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This series started out being my jam and now... it's just dull. And I don't really get the whole Gen X of it all, cause I see none of that here. I've got one more volume but so far I'm disappointed by a series I've seen recommended so much
I officially don’t know what this book is, who it’s for, or why it’s got such longevity.
One more volume to go, baby.
One more volume to go, baby.
A few issues outside the regular series in this one, two new to me and one irrelevent to the book entirely.
Of the two new stories, one appeared in JSA All-Stars and one in All-Star Comics, but I have no idea what year or what incarnation of those titles. Robinson and Tony Harris reunite - Harris using his more recent, more computery/less ink-driven style - in a 1940s Ted Knight-working-with-FBI story, which is fine, but forgettable. Goyer and Robinson pen a Wildcat/Jack Knight sparring match which is just dull, and Robinson admits to not even remembering the story himself in the afterword.
The irrelevant story is Stars & STRIPE #0, by Robinson & Geoff Johns, with Lee Moder and Chris Weston on art. I guess it's more semi-relevant. It does have a long flashback showing Ted's relationship with Sylvester Pemberton and the cosmic belt, which is semi-relevant to the Starman mythos - but ultimately, it's really just a comic Jack guest-starred in and, as Robinson admits to barely writing any of it in the afterword, it merits inclusion in this omnibus less than the 5 JSA issues that Robinson co-wrote. At least Robinson co-wrote those issues and Jack was a part of the team, rather than a guest-star who didn't do very much. It's not a bad comic (not a particularly good one either - just sort of there), but it doesn't really belong in a Starman Omnibus.
Otherwise, the book covers the entire Stars My Destination arc. Goyer co-writes, and Robinson gives him a ton of credit for picking up the ball when Robinson's enthusiasm was flagging. He's also very frank about how their relationship fell apart and how much Robinson blames himself for that. The best issues were the meanwhile in Opal issues, but Stars My Destination had some strong moments. Star Boy and Umbra's connection to the Starman mythos was interestingly done (though connecting Tasmia and Mikaal because they both have blue skin wasn't really necessary), and Jack's visit to Krypton was a great little story. Despite my indifference to Adam Strange - the poor man's Flash Gordon (it's like Marvel's Hyperion - you can tell a great story with the character, but there's a certain gravitas that he inherently lacks from being such a blatant copy) - I dug the two-part Rann storyline, and how Robinson/Goyer dovetailed it into the finale.
The Space Cabbie chapter, great idea, could've been executed better. The Starfire-as-love-slave joke was funny when you saw the Russian hero kid tied up instead of the Tamaranian warrior chick. Space Cabbie, Space Ranger and Ultra, the MultiAlien tell the same story as each heard it - nice range of artists, but I wish they'd gone a little farther with the different stories; I started to skim a little bit. The Will Payton/Gavyn connection is one I can take or leave, but it's a solid finale to the arc, a big epic war, Jack killing again, and Gavyn reunited with his queen, while Payton is justifiably kept from Earth.
Snejbjerg takes over as regular artist, and he's just awesome.
Times Past tale about the origin of Jack's spaceship, ehh. It wasn't worth a full issue - better to let Shade tell the tale in two panels and let readers imagine it.
Also, some great cliffhangers in this run of issues.
Of the two new stories, one appeared in JSA All-Stars and one in All-Star Comics, but I have no idea what year or what incarnation of those titles. Robinson and Tony Harris reunite - Harris using his more recent, more computery/less ink-driven style - in a 1940s Ted Knight-working-with-FBI story, which is fine, but forgettable. Goyer and Robinson pen a Wildcat/Jack Knight sparring match which is just dull, and Robinson admits to not even remembering the story himself in the afterword.
The irrelevant story is Stars & STRIPE #0, by Robinson & Geoff Johns, with Lee Moder and Chris Weston on art. I guess it's more semi-relevant. It does have a long flashback showing Ted's relationship with Sylvester Pemberton and the cosmic belt, which is semi-relevant to the Starman mythos - but ultimately, it's really just a comic Jack guest-starred in and, as Robinson admits to barely writing any of it in the afterword, it merits inclusion in this omnibus less than the 5 JSA issues that Robinson co-wrote. At least Robinson co-wrote those issues and Jack was a part of the team, rather than a guest-star who didn't do very much. It's not a bad comic (not a particularly good one either - just sort of there), but it doesn't really belong in a Starman Omnibus.
Otherwise, the book covers the entire Stars My Destination arc. Goyer co-writes, and Robinson gives him a ton of credit for picking up the ball when Robinson's enthusiasm was flagging. He's also very frank about how their relationship fell apart and how much Robinson blames himself for that. The best issues were the meanwhile in Opal issues, but Stars My Destination had some strong moments. Star Boy and Umbra's connection to the Starman mythos was interestingly done (though connecting Tasmia and Mikaal because they both have blue skin wasn't really necessary), and Jack's visit to Krypton was a great little story. Despite my indifference to Adam Strange - the poor man's Flash Gordon (it's like Marvel's Hyperion - you can tell a great story with the character, but there's a certain gravitas that he inherently lacks from being such a blatant copy) - I dug the two-part Rann storyline, and how Robinson/Goyer dovetailed it into the finale.
