insists that she tried to dissuade Dox, which he confirms. Stealth, Garv, and Strata insist that they will keep the team alive, but Vril warns them that all rights are part of his personal estate, including the trademark of the name L.E.G.I.O.N., and that only he is empowered to make decisions.

Garv has had enough and is on the verge of attacking Dox but is held back by Captain Comet. This turns out not to be out of the goodness of Comet's heart, but instead only so he can have the honor of punching out Dox. Phase is attempting to calm the panicked and angry representatives of the member planets, but is so overwhelmed that she fakes a communications breakdown to escape

Elsewhere, a group of L.E.G.I.O.N. agents have captured a group of criminals only to have their legal authority challenged based on Dox's recent announcement. The agents are just hearing about this for the first time and contact Bek for guidance.

Last issue, Lobo confronted a mysterious assassin hired by the gangster G'odd but easily fell victim to a series of traps that had been laid. After basking in the news report on the L.E.G.I.O.N.'s demise, G'odd contacts the assassin, who he refers to as Ice Man, to get an update on Lobo.

G'odd celebrates what appears to be his total victory, and notes that even now Dox's companions should be learning why he arranged for Dox to make his announcement on a planet at the edge of civilized space.

At that very moment, Strata, Gary, Stealth, Telepath, and Captain Comet are returning to Cairn when they lose control of their ship. Unable to get manual override operational, they crash into a nearby planetoid.

Meanwhile, the new recruits are meeting to discuss what to do with the team disbanding. Last issue, Davroth suggested striking out on their own but everyone else, particularly the Khund, Amon Haak, shot him down. This time, however, when Lydia Mallor notes that her mother had died for the L.E.G.I.O.N. and suggests forming their own, everyone agrees.

After getting a glimpse of Dox heading off with Ig'nea to meet her father, we head back to visit Strata and her crew recovering from their crash landing. Just as they wake up, they find themselves under attack by a group of villains we have not seen before.

Well, now we are cooking! Last time, I expressed some reservations about this storyline given how fast the collapse of the L.E.G.I.O.N. was occurring and how quickly Lobo folded against Ice Man. I still think Lobo was beaten too easily but otherwise I found myself embracing the story.

A few things I really liked included Lydea Mallor taking a leadership position among the new recruits, Strata and Stealth's frustration, and Garv and Captain Comet standing up to Dox. I cannot quite put into words why, but I did enjoy that while the original members were clearly unhappy with Dox's decision, it was second generation members like Garv and Captain Comet that really stood up to Dox. It does make sense given that the originals were all prisoners together who started out in a more vulnerable position and got manipulated into all of this by Dox that Strata and Stealth would get angry but still not completely lose it, whereas later members would be quicker to challenge him.

One thing I did not mention in the summary was a very brief scene of Lady Quark visiting Phase to resign from the team. It was quick and we will have to wait to see if it sticks but it was one of many interesting moments in which we got to see various members react. We learned last issue she viewed Dox as a potential mate when she joined so it makes sense his new romance would undercut any desire she had to stay. Bek was acting unusually normal after his experience with the Emerald Eye, and he almost seemed a part of the team again. As I have mentioned, he is the character I am most lukewarm about but it was nice to see him trying to hold the team together.

The Lobo storyline remains the least intriguing to me given how easily he was beaten by Ice Man, and Dox's actions, as out of character as they are, feel like one of his master plans waiting to unfold. Otherwise, it is hard to imagine Dox so easily disbanding the L.E.G.I.O.N. absent some sort of brainwashing. But we will have to see what happens next issue so please join me next week!

P.S. On a side note, the primary colorist of this series, Lovern Kindzierski, has had some financial trouble and is trying to get back on his feet. I know this is a difficult time for a lot of people but if you are in a position to help, you can find more information at this link:https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-lovern-kindzierski-to-continue-working