Customer Reviews

The Starman Omnibus, Vol. 1

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

STARMAN, the incredible comic book series by writer James Robinson (who also penned the equally incredible "JSA: The Golden Age") and artist Tony Harris ("Ex Machina", "Spider-Man: With Great Power") ran for 81 issues starting with issue #0 (although the character's 1st appearance is in ZERO HOUR #1 in 1994)and was continuously acclaimed both critically and by fans. It was as much a super-hero book as it was an exercise in family dynamics and the concepts of legacies, history, and courage.

It's a comic that this reviewer completely ignored when it was being released as a monthly.

Don't know why, exactly. Maybe it was because my wallet was already being emptied by a dozen or so (in retrospect, far inferior) titles at the time. Who knows. Either way, by the time I had gotten a hold of a few issues and discovered what a great series it was, it had already come and gone and were being released in trade paperback form (there are ten of them and a few of them are, to my knowledge, out of print).

I was just about to start purchasing the trades when I got wind of this omnibus (which collects issues 0-16). It is the first of six hardcover books collecting every issue, special, and annual of the series (and, yes, even the Batman,/Starman,/Hellboy miniseries). It is a BIT pricey, but the paper and printing quality is excellent and the story itsself is well worth it.

STARMAN is the story of Jack Knight, youngest son of Ted Knight, the original Starman. On the night of his brother's murder, Jack reluctantly takes up the mantle of Opal City's protector. During the course of the issues contained within the Omnibus, Jack meets up with the mysterious villain known as The Shade (who may not be as villainous as he seems) and does battle with his father's arch nemesis The Mist. He finds himself held captive by a bizarre circus sideshow and begins to learn more about the various men who have operated under the name of Starman.

It's a fantastic series and I, for one, am glad it is available in this manner. I'm forced, however, to take one star away simply because I think the book is a bit overpriced at $49.99 (but well worth the lower price Amazon is offering).

I was expecting more, for as much as this series was talked up at the local comic shop and on the internet. Not that it's not good. It's a good superhero story, one of the better ones that I've read. However, I was expecting some "blow my mind awesomeness" along the lines of Sandman or Watchmen. It's not quite that good, but it's definitely worth checking out. Robinson draws on a lot of obscure DC/Starman history, which is both really interesting and makes for good characterizations. (And I knew nothing about Starman prior to this and I still followed along easily enough.) He writes complex, fully fleshed out, three dimensional characters, heroes and villains alike, which is rare in superhero comics. My only complaint is his writing/inner monologues can be very... stilted. Fragments of sentences. Thoughts. Ideas. All popping up, randomly, haphazardly sometimes. Very 'stream of consciousness.' It takes some... adjusting to. Anyway, other than that, the writing is great. I've never been a huge fan of Tony Harris's art, though. His characters always seem to be in some weird, awkward, unnatural mid-pose. (Check out Ted Knight in the lower right corner of the cover for a case in point.) Reading his work feels like I'm watching an episode of "Tom Goes to the Mayor." That trait isn't as pronounced here as it is in, say, "Ex Machina," but it's enough to bug me from time to time. But, those were my only complaints. It's still a very well done book. To me the price was fine for the package, $50 for 17 issues on fairly nice paper, plus some really cool/insightful extras, and in hardcover sounds about right to me. Overall, I'd say it's a 4 out of 5 stars.

FINALLY! Starman gets the deluxe treatment it deserves! Planned to be 6 volumes, on great paper, unlike the later trades, in chronological order, and scheduled to collect ALL the extras, minis, annuals, etc. This underated AMAZING comic series NEEDS to be read! Author James Robinson adds in-depth honest behind the scenes notes. HIGHLY RECOMENDED!

Length:: 1:50 Mins

The book is great, but not monumental: at least the first volume isn't. I also have to complain about the overpriced, underwhelming format. Marvel omnibuses usually have 30-40 issues each, and are oversized. DC went cheap on this one. Thanks again, DC.

For a cape armed with the power of the suns, Starman had always been relegated to second banana status. And yet, for a time, James Robinson altered that perception. Jack Knight, in his heyday, may have been the most reluctant legacy hero in the DC universe. It took the murder of his older brother David - who had taken on their dad's mantle of Starman.- and a concerted, orchestrated crime spree in Opal City to galvanize the disdainful Jack Knight. In the mid-1990s, to the tune of 80 issues and sundry Annuals and Specials, writer James Robinson and artist Tony Harris treated us - and I do mean "treated us" - to a hell of an ambitious and sprawling superhero saga, to the evolution of a maverick superhero, to perverse and unexpected sub-plots and sidebars. It's not quite as surreal and weirded out as Grant Morrison's DOOM PATROL or ANIMAL MAN. Except that I liked Jack Knight more. Guy was more down to earth, and reluctant heroes tend to be more relatable, anyway.

