R.E.B.E.L.S.: The Coming of Starro [Paperback]

Tony Bedard (Author), Andy Clarke (Illustrator), Claude St. Aubin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Rebels | Publication Date: January 26, 2010

The legacy of the Legion of Super-Heroes lives on in this first collection of a new DC series. Brainiac 2, former member of the Legion, is now a hunted man. His cosmic police force safeguarded over 80 worlds until a mysterious adversary suddenly seized control. Now he must recruit a new team to win back his command and free countless billions. And this time, he's basing his new group on the greatest heroes and villains of the 31st Century! But can Brainiac assemble his team fast enough to stop Starro and his horde from conquering a universe?

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (January 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401225896
• ISBN-13: 978-1401225896
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #751,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Starro, January 26, 2010

By 

Jon Repesh (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: R.E.B.E.L.S.: The Coming of Starro (Paperback)

To long time aficionados, this singular name alone evokes wistful and wonderful reveries of one historic comic from yesteryear, which distinguished via its' iconic cover this unique opponent along with heralding the formation of the Justice League of America. Now return blissfully 50 years to the present as once again this formidable adversary with its' endless armada of mind controlling starfish is spawning universal unrest, though this time with a new player tilting the momentous scales and bereft of the commanding presence of the mighty JLA. Tony Bedard is masterfully crafting a compelling and comprehensive space saga that is remarkably rivaling the concurrent blockbuster smash Blackest Night itself. Not since Rann Thanagar War preceding Infinite Crisis have we witnessed such an amazing array of space races converging, confronting, and in this exceptional instance, conciliating their vast and vehement differences to unite against this fearsome foe who authentically has the capacity to overcome an entire galaxy, a rare antagonist indeed. Even in the fanciful world of superheroes, very few can plausibly be placed in that audacious role, therefore conveying a much welcomed level of credibility to the entire proceedings. Alas this volume is just the opening salvo in this epic conflagration with further intrigue to follow. What looms next on the celestial horizons time will tell, but for now Bedard has deftly laid the foundation for what could become a true cosmic classic.

4.0 out of 5 stars R.E.B.E.L.S.: The Coming of Starro, March 30, 2011

By 

T. S. Powell (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: R.E.B.E.L.S.: The Coming of Starro (Paperback)

R.E.B.E.L.S. was a series written in the 1990's about the anti-heroic genius Vril Dox, and his team of galactic peace keepers. Nearly a decade after the original series' conclusion, it was revived by DC. This book contains the first six issues of this new series, and is an excellent reintroduction of the team.

This volume returns to Dox at a time when his egocentric personality has resulted in him completely alienating his former comrades. When an invading alien army seizes control of the robotic police force he now commands, he is left alone and hunted. Forced to recruit allies to combat this threat, he begins to gather members of his former team, as well as some brand new faces. While his incredible intellect may give him an edge, he is hampered by the fact that nearly all of his new "allies" want to see him dead.

This book was very fun read. It does an excellent job of quickly recapping prior events and characters from the original 1990's series whenever necessary, allowing anybody to jump in without any previous knowledge of Dox's prior deeds. The dialogue was well written, and is often times witty and funny. As every member of the team comes from a variety of different worlds, each individual has a unique look and personality that really helps set each one apart from the others, and gives the team a really diverse feeling.

Bedard did an especially great job on the writing of Vril Dox himself. His extreme egotism and misanthropic attitude comes across perfectly. He is manipulative, rude, and quite clearly cares very little about anything aside from himself and his own reputation. It is entirely understandable why every other character hates his guts. Yet, at the same time, his intelligence, confidence, and status as the underdog makes it so you can't help but root for him. This is pretty much the perfect recipe for a great anti-hero.

Another highlight is the portrayal of the classic DC villain, Starro the Conqueror. The new interpretation of the character that debuts here is a great twist on what was formally a somewhat silly concept. Although he is expanded on in much greater detail in following volumes, his appearance in this first book still serves as a fine introduction.

If there is one fault, it is that events tend to move along at an incredibly high speed. As a result, the narrative has a tendency to quickly move from location to location, introducing new characters and factions at a rather rapid pace. This can be a little overwhelming for some, especially those who are new to comics in general.

All in all, the book was a fun space story, and a great start to the new series. It comes highly recommended to comic fans, especially those who feel like forgoing the usual super heroics for a more science fiction oriented adventure.

5.0 out of 5 stars Never read DC space stories or Legion stuff before..., December 8, 2010

By 

Andrew S. Michael - See all my reviews
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This review is from: R.E.B.E.L.S.: The Coming of Starro (Paperback)

I really loved this book. I went in knowing nothing about the characters or the legacy of the book, and now I am hooked.

The writing is great and full of surprises. You will quickly come to know and love this strange cast of characters. The art is exceptional, too.

This is a fun read, and a great introduction to characters and elements of the DC universe that you might be unfamiliar with. If you like DC comics, then you need to read this book to treat yourself to something really unorthodox and entertaining.