Friends With Benefits

R.E.B.E.L.S. #18
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

Brainiac 3 attacks Colu just as Brainiac the first escapes from his though-cell. Stafire and Captain Comet do the hanky panky in a space ship – I love how sexually free Kory is haha. And she even admits that sleeping with Captain Comet helps her get over Dick Grayson – to Captain Comet. An earth-man like himself won’t be too happy about that I can imagine. This was a good issue.

Starfire And Captain Comet Romance?

R.E.B.E.L.S. #16
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

This book has only gotten better since the fantastic Starro War arc ended in my opinion. I like that the R.E.B.E.L.S. is the name of the core metahuman team of L.E.G.I.O.N. It allows for them to keep the same title of this book while also have Dox bring back his peacekeeping force. Stafire and Captain Comet sitting in a tree…I can already see the sparks. I hope that it works out considering it is time for Kory to get over Dick and I would like some more characterization out of Captain Comet. The two new Green Lanterns – despite making the cover – are the least interesting part of this issue. I love all the main characters, I hope this book lasts for a long time to come!

Benefits

R.E.B.E.L.S. #12
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Geraldo Borges

This series continues to be good and since it involved Black Lanterns this issue should have had a Blackest Night label on it to bring in readers – even though it barely involved them I still think more people should read this book. Vril Dox’s plan to take out Starro is interesting and I wonder what it is – and how it benefits Vril Dox in the end which I believe this issue implied. Good stuff. Oh and the guest artist was a perfect fit. I liked it.

Getting Used To The New Starro

R.E.B.E.L.S. #11
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

This was an action-packed issue of R.E.B.E.L.S as Vril Dox rejects being a member of the Sinestro Corps and the Black Lanterns attack Starro. I am starting to like this new version of Starro as I am getting used to it. I mean at least its a villain with a personality now right? Good stuff all around.

Brainiacs Two And Three

R.E.B.E.L.S. #10
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Andy Clarke

 

Okay I didn’t expect Vril Dox to get a Sinestro Corps ring at all! Bedard wove Blackest Night in with his own mega-story about Starro perfectly. Both people coming in for the Blackest Night stuff and previous readers will enjoy this issue. Clarke’s art is great to see again, let’s hope he stays around this time. I like that Vril’s son is now Brainiac 3. This was a good issue.

The Team Officially Forms

R.E.B.E.L.S. #9
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

Adam Strange and Captain Comet join the cast just as the team officially forms – nine issues in. Oh well it was a fun ride getting there. (Unlike say Meltzer’s six issues to build the Justice League in 2006). Aubin’s art is not as good as Clarke’s and it shows. I wish that Clarke could stay on this book for any substantial amount of time. The team is interesting if not a little big. I hope people continue to read this cause I want to see more of their adventure.

The Grandson of Brainiac

R.E.B.E.L.S. #8
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Andy Clarke

This was another good issue of this series and it is great to continue having Clarke on the art. I hope he doesn’t leave again any time soon. I like the relationship between Dox and his son. Dox is a jerk sometimes but he does seem to care for his son. I would expect him to have too much time to reduce his son’s intellect but he does it anyways so that his son could have a normal childhood and not end up like his grandpa Brainiac. Wildstar’s powers are really fun and powerful. I am enjoying learning so much about these characters.

The Genocide of the Gil’Dishpan

R.E.B.E.L.S #7
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Andy Clarke

This was another good issue of this series. I am kinda sad that the Gil’Dishpan were destroyed. I liked them and wanted to learn more about this aquatic worm race. Having the whole issue take place underwater really made me miss reading an Aquaman series. Do you think we will ever see Topo again? Anyways, the fact that Dox agrees with the dominator’s decision to sacrifice an entire race for the sake of billions shows how much Dox is really an anti-hero and not Superman in any way, shape, or form. I like that. I am still loving the encyclopedia entries Bedard has in this book and all the world-building (or should I say universe-building) he is doing with Space in the DC Universe. I just wish more people were reading this book.

The “Real” Starro

R.E.B.E.L.S. #6
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

I like how the team is growing and will still grow. All of the team members have serious potential and I can’t wait to read more about them. Bedard has yet to win me over with this warrior version of Starro. I don’t buy that this is the “real” Starro because I think the giant starfish is a lot more interesting. And you know some writer is going to come along one day and say that this was just another guy possessed by Starro. St. Aubin’s art is seriously lacking in this issue. Everything seemed a bit off. He is usually a good artist though. What happened to Andy Clarke anyways?

No Longer A Starfish?

R.E.B.E.L.S. #5
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

So I am confused…how is that guy Starro? Is Starro being revealed as not being a giant starfish in his true form after all? If that is the case, I don’t know how I feel about it…I mean we need a big starfish baddie! This was a good issue and much more action-packed if you like that sort of thing. What is with that cover though, I don’t like it. It looks like an interior panel, not a cover. I do like the idea of a Durlan masquerading as a little girl though. I am also really starting to like the character of Wildstar.

Fictional Reference Books

R.E.B.E.L.S. #4
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

You know I was getting a big Star Trek vibe from this issue. Maybe because I just saw the new movie? I don’t know. This was another fun issue of this book. Strata and Bounder officially join the new R.E.B.E.L.S. team and Starro is attacking the planet of Maltus. Is Starro behind the takeover of L.E.G.I.O.N.? I am not sure. Was that revealed already? I don’t remember. I am loving the fake reference books Bedard is citing and all that stuff from “Encyclopedia Galactica”. It is really cool and helps the story a lot instead of hindering it. No problems here.

Still Accessable

R.E.B.E.L.S. #3
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Matthew Clarke

So it looks like Starro is involved in the L.E.G.I.O.N. going rogue. Hmmm. Starro is never really a character that interested me, but this could be interesting. This issue didn’t grab me quite as much as the last two but it was decent. I was a little confused at certain parts but I think all-in-all I think this book still works well for the uninitiated. I am not sure I understand what exactly Vril Dox did to Wildstar. Also, wasn’t Starhaven created in the 23rd Century? That is what wikipedia says at least. Is this just a retcon or is there an in-story explanation? I guess I will have to check out last issue to see if I missed something. So far though, this series is going strong.