Wednesday, September 29, 2021

R.E.B.E.L.S. #13

R.E.B.E.L.S. #13 (April 2010)
title: "Secret Weapons"
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. 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. 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.

Monday, September 27, 2021

Who's Who in the Legion #3 EXTRAS


Continuing the series where we spotlight the features that appeared at the beginning of each issue of the mini-series Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes (1988). This time out the series featured planets in the Legion Universe. 

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

R.E.B.E.L.S. #12

R.E.B.E.L.S. #12 (March 2010)
title: "Secret Weapons"
writer: Tony Bedard
penciller: Geraldo Borges
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 soon conquered by Starro, and a Dominator admiral, Xylon, took refuge with Dox, as did a Durlan, Captain Ciji, who was sent by the Counsel of Durla to seek his help. Dox then recovered his son, Lyrl, and they were soon joined by Adam Strange, Captain Comet, and the dictator Kanjor-Ro, whose planet was also conquered by Starro. While they united on the planet Vrool to discuss their next action, deceased heroes throughout the galaxy began arising from the dead as Black Lanterns in a bid to eliminate all emotion and life from the universe. Dox and his companions stumbled upon a battle between Sinestro Corpsmen and Black Lanterns, and following the death of a Sinestro Corpsmen, his ring immediately went to Dox. At the same time, Lyrl Dox was captured by Starro, who joined with him and anointed him as one of his elite Vanguard. This made Lyrl loyal to Starro while also allowing him more free will than a typical victim. Dox used Adam Strange's Rannian Holo-Blaster to find the right wavelength of green to use with his yellow ring to dispatch the Black Lanterns. When the device was destroyed, he used his ring to gather all of the Black Lanterns and send them back through Lyrl's portal, along with his son. When Sinestro ordered all of his corpsmen to gather, Dox declined and was rejected by his yellow ring.

Monday, September 20, 2021

The Original Legion: Who Joined When? (Part Two)

Who Joined When? (Part Two)

By Emsley Wyatt

Continuing our review of the original Legion of Super-Heroes and the order of the induction of their members. Previously I profiled the sixteen members who joined before the Legion got their own series in Adventure Comics. Now they had an ongoing series of their own. So from here on out, it's all pretty straightforward.  No more guessing games, no more interpreting panels, or reading tea leaves.  You see a new Legionnaire and you know it.

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

R.E.B.E.L.S. #11

R.E.B.E.L.S. #11 (February 2010)
title: "The Son & Stars, Part Two"
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 soon conquered by Starro, and a Dominator admiral, Xylon, took refuge with Dox, as did a Durlan, Captain Ciji, who was sent by the Counsel of Durla to seek his help. Dox activated the "iron curtain" protocols that commanded all of the peacekeeping robo-troops of L.E.G.I.O.N. to abandon their posts and create a barrier in space around Maltus, the location of L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters. Dox recovered his son, Lyrl, who claimed that his mother, Stealth, was murdered by L.E.G.I.O.N. troops. Dox was also contacted by Adam Strange, Captain Comet, and the dictator Kanjor-Ro, whose planet was conquered by Starro. While they united on the planet Vrool to discuss their next action, deceased heroes throughout the galaxy began arising from the dead as Black Lanterns in a bid to eliminate all emotion and life from the universe. Among those reanimated by Black Lantern rings was former L.E.G.I.O.N. officer Stealth, mother to Dox's child. Dox and his companions stumbled upon a battle between Sinestro Corpsmen and Black Lanterns, and following the death of a Sinestro Corpsmen, his ring immediately went to Dox, just in time for Stealth's arrival. At the same time, Lyrl Dox was captured by Starro, who joined with him and anointed him as one of his elite Vanguard. This made Lyrl loyal to Starro while also allowing him more free will than a typical victim.

Monday, September 13, 2021

Valor #18

Valor #18 (April 1994)
title: "DOA Aftermath The Vanishing"
writer: Mark Waid
penciller: Colleen Doran
inker: Mischa McDowell
letterer: Bob Pinaha
colorist: Dave Grafe
associate editor: Mike McAvennie
editor: KC Carlson
cover: Stuart Immonen & Dick Giordano (signed)

reviewers: Russell "Bilingual Boy" Burbage and Jason "Anachronistic Kid" Knol

Guest-Star(s):
The Legion of Super-Heroes (Brainiac 5, Dragonmage, Element Lad, Saturn Girl, Triad); Wave-Rider and the Time Linear Men 

Opponent(s):
Glorith

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

R.EB.E.L.S. #10

R.E.B.E.L.S. #10 (January 2010)
title: "The Son & Stars, Part One"
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 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 also travelled to Starhaven, home of the Anasazi Tribe of Earth, where he recruited the outcast native, Wildstar, and used technology to awaken the latent tracking talents of her people.  He then went to the planet Cairn to recruit former L.E.G.I.O.N. officer, Strata, and her companion, Bounder. 

At the same time, the Dominator homeworld came under attack by an invading army from another galaxy led by Starro the Conqueror. Dox's ship appeared to be under attack by a Durlan, Captain Ciji, but it turned out that she was there to appeal for his 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 abandon their posts and create a barrier in space around Maltus, the location of L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters. Dox then recovered his son, Lyrl, who claimed that his mother, Stealth, was murdered by L.E.G.I.O.N. troops. Dox is also contacted by Adam Strange, Captain Comet, and the dictator Kanjor-Ro, whose planet was conquered by Starro. They united on the planet Vrool to discuss their next action.

Monday, September 6, 2021

LEGION TOYS: Electric Blue Superman (DC Universe Classics)


Ready for the next century, Superman is reborn as an Electric Energy being with a containment suit designed by Prof. Emil Hamilton and Dr. Kitty Faulkner.  This reborn Electric Blue Superman would assist the Post-Zero Hour Legionnaires during their battle against C.O.M.P.U.T.O. in the late 20th Century.

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

R.E.B.E.L.S. #9

R.E.B.E.L.S. #9 (December 2009)
title: "Strange Companions"
writer: Tony Bedard
penciller: Claude St. Aubin
inker: Scott Hanna
colors: Jose Villarrubia 
letters: Sal Cipriano
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 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 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 went 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 Conqueror. Dox's ship was 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 abandon their posts and create a barrier in space. Dox contacted every major power in the galaxy for help to stop Starro's invading army but his overtures were rejected. He then recovers his son, Lyrl, who claims that his mother, Stealth, was murdered by L.E.G.I.O.N. troops. Meanwhile, the Psions recruit the Omega Men into their own plan to stop Starro.