Inglorious Rex Overview
Heavy is the Crown!
This overview covers the first two volumes of Inglorious Rex and the supplemental stories Mission Control and Annatomic: Connection.
Inglorious Rex is one of 9 Lives Comics’ flagship series. The story centers on Alex Stone, a young fighter living in the futuristic Arc-City. While traditional man-to-man fights are still common, the most popular sport is Rex Fighting, where lab-grown monsters are cloned from a fighter’s DNA and controlled via neural suits that link them to their human hosts. These battles are organized by Lil’ T, who also rules over the entire city.
Shane Davis and Yanzi Lin, the husband-and-wife team behind 9 Lives Comics, are not only the owners and operators but also the writers of the series. The story is mostly solid, with a fair amount of worldbuilding that feels coherent and well-integrated. The plot follows Alex Stone as he takes up the mantle of his deceased brother, becoming the first fighter to successfully control someone else’s Rex. Inglorious Rex blends coming-of-age themes, apocalyptic sci-fi, and wrestling into a consistent and engaging narrative.
The two supplemental stories are illustrated by Antonio Mastria and Shelby Robertson, with colors by Jason Wright and lettering by Eric Weathers. These stories are simple yet effective, offering additional worldbuilding and character development. Mission Control sets up a plotline that carries into Volume 2 and provides insight into the Viile—the monstrous horde that has driven humanity into the shelter of Arc-City. Annatomic: Connection explores the origin of Annatomic, Alex Stone’s girlfriend and eventual rival. Both stories maintain consistency with the main series in both art and tone.
The main storyline is penciled by Shane Davis and inked by Yanzi Lin, with colors by Jason Wright and lettering by Eric Weathers. The art evokes a classic comic book style, with each page displaying a strong sense of design and competence. While there are few grandiose moments, the epic spreads are reserved for the story’s climactic beats. The lettering enhances the overall style and helps immerse the reader, though the stylized dialogue for Lil’ T can be distracting. His exaggerated accent feels out of place in the world’s tone and setting. That aside, the visual experience of Inglorious Rex holds its own among the best in indie comics.
Inglorious Rex is 9 Lives Comics’ epic tale of monster fighting and apocalyptic sci-fi. Strong artwork and a solid plot structure come together to blend themes not commonly paired, resulting in a unique but familiar experience that succeeds as engaging entertainment.