Starman (vol.2) #1 (1994)

Starman (vol.2) #1 (November, 1994)
"Sins of the Father, Part Two: Oil (Paint) and Water"
Writer - James Robinson
Pencils - Tony Harris
Inks - Wade Von Grawbadger
Letters - John Workman
Colors - Gregory Wright
Assistant Editor - Chuck Kim
Associate Editor - Jim Spivey
Editor - Archie Goodwin
Cover Price: $1.95

I sit here today... one aching unit.  Thanksgiving turned out to be a fourteen hour sprint... and, who am I kidding, I loved every minute of it.  It was a wonderful day at the palatial Christate... and I hope you and yours had a great one too!

Speaking of great... today we're going to take a look at Starman (vol.2) #1... and the first thing that pops into my head is "Man, how ticked off would I be if I bought this not knowing there was an issue zero?"

Well, let's find out...

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We open with a shadowy (shadowy) gentleman writing in his shadowy (shadowy) journal.  He waxes poetic about Opal City and conducts himself in a fancy manner.  As this is going down, news reports are lit up about a rash of crimes happening all over the City.  Smaller crimes... to distract from the bigger ones... which distract from the even bigger ones.  It looks like Opal might be just about to bloom into a full-blown riot situation.

Meanwhile, Jack Knight is visiting his father in the hospital.  They have a pretty contentious discussion... which isn't entirely without precedent.  Jack clues his Pop in that he just had a bullet removed from his leg... a claim that is backed up by a trio of carrot-topped officers... the O'Dares.

The Knight men keep talking... and arguing about, well... a lot of things.  Tonight's events have dredged up a whole lot of bitterness between the two.  Jack mocking his brother for taking the mantle of Starman... how the "junk dealer" survived, when the hero did not.  Hell, even new business like losing Pemberton's Cosmic Belt.  He tells Jack that the "Cosmic Rod" he holds isn't even the real deal, only a "Gravity Rod"... complete with 1940's era technology, which... ya know, kinda fits Jack's style.

Jack heads outside the hospital room, and runs into yet another O'Dare... Hope.  She tries cheering Jack up... by posing like she's in an ad for blue jeans, and attempting to instill within him how important family is.  Well, it's the thought that counts.

She begins to tell a story... and in a really neat bit, Jack flat out tells her he doesn't want to hear it.  I feel like that sort of thing doesn't happen enough in comics.  Characters are usually more than happy to let a perfect stranger drone on, so long as it provides a bit of exposition.  As neat as it was, though, Hope tells the story anyway.  Ya see, back in the 1940's, Starman (Jack's dad) saved the Elder O'Dares' life while he was on patrol.  Ever since, the O'Dares have sworn to help Starman/Starmen, no matter what.

Suddenly, Ted Knight receives a call... a very threatening one, and one that informs him that both of his sons are dead.  Of course, we know better.  Also... outside the hospital, it looks like the entire City is on fire!

The caller tells Ted that he's going to take everything away from him.  His sons... his home... his science... the safety of his City... and next, the memory of his dead wife.  It's clear that Ted recognizes the caller... 

Jack asks who it was... and, duh... it was The Mist.  Ted insists that Jack get outta dodge.  Since The Mist thinks both Knight boys are dead, it would be best for his unheroic son to git while the gittin' is good.  He also doesn't seem all that worried about The Mist's latest threat, after all... his wife was cremated.  No body to desecrate.  Jack hesitates, but finally leaves.

We rejoin Jack at the bus station.  Over the news, it's reported that the Opal County Museum has just been attacked... more specifically, the Adele Knight wing.  Did ol' Ted really not see this coming?  C'mon pal, I know you've had a night, but still.

Turns out, this was the last bit of prodding Jack needed to enter the fray.  He lights up the gravity rod, and flies into action.

He arrives atop the museum (or at least a building near the museum) and proceeds to pounce on a masked goon.  Onlookers are shocked, and celebrate the fact that the rumors of Starman's demise appear to have been exaggerated.  Our shadowy (shadowy) friend, however, knows better.

Jack continues kicking butt, until Kyle Mist shows up.  If you recall, he's the one who blew up Jack's Junk Shop last issue.  Jack flees, but winds up in the drink.  Seems a little bit odd, but I suppose we'll allow it.  Kyle and his goons give a half-hearted chase, but decide not to dredge the waters to find him.

Inside, even more goons proceed to loot the place, stealing artwork and whatnot.  Our shadowy (shadowy) friend is there looking on, before deciding to reveal himself as being... The Shade.  He manifests a beast which eats some of the baddies, all the while reveling in his own purple prose.  This is definitely not a dude I'd wanna be stuck in an elevator with.

