As I said about the earlier issues, I enjoy this book the same way I enjoy a good low-key BBC science fiction show. There are superheroic brawls and action in outer spacer, but what's actually more interesting is the political intrigue afoot between all these alien races and organizations. Vril Dox really comes out like the hero of this book, and he didn't have to throw a punch. I'm glad to see the tensions from the Rann/Thanagar War still linger in Adam Strange's mistrust of the Warbirds, as well as the complexities regarding the GL Corps antagonism with REBELS and the intrusiveness that their enforcement of Oan law has on Starfire's people. I have no idea where Lyrl Dox comes from - - I'm still not quite clear on how Vril Dox can be the "son" of Brainiac either - - but I'm intrigued to see what he's going to do with this mysterious Solaris -like character, Stargrave.
The Bad
The art runs a little too under-detailed in parts and the coloring has to fill in a lot of detail with patterns that I feel ought to have actually been in the actual line-work. This runs from starfields to tree leaves to clouds in the sky. And I don't know... sometimes the characters looked a little stiff.
The Verdict - 3.5/5
If Bedard's bringing this kind of intrigue to his run on Green Lantern Corps, one of my favorite titles, then I know the comic's in good hands. I'd definitely recommend this title to anybody versed in DC's cosmology who'd like to see a more serious take on the concepts with a harder SF spin. I do wish the look was a little flashier but, like I said, the appeal here is the plotting.
