Rebels, Volume 1: A Well-Regulated Militia

Rebels #1

by Brian Wood, Andrea Mutti (Illustrator), Matthew Woodson (Illustrator)

This is 1775. With the War for Independence playing out across the colonies, young Seth and Mercy Abbott find their new marriage tested at every turn as the demands of the frontlines and the home front collide. Not merely rehashing the tales of the most famous men of the time, Rebels details the epic story of the colonists, explorers and traders, wives and daughters, farmers and volunteer soldiers who, in a few short, turbulent years, created the brand-new nation of America.
With the American Revolution in the national zeitgeist, creators Brian Wood ("The Massive, DMZ, Northlanders") and Andrea Mutti ("The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Avengers") deliver a gripping piece of historical fiction with Rebels.
Praise for the series: Thrilling . A comic with heart. --"COMIC BEAT"
Rebels is a great & beautiful book! Read issue 1 & can't wait for the next one! "Matt Kindt, MIND MGMT"
A fresh take on a familiar historical era. -- "LOS ANGELES TIMES/ HERO COMPLEX"
The New World comes to life in a way you ve never see in it before. A comic. --"MAN CAVE DAILY"
Like nothing you read in your school textbooks. --"NEWSARAMA"
Rebels is a rare treat in the world of comic books today . The book offers a great start to a more intimate story of our country s founding, and is something that speaks a lot of truths about the state of our nation then and now. --"THE NERDIST"
In Rebels, Wood focuses on the politics behind the war and the roiling discontent of the British colonists that eventually boiled over into eight years of bloody conflict . [Wood and c-creator Mutti] have produced a historical drama that s straightforward and easy to follow, but that doesn t shy away from exploring stickier issues like class divides, the role of women in the colonies, and the complex distinction between friend and foe. -"-VULTURE"
Poignant and so incredibly powerful. --"POPMATTERS"
One of Wood's biggest strengths is creating rich, believable characters with clear voices and "Rebels" is no different . Andrea Mutti delivers fast-paced action and panels full of emoting, active characters with spot-on design work Though it's set against the backdrop of the American Revolution, Wood and Mutti's "Rebels" is about basic human rights and the freedom to grow into a person or a country on one's own time. --"COMIC BOOK RESOURCES"
An epic historical fiction that embodies the spirit of the American revolution like no other comic, has before. Wood has a proven track record for telling pulse pounding emotional stories. --"BLOODY DISGUSTING"
You'll definitely want to check out [Wood s] latest creator-owned series. Rebels focuses on the many sides of the Revolutionary War conflict. [and] given Wood's track record with historical and politically-charged comics, we're expecting another winner. --"IGN"
The art really steals the show in Rebels. Andrea Mutti s attention to detail and character design perfectly captured the 1770 s and the colonies. He was able to display his diverse talent by drawing serene forests of New Hampshire to the intense scenes of violence in the courthouse. Jordie Bellaire s colors are, naturally, beautiful and push the art to a different level. -"COMICOSITY"
Fascinating. -"COMICVINE"
Rebels #1 is a historical comic telling a story much different than what most publishers are producing. It is an exciting look back at a different time and an overlooked chapter in the American Revolution. History buffs will enjoy the story with its references to the overall big picture of the revolution. But the humanity of Seth Abbott and his family and friends give the story significance in how it affects everyday life. --"EXAMINER"
The detailed and historically accurate artwork of Andrea Mutti (with the reliably rich coloring work from Jordie Bellaire) that really brings this to life. --"MENTAL FLOSS"
Captivating. --"UNLEASH THE FANBOY"
Excellent. -"FLICKERING MYTH"
Andrea Mutti does a fantastic job of showcasing how bristly, dirty and violent fighting for freedom can be. -"BLOODY DISGUSTING "
Very highly recommended. -"Si Spurrier"
Brian Wood may be the best history teacher you never had. --"PASTE MAGAZINE"
Absolutely entertaining, and thought-provoking. In today s world where we're still debating liberty and tyranny, Rebels is yet another timely relevant comic, much like . Demo, Channel Zero, Mara, The New York Four, DMZ, and more. --"GRAPHIC POLICY "
"A welcome breath of fresh air. Rebels #1 is that rare comic book that makes historical fiction come alive. --"FREAK SUGAR"
Engrossing, enlightening and entertaining. --TECH TIMES
I m looking forward to it. --FANBOY COMICS
A masterful recreation of America in the 18th century. Mutti has beautifully constructed historical Vermont with verdant forests, large farms, and serene towns that capture the ruralness of American culture at the time. His careful attention to clothing ...

