Review: Convergence Action Comics #2

Convergence Action Comics #2 came out last week and continued an interesting mix of Classic Earth-2 characters and the Red Son world. I miss the earnest Kal-L and the feisty Power Girl and their straight and narrow heroism. And we see that here, making this one of the better Convergence mini-series in my mind.

Writer Justin Gray has a great handle on this Power Girl, no big surprise as he riffed on her with Jimmy Palmiotti in her recent solo title. And for me, Karen is the high point of this series. She is strong, powerful, opinionated, and determined. She isn't going to sit by and watch as events play out around her. She is going to handle them head on. This makes cousin Kal the best sort of co-star. He is the veteran, thinking ahead and deciding the next steps, but acting when the time is right. It is fun to see them play off each other like they do, a throw back to the 'Super Squad' days of All-Star Comics.

And the art here is fantastic as well. We start out with the fantastic Amanda Conner covers, showcasing Power Girl in her scoop neck costume. Claude St. Aubin does wonderful work on the interiors, inked by Sean Parsons.

One thing I do know, after reading this book and Infinity Inc and hearing great things about Convergence Justice Society, I miss that Earth 2.

After a year of being without powers and being together with Andrew Vinson, Karen heeds the call of duty sent out by Telos. She is going to face the champion from the nearby city to try and save her own.

I thought this was a nice scene where she professes her love and kisses him goodbye for what might be the last time.

We don't get a similar scene between Clark and Lois. In fact, Lois' edginess from last issue isn't touched upon here. The focus is really on Karen.

But that love for Andrew is tempered by her anger at the situation.

I love this fierce sort of internal monologue, where she states she wants payback for this year under the dome.

Power Girl isn't one to suffer fools lightly. She isn't going to be happy to have her fate determined by someone else. This read true for me. Edgy but to the right degree.

The bulk of the issue is a prolonged fight between Power Girl and the Red Son Diana. The skirmish is pretty even with each having the upper hand at times.

But the early part is the best when Power Girl demolishes the invisible jet.

And that verbal jab - 'Admit it. You love me, now don't you?' - is just the right amount of snark. And I think she is saying that more to the readers than to Diana.

Yeah, I'll admit it. I like this Power Girl. Always have.

I have never read the Red Son graphic novel and so last month admitted a little ignorance on how true the characterization was. I found it interesting that in the world of Communist Superman and Wonder Woman, that Lex Luthor would be the 'good guy' and that he would be romantically involved with Lois.

In this issue, that is turned on its head a bit as Lex does a heel turn, deciding that he will use GI Robot troops to eliminate everyone loyal to Stalin and decide the city's fate himself. It is will be a messy and bloody coup, no doubt. And while Lex says he is doing to make sure Lois is safe, it feels more like classic Lex narcissism.

So a nice little character turn, even within the confines of a 2 issue mini.

Meanwhile, Power Girl and Wonder Woman continue to trade blows until Superman shows up to try to steady everyone's nerves.

He spouts the usual platitudes. The Diana he knows is good and just.

Aubin's expressions are great here. Kal looks earnest and maybe a bit disappointed. And Diana looks irked knowing he hasn't lived her life.

Just when things seem to have calmed, Power Girl dusts off the rubble she is buried under and tries to start the fight again. Superman is there to separate the combatants, realizing that this fight isn't helping anyone.

I do like the panel construction here. By making the second panel wider than the upper, you get a sense of Superman's strength as he pulls Karen and Diana apart. It gives the illusion that he widened the panel, which infers great power. He has strength to move mighty panel borders!

While the Lex character turn seemed natural, Diana's sudden reversal of ideology felt a bit rushed.

Superman questions whether having power means you have to use it. He also wonders why the heroes are blindly obeying the voice of Telos.

And just like that, Diana falls in line.

I suppose if this was a 6 issue story we would see Diana's resolve slowly erode instead of instantaneously melting away.

But she does have a change of heart. Heading back to Moscow, she stops Lex's plot of mass genocide. Instead, these two cities will work together to try to figure out who is behind all of this.

I am always happy when a Luthor gets their comeuppance.

