posted
just reached the first issue i'm still missing. Good review, nice to hear exactly what happened.
From: Fort McMurray | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
Credits: Alan Grant, writer and co-plotter - Barry Kitson, penciler, inker, and co-plotter - Gaspar (Saladino,) letterer - Lovern Kindzierski, colorist
Plot: With the Doomsday Device now under his control and guarded by the Ogen, Dox has both the Dominators and the Khunds exactly where he wants them, and the rest of the galaxy is dependent on him. Privately, he has a laugh, because the plans show that the Device would never have worked anyway. On Khundia, the Emperor now spends all his time fighting one-on-one battles with the millions of subjects who want to dethrone him.
Meanwhile: Garv finally helps Strata begin to come out of her depression; Lady Quark smacks Lobo for harassing her; Garryn and Marij'n have an argument and Captain Comet comforts her; Phase asks Telepath to read her mind, in the hopes that she will finally know who she is and where she came from - sadly, even his powers can't help; Lydea Darkstar becomes a probational member and takes on her mother's last name (Dox neglects to tell Lydea that she is her mother's killer.)
On Stealth's uncharted planet of exile, she goes into labor, and we begin to see just how different her unclassified alien biology truly is.
Thoughts: Re-reading this issue yesterday, I finally understood why Lydea never lived up to the potential she shows here. It's because, a few issues later, L-20 became overcrowded with new recruits and she was neglected from then on.
At that moment, I felt a twinge of sadness, realizing that the book went even more off-course that I remember, even though it eventually got good again just before I stopped reading it.
But for the moment, I can continue to celebrate the Golden Age of L-20. The next issue focuses on my favorite character, Stealth; we finally learn her origin in what is one of the weirdest (weird in a good way) stories ever published in a mainstream superhero comic.
posted
Stealth, I loved (most of) the L.E.G.I.O.N series and have really enjoyed reading your reviews. (I could spend all day reading well-written comic reviews.... and often do!)
Im really looking forward to next issue if its the one Im thinking of. (though I loved the series, I always seem to have a hard time remembering the details of it)
"Hard Labor" was the best issue in the series, IMO.
-------------------- "are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over- an analyst and a therapist. The world's first analrapist."
posted
Thank you, Kid Chaos. The next issue is the one you're thinking of, although "Hard Labor" was the cover subtitle, not the story title.
Since it's your favorite L-20 issue, I'll dedicate this review to you.
L.E.G.I.O.N. '91 # 28 - "Mommy's Boy"
Main Cast: Stealth
Cameo: Vril Dox
Credits: Alan Grant, writer and co-plotter - Keith Giffen, penciler and co-plotter - George Pratt, inker - Gaspar (Saladino,) letterer - Lovern Kindzierski, colorist
Plot: Stealth's labor involves a gruesome and painful metamorphosis which comes full circle with her returning to her normal form.
During her labor, her life flashes before her eyes: we learn she was born into an insular society which practiced a strict form of matriarchy, viewing men as nothing more than sources of sperm to be used and abused.
Stealth's sonic superpower made her a freak in the eyes of her people, and she spent years in forced isolation, being told she was worthless. When the Alliance needed one member of Stealth's race to hold prisoner, Stealth was the first and only choice. The L.E.G.I.O.N. members were her first true friends (some of them, at least.)
Back in the present, Stealth gives birth to a baby boy who looks exactly like a baby Dox.
Thoughts: Not being a Giffen fan, I'm always surprised at how much I like his one-off return to L-20. I'm sure the collaborative process had something to do with it. Grant must have curbed Giffen's tendencies for excess, while Pratt clearly made Giffen's art less confusing and more pleasing to the eye.
Since I rarely re-read the early L-20 issues, I had never noticed until now how perfectly this story complements # 7, helping explain her savage behavior in that issue.
It's wonderful to have a story focusing on my favorite L-20 character, and to have it add extra shades to her. Her terrible upbringing makes it easy to understand why Stealth always acts hard and sarcastic in public. And when she finally experiences a moment of pure joy at the end, it's cathartic. But the final image, of Dox slouched morosely over a balcony on Cairn, reminds us that cold reality is always around the corner.
posted
L.E.G.I.O.N. '91 # 29 - "Traffic In, Traffic Out"
Main Cast: Vril Dox, Phase, Strata, Garv, Lady Quark, Lobo, Captain Comet, Telepath
Credits: Alan Grant, writer and co-plotter - Barry Kitson, penciler, inker, and co-plotter - Gaspar (Saladino,) letterer - Lovern Kindzierski, colorist
Plot: While Lobo's raid on a smuggling ship proves disastrous, big changes are taking place on Cairn.
