R.E.B.E.L.S. #14

R.E.B.E.L.S. #14 (May 2010)

title: "In The Flesh"

writer: Tony Bedard

penciller: Claude St. Aubin

inker: Scott Hanna

colors: Jose Villarrubia 

letters: Travis Lanham
editor: Brian Cunningham
cover: Kalman Andrasofszky

Reviewer: Mike "Nostalgic Kid" Lane

Recap: Vril Dox went on the run after Starro the Conqueror took over L.E.G.I.O.N. and put a bounty on his head. He received a message through time from his descendant, Brainiac 5, who warned 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 that gave him control over the giant beast, Tribulus. He gathered others, including Wildstar, a tracker, former L.E.G.I.O.N. officer Strata, and her companion, Bounder. 

The Dominator homeworld was conquered by Starro, and a Dominator admiral, Xylon, took refuge with Dox. They were joined by Adam Strange, Captain Comet, the deposed dictator Kanjar-Ro, and a Durlan, Captain Ciji, who was sent by the Counsel of Durla to seek his help. Dox then recovered his son, Lyrl, who had been on the run since his mother was killed by L.E.G.I.O.N. robo-troops. Lyrl became possessed by one of Starro's starfish, although one that left him with a greater degree of free will than typical so as not to limit his intelligence, and he adopted the title Brainiac 3. He is not as under control as Starro believes, and has begun to plot with Smite to overthrow Starro's rule. Dox sent everyone on separate missions to retrieve several items, including the shattered pieces of Kanjar-Ro's Gamma Gong and a Gene Bomb from the Dominator homeworld. Dox went on his own mission to retrieve the severed head of Despero. The conqueror still lived and Dox offers to quickly restore his body if he agreed to help them defeat Starro. Once everything is recovered, Dox constructs the weapon he believes will defeat Starro. At the same time, the Omega Men were in Starro's home galaxy, attempting to learn how a now dead race was once able to defeat the starfish beings.

The Omega Men return from their mission to Starro's galaxy with a weapon that has the potential to stop the starfish conqueror.

Lyrl Dox/Brainiac 3 has betrayed Starro by transporting him to Vril Dox's ship. Dox has created a weapon that he hopes can defeat Starro and gives it to Adam Strange to fire. Unfortunately, the weapon is not as effective as they had hoped.

Starro's fleet is preparing to attack Earth and await word from their master. Storm-Daughter checks in with their commander, Smite, unaware that he has joined in on Brainiac 3's plot to overthrow Starro. She is becoming suspicious about his lack of concern over Starro's delay.

Meanwhile, Dox's forces continue their attack on Starro. Their battle eventually leads them to the Psion's laboratory, where Starro sees the remains of his people who have been experimented on by the Psions. Starro is furious and the battle turns in his favor.

The Omega Men arrive just as most of Dox's forces are possessed by Starro and they tell Dox that they have poison darts that can stop the conqueror. They soon fall under Starro's control as well.

Wildstar is one of the few beings that remain free of Starro's control, as does Elu, because they are energy beings. They look to Dox for guidance, who steps forth to speak to Starro. The conqueror grabs Dox by the throat and is about to kill him when Dox notes that a poison darts actually hit one of the starfish.

With Starro subdued, Smite's fleet is defeated and he discovers that he gained nothing by helping Brainiac 3. Civilizations throughout the universe suddenly find themselves free of Starro's influence for the first time in memory.

Once more in control of L.E.G.I.O.N., and having saved the galaxy from Starro, Dox sets up a broadcast to announce his plans.

Well, things played out a bit predictably in that I mentioned that Dox's plan in creating a weapon was doomed to fail so the Omega Men could return to save the day. I did not expect them to fall under Starro's control first and for Dox to take advantage of what they'd learned to save the day himself, but that is a minor distinction. And that development should probably have been predictable given how often Dox has to be the one to save the day.

This was a satisfying conclusion to the storyline that launched this title, although it did have a slight sense of wrapping up too quickly. I wish more of the extended cast had a chance to shine during this conclusion but that has been an issue since the original L.E.G.I.O.N. run back in the 1990s. Dox ultimately takes center stage at the conclusion of every storyline and pushes the others aside. Dox is a fascinating character so I understand it to a degree, but I do wish they had worked in the other cast more in the finale.

In any event, this was a fun issue and it was nice to see Dox reclaim his position as head of L.E.G.I.O.N. after so long. Even when the initial R.E.B.E.L.S. series ended, Dox did not return to his leadership role, but instead turned it over to Captain Comet. I am curious as to how much of our cast will stick around now that Starro is defeated, not just Comet, but also Strange, the Omege Men, and more. It does seem from the last page that Strange will not be leaving soon so please check back next week to see how the rebuilding of the L.E.G.I.O.N. is going!