Rising Stars, Book 1: Born in Fire (J. Michael Straczynski's rising stars) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Arthur Byron Cover (Author) "POET'S JOURNAL. THIS IS THE WAY IT HAPPENED..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Over twenty years ago, a comet struck the Earth just outside the town of Pederson, Illinois. There were 113 children in utero when the flash hit, and every one of them was affected, gaining extraordinary super-powers as they grew older.

The people of the world, initially worried by what the children might become when they reached adulthood, now fear what they will do with the powers they¹ve gained?and who might suffer should the "rising stars" start to think they could run the world better.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: I Books (June 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743435125
• ISBN-13: 978-0743435123
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,295,717 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Incredible 1st Half, Weak Payoff in 2nd Half., February 25, 2001

By	"tomthedog" (San Bruno, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rising Stars : Born In Fire (Vol. 1) (Paperback)

J. Michael Straczynski of Babylon 5 fame turns his epic storytelling to the comics page. In Rising Stars, he's laid the groundwork for an enormous story, one with a definite beginning, middle, and end, that will take years to tell (like Babylon 5). And he gets off to an amazing start.

The first four issues in this 8-issue collection tell the story of a strange force which strikes the town of Pederson, Illinois. The force affects only the 113 in utero babies at the time of impact; all 113 are born with superhuman powers. The story is told by Poet, one of the 113, and he tells it from 60 years or more after the force struck. The story is told in an elaborate and fascinating flashback structure; and through it we meet many members of the enormous cast, and also learn that one of them began murdering the others.

Issues 5-8 are a letdown from this incredible setup. Instead of continuing as an inventive superhero murder mystery, it devolves into a generic superhero punch-'em-up. We learn who the killer is in book 5 (WAY too early to be giving out that information), battle lines are drawn, sides are chosen, and shots start getting fired. Even more cliched are the shadowy government conspiracy figures who keep dropping in and out of the narrative. And, worst of all, the Bible-thumping televangelist is cast as the slimy evil manipulating vermin. I have no love for televangelists, that's for sure, but to make the televangelist the villain? It's SO easy. It's SO obvious. Straczynski can do better.

Now, it's probably too early to be doubting Straczynski's storytelling skills. Babylon 5 only got better year after year, after all. And 8 issues is VERY early into the proposed run of Rising Stars. Which is why I will be sure to pick up Vol. 2, whenever it comes out. If it weren't Straczynski, and if he hadn't created such a fascinating world in the first 4 issues, I wouldn't be saying that. But I trust Straczynski to climb out of the rut he dug himself into in books 5-8.

A note about the artwork: generic Todd MacFarlane/Image comics school of art. Totally lacking in distinction, but it gets the job done.

5 stars for the 1st half. 2 1/2 stars for the second half.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Embodies what comics are all about !, October 14, 2002

By	Samurai6 (Westchester,New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rising Stars : Born In Fire (Vol. 1) (Paperback)

This is, by far, one of the greatest comics I've ever read. A great story line, well developed characters, fantastic artwork, and JMS's engrossing writing makes Rising Stars a true classic. The story is written with such authenticity and emotional depth you are drawn into the world of "The Specials". It's a real thinking persons comic (but don't think it's all dialogue...there are great battles and superhero action sequences in every issue !).

I think JMS did a great job in portraying what would happen if ordinary people were given great powers. Who would use it for Evil? Who would use it for Good? Would the world embrace these "Specials" or fear them? JMS lays out a world where all these ideas are explored. Rising Stars is a comic that exemplifies all the qualities of great comics.

Highly recommended !

Also recommended: Anything by J. Michael Straczynski,
Kingdom Come by Alex Ross, Star Wars Tales TBP Vols 1 & 2, Sojourn by Crossgen comics

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing ground-breaking, but it's only the beginning..., June 30, 2001

By	Whoop2Do "Whoop2Do" (Gaithersburg, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rising Stars : Born In Fire (Vol. 1) (Paperback)

Ever since Moore and Gibbon's WATCHMEN - adult writers who grew up in the age when comics were still a form of mass entertainment have been asking, "Well, what if all this were real? What if people with extraordinary abilities really existed right outside my window? How would they act and how would the world react?" jms takes another look at this stituation with another set of eyes... this is the first chapter (or book)in that exploration. And it's good, very good. Some have correctly pointed out that the second half of this book becomes pedestrian. Maybe... but if jms' other works are an indication, he's lulling the reader into a false sense of "been there, seen that" before really turning over the table. And without spoiling anything, readers who follow the newstand releases can readily tell that the story is now in a place far from what one might expect from the latter part of this book... Give it a try - you won't be disappointed. If you stick with the story though to its conclusion, I'm willing to bet you may experience a few surprises...