The Black Legion
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Writer: James Bonny
Pencils: Tony Daniel, Romano Molenaar (Issue 37, pages 1- 11) Inks: Jonathan Sibal Colours: Tyson Wengler Lettering: Dreamer Design’s Robin Spehar, Dennis Heisler and Mark Roslan Cover Art: Tony Daniel and Tyson Wengler Release: December 2003, January, March 2004 Original Price: US $2.99 | CAN $4.60 Issue # in Set: 35, 36, 37 |
After saying goodbye to Kurtis Trent, Lara Croft heads off to Arizona, USA to enlist the help of an old friend of hers as she begins her investigation into “The Black Legion”.
Allies:
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Joe Notafraid
A friend and ex-lover of Lara's, he was an undergraduate in Anthropology from Brown Grad School at North-western specialising in developmental psychology and he has a PH.D in ancient cultures from Georgetown. He is also a Navajo, with expert knowledge in ancient, Native American ways and legends. He invited Lara to Arizona to aid him in his search for the Dutchman's Gold. They were not alone in this search and together, they fought back Lady Jasmine and her mercenaries. He eventually got possessed by the Thunder God in the Superstition Mountains, unknowingly destroying the Dutchman's Stones. He later headed off alone to find the Dutchman's Gold. Lara realised that he was possessed and she remembered that Grandfather said that the crystal necklace was meant for him and so she forcefully wrapped it around his neck; Joe was freed from the god and they fled the collapsing cavern. Before they parted ways, Joe told her that he had to stay and help the Black Legion in stopping the Thunder God from escaping. He liked to ride motorbikes and he gave Lara the nickname 'Morning Dove'. He has black hair and has a tattoo on his right arm of a dream catcher with a claw print in the middle. |
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Grandfather
A Navajo Shaman, given the nickname of Grandfather. He gives Joe Notafraid a crystal necklace to wear to offer protection but Joe then gives it to Lara Croft to wear. |
Artefacts:
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Crystal Necklace
This item protects the wearer from the Thunder God of the deserts. It was originally given to Joe Notafraid by Grandfather, a Native American shaman, to protect him, but Joe gave it to Lara. The Black Legion warriors also wear a similar necklace. |
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The Dutchman’s Gold
The ultimate reward after following a combination of treasure stones and co-ordinates, however it isn't quite as harmless as gold; the Dutchman's Gold absorbs human bodies into its form, providing strength to the Thunder God, to aid his escape from the Gold mine. |
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Dutchman’s Stones
Stones carved by Dutch explorer Jacob Waltz. Together, the stones create a map to the Gold. To aid in the finding of the next stones, Waltz carved a Key Stone, featuring co-ordinates to the next piece. |
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The Dutchman’s Key Stone
Many of these stones are kept in a Phoenix museum, however Joe Notafraid was able to buy the Key Stone from an old friend of his, Max Betcher for $5000. The Key Stone was carved by Dutchman Jacob Waltz as a treasure map to the location of the other stones. It is encrusted with pyrite, 'Fool's Gold'. |
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The Peralta Stones
Named after the explorer, Don Miguel Peralta. Lara Croft says that currently, they are locked away in a museum in Phoenix, Arizona. These stones are relics of Don Miguel Peralta's discovery of gold in 1845. They were left behind after he and his men were massacred by Apache Warriors. Joe Notafraid says that these do not lead an explorer to the Dutchman's Gold. These are not seen in the comics. |
Baddies:
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The Black Legion
Apache warriors who guard the Superstition Mountains. Lara Croft and Joe Notafraid encountered them and noticed that the warriors take on animal personas. Initially, it was believed that these warriors were guarding the Dutchman's Gold from thieves however Lara understands that they also protect the treasure from the Thunder God of the desert. Usually, the warriors decapitate intruders. |
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Lady Jasmine
Lady Jasmine is looking for the Dutchman's Gold and discovers that Lara Croft and her friend Joe Notafraid are also seeking it. She follows their trail on several occasions, even attempting to fight them but they manage to escape her. When she and Lara are fighting on top of the Superstition Mountains, they accidentally fall through the earth and discover the gold but Joe has been possessed by the Thunder God and she tries to side with him, offering her help to him in trade for her life. He attacks her but Lara is able to save Joe by forcefully putting the crystal necklace that Joe had given to her around his neck. The god is expelled from him but this causes the cavern to collapse. Lara and Joe flee, leaving Lady Jasmine to fend for herself. She drags herself free of the debris and vows to see her once again. |
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The Thunder God
Ancient Native Americans believed that the Superstition Mountain range was home to a powerful Thunder God. It was believed that this God was protecting the Dutchman's Gold however the God needed the Gold to 'swallow up' human bodies to provide the God with enough strength to escape the gold mine. Lara also discovered that the God could possess people, as it did to her friend Joe Notafraid, but it could be expelled by a magical crystal, as given to them by Grandfather. |
Enemies:
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Mercenaries
Thugs hired by Lady Jasmine in her search for the Dutchman's Gold. A few named mercs include Jake and Ned. |
Location:
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USA – Arizona – The Superstition Mountains
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Other Characters:
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Jacob Weiser
A fellow explorer alongside Jacob Waltz. He was murdered by Waltz to hide the gold's location. |
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Jacob Waltz
He is famed for the rediscovery of the gold mines that Don Miguel Peralta found in 1845, alongwith his partner, Jacob Weiser, whom he then killed. He died, never telling anyone about the location of the gold mine. He is referred to as the original "Dutchman". |
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Don Miguel Peralta
He discovered a gold mine in the Superstition Mountains in 1845 but he and his men were massacred by Apache Warriors. The gold pieces that he found were left behind and were named The Peralta Stones. |
Vehicles:
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Lara's Motorbike
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Joe's Motorbike
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Weapons:
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Lara's Pistols
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Revolver
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