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, War, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Historical

262 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2015

About the author

Brian Wood's history of published work includes over fifty volumes of genre-spanning original material.

From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.

His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.

He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.

Reviews

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

2025: Hard not to re-read the female empowerment stories in a different light considering Wood's sexual harassment stuff. The main story is still quite good, a story of a soldier fighting for America's freedom over England. He spends 6 years away from home and misses his son's childhood. I think the story is a bit too epic in scope and would have been stronger if it focused on the main story. Mutti provides some really fantastic artwork, and the covers by Tula Lotay are incredible.

2017:
This is possibly the best thing Brian Wood has ever done. A must-read for his fans!
A spiritual successor to Northlanders. This is some fine historical fiction about the segregation of the American colonies from England. I don't know much about the historical events but reading this was fun and, I think, enlightening. The art work is also very well done. I really felt like I was in the physical environments - an advantage comics has over the history textbooks.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically Northlanders for the Revolutionary War, Rebels is an anthology series set during the time of our founding fathers. The best story in the bunch is a one off featuring Sarah Hull, a camp follower who steps up in an emergency. The story featuring Seth Abbott is quite good. However there are some pages with no dialogue where the art is supposed to tell the story. I felt like I was missing something on these pages as Wood seemed to put emphasis on these story elements. The only story that didn't work for me was the one dedicated to the Redcoat.

Received an advance copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[L. McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

America... read this comic.

What’s it about?
Rebels: A Well Regulated Militia is a collection of historic (mostly) fiction stories from all kinds of perspectives taking place during the American Revolutionary War.

Why it gets 5 stars:
All the various stories are very interesting and well written.
The narrative is fantastic.
The artwork is absolutely amazing. These stories are already amazing but the art I would dare say even doubles the quality. It’s 100% amazing.
Despite many of these stories being short, the characters are still very interesting and well written.
This book has some action scenes and they are fantastic. They’re also another reason why the comic format is perfect for this book.
This book is unpredictable.
I’m not sure if many of you noticed but a lot of books (and entertainment in general) if it’s about America it’s talking shit about America. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sitting here saying “there’s just too many dadgum SJW libtard comics these days” or anything like that but there is a depressing lack of modern comics that celebrate America as the great country that it is so I think more people should read this. It’s a great patriotic comic that I think you’d enjoy no matter what your political view is.

Overall:
This is a truly patriotic masterpiece that America needs. It’s a fantastic collection of stories with amazing art, interesting stories and great action. This is one of the best books I’ve read all year.

5/5

[Diz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume contains several stories featuring the lives of regular soldiers and citizens during the American Revolutionary War. I enjoyed this because the author attempted to show a wide variety of perspectives on the conflict, including the perspectives of women, African-Americans and Native Americans.

[Ryan Silberstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

More like this please! I love when Brian Wood takes on historical fiction, and my love of colonial American history makes me the perfect mark for this book.

It's not so much that there is a ton of nuance so much as Wood and his artists use the backdrop to tell great historical fiction that is more about choice than it is about good and evil.

Great characters and excellent artwork.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A historical epic of America’s founding” is very accurate in describing this exceptionally good graphic novel with its window into the Revolutionary War era based in the NE corner of our new nation in the late 1700s.

Divided into six chapters, author Brian Wood first gives us a lengthy portrait of the fictional character Seth Abbott and his journey from farm boy to one of the well-respected leaders of the Green Mountain Boys. Then we are given shorter vignettes of other loyalists and patriots and their contribution to the war.

A Well-Regulated Militia

We first meet Seth in 1768 as a boy with a gruff father in the New Hampshire (later to become Vermont) wilderness, eking out a homestead. English soldiers in the region are hated by the settlers, who are there under the New Hampshire grants. Skipping ahead to 1775, seventeen-year-old Seth marries teenage Mercy after her father is forced off his land by the redcoats. The young couple establish their own household, but local Ethan Allen easily convinces him to join his militia regiment. At first fighting for their region’s independence, he then is willing to fight for the entire colonies’ independence. He ends up being away from his wife for seven years, and while certainly in danger during battles, Seth views his time with the militia as a grand adventure with his best friend Ezekiel, a fellow soldier. In 1783 Seth finally comes home to Mercy discovering a son, as he had been unaware his wife was pregnant when he left.

