L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #36

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #36 (February 1992)
title: "In the Name of L.O.V.E."
plot: Alan Grant & Barry Kitson
writer: Alan Grant
layouts: Barry Kitson 
finishes: Art Nichols
letterer: John Workman
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Dan Raspler
cover art: Kevin Maguire & Karl Kesel
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: 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. Lobo was on a mission attacking G'odd's smugglers and fell into a trap set by the assassin Ice Man, who leaves Lobo buried in a grave. Despite the team's troubles, everyone was still shocked when Dox gathered them to announce that he was disbanding the L.E.G.I.O.N. The new recruits vowed to form their own organization to carry on in the spirit of L.E.G.I.O.N. while several of the core members came under attack while returning to Cairn.


While Dox travels with Ig-nea to meet her father, the squad who had accompanied him to his press conference are forced to crash land on their way back to Cairn. Garv is the first to recover but he is confronted by a group of unknown aliens.

While Garv fights to protect Strata, the rest of the group find themselves buried much deeper in the wreckage and it takes them longer to break free. Once they do, Captain Comet and Stealth try to assist Garv but their opponents prove formidable.

Back at L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters, the new recruits depart just as a group of attorneys arrive claiming to work for Dox. They order everyone to leave but Bek has them arrested for trespassing. At the same time, Lady Quark is telling Phase that she intends to leave since her entire reason for being there was that she saw Dox as a potential mate. Despite their lukewarm relationship, Phase tries to convince her to stay.

The rest of the team is not fairing well even with Comet's power on their side. Garv succumbs, and is soon followed by Telepath, Stealth, and finally, Comet. There may still hope though, as elsewhere, Lobo digs himself free of the grave that Ice Man left him in.

On Cairn, Bek and Phase lock up Dox's legal team under the pretense that they are merely posing as attorneys and carrying forged documents. Phase had almost lost hope, until Bek of all people makes a stirring speech reminding them of the team's purpose, and that Lyrissa Mallor died for that cause.

In the final moments of the issue, Dox finally meets Ig'nea's father, although at this point I expect most readers could see this reveal coming a mile away.

First of all, its been a while since I gave any attention to a cover, but I really love this one by Maguire and Kesel. Garv, who is one of my favorites, looks great, as does that monstrosity he is fighting. 

As for the rest of the issue, there is a lot to like here. The big fight scene is well done, and leaves the reader feeling powerless watching our heroes fall one by one. It is also clear that Captain Comet has really found his place as a core member of the team, despite Dox's efforts to push him away.

The biggest surprise for me this issue was Garryn Bek. He is not a character I have been very fond of, particularly during the time he was bonded to the Emerald Eye and his ego grew out of control. Even before then his whininess could grate. But he is the one who steps up and holds everything together on Cairn while Phase is soul searching, and even Marij'n acknowledges that this situation has brought out the best in him. A pleasant surprise for someone who has never expected much from him. It was also touching to see Lady Quark finally admit to herself that she has found a home here.

The big reveal at the end as to Ig'nea's father has been a bit obvious for a while now, but thats okay. The issue did not devote much time to Dox and Ig'nea, and instead focused on the fallout from Dox's decision, which was the right approach. Check back next week so we can find out if the reveal was any surprise to Dox or if he has known all along.