But Diana also decides it is time she takes over completely. She strips Stalin of his power too.

Moscow is free!

Amazing what the inspiration of a good Superman can accomplish.

With the planet rumbling and shifting into the main universe, the next goal is clear. Kal and Karen have to face the threat behind this world, at this point it being Deimos. They say goodbye to their partners and head into battle as super-cousins. I like as they streak to battle, Clark tells Karen how much he loves her. I love it when the super-family is a super family!

Convergence was an odd mini-series, convoluted and discombobulated. The associated mini-series were a mixed bag. Some I thought were excellent reimaginings of some beloved characters from my past. Others fell short. This issue was mostly a brawl between heroes but it included some plot progression, some character turns, and some spot on characterization for this era Power Girl. Add to that the clean art of St. Aubin and Parsons, this mini-series was an entertaining story, one of the better Convergence crossovers I read.

Overall grade: A

Review: Convergence Action Comics

I wasn't planning to review Convergence:Action Comics #1 here on the site but after reading it, I felt like it needed to be covered here.

First, why I didn't think I would cover it. For one, it seems like it is more a classic Power Girl story. While I am a big fan of Power Girl I feel she is a separate character from Supergirl. And since I don't want to muddy the waters about the focus of this site, I have shied away from covering all of Power Girl's stories here. Second, I have to admit I haven't read the Red Son mini-series and so I didn't know if I could adequately comment on the characterization of that side of the story.

But writer Justin Gray put together a great story which certainly honored the pre-Crisis Earth 2 super-family the way I keep hoping DC as a whole will view Earth 2. And Gray comments on what it must be like for Karen and Clark to be perpetually depowered after a life being super. In some ways it echoed the recent Romita story in Superman #40 but somehow in a more palatable way.

Art is done by old friend Claude St. Aubin of R.E.B.E.L.S. fame. St. Aubin brings a smooth clean style to the proceedings which feels both classic and contemporary.

We start out in the classic Earth-2 Metropolis where it has become common knowledge that Clark is Superman and that he and Lois are married. The two are walking through the park when they are stopped by a fan asking for an autograph. He holds out a photo which homages Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez classic cover of Action Comics #484. (We can argue if such a photo would exist as it would unmask Superman as Clark given Lois' post-ceremony living arrangement, but let's not be nit-picky.)

But this nameless character then states just why we all love Superman and Lois together. They are the greatest love story in history (or one of them). Women look up to Lois as a hard-working, independent woman who strove to bring truth and justice even if it endangered her.

With all the current hubbub over how shabbily Lois is being treated by DC these days, I wonder if this was Gray giving his meta-textual opinion.

Powerless under the dome for almost a year, Clark (called Kal by Lois in the one clunky character moment of the book) bemoans being someone he isn't. He was someone with power who could help. Now he doesn't have them.

It is interesting how he correct Lois when she asks if he is upset for being 'reduced' to being human. It isn't that he feels more human that is off-putting. It is being someone he isn't. So this isn't a 'superior' Superman who feels above humanity or disconnected from it. That isn't it.

One other thing is that despite the gray temples on Clark, these two look rather spry. I would put them in their 60s at this stage of the game. Lois looks like she hasn't aged since her salad days of youth.

Meanwhile, another of the surviving domes is the Red Son Moscow where Stalin, Comrade Superman, and Wonder Woman are discussing the state of the Soviet Union city. With Superman powerless to hold the citizens in check, there is an air of impending rebellion.

Luthor, here cast as a benevolent Westerner trapped in Moscow but bringing thoughts of democracy to the place. He agrees to work with Stalin and Superman to try to solve the riddle of the dome. But it is clear, he is on the opposite side of the political fence. He thinks people should be free of the shackles Stalin has placed on them.

It is clearly an uneasy alliance.

On Earth 2, we see that Karen is also having a hard time adjusting to her new life without powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal humans. She is still sassy and brash and opinionated and fierce like the original Power Girl was. But she has to do the mundane things we normal folks have to ... exercise, watch what she eats, floss, sleep, etc.