This narrative was a fascinating look into an average farmer’s life and the threats they faced from the British and the local Loyalists. The battles that Seth participated in and the living conditions of the soldiers were shown in detail, and you could feel the backbreaking labor and fear they lived with. It also showed a nuanced view of the women left behind, as Mercy suffered just as much while being forced to fend for herself in an unforgiving wilderness.

Goodwife, Follower, Patriot, Republican

Ever heard of the iconic folklore story of Molly Pitcher who stepped into battle to keep the canon shooting when her husband was shot? This story focuses on the fictional Sarah Hull who in 1777 was the Battle of Saratoga’s “Molly Pitcher”. In later years her dying husband makes a plea for the government to give her a soldier’s pension for the work she contributed. How her effort is disregarded by the representatives ties in with how women of today are also treated with indifference for their invaluable input.

Liberty’s Daughter

Silence Bright, a young woman of mixed race, is caught printing and distributing leaflets in Boston that criticize the British in 1768. Thrown into Newgate Prison she is unbowed and the awesome quotes that I shall take to heart- “beware the bookish woman” and “hold fast” are used as she defiantly refuses to submit.

Occupation

In 1775 we are given a brief glimpse of Seth Abbott again in NYC as he holed up in an attic with free black Clayton Freeman. Seth can not understand why Clayton is a Loyalist, and fighting for a corrupt regime for he tries to convince Clayton that he should be fighting for the freedom of the colonies. What he doesn’t understand is that “freedom” will not come for all, and that many blacks made the hard choice of fighting for the Crown that promised them freedom and passage away from the colonies. This vignette made me think of our current president, especially with the quote “…how were the lies of King George (Trump) at all appealing? Was there something we were missing?”

Stone Hoof

A young Shawnee brave, Stone Hoof, helps soldiers build Fort Stalwart in the Ohio River Valley in 1750 and befriends Will Henderson. As his tribe were migrants, he was in and out of the region over the years until 1757 when his tribe attacked the fort, as they had aligned with the French who were fighting the British for this territory. As both he and Henderson survive the battle, they meet for one last time, and each tries to understand why the other believes what they do.

Bloody Backs

In 1769 a young man in London was given a choice- go to prison or head to the colonies as a British soldier. He clings to his idealism and loyalty to the Crown as he miserably slogs through battle after battle. He meets an ignoble end by a Green Mountain Boy at the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780, never having achieved a rank higher than a lowly private, and for what- glory?

The artwork throughout all the stories is superb. Several artists contributed to the six stories, and all convey an authentic feel to this era and region. The grittiness of wilderness living and the gore of war are shown in a realistic manner, with coloring that is evocative and helps convey the story even more effectively. I want to give a special shout-out to artist Tula Lotay, who created each chapter’s cover art. Each page she creates is a beautiful homage to the coming story. In addition, the extras at the end give some insight into the making of the book with some great essays by the author and some of the artists.

With this book, plus his outstanding Briggs Land, Wood has vaulted onto the list of my top ten favorite authors of graphic novels! I will absolutely be checking out Wood’s Viking saga Northlanders and will pick up all future work in this series.

This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2018/03/3...

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really impressive. I enjoy both Revolutionary War and Civil War comics, and there really isn't a huge amount of such material out there so it's always great when some turns up. It's even better when the quality is as high as this one.

We start out with a fairly lengthy tale of the Green Mountain Boys and then we have several shorter stories dealing with issues we don't often think about in terms of the war for independence. Such as how women did their part and were still shortchanged. And also, what about the slaves? Why would they care if the colonies were independent from England? They would still be slaves, right?

Overall the art and storytelling in this volume is tremendous. If you have interest in Revolutionary War material you should pick this up, especially if you enjoy graphic novels. This isn't the same thing we've heard about over and over, this looks at things from a different perspective and highlights some of the smaller stories. Good stuff.

[Don Witzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to see concepts like this in comics. If your a historical fan this is a great read. I would have liked more or more in-depth on laws,and government policies on both ends. There are 4 single story (issues) arcs witch are fantastic.

[Ming Wei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story with the American War of Independence against the red coats, great graphics, some pictures there are few words, but you do not need them, the art work explains all, this was the first book in the series that I read it was so good that I collected them all.