Phase gets a pleasant surprise when Dox promotes her to second-in-command. Her first day is a trial by fire, with a near-disaster in the docking bay. She proves herself more than up to the job.
Thoughts: This is great - last issue focused on Stealth, and this one focuses on Phase. She may not have the diplomatic skills or regal bearing of her late predecessor, Lyrissa Mallor, but it's competence and quick thinking which really count.
But when Lobo comes back even madder than usual from the unsuccessful raid, it's obvious that things are going to blow up soon between him and Phase. And they do...in issue # 30.
On a less positive note, this is the first issue with new paper stock and new coloring technology. These changes are not for the better. It's a strange thing about comics that, as the tools have become more sophisticated, the end product has often ended up looking worse than before (IMO.)
Main Cast: Vril Dox, Phase, Strata, Garv, Lady Quark, Lobo, Garryn Bek, Marij'n, Captain Comet, Telepath, Lydea Mallor, Stealth
Guest Star: Waverider
Credits: Alan Grant, writer - Mike McKone, penciler - Jan Harps, inker - Gaspar (Saladino,) letterer - Lovern Kindzierski, colorist
Note: This is a stand-alone chapter in the "Armageddon 2001" crossover affecting all 1991 DC Annuals.
Plot: Waverider is a time-traveling superhero from the future who has traveled to 1991 in order to discover which superhero will, in ten years time, become a supervillain named Monarch, who will kill all the superheroes and conquer the universe. Waverider's powers allow him to visualize each superhero's future simply by touching them.
Arriving on Cairn, Waverider first touches Lobo, whose future looks exactly like his present. No surprise there.
But when Waverider tries to sneak up behind Dox, he finds, to his surprise, that after what happened to Lobo, Telepath has forewarned Dox about Waverider and Dox has set a trap.
Now helpless, Waverider explains why he is here. Curious, Dox allows Waverider to touch him.
What we see through Waverider's and Dox's eyes is horrifying: Dox is the ONE superhero who could become AN EVEN WORSE MENACE THAN MONARCH! Even more terrible, he becomes this way through the use of the imprisoned Waverider's time-traveling powers! In this possible future, Dox and Lady Quark merge together with the remains of Pulsar Stargrave to become a bio-mechanical mutant which kills every past and present member of L.E.G.I.O.N. and conquers not only time and space but cyberspace as well.
Back in the present, Dox admits he is tempted to allow this future to become reality, but in the end, he decides L.E.G.I.O.N. is not about control, but justice. Dox sets Waverider free and asks Phase to send a crew to dismantle the time time machinery Dox had been working on. Waverider goes off to continue his quest.
Thoughts: First of all, this was the very first L-20 story I ever read, so it has special meaning to me. But more importantly, it's a great story. Not only that, but it's a great story despite being part of a mega-crossover!
Then again, I think that "Armageddon 2001" came very close to giving mega-crossovers a good name. The first of the two issues bookending the Annuals was excellent, and I would imagine that the second issue would also have been excellent, if only DC hadn't been forced to re-write and re-draw it at the last moment after some idiot leaked the identity of Monarch (he was originally supposed to be Captain Atom, then he was changed to...ugh...Hawk from Hawk and Dove.) But in the end, what matters is that some excellent alternate-future stories came out of this crossover, not only in the L-20 Annual, but in a few others, too.*
Grant seems to have understood better than any other writer involved with this crossover how to make the most of the concept handed to him. This is IMO one of the best L-20 stories ever, crossover or not. Mike McKone's art is every bit as good as Kitson's - their styles even look similar (I wish McKone had drawn the L-20 vs. Brainiac story from Annual # 1.)
*The other keepers are: Adventures of Superman Annual # 3, by Louise Simonson and Bryan Hitch (a widowed Superman is seduced by Maxima,) - Batman Annual # 15, by Alan Grant and a surprisingly good Jim Fern (someone is picking off Batman's enemies one by one,) - and Flash Annual # 4 by Mark Waid and Craig Brasfield (a forcibly retired Wally West is menaced by many of his old rogues; this story seems to anticipate some of what Geoff Johns has done on Flash in recent years, and I've often wondered if Johns is a fan of this story.)
First L.E.G.I.O.N. appearances of: Bertron Diib, Darius/AI-11, Amon Hakk, Zena Moonstruk, Ig'nea, Borb Borbb, Davroth Catto
Credits: Alan Grant, writer and co-plotter - Barry Kitson, penciler, inker, and co-plotter - Gaspar (Saladino,) letterer - Lovern Kindzierski, colorist
Plot: Strata puts a large number of new recruits (which, for some reason, includes Lydea) through their paces, then has Telepath mind-scan them as a safety measure. The only one rejected for membership is Jiv Reduu, obviously an ancestor of Bouncing Boy, because Strata can't see any practical use for his power.