She is in a relationship with Andrew Vinson, another throwback to classic Power Girl continuity. I love this exchange between the two as they prepare for a dinner with Clark and Lois. Andrew asks if he can join Karen in the shower but she warns him about what cousin Kal might think.

This felt like the Power Girl I knew from this time era. Even her frustration at being powerless felt right.

But like Superman, she wishes she was Power Girl again.

We get a nice little homage to Power Girl's career starting with a great double page spread of her, alongside Infinity Inc., fighting the villain team Helix. Nice left hook to Penny Dreadful!

And here is a nice shot of her fighting the Ultra-Humanite.

And then a simple panel of her flying and smiling next to Superman. You need no dialogue to see how much they love each other and enjoy each other's company.

I miss that sort of relationship between the super-cousins on any world!

What is most interesting is this Luthor being played up as a hero and freedom fighter. He can't stand the oppressive nature of this Moscow. He has been researching the dome and tinkering on the side. I thought this reimagining of the invisible jet was humorous especially with the line about seeing the pilot.

The Red Son Superman warns this Luthor that his snarking with Stalin won't be tolerated too much longer.

The truth is this Luthor still seems to be a smug man. I can't completely think of him as a protagonist here.

The super-cousins do end up sharing that dinner. There Lois seems somewhat cross, complaining about talking about the dome and holing herself up in the bathroom.

I can only think of two story reasons why she would act this way. One, she actually kind of likes the 'calm' life of the dome without Superman flying off into dangerous battle. Two, she's pregnant. Neither sounds like this Lois. The former doesn't sound like the supportive partner. The latter seems impossible since in my mind this Lois is too old to be bearing a child (even if she looks the same age as Power Girl in this book).

But we know the dome is going to drop and it finally does.

It appears that The Red Diana is going to be the first to enter the fray.

This wasn't a perfect issue by any means. But the opening scene with the Lois love as well as the great characterization of Power Girl raised this Convergence mini for me. The great dialogue and crisp art was welcomed. And an old school Karen and Kal helped seal the deal. The only lasting concern is Lois' surliness to close the book.

I do wonder where this is going. I guess Luthor will play some part in the climax as some space was devoted to him. And I hope I get to see the super-cousins battling side by side one more time!

Overall grade: B+

Review: R.E.B.E.L.S. #28

R.E.B.E.L.S. #28 came out last week, the last issue of this title in what is a tough month for DC's lower selling books. R.E.B.E.L.S., JSA All-Stars, and Doom Patrol, all on my pull list, all got cancelled this month. I always felt that this was the 'little book that could', a title that started with almost unknown characters followed by a period of hodge-podge middling characters that just never seemed to 100% gel. The book has been in flux for the last year as it tried to find the right roster and right feel. The better known characters added to the title pushed the newer ones into the background but didn't add to sales.

Still, Tony Bedard handled the book well because he kept Vril Dox at its center. Dox is such a great character; he was the tent pole that held this book up.

Despite that great characterization, the title is over. What amazes me is that I reviewed the first 2 issues because of a guest appearance by Supergirl. The hook in those early issues kept me here and kept me reviewing. In a lot of ways I am sort of sad to see this book end.

One last opening comment. Aaron Lopresti did the cover and it is just great. Lopresti better find a home on a DC monthly after Weird Worlds ends. I loved Lopresti's work on Wonder Woman. I really hope to see him on another DC book soon.

The book picks up in the middle of the attempted Starro take-over of Ranagar. While the original R.E.B.E.L.S. are on the Psion homeworld trying to get Lobo, the newer members of the team are fighting Starro's hordes.

Starro is pretty confident he is going to win, stating that he will make the Tamaranian sisters Starfire and Blackfire his concubines. Captain Comet, always a bit overzealous in his thought of Starfire, declares his intentions, claiming Kory is spoken for. I have to say, I have never quite understood Comet's powers. Here he shoots a beam of energy from his chest. I didn't know he could do that.

I love Komand'r's smug look as she ask Kory about his claim. But Starfire blushing seems out of character. She would probably have a sarcastic or perplexed look on her face by his statement.