[The Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six chapters, each telling a different viewpoint of the Americans Revolution in the northern states. The southern states are mentioned but only briefly.

An interesting take on the mentality of the civilian soldiers fighting for freedom, the women doing what was necessary, the under represented freemen and slaves, and the British who were just doing their jobs.

I’ve rarely seen stories about the northern half of the Revolution. Because of where I live, I’ve heard almost every story about the Southern Campaign so this was an interesting an enjoyable read.

[Paul Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume collects a series of comic stories about the American War of Independence. The idea of a comic series on the War of Independence fascinates me as someone who loves to read history; and the beautiful artwork for the cover sealed it for me that this worth picking up. While one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover nevertheless in this instance the artwork with the cover was a taste of things to come.

There are six chapters to this historical fiction. All six stories were written by Brian Wood though the artwork were by different illustrators. I was surprised at the level of continuity with the artwork and I wouldn’t have noticed there were different artists for each chapters if it wasn’t for it being stated in the beginning of the book.

Chapter one is the longest in the book and is titled “A Well-Regulated Militia” and tells the story of Seth Abbot who would later go on to be one of the Green Mountain Boys. I was surprised at the incredible amount of details in chapter one on the Green Mountain boys from the character Ethan Allen, who was the actual leader of the Green Mountain Boys, to the geographical details of the land, such as references to Lake Champlain and Hudson River.

In addition, this chapter also referenced actual battles and historical events that took place and even described rightly how Vermont at the time was not called Vermont but the New Hampshire Grants. The development of the characters and the feature of rugged independent mountain men were really well done both in terms of the artwork and the dialogues.

Both in the beginning of the book and the end the author Brian Wood tells us that his childhood upbringing in the state of Vermont heavily influenced him in telling this story. I did felt though that the story towards the end of the chapter was somewhat abrupt as you see a lot of effort in the beginning with the details leading up to the war, but then towards the end Seth Abbot comes back after eight years with the war and there were a lot of years and fights unaccounted for that makes readers yearn for more.

I thought chapter two would pick up where chapter one left off but it turned out the other chapters were somewhat stand-alone stories independent from the first chapter. Chapter two was titled “Goodwife, Follower, Patriot, Republican” and it looked at Sarah Hull who was one of the wife of Patriot Army Captain Samuel Hull. I thought the author did a good job of capturing another dimension of the war in terms of the women who followed the army and helped running the camps. In the story Sarah Hull did more than just served as a “Molly Pitcher,” she helped with the artillery that her husband led after her husband was wounded. But it was more than just a “combat” story as we see what her effort meant decades later with the direction of the story being about a young nation struggling to take care of those who supported the cause for independence. I love the tension and the two opposing poles of the Army officers trying to be grateful, yet having to try to explain the reality of a limited government and its ability to provide financial assistance to a widowed Sarah Hull.

Chapter three looks at the early resistance to the British in Boston while chapter four challenges readers with the question and tension of the problem with slavery in a war that was supposed to be much about freedom from oppression. This was a chapter that was too brief in my opinion, being just only nine pages. Chapter five also has the Native American dimension though it was not the War of Independence but the previous French-Indian War. Chapter six looks tells the story of a young private who was a British Red Coat and gives readers a feel for what a possible participant must have thought and felt during the war.

Again the artwork and the colours were something I immensely enjoyed along with the historical details. I love how the work gives us more than one perspective (Native American, African American and women). Brian Wood in the book admits that he is politically left-leaning but he also made it clear that he describes himself as a patriot, though for some that raises eyebrows. I think he did a good job of having this work be “patriotic” yet while being mature about it in the sense that it isn’t blind nationalism, nor is this a partisan hit piece. I think he told his stories in a way that does have mass appeal. It was a pleasure to read this and I’m actually looking forward to reading volume two.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the bulk of the series is the story of Seth, I have to give the writers credit for focusing on the cost to women as well as the women who fought in the War but were ignored afterward. I really did also enjoy the inclusion of Jane Franklin. Two of the stories focus on people of color and their reactions to the War.

[Rumi Bossche · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Rebels is Brian Woods newest series, its about the beginning of America, and the war with England. The first story was great. About the beginning of the green coat militia. The second part of this trade where more short stories and also enjoyable. The colors are a huge standout. Recommended for the history buffs.