Meanwhile: Phase demotes Garryn to office work because his powers have become unrealiable, while Marij'n runs tests on Captain Comet to try and discover what's behind his recent headaches.
On another planet, Maximillian G'odd, one of the galaxy's biggest (in more than one sense) crime lords, executes the smuggler that Lobo failed to capture, then reveals to his underlings that he has placed a mole inside L.E.G.I.O.N. in order to destroy them from the inside.
Back on Cairn, Phase reprimands Lobo for failing to write a proper report of his last mission. Lobo starts a fight, but Phase is safe, because she simply becomes intangible when he attacks, then solid when she fights back. But Dox wants it to end immediately, so instead Lobo starts fighting him. This fight is interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice:
"Well, well, well, boys. Things haven't changed much around here, have they?"
Stealth is back.
Thoughts: *Sigh* The R.E.C.R.U.I.T.S.
It would be too harsh to say that this was the beginning of the end for L-20, because the book eventually got good again, but I do feel very strongly that the book went off course at this point.
L-20 became overcrowded with new characters, most of whom never truly came alive for me. I can't reveal the one character that did, because that would be spoiling who the mole is.
It also bothers me that Lydea was grouped together with the newbies. As a result, she became little more than a footnote where she could have been a lot more. This is also the point where she developed what I call her Coca-Cola hairstyle (as in, looking like she pours Coca-Cola into her hair to make it stand up straight.) What is it with Talokians and bad hair? Oh, for the days of Shadow Lass's long-and-natural look from the 70s.
This issue and the next one do still have some of the wild energy of L-20 at its best. It wouldn't be until # 32 that the book seemed to temporarily run out of gas.
Main Cast: Vril Dox, Phase, Strata, Garv, Lobo, Telepath, Stealth
Guest Star: Captain Marvel
Credits: Alan Grant, writer and co-plotter - Barry Kitson, penciler and co-plotter - Gaspar (Saladino,) letterer - Lovern Kindzierski, colorist
Note: This issue is a stand-alone chapter of the "War of the Gods" crossover affecting the entire DCU.
Plot: Stealth's return changes from joyous to sad after she finds out that Lyrissa was killed while she was gone.
Meanwhile, Lobo decides to use his free time to blow off some steam, and Telepath is ordered by Dox to keep Lobo out of trouble. Telepath has his work cut out for him when, due to the War of the Gods, Captain Marvel is accidentally teleported to the bar where Lobo's drinking.
Thoughts: What a strange irony that the last really fun issue for a while would be part of a mega-crossover. Grant and Kitson mercifully keep it simple, no five-page recaps or anything, just squeaky-clean Captain Marvel literally dropping by and scuzzy Lobo taking a dislike to him.
And the scenes of Stealth grieving for Lyrissa, with Strata and Phase by her side, are typically understated and moving.
The next couple of weeks should be interesting. Issues # 32-47 are the ones I re-read the least often. Hopefully, I'll discover qualities I overlooked before and they'll be better than I remember.
I remember being pretty miffed over Lydea being a recruit as well, Stealth. I mean, she was heir to her mother's role as the champion of Talok VIII. She had it in her blood. And she needs to be trained like a rookie? hello?
I did like the recruits though, particularly the Khund. They *did* overcrowd the book a bit though.
And I *loved* the LSH homage in the form of the try-outs and "vengeful reject" syndrome. I really liked how the LSH-L.E.G.I.O.N connections were very subtle yet very thoughtful.
RE ish 31:
Don't remember much about this issue, except that it was fun.
I usually hate Lobo, but was always pleasently surprised by how well he was written in this series.
Great reviews as always, Stealth.
-------------------- "are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over- an analyst and a therapist. The world's first analrapist."
I remember being pretty miffed over Lydea being a recruit as well, Stealth. I mean, she was heir to her mother's role as the champion of Talok VIII. She had it in her blood. And she needs to be trained like a rookie? hello?
Perfectly stated, KC. Thank you.