Meanwhile, Lobo and Smite continue to drink on the Psion homeworld. The other R.E.B.E.L.S. are understandably confused. Aren't they supposed to be fighting? Even Smite states that he is looking for revenge for Stormdaughter. Lobo says her death is really on the hands of Starro for sending her.

Unfortunately, with the title ending, it seems Stormdaughter won't be revived or resurrected. Too bad, I liked her a lot.

After a quick discussion, the R.E.B.E.L.S. leave for Ranagar while Lobo and Smite stick around. Unfortunately, the subplot of the Lobo clones also will remain unanswered as we don't know what happened to them.

The fight on Ranagar seems to be slipping towards a Starro victory as Captain Comet falls to a face-hugger.

One thing I have liked about the last few issues has been the addition of the complex Komand'r. She is almost a reflection of Dox, an unlikeable hero. She is a fascist, power-hungry, sadistic. But she is also fiercely loyal to her people, has helped Dox maintain order, and has suppressed her desires to become part of the Ranagar world. Here she teams up with her Starfire while claiming she will always hate her. That depth of character has always been a strong part of R.E.B.E.L.S., everyone was three dimensional here. It is something I will miss when this title ends.

Luckily, Tribulus shows up with his psionic lightning and starts freeing portions of the enslaved populace including Dox. Now how his psychic lightning only affects the Starro starfish and not the host body, I don't know. Shouldn't the bodies be charred or hurt by such a blast?

Anyways, with his power levels dropping because of loss of slaves, Starro tosses out a bluff saying he will have all the Ranagarian slaves kill themselves (including Alana Strange and family). It is a clear bluff. If all the slaves die, Starro will be powerless. Also, I am pretty sure that the heroes won't be forgiving to a genocidal maniac.

It doesn't really matter because before he can actualize the bluff, the freed Dox takes control of Tribulus and batters Starro.

I don't think that Dox acted like a puppeteer in the past when he controlled Tribulus. I think he just mentally commanded him. Here, Tribulus mirrors Dox' movements. I thought this seemed a bit off.

The beaten Starro is then pushed through an open teleporter channel, sending him to the Psion homeworld where Lobo and Smite are eagerly awaiting him. My guess is this doesn't end well.

Back on Ranagar, Dox is reinstated as a hero and a ceremony links him Blackfire.

How great would it be to have read more of these two, explore their relationship. They are both manipulators. But they probably respect each other tremendously. Would they work together seamlessly? Or always have friction? I do like how Dox is now called Blackfire's consort.

Meanwhile, Komand'r knows that Kory isn't going to stick around and be with Captain Comet.She is simply too big a persona for someone like Comet, she is too much. Even here on the page she is bigger than life, existing outside of the panels. I love Comet's sad look, knowing it would be futile to try to hold on to her.

I thought this was a great closing page for the title. Look at this team, they don't look like they are having fun. They look more like weary reluctant heroes. Unlike the dramatic last pages of JSA All-Stars, or the humorous last pages of Doom Patrol (which I thought was a misstep by Giffen and crew), this seemed more like a resolute group who understands they need to plod on.

But it an interesting last page for other reasons. These were the original team members, they guys swept aside when the newer team members joined the book. Look at this group. Outside of Dox, none of them are on the cover. For me, these are the 'real' R.E.B.E.L.S.. You know that Starfire, Lobo, Adam Strange, and Captain Comet will all land somewhere else. These characters are probably destined for comic limbo and that's too bad.

R.E.B.E.L.S. was a fun ride, an nice look at some of the dustier corners of the cosmic DCU. But it was the early issues when Dox was making a team out of people who otherwise would kill each other that stand out for me. Too bad we won't see more of Dox.

Lastly, Claude St. Aubin should be commended for his art on the book, stepping in for Andy Clarke and giving the book a distinctive look.

Overall grade (issue): B
Overall grade (title as a whole): B

Review: R.E.B.E.L.S. #27

R.E.B.E.L.S. #27, written by Tony Bedard and dran by Claude St. Aubin, came out last week. It is the second to last issue of title, a book which has lasted longer than I thought it would. I have to give DC credit for giving this book such a long leash. Sales were never great but the company gave this book every chance it could to succeed. And as a fringe book dealing with the non-Green Lantern DC Cosmic book, I think it did fairly well in the current market.