[Alex Marriott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nah

[Suzanna Codd · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay, although at times it was very hard to follow and the storyline seemed to stray :|

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Rebels is an interesting mix of history and fiction; the illustrations are excellent and the storytelling crisp. The perspective is very much the author's home area in Vermont; the first 6 chapters follow a young man from the area who is drafted into the rebellion through Ethan Allen. The last 4 chapters are single stories from various perspectives: a redcoat, an Indian, and two women. Yes, this is very jingoistic; the author makes no bones about it. But this is also grounded and a great way to explore the history of the time.

The illustrations are well done though I admittedly had a hard time following the story at several points. But the look and feel of the era are well written and drawn. All the characters can be classified as simple decent folk; the hardships they leave behind in order to join the war are given as much time as the battles themselves.

The latter stories do feel a bit rushed - they are meant to be vignettes and so can feel far less personal than the earlier story of Seth Abbott. Certainly, Seth Abbott was modeled on the author's father and therefore there is a lot of nuance to him as well as the rest of the Green Mountain Boys.

The book includes extras - author perspectives, covers, illustration notes, and the process to create the graphic novel. I would have loved more information about the history than what was given but do appreciate the extras all the same.

In all, a beautifully presented and subtle perspective on the American Revolution. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Jeff Lanter · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I generally prefer World History to US, I do find the Revolutionary War to be pretty interesting and so the premise of Rebels is definitely appealing. However, I find this book is missing something to truly grab me and make me want to read it long term. I think the biggest issue is that the characters are somewhat hard to connect with and feel distant to the reader. Many are stern or we only get a limited glimpse into their lives. There are also some narration bubbles where things get a bit heavy handed as well. The author more or less tells us an interesting historical fact occasionally through the narration or a character's thoughts when it would have been better to show. There are definitely interesting ideas at work here and some of the single issue stories later in the first volume cover women and Native American's complicated roles very well. The best part of Rebels is definitely the art which is generally really good and fits the book well. The coloring with the Redcoats is also excellent. I don't know if I would read any more of Rebels but I could see it getting better with time and it is certainly a solid book even if it didn't quite click with me.

[Amy! · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably 3.5 stars. I liked the covers a lot better than I liked the illustrations themselves, which I found to be very scratchy looking and a little hard to decipher at times. The story, overall, was really good. I liked the focus on Seth Abbott; he was an interesting, not super well known character. I also like that Wood included other stories as well, including one about one of the Continental Army's Molly Pitchers and half a story about a female printer named Silence Bright (who a quick google couldn't find any additional information on, which is too bad because she was the person in whom I was most interested in this book).

I don't know if this is a continuing series, but I would be willing to read further volumes of it.

[Kelly K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting take on the Revolutionary War. I really enjoyed how we had many different perspectives; a life-long soldier, his wife, the unfairness of how women were treated even when they were fighting with the men during a battle, a growing Native American. This graphic novel was very creative and well done.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great stories from around the Revolutionary War. There should be more focus on the Green Mountain Boys! I liked the shorts that pull away from the main plot as well, and follow other characters for a chapter.

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Northlanders's vein and in a good way.
Wood's rendition of America's War of Independence from the people's point of view is engrossing and engaging.

[Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical graphic fiction.

[Sardonyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Recently had a night-long power outage for an evening while up north at a cottage and kept reflecting on this book and what it must have been like to have been there.

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume collects a series of graphic novel stories about the American War of Independence. The idea of a comic series on the War of Independence fascinates me as someone who loves to read history; and the beautiful artwork for the cover sealed it for me that this worth picking up. While one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover nevertheless in this instance the artwork with the cover was a tastes of things to come.


