Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #2 Review

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Scott Hepburn
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 20, 2013

Playing Ping Pong With the Rogues

Even though it wasn't stellar, I liked Rogues Rebellion #1 well enough (see my review here if you are interested).  I thought the story had a decent setup and hoped it would start heating up with this issue. Unfortunately, Rogues Rebellion #2 doesn't really push the story forward and in fact is mainly a rehash of the Rogues bit in Forever Evil #3 (Reviewed by Eric here).

Rogues Rebellion #1 ended with Deathstorm and Power Ring confronting the Rogues about not joining the Crime Syndicate.  That's right where we start here and before much else can happen, Trickster's big mouth and Power Ring's nervousness start an all-out battle royale.  During the scrap, Deathstorm rearranges Captain Cold's DNA so that he is powerless. Mirror Master attempts to open an escape route for the gang, but Power Ring blasts it and everyone but Captain Cold ends up in Metropolis where they are attacked by...the Archer and then Parasite.  They fight a bit and then escape to Gotham where they are greeted by a popular Bat Villain which sets up next issue.

I really like Brian Buccellato and the Rougues as thieves with honor.  I am not enjoying what I'm getting with this book.  The Rogues are just bouncing around between Villains with no real story happening.  It's just fight, jump into the Mirror World, rinse and repeat.  There hasn't been anything to move the story forward and the best bits were already in Forever Evil #3.  I'd like to say that the move to Gotham will be interesting, but after two issues of not much happening, who knows.

The art is another downer for me.  Scott Hepburn did half of last issue and to me it was the weaker half in the art department.  This issue he gets full reign so at least there is no jarring art change, there is, however, art that doesn't fit the tone of the book.  Hepburn's cartoony, animated TV style just doesn't fit the gritty nature of what's happening in the DC Forever Evil Universe right now.  I get that the Rogues are not deadly serious Villains, but this style just seems silly and out of place.

Bits and Pieces:

Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #2 was a disappointing read to me.  The Rogues are just thrown around between Villains and the best parts were already in Forever Evil #3.  The story is progressing at a snails pace and the art style doesn't fit the tone of the book.  I hope the story picks up soon or I'm out.

4.5/10