Still, the book seems to be limping to the finish a bit. It is hardly the book it was at its inception and that was a book I really enjoyed. One of the main strengths of this title was the interaction of the characters and the disparate group of 'heroes' that were struggling to work together and work for Vril Dox. Bedard knew that Dox was the key to it all and the first year of this book was a smart and fascinating character study of both Dox and those that loathed him and worked with him.

But somewhere along the way this book became more like the recent Mystery in Space and less like the R.E.B.E.L.S. we saw at the beginning.

With Dox under the control of Starro, we don't get the chance to see any of his subtle machinations and manipulations.

Instead we get witty banter like "I crap bigger than you!" as Lobo and Smite brawl on the Psion home world. It is silly to see the two beat each other into pulp while rattling off their biggest victories to each other, trying to intimidate.

Alas, no resurrection of Astrild Stormdaughter.

While I have lamented the fact that newly added characters like Adam Strange and Captain Comet have taken space away from the original RE.B.E.L.S., I have enjoyed the addition of Blackfire.

Complex characters are always a joy to read. Komand'r certainly has fit that billing. She isn't the outright evil character I first met in Teen Titans 25 years ago. But she might have an evil streak. Or maybe she is just a totalitarian. She is definitely a utilitarian. Here she realizes she needs the controlled Rannians to be freed to fight for her. As a result, she tells her troops that they cannot kill the drones. It was unexpected and shrewd of her. I figured she would mow them down, be able to rationalize her decision, and then take over Rann when it all shook out.

Starro arrives on Rann with an enslaved Dox in tow. And here is another good Blackfire moment.

Starro tells her that he has read Dox' mind and Brainiac finds Komand'r challenging. That is high praise from Dox who always has everything figured out. He is always one step ahead of his opponents. So almost nothing is challenging to him.

In many ways, Komand'r's power and politics are similar to Dox. I am disappointed that we won't be able to see more of their budding relationship. But with the end of the title, we probably won't see it any time soon.

As Starro swarms the planet, Lyrl 'reboots' Tribulus, both saving and upgrading the monster.

Lyrl has also been a compelling character. He hates Vril but has been working for him the last few issues. Where do his loyalties really lie? Is he going to be villain in the true sense of the word? I mean, I don't expect father/son picnics by the Dox clan any time soon.

What are his motivations? We probably won't know any time soon given the end of the title.

As Starro runs rampant on Rann, the big guns of the R.E.B.E.L.S. team are off on the Psion home world trying to rescue the already gone Brainiac. Amazingly, Bounder gets a line of dialogue! I suppose it's like the Legion where some characters don't get any screen time. But the team formed over the first year has really been pushed into the background here.

When Lyrl informs the team that Rann is about to be overrun, the team decides to split up. Captain Comet, Adam Strange, and Starfire will return to Rann while the original R.E.B.E.L.S. will look for Lobo.

Again it is a sign of the change in this title. The action is really on Rann but the original team like Wildstar get put on 'messenger boy' duty, finding Lobo to get him to come and help.

Blackfire actually holds her own for a short period of time, blasting Starro directly in the eyes to save herself and pleading with Dox to shrug off the drone star.

In a nice bit of irony, Starfire has to come and rescue Blackfire. Those two have history; I am sure Kory wouldn't mind seeing Komand'r die. In fact Starfire says Blackfire shouldn't count rescues. Again, Bedard is so good with complicated characters like Blackfire that I am sad that we won't see more.

Luckily Lyrl's upgrades are effective. A much more Validus-like Tribulus, armed with 'psionic lightning' which is three times as powerful as his old lightning. And the lightning is able to somehow disrupt the Starro drones, frying the starfish but leaving their hosts remarkably unscathed. Hmmm ... I guess I'll roll with it because the Dox family are so smart. At last, an effective weapon against Starro!

