Let’s put it this way: If you want to be a successful cosmic comic then you’re going to have a huge mountain to climb. On one side you have the Green Lantern comics with Blackest Night; on the other you have Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy. All four (technically 5 with BN) are dominating the market and all titles have brought back the importance of a cosmic comic. Now there is a new kid on the block with REBELS; a small time DC title with nothing to lose but could end up coming out huge.

I have to say that: I have no idea who any of these characters are, nor do I fathom how to catch up on the reading history. I don’t care though; cause Tony Bedard makes this an enjoyable read without the sludge of knowing everything about these characters. Virl Dox is an asshole and that’s all you need to know. The cast of supporting characters are also interesting and insanely bizarre. It’s like Patrick Gleason designs but 100x freakier. My favorite two being the bounty hunter forced into joining Dox’s ranks and the energy ball that has to be translated. Unique stuff there, and I love the lettering to show how different they really are. Plus let’s also state how Bedard totally remade Starro and made him more of a menacing villain. It takes a lot of guts to change an entire villain’s look and identity after 40+ but here Bedard should be commended for making it work.

Never read a comic with Andy Clarke and Scott Hanna as artist before. Now I want to see more of them in the comics I read weekly. They are just so good at putting so much detail into each panel. Again it’s like Patrick Gleason, in that there is bizarre goings on and action in everything you see. Aliens are unique and freaky as hell to look at. The action is fast paced and well laid out. Even if it is two different artists, the inkers and colorists make the transition so less jarring. I’m glad to know that both artists are still on this title even over a year of this title existing.

Speaking of existing, this title has been around for thirteen issues and an annual….and that’s a rare thing. DC has let this title go from being an unknown starter to be one of the more highly favorable series the company has to offer. Other then Suicide Squad and Power Girl, I can’t think of another title the company provides that the fans just truly love. I can say that this title has claimed another ‘victim’ as I absolutely love what I read with this. It still has a long way to go to conquer the mountain that GL/GLC/Nova/GotG has claimed. But it doesn’t have too. This title can strive on being one of the better ‘B’ titles a major company has to offer.