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4.0 out of 5 stars
Does Nebraska need a superhero? Yeah, apparently so., January 20, 2008
This review is from: JSA Presents: Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., Volume 2 (Paperback)
Jack Knight (Starman), as he, Pat and Courtney battle the Icicle: "Pat, I'm cool with you and me doing this...I guess...But why didn't you leave your sidekick at home?"
Courtney: "I'm the leader. S.T.R.I.P.E.'s the sidekick."
First, some background: For high school teenager Courtney Whitmore the resentments just keep piling. Not only did her mom just get re-married, but they'd also had to relocate from awesome Los Angeles to Nebraska's woefully dull Blue Valley. Then Courtney, rummaging thru her step-pop's things, stumbles onto a big secret. Seems that Pat Dugan, her new dad, used to be Stripesy, adult sidekick to the 1940s' cape The Star-Spangled Kid.
Having unearthed the Kid's cosmic converter belt, Courtney, in part to annoy Pat, then decides to take up the superhero mantle and becomes the new Star-Spangled Kid. The belt lends her added strength, speed, agility, and electrical disruption abilities, so off she goes. Pat Dugan is not amused but is unable to dissuade Courtney. So, aiming to safeguard and mentor his willful stepdaughter, Pat, a brilliant mechanic, is forced to debut his experimental robotic armor, dubbed S.T.R.I.P.E., and joins her in her adventures. And that's how dull Blue Valley, former home to the Kid Flash and now maybe not so dull, got a duo of superheroes.
STARS AND S.T.R.I.P.E. is Hollywood-guy-turned-comic-book-scribe Geoff Johns's first comic book series, and he rocks it, impressing the DC bigwigs enough that, shortly after, they gave him the reins to the JSA and the FLASH titles. In STARS AND S.T.R.I.P.E. Johns, who seems to have inherited fellow comic book writer Roy Thomas's fondness and fascination for the Golden Age of comics, is in the full grip of nostalgia. His storytelling is anchored by a definite link to the past as Courtney and Pat's contemporary exploits are often tied in with references and flashback stories centering on the old school JSA, the Seven Soldiers of Victory, and, in particular, the old Starman, Stripesy, and the original Star-Spangled Kid.
JSA PRESENTS: STARS AND S.T.R.I.P.E. Volume 2 collects #0 and the final six issues (#9-14) of the sadly short-lived 1999 monthly comic book. Here, Courtney and Pat's strained relationship continues to develop even as they face off against the Icicle, Shiv, and the world-class villain Dragon King. Pat also narrates the story of the Seven Soldiers of Victory's final battle, the one against the Nebula Man, which led to the Soldiers' far-flung banishment to various temporal eras. The Starmen (Ted and Jack Knight) and the Shining Knight prominently guest star, while Ted Knight recalls the time he asked the first Star-Spangled Kid to become his successor. On a personal level, Courtney still has to contend with high school life and teenage woes. Pat's biological son Mike shows up to forever alter the family dynamics. Mike is also intent on becoming the next Star-Spangled Kid. And, in the well-done last issue, Courtney's real dad drops in.
As might be guessed, STARS AND S.T.R.I.P.E., starring a high-spirited teenage girl, comes with a sunny and cheerful flavor. There's just a whiff of whimsy, but Johns doesn't make the mistake of sacrificing depth and characterization for the lighthearted feel. The stories, while maybe "fluffy" compared to Johns' later, darker, more comprehensively detailed JSA work, are still well written. Not to mention, Lee Moder's cartoony artwork (which might or might not turn you off) doesn't lend itself to a dark, more serious sensibility.
In reading the JSA series I've taken quite a liking to cool young member Courtney Whitmore, who's just growing into her superhero role. She provides the light and the youthful exuberance in the Justice Society. Courtney might still only be a kid, but Pat and the JSA old guard are attempting to instill in her a sense of commitment and appreciation regarding the heritage and tradition she's taken up. Slowly Courtney's coming around. Check out STARS AND S.T.R.I.P.E to see how it all began for her.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
I Love the Characters But Don't Love This Book, December 21, 2008
This review is from: JSA Presents: Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., Volume 2 (Paperback)
Teaming up a female, teenage, headstrong new Star Spangled Kid with a former Golden Age sidekick was a brilliant idea.
The character designs are fun and memorable. The appearance of obscure and semi-obscure Golden Age figures is awesome. Wing saves the day. WING?!?! There are a couple of crackling, tight, exciting issues in here.
But...the supporting characters are sort of a bore, the villains aren't great, and the plotting is a bit aimless. We learn virtually nothing about what it is like to have Courtney's powers or what it is like to be inside S.T.R.I.P.E. Moder's fight sequences are utterly confusing. And while there's a ton of running around, the relationship between the two title characters doesn't get much time.
But, come on, look at the cover art. That's great stuff.
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