L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #45

L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #45 (September 1992)
title: "New Perspectives"
writer: Barry Kitson
penciler: Rodney Ramos
inker: Shephard Hendrix, Denis Rodier, & Matt Banning 
letterer: Gasper Saladino
colorist: Digital Chameleon
editor: Dan Raspler
cover art: Barry Kitson
review by: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Dox led the team to the planet Arga-Prime to deal with insurgents, but found the problem to be more complicated than expected. He learned that the planet's leaders had not been honest with him, and that the population was unhappy due to racial strife. The planet erupted in rebellion, and although he initially resisted choosing sides, Dox offered to send a strike force to capture the Grand Council to avoid more bloodshed. They successfully captured the Council, but learned that they introduced a virus into the oceans that will be carried into the atmosphere, eventually releasing a deadly rainfall on the planet.  Violence erupted among the population and the L.E.G.I.O.N. tried to contain it while searching for a cure. Phase reached out to other planets for help in evacuating Arga-Prime but they resisted.  Fortunately, Hal Jordan of the Green Lantern Corps answered the call.  Meanwhile, Captain Comet succumbed to his recent seizures and lost control of his powers.

Rain has starting falling and the population fears that the virus planted by the Council has arrived. Strata and Stealth are among them, and fear the worst.

There is a planet-wide announcement from Dox who assures everyone that the rain is not contaminated. He explains that it is the result of a deliberate cloud seeded by the L.E.G.I.O.N. to buy time by reducing atmospheric pressure. Phase tells Dox that he could have caused a worldwide riot and he explains that he saw a solution and could not worry himself about the irrational behavior of a mob.  Hal Jordan asks Bek if the L.E.G.I.O.N. always operates this way and Bek tries to assure him that its usually much worse.

Everyone senses a disruption caused by Captain Comet in the lab, where he has been treated after passing out due to another seizure.  His power seems to particularly effect Lady Quark, who is overcome by a headache.  One of the new recruits tries to help but fails. Dox and Phase arrive at the lab and find Marij'n trapped amid debris flying through the lab. 

Dox struggles through and eventually finds Captain Comet, but its not Comet who is in control. Phase leaves the situation to Dox and consults Bek about the evacuation. Fortunately, a number of planets have surprisingly stepped up and the first wave of three thousand ships has arrived. Hal Jordan is impressed and agrees to Bek's request to handle an entire city's evacuation on his own. On the planet, Lobo uses his unorthodox approach to ensure that the population proceed in an orderly fashion to evacuate.

Racial strife continues to erupt as the population evacuates but the new recruits do the best they can to keep people moving.  Fortunately, a few citizens start to step up and encourage others to set aside their differences and help each other.  Dox tries to deal with Captain Comet on his own but fails. Comet insists that Lady Quark be handed over. Dox agrees but calls for her under the name Lady Tashana, which clues her in that something is amiss.

She is on guard when she arrives and is welcomed by whatever is possessing Captain Comet. Disturbingly, his main concern appears to be procreation.

Well, this was another great installment in this storyline. What I love about this arc is that we are getting to see the L.E.G.I.O.N. do what they are supposed to be doing. As much as I love the drama within the team, sometimes it takes away from seeing the team actually fulfill its mission, but here they are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing as a galactic police force.

Of course, they have had only limited success so far, but hopefully Dox will pull things together soon.  Another thing I love is that Bek is leading an evacuation force, which lends to the suspense and reinforces that the team may not ultimately save the planet.  Usually, comic book storylines of this era do not bother with that sort of extra detail when there is a planetary threat.

The subplot involving Captain Comet is interesting but I am not sure what to think of the resolution yet. He is obviously under the control of an alien entity, which accounts for his symptoms, but we have never had a hint before of this other consciousness inhabiting him. I will wait for it to play out before reaching any conclusions but it does give me the impression this may not have been where the storyline was originally headed. 

There is a lot going on in this issue and I am excited to see where it takes us. I have mentioned before that as much as I loved this series, I have not read it in decades so I do not recall the details and I am looking forward to seeing what happens!