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lilli_w12's review against another edition
4.0
I have a new favorite superhero! Loved the art, the vibe, the characters (Jack, Shade, the O'Dares), and the last few issues were fantastic! Really unique and interesting.
scheu's review against another edition
5.0
Starman changed my life.
I started reading the series about a year and a half after its inception and I immediately identified with Jack Knight, the misfit living up to his father's ideal, finding his own place in the world. I loved Opal City in all its glory and I loved the people who inhabited it. No graphic story has meant, or ever will mean, as much to me.
I own all of the single issues and the trade paperbacks, and with the Omnibus volumes (projected to number six in all) I get the benefit of virtually all the Starman material published during the length of the regular series as well as text from the Shade's journal and notes from creator James Robinson. The price is steep but it's worth every penny for me. Can you really put a price on love, after all?
I started reading the series about a year and a half after its inception and I immediately identified with Jack Knight, the misfit living up to his father's ideal, finding his own place in the world. I loved Opal City in all its glory and I loved the people who inhabited it. No graphic story has meant, or ever will mean, as much to me.
I own all of the single issues and the trade paperbacks, and with the Omnibus volumes (projected to number six in all) I get the benefit of virtually all the Starman material published during the length of the regular series as well as text from the Shade's journal and notes from creator James Robinson. The price is steep but it's worth every penny for me. Can you really put a price on love, after all?
dantastic's review against another edition
5.0
When his brother is killed, Jack Knight is forced to take up his father's legacy, the legacy of Starman, and protect Opal City as best he can.
As I've said in other places, the 1990s were a bleak time for superhero comics. There were variant covers, gimmick covers, stunt storylines out the ass, and everything was grim and gritty for the sake of being grim and gritty. However, there were some bright spots. Starman by James Robinson was on of those bright spots. Unlike most comics, Starman was actually about something, about stepping into your father's shoes and seeing how they fit.
To be honest, I didn't know all that much about Starman before I initially picked this up years ago. I had a Batman and some issues of All-Star Squadron with the original Starman and I had a few issues of Adventure Comics with the Ditko Starman in it. The original series was just wrapping up when I finally gave it a shot. It quickly became my favorite superhero comic of the time period, maybe of all time.
Before I start gushing about it, I'll get the warts out of the way. It looked like Tony Harris was finding his legs at time, some of it is a little overwritten, and some of the references are way out of date. Other than that, it's pretty damn great.
Jack Knight is far from the typical superhero, of the 1990s or any other period. He doesn't wear a costume, although the goggles and leather jacket become an identifier of sorts. He's more interested in his second hand store than being the protector of Opal City. At least, at first... When Jack finally takes up the cosmic rod, I was grinning like a jackass, even though I knew it was coming. Kind of like seeing the Millennium Falcon for the first time in The Force Awakens.
It pretty slick how Robinson wove various aspects of the various Starman characters into Jack's tale, from Ted Knight's adventures as the original Starman with the Justice Society to Mikaal Tomas, the Starman of the 1970s. The rest of the cast is also great: the O'Dare family, the Shade, and Robinson and Harris' take on Solomon Grundy. Hell, the relationship between Grundy and Tomas is pretty touching, even after all these years. I think Robinson does more with Ted Knight as a character in the pages of Starman than was done in the previous fifty years.
The series was still finding its feet at the beginning but the magic is already there. The supporting cast is well established by the end, complete with the Mist's daughter taking up her father's mantle.
Tony Harris' art was perfect for the series and while I still love the series after he leaves, it loses a little something.
This was my fourth or fifth go-round through the first seventeen issues of the series, from 0-16. It still stands up. This Gene Wolfe quote seems pretty apt: “My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure.” Every time I read this series, I notice something new and understand more of the references. There was a Doom Patrol reference I didn't catch the last time and lots of movies and TV shows I've seen since the last time. Also, I wonder if James Robinson ever found that Japanese import Jump with Joey CD.
I don't really have a whole lot else to say for fear of spoiling the series. After multiple reads, it still stands head and shoulders above the rest of the superhero comics of the time period. Five out of five stars.
As I've said in other places, the 1990s were a bleak time for superhero comics. There were variant covers, gimmick covers, stunt storylines out the ass, and everything was grim and gritty for the sake of being grim and gritty. However, there were some bright spots. Starman by James Robinson was on of those bright spots. Unlike most comics, Starman was actually about something, about stepping into your father's shoes and seeing how they fit.
To be honest, I didn't know all that much about Starman before I initially picked this up years ago. I had a Batman and some issues of All-Star Squadron with the original Starman and I had a few issues of Adventure Comics with the Ditko Starman in it. The original series was just wrapping up when I finally gave it a shot. It quickly became my favorite superhero comic of the time period, maybe of all time.
Before I start gushing about it, I'll get the warts out of the way. It looked like Tony Harris was finding his legs at time, some of it is a little overwritten, and some of the references are way out of date. Other than that, it's pretty damn great.