Meanwhile, Smite and Lobo have become fast friends, drinking in a Psion pub, and surprised to see the rest of the R.E.B.E.L. team.

All this needs to be wrapped up in one more issue ... which makes me think that much of the lingering plotlines won't be all packaged neatly with a bow. I am sure Starfire will land on her feet in some title but the rest of these characters will most likely be shelved until they become cannon fodder in some universe-level crossover. I would say there must be room for a DC Cosmic book ... but it isn't like DC pulled the plug after 4 issues. And this book was high quality. Maybe there just isn't a market.

I will miss Vril Dox and his Machiavellian ploys, his way of inspire fealty, and fear, and loathing. And unfortunately I missed him here. Hopefully he gets the Starro-drone removed early next issue so he can star in his own book.

Overall grade: B-

Review: R.E.B.E.L.S. #26

It's hard to believe that we are nearing the end of R.E.B.E.L.S. Never a mega-selling book, it simply seemed impervious to cancellation in the same vein as Jonah Hex and Hellblazer. Sales have always been on the low end. But couldn't there be room for a DC Cosmic book? Maybe the answer is yes ... just a different one after Flashpoint.

Still I have enjoyed R.E.B.E.L.S. way more that I thought I would. Initially I was only going to be on board for the first 2 issues. They guest-starred Supergirl. But something about the book grabbed me. Mostly it was the characterization of Vril Dox. But the slick art work of Andy Clarke and the semi-Legion feel of the book kept me coming back for more.

I have said before that the book seems to have lost it's way a bit over the last year, throwing new bits and pieces into the mix ... like Green Lanterns and Lobo and Starfire. As a result, it has felt a bit like R.E.B.E.L.S. lite, with nary a sighting of the original rag-tag team.

R.E.B.E.L.S. # 26, out this last week, comes close to the bright beginning of the title. Maybe it is because Starro is back and he played such a key role in the first year of the book. But this felt a little like the old R.E.B.E.L.S. (if there can be such a thing after just 2 years). Tony Bedard does a nice job dealing with the personalities of the characters here, letting there nuance show. And Claude St. Aubin and Daniel HDR split art chores but have such similar styles, or are inked similarly by Scott Hanna, that it is seamless.

Last issue ended with Lobo killing Astrild Stormdaughter by impaling her in the temple with his hook.

I have said it before, Stormdaughter was a great new character, one I hoped (and still hope) makes it through this title alive. The tragedy of her origins, the sense of emptiness in her, is such great soil for more stories. But part of me has hoped all along that there was going to be redemption with her character. She lost everything fighting Starro, then turned to him when she lost her resolve. I keep thinking that somehow her powers ... as a life/death goddess ... will lead to a rebirth, cleansed of her sins, ready to make amends, and being crucial in the ultimate defeat of Starro.

Even if R.E.B.E.L.S. is ending, the team will be out there for further DCU adventures. I hope she joins the team when all is said and done.

But without raising a sweat, Lobo defeated one of Starro's generals. Even the Conqueror knows that an angry Lobo is pretty much unstoppable. With no answers of their own, Starro turns to Dox and momentarily frees him from his Starro drone. When asked how to stop Lobo, Dox replies 'only Lobo can stop Lobo'.

Ummm ... so I don't know why he needed to remove the starfish from Dox. Doesn't he control Dox? Couldn't the face-hugged Vril answer the same questions? Or does the being a Starro drone make you an empty vessel. Seems to me we have seen plenty of people under Starro's control talking and acting with their intellect intact.

In the meantime, Rann is trying to hold the fort, not realizing that they are being taken over from the inside.

In what I thought was a nice bit, Komand'r offers her help to the Rannian forces to rescue Dox and protect the planet. In some ways it shows tremendous growth on Blackfire's part that she is willing to work with Sardath here rather than hoping the Rannians are killed so the Tamaranians can try to run the whole planet.

But as I said, Rann is far from safe.

I love this disturbing panel of Adam Strange's daughter cutely skipping into the home to present Alanna with her own drone-fish.

Panels like this are what keep me coming back to comics. That's just a great image.

