L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #37

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #37 (March 1992)
title: "The G'odd Squad!"
plot: Alan Grant & Barry Kitson
writer: Alan Grant
layouts: Barry Kitson 
finishes: Robin Smith
letterer: John Workman
colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
editor: Dan Raspler
cover art: Kevin Maguire & Karl Kesel
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" 

Review: The gangster G'odd placed a mole in the L.E.G.I.O.N., and agents 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 was 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 the spirit of L.E.G.I.O.N. while several of the core members came under attack while returning to base. Garv, Stealth, Telepath, and Captain Comet appeared to fall in defeat. On Cairn, Phase tried to deal with the fallout of Dox's decision, while Garryn Bek surprisingly stepped up and held the organization together amid the fallout. Lady Quark expressed her desire to leave since Dox was no longer a potential mate, but Phase and Bek convinced her to stay and fight for the team. Meanwhile, Dox and Ig'nea travelled to meet her father, who turned out to be the villain G'odd. 

On Cairn, a group of soldiers in chameleon suits penetrate L.E.G.I.O.N. headquaters and take out a number of troops. Sneaking through vents, they come upon the core group of leaders, which includes Phase, Bek, Lady Quark, and Marij'n. They hesitate, surprised to find Lady Quark still present, but decide they must continue with their mission.

At the same time, G'odd is entertaining Vril Dox and his daughter, Ig'nea. He makes Dox an offer to join his organization, but while Dox is hesistant, G'odd persists.

Dox accepts and tells G'odd that he has a new employee. The gangster leaves to celebrate the success of his plan at a feast.

On Cairn, the invading soldiers burst into the room with Phase and the others to attack. The LE.G.I.O.N. does well but there are so many heavily armed troops that eventually even Lady Quark falls. Elsewhere in the galaxy, Lobo has dug himself free of the grave that the Ice Man buried him and is on a rampage for vengeance. He tracks the assassin to a planet and is confronted by an army but quickly plows his way through. At the same time, Bek and Marij'n attempt to make a last stand against their attackers.

Since their battle last issue, we have not checked in on Captain Comet and the others. However, at the last minute, Comet let lose a burst of energy out of desperation and almost beyond his control. Everyone was knocked unconscious, but slowly Comet and the other L.E.G.I.O.N.aires are recovering. 

Telepath tries to read the minds of their unconscious attackers but finds them to be blank. Comet asks Telepath to read his mind and they are surprised when he discovers fragments of their memories in Comet's mind. Telepathy learns that G'odd is behind everything, including the business of the traitor.

Bek and Marij'n are successful in a last stand and manage to take down the last of their attackers.

In the heat of the moment, Bek goes to embrace her but she reminds him that they are no longer a couple. They awaken Phase and Quark, who tries to get information from one of their attackers. He tells them that G'odd is responsible, and at the same time they are contacted by Stealth.

Things are really picking up the pace now as Comet and his crew recover while Bek and the rest defend Cairn. The fact that the invading soldiers at the beginning are surprised to see Quark still with the L.E.G.I.O.N. suggest things are not going entirely according to plan for G'odd. Or Dox's plan? You never know with him. The only thing that does not ring true about everything going on is to see Dox so easily fall victim to G'odd's plan. It is hard to believe he would so easily fall sway to Ig'nea and so quickly disband the team.

Despite that, this storyline has allowed for some interesting developments with other members of the team. As I said last time, I have never been fond of Bek, but he has really stepped up recently. His embrace of Marij'n was awkward but they were married so it is understandable and at least he did not act like a jerk after she rejected him. Lady Quark struggled last issue as to whether or not she wanted to remain, but once she decided to, she put forth every effort this issue and fought with her heart. 

As far the other half of our team, Captain Comet seems to have also stepped up and assumed something of a leadership role, which is interesting since he is on a mission with founders Strata and Stealth. Comet has been struggling with his powers of late and experiencing mysterious headaches, but it is unclear if what happened in this issue is related to that or if its an aspect of his power he is unfamiliar with. There is a clear suggestion that he knew what happened when he asked Telepath to probe his mind for the powers of those he took down. But there was still a hint of confusion or perhaps fear on his part. This would be consistent with how reluctant he was to let Marij'n investigate his powers a few issues ago.

Although I had some problems with the pacing of this storyline a few issues ago, I am very pleased with how it is progressing. I still have some skepticism regarding Dox's behavior but otherwise it has been fund to see the dynamics of the team develop as everything falls apart. Please check back with me next week and hopefully we can finally get a hint as to what is going on in Dox's head!