There are six chapters to this historical fiction. All six stories were written by Brian Wood though the artwork were by different illustrators. I was surprised at the level of continuity with the artwork and I wouldn’t have noticed there were different artists for each chapters if it wasn’t for it being stated in the beginning of the book. Chapter one is the longest in the book and is titled “A Well-Regulated Militia” and tells the story of Seth Abbot who would later go on to be one of the Green Mountain Boys. I was surprised at the incredible amount of details in chapter one on the Green Mountain boys from the character Ethan Allen that was the actual leader of the Green Mountain Boys to the geographical details of the land such as references to Lake Champlain and Hudson River. In addition this chapter also referenced actual battles and historical events that took place and even described rightly of how Vermont at the time was not called Vermont but the New Hampshire Grants. The development of the characters and the feature of rugged independent mountain men were really well done both in terms of the artwork and the dialogues. Both in the beginning of the book and the end the author Brian Wood tells us that his childhood upbringing in the state of Vermont heavily influenced him in telling this story. I did felt though that the story towards the end of the chapter was somewhat abrupt as you see a lot of effort in the beginning with the details leading up to the war but then towards the end Seth Abbot comes back after eight years with the war and there were a lot of years and fights unaccounted for that would make readers yearning for more. I thought chapter two would pick up where chapter one left off but it turned out the other chapters were somewhat stand-alone stories independent from the first chapter. Chapter two was titled “Goodwife, Follower, Patriot, Republican” and it looked at Sarah Hull who was one of the wife of Patriot Army Captain Samuel Hull. I thought the author did a good job of capturing another dimension of the war in terms of the women who followed the army and help the camp running. In the story Sarah Hull did more than just served as a “Molly Pitcher,” she helped with the artillery that her husband led after her husband was wounded. But it was more than just a “combat” story as we see what her effort meant decades later with the direction of the story being about a young nation struggling to take care of those who supported the cause for independence. I love the tension and the two opposing poles of the Army officers trying to be grateful yet having to try to explain the reality of a limited government and finance to a widowed Sarah Hull. Chapter three looks at the early resistance to the British in Boston while chapter four challenges readers with the question and tension of the problem with slavery in a war that was supposed to be much about freedom from oppression. This was a chapter that was too brief in my opinion, being just only nine pages. Chapter five also has the Native American dimension though it was not the War of Independence but the previous French-Indian War. Chapter six looks tells the story of a young private who was a British Red Coat and gives readers a feel for what a possible participant must have thought and felt during the war.

Again the artwork and the colors was something I immensely enjoyed along with the historical details. I love how the work gives us more than one perspective (Native American, African American and women). Brian Wood in the book admits that he is politically left-leaning but he also made it clear that he describes himself as a patriot though for some that raises eyebrows. I think he did a good job of having this work be “patriotic” yet while being mature about it in the sense that it isn’t blind nationalism nor is this a partisan hit piece. I think he told his stories in a way that does have mass appeal. It was a pleasure to read this and I’m actually looking forward to volume two when it comes out.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Rebels: A Well Armed Militia" is a 10-issue anthology series focusing on the soldiers, wives, and volunteers rather than retelling the well known stories of America's Founding Fathers.

A good portion of the series focuses on Seth Abbott, a Vermont farmer and settler who leaves Mercy, his pregnant wife, at home to fight for freedom. The fight takes him across the country all the while Mercy raises their son alone and fights for their own survival. For 7 long years. It is a powerful story showing what the colonists gave up to fight for a new country.

The story that resonated with me the most is the story of Sarah Hull. Sarah followed a regiment of soldiers helping out with providing soldiers with water, cooking, washing clothes, and helping take care of the injured. When Sarah's husband is injured during a battle, she take up his position at his canon. She continues the battle and helps push the British away even after being injured herself. While she fought for her new country, the newly formed American government refuses to issue her a full military pension, and she instead recieves a half pension - only because she was a woman.

The book is full of fantastic and thought provoking stories that show that our country fought for a democracy and rights for all - but we as a country today are still fighting those same battles for equality. This book doesn't hide that while our founders had great intentions, they still committed atrocities: We lied, stole, and massacred the Native Americans; built our country on the back of slave labor; women who helped shaped our country were still considered an afterthought to men; illiterate men in frontier land we're considered second class to educated city men. I do believe I live in the greatest country in the world, but I am not blind that our country still needs to do a lot to be what our founders promised. Our country is close to 250 years old and we are still fighting for life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness in this country. It has been a long battle that we must continue to fight and never forget.

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's beautiful to see the tactics of battle from the perspective of a lowly soldier. They are destructive, brutal and certainly not found in regular history books. By the time of the American revolution the British Empire is still as strong as ever. Facing them head on is not an option or the less organized colonists. New tactics must be created for this as-yet-indomitable enemy. The main focus is on how the war affected the veterans who fought and survived it. The last few stories are independent one-shots featuring men and women from both sides who participated in their own way to the war.

It is a time of unrest in the English colonies of the New World. The rebels are rising up against their English oppressors. The English are mobilizing their armies to quell the unrest, prompting the colonists to organize a proper military in response. Seth Abbott is one of the men who join the Green Mountain Boys, the first American militia, though his time away from home is affecting his wife Mercy. They love each other, but Seth decides that the war is more important for now.