Jack Knight is far from the typical superhero, of the 1990s or any other period. He doesn't wear a costume, although the goggles and leather jacket become an identifier of sorts. He's more interested in his second hand store than being the protector of Opal City. At least, at first... When Jack finally takes up the cosmic rod, I was grinning like a jackass, even though I knew it was coming. Kind of like seeing the Millennium Falcon for the first time in The Force Awakens.
It pretty slick how Robinson wove various aspects of the various Starman characters into Jack's tale, from Ted Knight's adventures as the original Starman with the Justice Society to Mikaal Tomas, the Starman of the 1970s. The rest of the cast is also great: the O'Dare family, the Shade, and Robinson and Harris' take on Solomon Grundy. Hell, the relationship between Grundy and Tomas is pretty touching, even after all these years. I think Robinson does more with Ted Knight as a character in the pages of Starman than was done in the previous fifty years.
The series was still finding its feet at the beginning but the magic is already there. The supporting cast is well established by the end, complete with the Mist's daughter taking up her father's mantle.
Tony Harris' art was perfect for the series and while I still love the series after he leaves, it loses a little something.
This was my fourth or fifth go-round through the first seventeen issues of the series, from 0-16. It still stands up. This Gene Wolfe quote seems pretty apt: “My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure.” Every time I read this series, I notice something new and understand more of the references. There was a Doom Patrol reference I didn't catch the last time and lots of movies and TV shows I've seen since the last time. Also, I wonder if James Robinson ever found that Japanese import Jump with Joey CD.
I don't really have a whole lot else to say for fear of spoiling the series. After multiple reads, it still stands head and shoulders above the rest of the superhero comics of the time period. Five out of five stars.
wesleyboy's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning of what looks like a really interesting story.
omnibusoverview's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hackman's review against another edition
4.0
One of my favourite comic series is Astro City, a series that has the audacity to make the city and its people the central character as opposed the superheroes as is the norm. Starman manages to do an excellent job of blending the typical superhero focus and this broader city-focussed narrative style. From the get go, Opal city and the non-super inhabitants become major players in Starman's adventures and it makes the book all the richer. In one of the included question sections from the old issues, Robinson discusses how the illustrator Harris has a clear vision for the skyline of Opal city, and an idea of what all the neighbourhoods look like etc. and you can really tell. Very quickly, you begin to know Opal city. It feels familiar---and not just because it kind of reminds me of Portland. And the final climactic story of this volume is very interestingly retold through several issues from the perspective of different characters, giving us a sense of how many different people around the city interpret the chaos that super villains create.
I do have one complaint with the text and that is that Robinson can sometimes verge on pretentious. I love an argument about which Sondheim musical is best mid fight just as much as anyone, but these little moments sometimes come off as forced---the author is peaking through a little too much and it feels overly indulgent. But it's easy to read past some of this missteps as the work on a whole is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I do have one complaint with the text and that is that Robinson can sometimes verge on pretentious. I love an argument about which Sondheim musical is best mid fight just as much as anyone, but these little moments sometimes come off as forced---the author is peaking through a little too much and it feels overly indulgent. But it's easy to read past some of this missteps as the work on a whole is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
matt4hire's review against another edition
5.0
Ah, Starman...I love Starman. Much of what I love about Starman is best talked about in the long view, as opposed to the short view, and I try to keep my reviews to each volume, so I'll just cover each story as they come.
Sins of the Father: A perfunctory introduction; it helps set the flavor, mood, and overarching conflicts of the coming series, and does that job well, but it's not quite magic yet.
A Day in the Opal: A fun story that helps us understand the characters better.
Talking With David: And here's where the series starts to really set itself apart. Jack conversing with his dead brother the first time is one of my favorite stories.
1882, Backstage, Back Then: Probably my least favorite of the various Times Past stories, then definitely creepy and effective.
A (K)Night at the Circus: And, for whatever reason, this is, for me, where the series really kicks into gear. Something about Jack's heroism, in the face of overwhelming odds, really helps me get into this series.
Shards: A decent done-in-one story.
The Day Before The Day to Come: One of the things about this story, that I love about the rest of the series...the way Jack's monologues can sometimes become relevant, yet disconnected, to the fights that are going on around him. Really excellent.
13 Years Ago, Five Friends: And, in contrast, this is one of my favorite Times Past stories. Though I couldn't tell you why in a million years. But it's just a great, great story.
Sins of the Child: The first really big, epic story of the series. The Mist conducts a crime wave, and each chapter is from the point of view of one of the major characters. While some people felt discomforted enough by the fourth chapter, Mikaal's Day, I felt like it was appropriately discomforting. The rest of the story, also, is excellent, each conveying a great sense of mood and urgency throughout.
Sins of the Father: A perfunctory introduction; it helps set the flavor, mood, and overarching conflicts of the coming series, and does that job well, but it's not quite magic yet.