We wrap up with Jack (at least I think it's Jack... I don't think they've settled on an actual model for him yet) pulling himself out of the water... and coming to the decision that he will not leave Opal City.

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I sometimes stop to think about "bubbles" in fandom.  Or really, in all walks of life.  Could be career/trade-specific jargon, could be "inside-baseball"... there's just certain bits of verbiage that you've gotta be "inside" to fully appreciate... or, heck, understand at all.  As a pro-wrestling fan, I cringe at what the uninitiated must think a "Triple H" is.

What I'm talking about here is... this is the first issue of a new ongoing series, correct?  Does it seem like a new-reader friendly outing to you?  Now, this is not an indictment on the quality of the story contents... this is more an observation as just how backwards the comics industry can be.  Catering to "the bubble"... the already-fans who knew issue #0's could (and would) be "a thing".

Actually, take new-readers (of the day) out of it altogether.  Imagine being comics-curious today, and happening across this issue in the bins.  You might've heard good things about this Starman series (because, really... who hasn't?), and you snap it up... take it home... annnnnnnd, you're completely lost!  That shouldn't be the case, especially not when you're holding a book with a "#1" atop it.

I could segue into kvetching about how many inaccessible #1's we've gotten in the past decade... but, I'd probably only rile myself up... and devolve into writing in all-caps with no vowels or something.

Onto the issue itself.  It was another good one... Robinson is definitely just as interested in building the world of Opal City as he is in developing Jack Knight's character... it's a wonderful marriage of concepts, and really scratches me where I itch.  I've given lackluster stories a pass because of how ambitious the world building behind it was... so, having this be so good on top of all that?  It makes for a really good time... and a great read.

Tony Harris... wasn't really my jam back in the long ago, however, I really couldn't think of a better artist for this series.  The character models are kind of all over the place at this early point, but the "mood" of Opal City cannot be denied.  This is a great tandem, Robinson and Harris.

Overall... I mean, what can I say?  This is a book any fans of DC Comics should go out of their way to check out.  Just remember to start with #0!  This issue is available digitally.

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Starman (vol.2) #0 (1994)

Starman (vol.2) #0 (October, 1994)
"Sins of the Father, Part One: Falling Star, Rising Son"
Writer - James Robinson
Pencils - Tony Harris
Inks - Wayne Von Grawbadger
Letters - John E. Workman
Colors - Gregory Wright
Associate Editor - Jim Spivey
Editor - Archie Goodwin
Cover Price: $1.95

There's that odd mix of pumpkin and meat in the air... March of the Wooden Soldiers is on the tv... and my back and feet already ache.  Why, that's gotta make today Thanksgiving, doesn't it?

Happiest of Thanksgivings to everyone... hope you all have a wonderful day (whether you celebrate or not).

Some friendly advice from your bloggy brother, there are two things you never discuss around the family dinner table... variant covers and decompressed storytelling.  Family is forever, remember not to turn on each other over the small stuff!

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We open with a (somewhat syrupy) introduction to Opal City... which I'm sure I slurped up with a straw the first time I read this as a teen-agery type person.  It's also here we meet... Starman, David Knight.  He looks down upon Opal, and smiles with the knowledge that he is the only Starman.  Will Payton is dead... and he assumes Mikaal Tomas is too.  Dave triumphantly goes to fly...

... he does not make it far.

This takes us into flashback land.  It's earlier that night, and David is arguing with his brother Jack about some "old stuff" Jack's trying to buy from him.  Their father, Ted Knight (the Golden-Age Starman) stands by, and doesn't seem terribly enthralled by the conversation.  The discussion shifts to David inheriting the mantle, to which Jack is all "I didn't want it anyway... oh, and also... you look stupid."  This comment seems to have burrowed under Ted's skin, and so, he gives him the boot... til Sunday dinner, of course.

From here, we follow Jack as he goes about his business.  He picks up a package from a dry cleaner, chats up a tattoo artist, and grabs some goods from a barber shop.  It's revealed here that Jack's kind of an old soul... really stuck on "old things", so much so that he runs an old junk shop.  He enters, and thinks to himself how much he loves the smell of "old things"... I feel like we comics enthusiasts can second that emotion.

Time passes, and Jack receives a phone call from his father... and learns that his brother David was killed.  Ted warns his son to keep vigilant, just in case this was a sort of personal vendetta.  He continues, saying that there is a Cosmic Rod, and also a Cosmic Belt (that used to belong to Sylvester Pemberton) among some documents he'd given to Jack for review.  Jack argues that he doesn't want to use 'em...

Ted hangs up and heads out to the morgue to identify his son's body.  No sooner does he leave, than his observatory explodes!  During the blast, Ted is struck by a brick.