Dox' words about Lobo lead to a quick recap of Lobo's origins.

Smite thinks the best way to stop Lobo is to implant a hatred for the genocidal Czarian into the Lobo-clones and release them to fight him. It is a plan that makes sense. But Starro wants no part of it. He still wants to control the Lobo clones and releasing them would be a lost opportunity.

I can see both sides of the argument. Couldn't they split it down the middle? Couldn't they release half the clones?

In the worst bit in the book, after Starro rejects Smite's idea, he tells his General to 'grow a pair' and go fight Lobo? 'Grow a pair'? Doesn't that sound just a bit vulgar coming from Starro who has been more regal in his words in the past?

Smite doesn't take kindly to the words either. He lashes out at Starro, knocking him off his feet. It was a simple way of showing me just where Starro stands in power. We learned in the first story that this Starro gains strength from the numbers he controls. Clearly he doesn't control many yet.

Despite that, Smite actually does go to engage Lobo. His motivations are actually noble. He wants to avenge the death of Stormdaughter, someone he held as a friend. How interesting! I like complex characters. Smite's origins also have a tinge of sadness to them. Is this his redemption?

Either way, I don't know how the Lobo clones will be dealt with. Maybe killed in their pods by the main man himself? Or drained of power by the reborn Stormdaughter?

While Smite and Lobo fight on the surface, Starro has the Psions move the Lobo clones to a safe location and teleports off to Rann with Dox in tow. Seems a bit premature for Starro to head there if his power is as low as it seems. Of course, sticking around to face Lobo doesn't make much sense either.

And on Rann it looks like Starro's forces are getting the upper hand. It is enough to make Brainiac 3 hustle to finish his surgery on Tribulus so that the monster can start stomping on some starfish. Plasteel and neuragel? I guess we now have an explanation for the more Validus-like appearance of Tribulus on next month's cover.

There is so much good stuff in this comic that I really am going to miss it. Sure, Vril Dox is the straw that sturs the drink. But there are more stories out there for Lyrl, and the R.E.B.E.L. team, and Smite and Stormdaughter. In some ways, I think it is a shame that the new faces have dominated this book for so long because I still want to see those stories ... much more than I want to see Captain Comet's or Adam Strange's.

Hopefully the book ends on a high note and we see the team now and then in a big JLA or GL story line.

Overall grade: B/B+

Review: R.E.B.E.L.S. #25

It has been a while since I have felt that R.E.B.E.L.S. is the same book that I enjoyed in its earliest issues. Remember those early issues when the book looked at some of the more underutilized corners of the DCU? We saw Branx warriors, the Citadel, the Khunds, etc. Growing on the original concept of L.E.G.I.O.N., this was a quasi-Legion of Super-heroes in current times and led by the Machiavellian Brainiac 2 Vril Dox.

Somewhere along the way, for me at least, the book lost it's focus. Rather than looking to capitalize on these dustier parts of the cosmos, it seemed to try to bring the book into the more well-traveled parts of the DCU. So no more Dominion, no more Durlans, no more Star Haven. Instead we have Oa and Rann.

And we haven't had the original R.E.B.E.L.S. team for some time as well. Part of the beauty of the early issues here was that Dox was such a master manipulator that he could wring a team out of the combustible parts of an ex-Dominator admiral, a Khundian warrior, and a sadistic Durlan. There was energy there and it all rotated around Dox and his anti-hero personality. Instead we now have Lobo and Starfire and Adam Strange and Captain Comet. We have had issues devoted to rookie Green Lanterns. And while those have all been interesting additions to the team, their presence has decreased the screen time for the original members to near zero.

So why the depressing beginning to this review? Well, because there is a silver lining here. R.E.B.E.L.S. #25  had those original team members actually in the book! And some of them had dialogue! And with the returning threat of Starro, this issue felt like slipping into cozy slippers. I was in a comfortable place.

I seem to say it every month. Dox is the straw that stirs the drink here. I don't necessarily want to read an Adam Strange or a Lobo book. I want to read a R.E.B.E.L.S. book. So I hope that somehow Tony Bedard is able to stir this book back to its roots. (Can a book 2 years old have roots??)