I don't know if Lydea's still alive in the current DCU, but if she is, I hope that, with the resurgence of science-fantasy titles, she gets the second chance she deserves.
posted
L.E.G.I.O.N. '91 # 32 - "The Seeds of Dissent"
Main Cast: Vril Dox, Phase, Strata, Garv, Lady Quark, Lobo, Telepath, Captain Comet, Davroth Catto, Darius, Bertron Diib, Ig'nea, Zena Moonstruk, Amon Hakk, Borb Borbb, Lydea Mallor, Stealth
Credits: Alan Grant, writer and co-plotter - Barry Kitson, penciler and co-plotter - Mark Pennington, inker - Gaspar (Saladino,) letterer - Lovern Kindzierski, colorist
Plot: New member Davroth Catto records his observations in his journal: the recruits watching Captain Comet in action, followed by their first field assignment, taking down a band of bikers terrorizing senior citizens; Ig'nea's suprising romance with none other than Vril Dox; the increasing corruption and violence among outworld L.E.G.I.O.N. officers; an incident between Amon Hakk and Lydea Mallor, with Lobo and Phase arguing about the best approach to discipline; and the rampant paranoia now that rumors of a traitor in the ranks are spreading.
Meanwhile: Stealth refuses to tell Dox where their son is, and expresses outrage at the presence of Lydea in the team. And, even as his plan goes smoothly, Max G'odd hires the galaxy's deadliest hired killer, The Ice Man, to help destroy L.E.G.I.O.N. The Ice Man's plan: killing Lobo will speed up the domino effect.
Thoughts: The recruits' battle with the bikers is great*, and overall it's not a bad issue, BUT...
- It's way too obvious who the traitor is (but I'm still not telling.)
- The scene of Amon Hakk spying on Lydea Mallor is more typical of the "funny" version of Justice League than of L-20.
- Davroth Catto is too boring to be a point-of-view character (there's also the matter of his hair - I like long hair on men, just not when it's worn in twin ponytails.)
*Lydea has her best line in the entire series, as she turns her shadow power on a biker with "MAIM" branded into his forehead: "The only one getting maimed around here is YOU!"
Main Cast: Vril Dox, Phase, Strata, Garv, Lady Quark, Lobo, Garryn Bek, Marij'n, Captain Comet, Telepath, Ig'nea, Lydea Mallor, Stealth
Credits: Alan Grant, writer and co-plotter - Barry Kitson, penciler and co-plotter - Mark Pennington, inker - Gaspar (Saladino,) letterer - Lovern Kindzierski, colorist
Plot: Lady Quark uses force to stop a sadistic renegade L.E.G.I.O.N. patrol, while on Cairn, Phase is fielding endless calls about similar incidents on other planets; Dox is too lovelorn about Ig'nea to care about anything else; Lobo finds one of his pet dolphins dead, and tracks the killer's scent to The Ice Man's lair; Lydea is devastated when, after Stealth snaps at her, she finds out that she herself was her mother's killer; the core members wonder if, since Telepath's scans of the recruits revealed nothing, perhaps one of them is the traitor? And, as his plans continue to succeed, Max G'odd gloats.
Thoughts: Some undeniably powerful moments here, especially the opening sequence with LQ, the panel of the dead dolphin's head (which I always have to shield my eyes from,) the scene between Stealth and Lydea, and the one right after it where Strata and Stealth argue (as much as I like Stealth, I'm with Strata on this - it was wrong of Stealth to treat Lydea that way.)
At the same time, there's a lack of urgency here, a sense of slackening. And a key scene later in the story, of Lydea confronting Dox for not telling her the truth, is clumsily written and goes nowhere.
I suppose that the decline in Grant's L-20 writing was probably due to the health problems which forced him to leave the book at the end of this story arc, so I don't think I should be too harsh.
Main Cast: Vril Dox, Phase, Strata, Garv, Lady Quark, Lobo, Garryn Bek, Captain Comet, Telepath, Ig'nea, Bertron Diib, Darius, Amon Hakk, Zena Moonstruk, Borb Borbb, Davroth Catto, Lydea Mallor, Stealth
Credits: Alan Grant, writer and co-plotter - Barry Kitson, penciler, inker, and co-plotter - Gaspar (Saladino,) letterer - Lovern Kindzierski, colorist
Plot: At The Ice Man's lair, Lobo runs a gauntlet of traps which ends with him falling into a pit thousands of feet deep and The Ice Man filling the pit with rocks; Dox absurdly decides to hold a ceremony on another planet even as L.E.G.I.O.N. is falling apart and many planets inform Phase that they are cancelling their contracts; Lady Quark, jealous of Dox's romance with Ig'nea, seems ready to quit; Lydea, feeling like the core members don't want her around, considers quitting, but the other recruits convince her to stay.
And at the ceremony, Dox shocks everyone when he announces he is dissolving L.E.G.I.O.N.
Thoughts: What should be a series of earth-shattering events feels underwhelming instead, due to this story arc's slow pace and lack of tension. This is not the first issue I've disliked, but it's the first one that fails to stir any kind of emotion, good or bad. The worst response I could possibly have to an L-20 issue is one of indifference.
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