Legionnaires #28

Legionnaires #28 (1995)
written by Tom Peyer & Tom McCraw
pencils by Joyce Chin
cover by Jeff Moy

Guest artist Joyce Chin is the wife of Art Adams, who at this point had already joined Dark Horse.

We begin in Texas of all places, where the 30th century takes history seriously.

The place is attacked by the White Triangle, because of its many alien tourists.
These are NOT the Daxamite ones, but those using power armor that already fought Workforce.

It figures that Texas would have a different force from the Science Police.

Those being hunted weren’t real Durlans (well except Chameleon of course); it was the Espionage Squad in disguise, and they manage to arrest the White Triangle.

Meanwhile, R.J.Brande informs Cosmic Boy of the Trom massacre.
At first it was a bit jarring to see that it’s not public knowledge, but it does makes sense: Trom was VERY isolated from the United Planets so the word won’t spread on its own, and revealing that there are genocidal Daxamites around would only cause panic.

Especially since the UP is going through a crisis already: the Stargate network is effectively shut down, thanks to the constant sabotage by the White Triangle.

Meanwhile Spark calls out Live Wire for not actually looking for their brother, despite constantly talking about it.

The Espionage Squad has brought back the White Triangle people, even though they are not technically allowed to detain anyone.

Spark wasn’t the only Legionnaire calling out a family member, because Apparition stands up to her mother over her constant complaining.
She has a good point, although her comment that they wouldn’t let her join without her mother’s permission raises a few questions. We were told that on most planets you’re legally an adult at 14 years old; Live Wire’s planet was an exception, but nothing was said about HER planet.
Yes her mother is a highly influential ambassador, so I’m sure that if she opposed the membership the United Planets wouldn’t let her, but it’s weird to ignore that plot point.

We also have an EXTREMELY rare appearance of Apparition’s deadbeat father, who is absent from his life because he’s a gambling addict.

Considering how important her mother is in the Reboot, it’s incredible how rarely her father shows up: this is one of his only THREE appearances in this entire continuity!!!
He will also be instrumental in one of the most convoluted retcons of this era, but no spoiler in the comments yet.

Meanwhile, the Espionage Squad is interrogating the White Triangle guys by exposing them to holograms of aliens.

This is perhaps a bit extreme, but good luck finding ways to defend the White Triangle.

Too bad that didn’t work.

But wait, don’t we already know SOMEONE connected to the White Triangle?

Yeah asking Andromeda isn’t feasible.

However, she’s gone through enough character development to realize she’s been played.

Surprising nobody who has read the Legion before, it turns out that the leader of the White Triangle is Roxxas. And he’s been connected to everything that has happened in the Reboot, starting from the assassination attempt on Brande.

Roxxas is not the only one taking credit for giving the Daxamite a clear advantage.

Overhearing everything with her super-hearing, Andromeda finally decides to take a stand against the White Triangle.

Although it might just be too late: the Daxamites are now attacking Earth.

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Legion significance: 7/10
Sort of a breather issue between the gut punch of the previous issue and the next Annual.

Silver Age-ness: 1/10
The Espionage Squad masquerading as Durlans, and the mixed-up understanding of history, are a tiny bit Silver Age.

Does it stand the test of time? 9/10
Spending so much time on the White Triangle humans, from their arrest to their interrogation, feels a bit hollow when it doesn’t ultimately lead anywhere. I’m not detracting too much since I think it’s intentional and it doesn’t feel like complete waste of time, but the story IS effectively dragging out the events in order to have the conclusion take place in the Annual.

Who did it better?
No direct comparison comes to mind.

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We are legion

• 12 active Legionnaires (3 volunteers, 9 drafted)
• 1 sick leave (Saturn Girl)
• 1 resigned member
• 1 deceased member
• 15 people have been members
• 2 Legion leaders (Leviathan, Cosmic Boy)
• 2 members have been rejected