A Day in the Opal: A fun story that helps us understand the characters better.
Talking With David: And here's where the series starts to really set itself apart. Jack conversing with his dead brother the first time is one of my favorite stories.
1882, Backstage, Back Then: Probably my least favorite of the various Times Past stories, then definitely creepy and effective.
A (K)Night at the Circus: And, for whatever reason, this is, for me, where the series really kicks into gear. Something about Jack's heroism, in the face of overwhelming odds, really helps me get into this series.
Shards: A decent done-in-one story.
The Day Before The Day to Come: One of the things about this story, that I love about the rest of the series...the way Jack's monologues can sometimes become relevant, yet disconnected, to the fights that are going on around him. Really excellent.
13 Years Ago, Five Friends: And, in contrast, this is one of my favorite Times Past stories. Though I couldn't tell you why in a million years. But it's just a great, great story.
Sins of the Child: The first really big, epic story of the series. The Mist conducts a crime wave, and each chapter is from the point of view of one of the major characters. While some people felt discomforted enough by the fourth chapter, Mikaal's Day, I felt like it was appropriately discomforting. The rest of the story, also, is excellent, each conveying a great sense of mood and urgency throughout.
howiedoowinfam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mschlat's review against another edition
4.0
For me, this the THE James Robinson title. It's got all the tropes I expect from him: a fascination with the Justice Society of America (and how righteous they are and aren't), a strong focus on a particular urban setting and what that setting means, and characters who regularly digress about "high" popular culture. (In the last arc in this collection, there is a gunfight punctuated by an argument about the best Sondheim musical and a torture scene where the torturer muses on the best cinematic portrayal of Philip Marlowe.) Oh, it's also where Robinson's most interesting creation (his version of the Shade) first appears.
In the midst of all this, you have Jack Knight reluctantly taking on the role of Starman after his brother dies in costume and a huge cast, including Jack's father Ted (the original JSA Starman), some previous incarnations of Starman, and a bunch of sibling red haired cops. It's a saga that this volume (the first 17 issues) just barely starts.
I can see readers thinking it's all too pretentious, and sometimes I think it teeters on that edge too much. (Jack, when he's not being Starman, is a collectibles dealer, which leads to the word "Bakelite" being used in each of the first three issues and an inner monologue about Philco televisions during the pummeling of henchmen.) The Harris art is great, but often endows the book with a sense of grandeur and importance. So, in contrast to the Firearm series or [b:The Golden Age|207413|JSA The Golden Age|James Robinson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388198496l/207413._SY75_.jpg|1050268], which read as more grounded to me, Starman is much more willing to swing for the fences, whether those fences are whimsy or family-based sentimentality or nostalgia.
And it still all works for me. I know I have a weakness for the expostulating protagonist (see my love of the works of [a:Brian K. Vaughan|24514|Brian K. Vaughan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1557530189p2/24514.jpg]), but that feature of Jack Knight, along with the rococo stylings of the drama and art all combine for a wonderful (if slightly jarring) read.
In the midst of all this, you have Jack Knight reluctantly taking on the role of Starman after his brother dies in costume and a huge cast, including Jack's father Ted (the original JSA Starman), some previous incarnations of Starman, and a bunch of sibling red haired cops. It's a saga that this volume (the first 17 issues) just barely starts.
I can see readers thinking it's all too pretentious, and sometimes I think it teeters on that edge too much. (Jack, when he's not being Starman, is a collectibles dealer, which leads to the word "Bakelite" being used in each of the first three issues and an inner monologue about Philco televisions during the pummeling of henchmen.) The Harris art is great, but often endows the book with a sense of grandeur and importance. So, in contrast to the Firearm series or [b:The Golden Age|207413|JSA The Golden Age|James Robinson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388198496l/207413._SY75_.jpg|1050268], which read as more grounded to me, Starman is much more willing to swing for the fences, whether those fences are whimsy or family-based sentimentality or nostalgia.
And it still all works for me. I know I have a weakness for the expostulating protagonist (see my love of the works of [a:Brian K. Vaughan|24514|Brian K. Vaughan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1557530189p2/24514.jpg]), but that feature of Jack Knight, along with the rococo stylings of the drama and art all combine for a wonderful (if slightly jarring) read.
kristennd's review against another edition
5.0
I love this fancy omnibus trend. And I'm even more excited about this collection than with the Kirby Fourth World. There's just something about all the art nouveau that wants something big and glossy and hardcover. Great work with the coloring too. It doesn't matter if you already own the trades and/or singles. Little or nothing in terms of extras in the back, but still well worth it. The series itself remains a great one for people who don't normally read superheroes. The characters, the ideas of family and legacy, the pulp elements, the cultural refs. Plus it does a great job -- like Moore's Swamp Thing -- of working in DC universe characters and history in the margins, to give you an idea of what to try next. My all-time second favorite series (after Planetary, and it's very close).