The militia engages in guerilla warfare, taking on dangerous missions to disrupt enemy plans. The skill of the Green Mountain Boys proves useful to the Continental Army Their unorthodox tactics and knowledge of the land is invaluable. George Washington himself gives the Green Mountain Boys a mission of vital importance - to protect a set of cannons in the middle of a harsh winter on their way to break the siege of Boston. Seth lives to see the end of the war when he is branded a hero for his dedication to the cause.

Seth returns home to find that he has a six-year-old son he never knew about. The boy is too young to bear a grudge for a man he just met, but Mercy is far more severe after all the hardships she's had to face alone for seven years. Seth is accepted back, but he must work long and hard to become the husband and father his family needed him to be while he was away.

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

AKA American Northlanders. Maybe it's just because I've been reading Wood's other historical series recently, but this very much feels of a kind to that - examining a time and place in history with a conscious effort to shake off the idealism and jingoism and get at the heart of what these people were actually doing. This isn't a glamorous Hollywood retelling - there's dirt and grime and lots of toil that take more of the pages that battles do, just like it did in the characters' lives. The art does a great job of reflecting that approach too, although it might get itself a bit too muddy sometimes. The main story, of Seth Abbott and his wife Mercy paints life for both of them with a realistic brush, and doesn't succumb to happy endings just for the sake of story (although the ending is poignant). The short stories that are included are also interesting for their different points of view, from freed slaves working for the Loyalists, to a Shawnee involved in the French Indian War, to a Molly Pitcher woman entering the fray. These briefer glimpses were equally interesting, and the back matter, especially Wood's exploration of patriotism and its connotations Post 9/11.
All told, this is a strong volume that tells stories that are familiar, but gives them a depth and detail that gets lost much of the time. Wood has done a service in capturing a slice of this life, and I would recommend this to anyone with interest in the Revolutionary War period.

[Václav · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm no history buff in means of America's history. I have a basic frame on things, but not many details. So that's maybe the reason I can't appreciate the first (and the longest ) story from this book, Well-Regulated Militia, about Seth Abbot, a shitty husband and father (for not being around much since marriage and then for almost seven years entirely), but excellent "hired gun". The story about him and Green Mountain Boys, the Vermont militia, was dull, long and boring to me. Except for the idea that some people linger rather to adventure than to family, finding excuses to go for the next one, there was much more for me. The whole book is like a collection of folk tales from forming the United States and the war for independence. Wood meant it to be this way. The only shame is that I really struggled with the longest story in it. But I enjoyed the rest. "Goodwife, Follower, Patriot, Republican" and "Stone Hoof" were especially good ones. the art is nice, depicts the topic well (as for Mutti, who did most of this comics or for example Woodson who did the first story of the rest I mentioned before). Overall I enjoyed the take on States' early history, the bushcraft, characters and I felt like Wood really got the genius loci of those times.

[Michael Farris · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who consumes a great deal of revolutionary war themed media and history, this comic is sure to please.

The core story of Seth Abbott is well told and provides a unique perspective on the Revolutionary War. Rebels does a great job of showing the variety of normal people in the war and the emotional and personal toll it had on each of them.

My only frustration is with the order of issues. The last 4 chapters are presented in vignettes and seem out of place or oder when compared to the Abbott storyline. As standalone chapters, they are captivating, but it would have been stronger to the Abbott storyline and holistic timeline of the comic to mix in the vignettes. I felt that the stronger ending was the final page for Abbott and his family, which was halfway through the volume. I couldn't help but feel a bit disconnected from the overall message of the comic after spending 50% of the volume dedicated to one storyline to have the last 50% spread across a variety of unconnected characters.

For comic fans, the visuals are stunning throughout. It's well worth the read alone for the illustrations.

Definitely a strong collection and I cant wait to read Volume 2.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

As a history buff, I thought I would give this a try and have to say I enjoyed it.

The first part of the book tells the story of Seth Abbott, who is a simple frontiersman who volunteers with the Vermont Green Mountain Boys. The second half gets into less known stories of the Revolutionary War, specifically the contributions of women to the cause, early conflicts with Native Americans, and the use of people who were good can the option of fighting for the British or be put into prison.

The writing was good, and I really enjoyed Andrea Mutti’s art.

I will definitely be checking out the next volume.