Writer: James RobinsonPublisher: DC Comics
Collects: Starman #0-16
What kind of music does Batman like to listen to? What's Wonder Woman's favourite food? What hobbies does Superman have?
I bet, even with over seventy years of stories, nobody can answer any of those questions. Yet, in just 17 issues, I feel like Jack Knight (Starman) is a lifelong friend.
Nineties superhero comics are often dismissed too quickly. People assume it was all clones and armour without any depth or gravitas, and a lot of it was. But occasionally you find a bright shining star in an otherwise dark sky, and like some ancient explorer, you are lured towards it.
While reading James Robinson's Starman series, I could not help comparing him to Grant Morrison. Both UK writers are huge just now, but both started out with obscure titles (such as Morrison's runs on Animal Man and Doom Patrol) which they could have done poorly and DC would not have suffered. Instead, they proved their worth, excelling in their small corners of the DC Universe, and standing out amongst the noisy and hyperactive 90's mainstream.
Robinson's Starman (originally running from 1994 to 2001) tells the tale of Jack Knight, a self-proclaimed "junk dealer" and the son of Ted Knight, the Golden Age superhero Starman. Originally reluctant to be part of the family legacy, Jack finds himself thrown into the role of Opal City's protector when his brother David, the modern Starman, dies at the hands of one of his father's old villains.
And I know that sounds like a story we've all heard a million times. I'm sure you're thinking that Jack probably comes to accept his destiny as he avenges his brother's death, and embraces being Starman. Wrong. After the opening story arc, Jack simply returns to his ordinary life, caring more for his collectibles than for superheroics.
But the feeling he gets protecting the innocent and bringing the guilty to justice slowly starts to creep in, and he finds himself becoming Starman more and more often, without ever losing that sense of realism Robinson creates in the character. Starman is just another part of this man's life; albeit a part of great significance.
Aside from playing the long game with Jack's development, Robinson also builds him up with every single line he writes for him. Although some may find the prose-like narration somewhat heavy, it serves as a great insight into the character's mind, helping to make him seem more realistic as well. We all have random thoughts and memories floating in and out of our heads, regardless of their present relevance, but rarely have I seen it represented in fiction, nor represented so well as it is here.
Jack is not the only character delight in this volume, however, as Robinson also builds quite an interesting supporting cast around Starman (always a necessity for superhero titles). I could go on about any of them, but the real standout is the Shade. Originally a Golden Age Flash villain, Robinson redefines the phrase "fleshed out" when it comes to the Shade. Turning him into a debonair, morally-questionable, immortal anti-hero, we are never really sure whether or not to trust him, but we are 100% sure that we want to see more of him.
What's more, the Shade isn't the only C-list character that Robinson fearlessly pulls into his series as he plays around in DC's toybox. Whenever someone like Solomon Grundy or Dr. Phosphorus appears, it never feels like a cheesy cameo, but still elicits a fanboy grin. These guest characters don't feel poorly used or shoehorned in, but rather that they should be in these scenarios.
One cannot talk about this series without mentioning the character of Opal City itself. Robinson has stated that it was his intention to build up Opal into one of DC's established fictional cities, such as Metropolis or Gotham. Not only does he meet this goal, but he exceeds it; making the reader feel like the could easily navigate their way around this modestly attractive city.
None of this would be possible without Tony Harris on art, of course. Although other artists fill in occasionally, it is Harris who contributes the most to giving this series its own unique feel. I had always heard others rave about his "art deco" style, but was completely unprepared for just how beautiful it looks. You can believe this or not, but when I opened the first page, I literally gasped and put the book down. This is punchy, wall-quality art that would feel wasted on anything of lesser quality.
Starman may not be as action-packed as your typical superhero series (although it's got plenty of that kinda stuff too), but it more than makes up for it with its realistic tone and themes. I would consider this one of the greats of the genre and cannot wait until I read the second volume.
(I really like superheroes who wear goggles, by the way, so maybe I'm just biased.)
Rating: 5/5
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