The Space Cabbie chapter, great idea, could've been executed better. The Starfire-as-love-slave joke was funny when you saw the Russian hero kid tied up instead of the Tamaranian warrior chick. Space Cabbie, Space Ranger and Ultra, the MultiAlien tell the same story as each heard it - nice range of artists, but I wish they'd gone a little farther with the different stories; I started to skim a little bit. The Will Payton/Gavyn connection is one I can take or leave, but it's a solid finale to the arc, a big epic war, Jack killing again, and Gavyn reunited with his queen, while Payton is justifiably kept from Earth.
Snejbjerg takes over as regular artist, and he's just awesome.
Times Past tale about the origin of Jack's spaceship, ehh. It wasn't worth a full issue - better to let Shade tell the tale in two panels and let readers imagine it.
Also, some great cliffhangers in this run of issues.
While I can't wait to get to the next and final volume I am also in no hurry because the series will be over. It's that good.
I can't bring myself to give volume 5 the full 5 stars because ever since the individial issues came out I've felt that this is where the Starman story just sags. The space adventure seemed to take absolutely forever and for me it detracted from the momentum of Jack's Opal story in a big way.
It's still part of the Starman epic, though, so I can't fault it too much. Snejbjerg takes over on art, and although it's a night-and-day style difference, it's still great art. This Omnibus volume also helps tie in Courtney Whitmore and her torch-bearing of the Starman legacy - at least until DC started everything over.
It's still part of the Starman epic, though, so I can't fault it too much. Snejbjerg takes over on art, and although it's a night-and-day style difference, it's still great art. This Omnibus volume also helps tie in Courtney Whitmore and her torch-bearing of the Starman legacy - at least until DC started everything over.
Jack Knight, with Mikaal in tow, takes to the stars to find Will Payton, a previous Starman and the brother of his lady love. Will he find Payton or only trouble?
As I've said many times before, what sets Starman apart from other comics of its day, or even today, is that it's about something. It's about family, stepping into your father's shoes, destiny, and a slew of other things. James Robinson takes characters that normally just wear spandex and punch one another and tells a compelling story.
In this volume, Jack takes to the stars and has quite a series of adventures. Adam Strange, the Steve Ditko version of Starman, Starboy of the Legion of Superheroes, the New Gods, an intact Krypton, and some of DC's C-List sci-fi heroes are featured. Ever think you'd see Ultra the Multi-Alien again? He's in here. So's Space Cabbie. And Jack even makes a reference to Richard Stark's Parker, something I didn't catch the first time through.
Other cool aspects of this volume include the reprinting of things that didn't make it into the original trades, like Starman 1 Million, the Shade's journals and some JSA-related stories.
Any negatives? Just one. Tony Harris defined Starman for most of the series. While Peter Snejbjerg's art isn't bad, it just isn't Tony Harris's. That's about all as far as gripes are concerned. That and we only have one omnibus left before the series is finished.
Starman is a worthy addition to any fan of comics that aren't just extended fight scenes bookshelf. It's a pity they don't make them like this anymore.
As I've said many times before, what sets Starman apart from other comics of its day, or even today, is that it's about something. It's about family, stepping into your father's shoes, destiny, and a slew of other things. James Robinson takes characters that normally just wear spandex and punch one another and tells a compelling story.
In this volume, Jack takes to the stars and has quite a series of adventures. Adam Strange, the Steve Ditko version of Starman, Starboy of the Legion of Superheroes, the New Gods, an intact Krypton, and some of DC's C-List sci-fi heroes are featured. Ever think you'd see Ultra the Multi-Alien again? He's in here. So's Space Cabbie. And Jack even makes a reference to Richard Stark's Parker, something I didn't catch the first time through.
Other cool aspects of this volume include the reprinting of things that didn't make it into the original trades, like Starman 1 Million, the Shade's journals and some JSA-related stories.
Any negatives? Just one. Tony Harris defined Starman for most of the series. While Peter Snejbjerg's art isn't bad, it just isn't Tony Harris's. That's about all as far as gripes are concerned. That and we only have one omnibus left before the series is finished.
Starman is a worthy addition to any fan of comics that aren't just extended fight scenes bookshelf. It's a pity they don't make them like this anymore.
This is kind of a difficult volume to review. I really, really dig the throwback nature of the whole thing, the way that it's a love letter to The Twilight Zone and old movie serials, and Snejbjerg's art is gorgeous. But...for the latter half, Jack doesn't sound like Jack. The "Shade's Journal" prologues at the beginning of each chapter grate and don't fit with the rest of the book. And the final arc of the whole cycle runs about an issue too long. So, yeah, probably my least favorite of the various omnibi.
One of my favorite arcs in the Starman series, partly because it indulges every bit of Robinson's love of DC space characters and partly because it ties in every incarnation of Starman to date. There's also some intentional references to a similar space odyssey in the Alan Moore Swamp Thing run, albeit with some touches that simplify and undarken DC's outer space continuity. And I go back and forth about Snejberg as an artist. I typically love his clean lines, but I'm just not sure the style works well for the intricate nature of Starman and the art deco stylings of Opal City.