L.E.G.I.O.N. '91 #23 pg 38

Jim Fern was L.E.G.I.O.N.'s penciller for about half a dozen issues (and one annual), taking over from Barry Kitson's run on the title, and eventually passing the torch back to Barry again. His artstyle has grown on me as I've re-read the series over and over again, but in all my years of collecting, I had never, ever seen a page of his original L.E.G.I.O.N. art anywhere - not on CAF, not for sale, not in any other corner of the internet.

You'll imagine my delight, then, when this piece turned up at ComicLink! It's from L.E.G.I.O.N. #23, which was a special double-length issue, with only the framing sequence pencilled by Fern. For a bit of context, the framing sequence of this issue focuses on the funeral of L.E.G.I.O.N. co-founder and Deputy Commander Lyrissa Mallor, who was tragically murdered at the hands of her own brainwashed daughter. The issue gives the other team members time to mourn in their own ways, but what surely shocked some readers was the reaction of Vril Dox, L.E.G.I.O.N.'s commander. He's known for being cold and heartless, but he spends most of the issue standing over Lyrissa's grave, grieving her. Whether he was in love with her or just cared for and respected her as his second-in-command, her death has left him absolutely despondent, and wondering if the price his L.E.G.I.O.N. demands is even worth paying. Enter Lady Quark, a new member of the team (who lost her world and family in Crisis on Infinite Earths, and joined the team largely because she sees in Vril the chance to rebuild her lost empire). She gives him some much-needed perspective and words of encouragement (in her own way), and leaves him to decide L.E.G.I.O.N.'s fate.

I love how the conversation between Vril and Quark is framed, with the "camera" largely staying focused on him, even though he isn't saying anything or outwardly reacting to her words. Fern and DeMulder also do some fantastic work on the all the plant life and foliage we see here, and there's some great detail work in the few buildings visible in panel 4. There's also some good juxtaposition in the last panel, with Lobo's unbothered attitude contrasting very starkly with the table full of L.E.G.I.O.N. core teamers, who are silent and sombre. I also have to give Fern props for carrying on Barry Kitson's tradition of giving all the background L.E.G.I.O.N. officers their own unique uniform designs!