With Starro the Conqueror back in business, his acolytes Smite and Astrild Stormdaughter bring the fight to the R.E.B.E.L.S. While Smite battles with Tribulus, Stormdaughter grabs Vril. And wisely, she removes his force field belt. He is basically unprotected now.

But this is a battle on the R.E.B.E.L.S. home turf. Starfire skirmishes with Stormdaughter. Unfortunately, both Tribulus is defeated, a battle axe buried in his head. And Starfire gets overcome. Starro's generals escape, teleporting away with Dox in tow.

It shows how far this book has come with Starfire having to ask who Smite and Stormdaughter are.

The rest of the team mobilizes a little too late. Look! I see Wildstar ... and Ciji ... and Amon Hakk!

And poor Tribulus is there too, the axe still lodged in his cranium.

As for Dox, he is brought to Starro's new seat of power, the Psion homeworld. I love the shocked look on Dox face. Starro controlling a planet of unscrupulous and wildly intelligent scientists is a scary thought.

There is a bit of Starro monologuing here ... lording over Dox and explaining how he came back into power. You think Starro would immediately enslave his biggest foe. But he wants Dox awake and aware of his defeat. It makes it that much sweeter for Starro. I still don't know though ...

In the meantime, Lobo flies off, enraged that Astrild Stormdaughter defeated him. Lobo plans to track her through space and confront her.

It isn't the plan Adam Strange wanted. But he knows better than to let an opportunity slip by him. If Lobo can lead the team to Dox, then the team should follow the Czarian into space. And hey! Wildstar will use her Dawnstar-like powers to track him! We actually get to see her in action. As a big Wildfire and Dawnstar guy, I love the Wildstar character and always hope she'll get some screen time.

Finally, Starro shows Dox his secret weapon, all the Lobo clones the Psions have been creating.

Dox wonders why none of the Lobos have the face-hugger starfish yet. Something isn't right. And with that, Starro has heard enough and slaps a starfish on to Dox' face.

I do like the idea behind this panel. This is a huge moment in this book, Starro's victory over his biggest enemy. So there needed to be some energy here, some kineticism. So the ghost images, the motion lines as Dox' head snaps back, the loud 'shlup' ... it all adds to the moment.

Starro's problem is that the cloned Czarians cannot be enslaved. They resist until they burn themselves out.

Is the emphasis on kidnapping Dox because Starro thinks Brainiac can come up with a solution around this? Or was it pure revenge?

So the R.E.B.E.L.S. all pile into their ship, following Wildstar to the Psion homeworld. When did Adam Strange officially become second in command?

And why does the rest of the team fall so quickly in line to listen to him? I mean why would Xylon listen to him. Wouldn't a Dominator Admiral think he should lead? It takes Dox to keep these guys in line. I would have loved one panel of Strange demanding people listen to him rather than this happy crew sitting around the bridge Next Gen style.

But with the team gone, Starro starts to infiltrate Ranagar taking over the defensive troops.

This doesn't look good. Of course, Komand'r and the Tamaran army are just on the other side of the planet. So maybe a battle for Ranagar is going to happen!

Lobo arrives on the Psion on homeworld and immediately seeks out Stormdaughter for a rematch, this time wearing a clothespin on his nose to ward off her pheromone attack. And then, in a shocking cliffhanger, Lobo sinks his hook into Stormdaughter's head.

Man ... I hope Stormdaughter isn't dead. Of all the original characters in this book, I like her the best. Her back story was so tragic. I keep hoping that redemption is in her future. I keep hoping she'll become a 'good guy'. So I would hate it if she died. Of course, she is a goddess of life/death/rebirth so I doubt it will take. Maybe a rebirth will set her mind straight?

Anyways, this wasn't a perfect issue but it seemed like the first time that there has been a merger of the old R.E.B.E.L.S. and the new. It was nice to see the original member shake of the dust a bit. And the threat of Starro, while just recently visited here, also works.

Lastly, I have to say that Claude St. Aubin's art is really slick here. It seems like his work improves every month.

Overall grade: B/B+