Customer Reviews

Rising Stars (Omnibus)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

JMS has been getting a lot of negativity from the public recently. Some of this is directed at his Self-Contained Super Hero Epic, Rising Stars. Granted, a lot of this is less over the content and more about the wait for the series to be finished. Now that the series is finished, and it can be enjoyed without interruption, I think that it is destined to become a sleeper hit.
This Hardcover Trade is easily the best way to enjoy the series, which is about a group of Super beings known as the Pederton Specials- So called because a meteor hit the town of Pederton Illinois, and gave all of the children that were in utero at the time "special" powers. Their story over the next 60 years is the subject of the series, which is divided into 3 acts of 8 issues each. The first act mostly centers around how the Specials grew up. Act two kicks in 10 years later, during a civil war. The Third Act is the close of the series.
I know that this series has drawn comparisons to both Watchmen and Supreme Power, and I can see that. Because the series attempts to deal with super beings in a real world setting, it will inevitably draw the "JMS is just ripping off Watchmen" comment. To this I say that most deconstructionist comics today are deep in the trench that Watchmen carved, and it's rare to see one done so well as Rising Stars. The comparison to Supreme Power (or the Squadron Supreme it is based on) is like comparing Sports Night to the West Wing, or Family Guy to American Dad. All of these paired examples are created and written by the same person. In each case, the latter is arguably the grander, more lavish, better constructed series- but only for having the first to hash out the way to do it.
So even though it may not be completely original, it triumphs where many other deconstructionist comics fail- it has heart. When you share in the entire lives of the Specials from their births, you get to know them. And you feel for them when bad things happen to them, and when they are apart and when they come together. And the inspiring message of the series is, while nothing new, might make you a little misty for this place we call Earth.
Five Stars, even though its not perfect- just because its rare to have so much enjoyment inside one cover. Best read in one sitting (Free up an evening, it is 600+ pages), taking the 15 minute act breaks that JMS includes in the writings.

I read about half of the series in floppies from the local store. I heard the books were going to be collected so I waited. I can't tell you how glad I am. It's very easy to get lost in this well planned and drawn story. It really is a page turner but one should slow down and enjoy the wonderful art also. I haven't had any binding or gutter problems with this book. My only wish is to travel somewhere so I can lose myself inside the writers mind. I'm not a huge fan of Image as most of their material is art centered and the story comes second if at all. This book breaks that mold and deserves to be checked out as you'll fall under its spell, good stuff and thats so rare these days. Not For Kids, I'd say Teenagers and adults would appreciate the walls been broken, good read !

Rising Stars as a story is fantastic. I honestly would have given this book 5 stars if not for what I noticed today. After one reading and sitting on a shelf for 3 weeks the binding on the book is falling apart. The cheap binding ruins this product. I paid over $40 for this thing and its falling apart after a couple of weeks. You are probably better off getting the trade paperbacks.

A comet over the town of Pederson has an extraordinary effect. All the children conceived at that time are 'Special'. They have strange abilities and powers.

Educated together by the government, and tested by a scientist, problems begin to arise. It is not even possible to work out what they can all do.

Later, when grown, it seems a murdered stalks the Specials.