L.E.G.I.O.N. '93 #50 (Part 1)

L.E.G.I.O.N. '93 #50 (March 1993)
title: "Showdown"
plot: Barry Kitson
dialogue: Mark Waid
penciler: Barry Kitson
inkers: John Stokes & Robin Smith
colors: Digital Chameleon
letters: Gasper Saladino
editor: Dan Raspler
reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Stealth went undercover as a slave, with new recruit Haak posing as a trader, in an attempt to bust a slavery ring. Lobo had already arrived at the Buyer's Club before them and was enjoying the debauchery, while Garv and Telepath hid nearby with an army of L.E.G.I.O.N. troops. Dox was monitoring the situation and encouraged Haak to accept when a buyer offered a price to purchase Stealth. Garv and Telepath led an attack on the Buyer's Club, but not before Stealth and her "buyer" got away. Stealth soon found herself aboard a ship and she attempted to comfort a young girl who had also been enslaved. Once the ship arrived at its destination, she learned that her new owner was really Ig'nea, escaped criminal and former lover of Vril Dox. 

Ig'nea and Stealth travelled to Mother-Beast, the creature who was caring for Stealth's baby. After retrieving the child, Ig'nea contacted L.E.G.I.O.N. and demanded that Dox turn himself over to her in exchange for the safety of his son. To convince him, she murdered Stealth in front of the team.


Dox accepts Ig'nea's demand that he surrender himself in exchange for his son but he realizes that she does not expect him to really come alone. He orders the core team and the new recruits to assemble in the space dock in thirty minutes.

Ig'nea has gathered her army that she assembled from the remains of her father's criminal empire. She warns them that Dox is not coming alone, and that while she will handle him, it is their job to take care of the others.

As the new recruits gather supplies, Zena wishes she could have the confidence of Amon in regards to their mission. Strata reassures her that she and the new recruits will all do fine, and while Garv agrees, it seems that he himself may be losing faith in the L.E.G.I.O.N. Almost everyone is soon aboard, except for Captain Comet, who has stopped to get his new costume.

On their way to Bartok, Bek provides a briefing on the planet. He explains that it is one-point-three the gravity of Cairn so the anti-gravs, especially Davroth and Tashana, will have to compensate. He also explains that swamps and marshes dot the planet, making the atmosphere high in methane, which means their respiration may be strained. As they approach, Dox expects for them to be fired on by Ig'nea and he is right as always.

After crash landing, the team heads out with Dox reminding Borbb and Telepath to stay by him and remember their cue. They soon come under attack and Ig'nea's troops prove to be quite formidable.

Dox finds one of Ig'nea's soldiers, the spider-like Wreeth, and surrenders. Wreeth is suspicious but Dox drops his weapons and declares that he is still in love with Ig'nea. Once Wreeth escorts him inside, where Dox sees Stealth's body, he ensures that Telepath has relayed his location and Borbb teleports in with two grenades. Dox shoves one down Wreeth's throat and attempts to revive Stealth.

The team has started to turn the tide against Ig'nea's troops, and Zena gains the confidence she needed by proving herself in battle. Borbb had left his friend Darius hanging mid-fight to assist Dox but quickly returns to help. 

Dox locates Ig'nea but fails to sneak up on her before she notices. She uses her powers to light up his remaining grenade and he is unable to throw it away in time before it explodes.

Ig'nea's speech is interrupted by Stealth, who is alive but not exactly doing well. Ig'nea sicks her pet, Rebel, on Stealth and tries to flee. Dox follows and Stealth remains to take care of the beast.

In the swamp, Borbb finds the head of Darius, who is alive but loosing consciousness. He tells his friends that he can be rebuilt by his maker if they can find, which Amon, the Khund, swears they will.

The last of Ig'nea's troops bargain with Phase for their freedom, warning that they are in the gas swamps and one spark could blow them all to hell. Phase agrees to let them go because they need to find Dox and can always track them down later. Telepath says he has located Dox and is shocked to learn that Stealth is still alive.

Stealth and Dox track down Ig'nea, who offers their child in exchange for her life. She surrounds him with flame and is flown away by one of her soldiers. Dox sends Borbb to retrieve his son, and at first, everyone is concerned to see the child returned to Dox instead of Stealth.

In the aftermath, the new recruits ask Phase for a leave of absence to find Darius' maker, which she grants. Garv tells Strata that he is leaving because he is tired of Dox using the team to fulfill his own personal vendettas. He asks her to join him, but she cannot bring herself to leave her friends.

Stealth and Dox find a moment to finally make piece. She apologizes for hiding their child, and he acknowledges that she will make a much better mother than he will a father. The rest of the team are introduced to the baby, and (except for Strata and Lobo), they feel a new hope for the future of the L.E.G.I.O.N.


This was a very worthy 50th anniversary issue for this series. The child of Dox and Stealth was born of rape, but of a very unique circumstance in that Stealth was not in her right mind, and acted out of an instinct that the females of her species find overpowering. Nevertheless, the act was of such brutality that readers could not help but sympathize with Dox, a character we very rarely find sympathetic. This unusual dynamic made for a fascinating backdrop for the birth of their child. On the one hand, any long time reader could certainly understand why she would want to keep the baby away from someone as cold and manipulative as Dox. On the other hand, the circumstances of conception makes Dox's anger and frustration at being kept away very understandable. The resolution here was handled very well, and it gave us a rare glimpse of Dox demonstrating some personal growth when he saw the visions of his father and handed the child to Stealth.

The new recruits were used well here too, and it was touching to see how they have developed into their own family. Not only were they very effective in battle, but they immediately rallied around finding Darius' maker to save him. It was particularly powerful to have Amon, the Khund, lead the charge. Prior to this series, Khunds were consistently treated as brutal or dumb or both, so its refreshing to see one portrayed as having actual depth.

I mentioned before what a great job I thought Barry Kitson did when he took over as writer in the series. At the same time, however, I think the series did benefit when Mark Waid came on board as scripter and coplotter. I mean...its Mark Waid. I don't have to explain how talented he is as a writer and it shows here. Fortunately, with the exception of one fill-in issue, we get to enjoy the two of them on this book for the next ten issues or so.

The departure of Garv was painful given that he had been one of the most endearing characters from the moment he first appeared. His growing cynicism was certainly understandable though with someone like Dox in charge. Obviously, we have not seen the last of him though.

There is only one thing in this issue that I hated. And I mean HATED. Captain Comet's new costume. I get it. He was wearing a 1950s space suit and this was the 1990s, where everything had to be extreme. And all things considered, it is not a bad costume at all. But come on, keeping the 1950s look added so much to the character and was such a nice contrast to everything else. It was half his charm. And personally, I just love classic science fiction so it was a joy to see that represented. Again, I understand why they did it but I really hated to see the old look go. 

So many of you may have noticed that I have not discussed the second story in this issue. Second story? Yes, there is another story in this, but I decided that it was worth devoting a separate entry to. So please check back with me next week for part two of this anniversary issue as we discuss....L.E.G.I.O.N. '67!