R.E.B.E.L.S. #7

R.E.B.E.L.S. #7 (October 2009)

title: "No Way Out"

writer: Tony Bedard

penciller: Andy Clarke

inker: Andy Clarke

colors: Jose Villarrubia 

letters: Steve Wands
editor: Brian Cunningham
cover: Kalman Andrasofszky

Reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Vril Dox found himself on the run after the new leader of L.E.G.I.O.N. put a bounty on his head. He received a message through time from his descendant, Brainiac 5, who explained that there was no record in his era of Vril Dox after this day. To ensure his survival, Brainiac 5 provided him with the complete personnel files of the Legion of Super-Heroes to maximize his chances. Vril Dox then stole a device from one of the mercenaries chasing him, which gave him control over the giant beast, Tribulus. He travelled to Starhaven, home of the Anasazi Tribe of Earth, who had long ago been abducted by aliens and resettled. There, he recruited the outcast native, Wildstar, and used technology to awaken the latent tracking talents of her people.  Unfortunately, the effects of the process meant that she must now wear a special containment suit for the rest of her life. He then travelled to the planet Cairn to recruit former L.E.G.I.O.N. officer, Strata, and her companion, Bounder. At the same time, the homeworld of the Dominators came under attack by an invading army from another galaxy led by Starro the Concqueror. Dox's ship was also attacked by a Durlan, Captain Ciji, who commanded a troop of Khund warriors. It turned out that Captain Ciji was there to appeal to Dox for help on behalf of the Council of Durla. Dox activated the "iron curtain" protocols that commanded all of the peacekeeping robo-troops of L.E.G.I.O.N. to abdandon their posts and create a barrier in space.

The Dominator Admiral, Field, is leading a Lunavore, a giant creature born in space that is able to fly faster than light, against the giant invisible force barrier erected by Vril Dox. The barrier was erected to contain the invading army that has come from another galaxy, but it also encompasses the first two worlds to be conquered by the invaders, Maltus and the Dominion homeworld. As powerful as a Lunavore is, the creature proves no match for the barrier.

Dox contacts representatives of every major power in the galaxy, but his overtures are quickly rejected.

Dox is focused on who may be helping Starro, particularly the race known as the Gil'Dishpan. They head to their homeworld, which is made up of methane oceans that cut off the undersea life from sunlight.

Dox meets with representatives of their race, and warns them that if they don't cooperate with him they will be destroyed. Starro knows that they are capable of opening dimensional warp gates, which are the only way to bypass his force shield. They tell Dox that they have already been warned by someone pretending to be their friend, Admiral Field of the Dominators.

Field confronts Dox, but the Durlan turns into a giant creature to disuade him from attacking.  After they settle down, the representative of the Gil'Dishpan says that they have agreed to turn Dox over to Starro as part of a nonaggression pact.  The Dominator is the first to object, claiming that there is no bargaining with the invaders, and others soon join in. Dox advises them to imagine themselves as the gatekeeper, the indespendsable ally against a common threat. He is interrupted when they finally catch up to Starro.

Starro sends a Hammerhead Shark like creature to attack, but the attackers run into resistance.

The Hammerhead Shark creature possessed by Starro is trying to pull his troops together when Wildstar arrives. She has barely engaged in battle when Dox warns her to leave before her containment suit is ruptured. The representative of the Gil'Dishpan demands that Dox stop fighting because they have apparently made peace with Starro. Meanwhile, Admiral Field has approached the planet and set off the methane in the atmosphere.

Strata is furious but Dox calms her down, explaining that it was the same move he would have made. Well...he doesn't calm her down so much as explain things. She is still pretty angry.

This was another wonderful fast-paced issue. Having a Dominator be a major character in the story is unusual enough, but giving him a sympathetic motivation is even better. And seeing Dox appeal to various powerful races in the DC Universe and be rejected added real weight to the story.

As much as I loved the original incarnation of L.E.G.I.O.N., this series as much more conscious of keeping our cast firmly implanted in the current DC continuity and it benefited from that.  Particularly because this comic came out at a time where the cosmic side of DC was being show cased. I loved that aspect of this era. And this issue did a great job at keeping up the momentum.

It was also nice to see the return of artist Andy Clarke.  DC picked a very talented artist for the last few issues and I was thrilled with the work, but Clarke's art is what I associate with the title, so it was good to see it back. I am not sure how long he will stick along but lets enjoy him while we can!