From: Eivind Gladheim streng
<eivindgl@OSLONETT.NO>
Subject: REBELS #1
Hookay, first the art. I like it! What more can I say? No unnecessary clutter like that you will find in the pages of most of today's "hot" comics as drawn by equally "hot" artists. Thankfully, you will find none of that here, and instead you will find clean and clear art that will tell you the story without you having to spend the obligatory 15 minutes trying to guess what the next panels are presenting.
The name of the penciller; Delfin Barrel, is a
new one to me. Has he done anything before, or is this
his first "official" job?
(Delfin has done work for
Eternity, Heroic, and Alpha Productions as well as package
design for Remco Toys. However, we here at Warp like
to think of this as his real first official work. - RP)
Anyway, you can clearly see the source of his inspiration
in his work: Manga. In fact the whole issue looks
and reads like Americanized manga, and this is certainly
not a bad thing. And Bern Harkins tells an
exciting story that keeps you screaming for more! I can
hardly wait to learn more about these characters.
As for the story itself, it introduces us to the title characters: Cosmo, Scorch, Chandra, Shimmer and Rose. And of these the most intriguing one is Rose. She (it?) looks and talks like a Wolfrider-sized pre- server, and as she has the right amount of fingers, I'm guessing she really is one. But how did she get that big? Only time will tell, I suppose. Shimmer is the human-built android, who was altered (end given free will?) by the Neverending. Hmmm, curious, the Neverending appear to be more alien-looking here than in the pages of JINK. I wonder why? Different "races" within the Neverending? But back to Shimmer: he certainly appears to be Gestrelle's secret contact and Rose's guardian. And if Rose really is a preserver, then it's no wonder that she is in peril from Skyward, as she is the last known link to the Sojourners (or Elves as we call them).
Now for the 3 humans of the group: Cosmo, Scorch and Chandra. And I can't help but to notice the similarities among these three (and the way they meet) and the founders of a certain other futuristic superhero group: the Legion of Super-Heroes. And the similarities appear to be too great to be coincidental. Personalities and motivations appear to be identical: Cosmo is Rokk Krinn (Cosmic Boy), and I half expected them to call him "Cos" from the start. He is the serious one, the leader of the group. Chandra is Imra Ardeen (Saturn Girl), the one that is going to the homeworld to join the police academy. Will she turn out to have natural tweak abilities? The Zwoot comment on page 17 of the story could indicate so. (Great picture of a love-struck Zwoot by the way.) And Scorch, of course is Garth Ranzz (Lightning Lad), the impulsive one and the hothead. And that they all met on a spaceflight destined for the homeworld is just a coincidence, right?
The issue also gave some interesting hints as to what happened to the Elves. It looks as if Cutter and crew were successful: They got back the palace and then decided to leave the World of Two Moons, I'm betting there is more to the story than that, but we'll see... And the elves have certainly left their mark on Abode: Zwoots. I thought that was the elfin name for the creature, when did the humans start using it? One disturbing artifact turned up in Gestrelle's office: the Lodestone. As I believe that Skywise would never ever part with this, his treasured possession, I fear that a grisly fate is in store for our beloved "Little Wiseman". I do hope I'm wrong on this one. And what's with the Elfin eyes on the cover? The great mystery the Rebels will be called to solve wouldn't happen to be: What happened to the Elves, now would it? Hmmm? All in all the issue was an exciting read, and as I already have mentioned, I can hardly wait for the next issue (and that is a rare treat these days).
From: Elaine Jordan <jonaglir@aol.com
Subj: Rebels #1
Issue #1 of THE REBELS just got to my local comic book store, so I thought I'd send you some impressions even though I know I'm way behind everyone else. I had complaints (minor) and a lot of compliments.
Complaint #1: Cosmo's looks. To be perfectly honest, I almost didn't buy the issue because of what I saw on the cover: some guy whose hairdo and skintight yellow outfit make him look like the refugee from a bad sixties superhero comic. I know that Wendy first drew Cosmo back in the sixties, but does that make his hair and clothing sacrosanct? After all, the elves over in HIDDEN YEARS and SHARDS aren't still wearing bell-bottoms, and their womenfolk don't still stay home and wait for the men to do all the fighting. Can't you make Cosmo a little more up-to-date? It would sure make it easier to take him seriously as the leader of this group.
Complaint #2: Geoki's shield. On the wall in Gestrelle's study, we see hanging Geoki's shield, which is presumably made of leather. As an archaeologist, I am here to tell you that items such as leather, cloth, wood, etc., cannot survive for thousands (generally not even hundreds) of years without being in an anaerobic environment of some type. (I still say it's magic. - RP) I know, it's just a silly detail, but you can never just suppose that no one in your audience is going to be informed enough to notice. There's always someone who'll catch you out.
Now for the compliments, I enjoyed THE REBELS quite a bit. I love Shimmer--he's got a sort of cool beauty about him. And Scorch--delightful! Sort of a combination of a young Skywise and a young Pike. Chandra is great--really smart, really strong, with that sort of toughness you'd expect from someone raised in a hostile environment like she was. The story flowed smoothly, keeping all its mystery without confusing the reader. The aliens are wonderful--I love how they communicate by scent as well as sign-language.
And yet... in a way, it's all so heart-breaking. To see the familiar objects of those we've come to love, lost and abandoned for so long. Skywise's lodestone was particularly poignant, because we all know he'd never give it up for any reason short of death. Even if he felt he didn't need it anymore, he'd keep it for the memories. Sad and horrible, to see the World of Two Moons transformed into this built-up, spartan world of Abode. Was it inevitable? Most myths (and contemporary fantasies) seem to think so. The elder, beautiful race gives way before something mundane and crude. But I can't help but think, if Rayek hadn't stolen the palace and sent the Wolfriders into their long sleep, could they have won against the humans, back when the numbers of the humans were small enough to be coped with? If only they could have.
Questions, questions. And they all have answers too! Keep those cards, letters and elfin artifacts coming in, and we'll see you in 30! - RP