It's interesting to me that Jack's passion lies in collectibles and collecting collectibles. The superhero thing was more a side gig for him, or a chore, although he would eventually come to accept it. One of the neat hooks to Jack was that he had absolutely no use for the original Starman's gaudy red and green costume and, oh, that lame fin on the noggin... Jack settles for what's practical: tank driver goggles to protect his eyes from the dazzling light his staff emits and a leather jacket (with a sheriff's star pinned on it) to protect him from the cold when he's flying. Dressed up in that and wielding a cosmic staff created for him by his dad, Jack Knight was a relevant character in his time. In this series James Robinson was able to construct an engrossing Starman mythology, dependent on the past, enlivened by the writer's crazy imagination, and linking all the various Starman incarnations.

STARMAN OMNIBUS Vol. 1 collects issues #0, 1-16. It's a lavish and dense volume, rendered more dense by Robinson's rambling fore- and afterwords. It's a worth it get, though. Robinson's storytelling is compelling. And you can track Tony Harris's development in these pages, initially kinda raw but quickly coming into his own. You had a sense - in issue #5, illustrated with an innovative shtick - that Harris was gonna be something really good. Robinson surrounds Jack with really interesting characters, so interesting, in fact, that issues would come out in which Jack Knight isn't even in the picture.

In this volume, Robinson imagines Opal City and the skeevy Turk County outskirts as distinctive, visually arresting locales and almost as secondary characters. Harris really helps here with his memorable architectural designs. Robinson also establishes the presence of the O'Dares (a family of red-headed cops and Jack's future allies), the blue-skinned alien Mikaal Tomas (and a former Starman), the clairvoyant Charity, and Solomon Grundy in his gentler aspect. Jack's dad, Ted Knight, the Golden Age Starman, was a constant and much of the narrative relied on the father & son dynamics between him and Jack. The dead brother David would return to spend scheduled quality time with Jack (starting with issue #5). But hands down the most intriguing supporting character is the immortal and enigmatic Shade. Shade is an amoral cuss, now and then a super-villain, except that he calls Opal City his home. Accordingly, he'd more often than not assist Jack whenever something sinister threatens the city.

From jump this series interweaves plot elements which spiral into far-reaching consequences. The first arc features the original Mist, and Jack's actions would motivate the Mist's daughter to become a super-villain dedicated to wiping out Starman. She'll have a major impact in Jack's life, beginning in the five-part "Sins of the Child." This arc would be a turning point for Jack. I think this is when he decides to really commit to the Starman gig. By this point, of course, I'd already been long committed.

I'd heard so much about this series and I'm glad I waited and didn't pick up the trades because sitting down and reading all 16 issues was a great experience. It's such a great series written by James Robinson. It's an incredibly modern super hero series but also includes the DC tradition of legacy and passing on a super hero name. I adore Tony Harris' art on Ex Machina and it's so great to see his earlier work. If you love comics and are looking for something unique and fantastic than pick this up.

This is essentially the first two Starman tpb's in hardcover format. While it does include a couple of stand alone issues that the softcover tpb's left out, there's nothing really special about this collection and at $50 retail it should at least be oversized. The James Robinson essay and sketches are nice, but the original softcovers had nice essays too. (The paper quality is the same) That said, Starman is an absolutely fantastic series and a must-read for any comics fan. One of the best on par with Sandman, Swampthing, Preacher, etc. Would love to have seen this as an Absolute!

The Starman Omnibus, Vol. 1

The first of six collected volumes of the critically acclaimed comic book series of the late 90's and early 00's. It's a pleasure to revisit this masterfully crafted comic book series again, which mixes modern storytelling sensibilities with a sincere love for nostalgia. Fans of both Golden Age and Modern Age comic books will love it!

Excellent story line with great depth to the characters. James Robinson has crafted a new world that blends in elements of the "old guard" passing the torch to a new generation. The artist's (Tony Harris) use of dark and light reflects the inner battle of the main character his world.
Robinson's musings of himself and subsequent evolution and maturity are as entertaining as the stories themselves.
I can't wait to read the next volumes in the series.