Back at Jack's Junk Shop, a strange man enters... and inquires about some precious stones.  Jack doesn't have many, but can refer him to a dealer who might.  He then asks about weapons... which triggers our fight scene.

The man starts blasting the hell out of the place.  It looks like this particular pistol shoots both bullets... and fire?  Okay.  Anyhoo, as Jack attempts to flee to the back room (where that Cosmic Rod is supposed to be), he winds up taking a bullet in the back of the leg.

The strange man follows... and decides to keep the Cosmic Belt for himself.  What's more... he recognizes it!

He then takes aim, and goes for the killing shot(s) on Jack.  Fortunately, in the time it took for this weirdo to admire the Cosmic Belt, Jack was able to back-flip into the flames and procure the Rod.

The stranger decides to just go all-in... figuring there's no way Jack would survive the fire anyway... he drops a grenade in the shop.

Jack manages to get out just in the nick of time.

We shift scenes over to a brother and sister... they are Kyle (the weirdo from the store) and Nash, a young woman with a stutter.  It's made plainly clear that these two are responsible for wrecking all'a the havoc on the Knight family this evening...

... and they are doing so on behalf of their father... (the Golden-Age villain) the Mist!  They're sure both Knight boys are dead... but have not killed ol' Ted.

We wrap up with Jack trying to get his bearings.  We can tell he's thrown for a loop, since he refers to his brother here as "Danny" instead of David.  That's gotta be worth a "No-Prize", right?

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We've talked a time or two before about series' that... while they hold a special place in our hearts, they're somewhat difficult to return to.  My mind immediately goes to something like Peter David's Young Justice when I think of that.  Starman (vol.2) might be another.

I missed out on this the first time around, and so, when they started releasing trade paperback collections, I scooped 'em up, devoured 'em, and loved 'em!  These were the sorta lousy "incomplete" trades before they added all of the niceties we have these days.  I've tried time and again to return to them over the years, and for whatever reason, just can't get as into it.  I usually only make it through the first trade, before putting Jack and Company back on the shelf.

That said, I had a really good time with this issue.  Sure, it's a bit "purple" in places, though... I'm pretty sure that's due to who our narrator will eventually be revealed to be, so it makes sense.  If that's not the case, and I'm remembering wrong... woof, this is a li'l bit o' preciousness in the narration here.

Let's talk about Jack.  He's not entirely likable here, though it's somewhat easy to see his position.  He's part of a family with an established "business", which he is reluctant to join.  Nothing we haven't seen before, but done incredibly well.  Jack's got his passions, and superheroics/superheroing are not among them.

As a person who is perhaps a bit too nostalgic for his own good (including things I wasn't even around for), I can identify with Jack... as, I'm sure, can many comics enthusiasts.  He mentions the "smell" old things have... and, c'mon... what's more intoxicating than the smell of decomposing newsprint?  If I could bottle it, I would.  There's a certain magic to it... so much history, so much passion... it's really one of the best things ever.

I've often thought about when nostalgia became capital... we see Jack's Junk Store, and realize that people do make their livings helping people relive their past... or at least reclaim old treasures.  I've solicited opinions on the subject from a bunch of people (and did a fair amount of reading as well), and one of the more popular points of view is that nostalgia became "a thing" around the time oldies stations popped up on the radio.

Never before were entire generations able to imbibe in the sweet taste of yesteryear with such ease.  I think there might be something to that.  I started this portion of the discussion be admitting to having difficulty revisiting books of either a certain vintage... or ones I discovered at a certain age.  I cited Young Justice and this book... which, I'm almost positive I discovered around the same time.  Nostalgia (good and bad) is a funny thing... can really skew your perceptions, and alter your point of view.

With the rise of digital everything... I shudder at the thought of the potential age of arrested development we might be on the cusp of entering!  Why move forward when everything in the rear view was so much fun?

Okay, now I'm just babbling... when I ought to be basting (the turkey, that is).  I'll just leave it there.  This is a wonderful title that I'd recommend anyone and everyone pick up.  I think I'm going to try and revisit a few more of these in the coming days... see how rose-colored my glasses might become!  This series has been collected eight ways to Sunday (hell, it'll probably get a ridiculous and unnecessary DC Black Label branding soon enough... if it hasn't already), and is available digitally (for a buck!).

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Starman (vol.2) #27 (1997)

Starman (vol.2) #27 (February, 1997)
"Christmas Knight"
Writer - James Robinson
Guest Pencils - Steve Yeowell
Inks - Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors - Pat Garrahy
Letters - Bill Oakley/N.J.Q.
Assistant Editor - Chuck Kim
Editor - Archie Goodwin
Cover Price: $2.25

Merry Christmas (on Infinite Earths)!  Thanks to my inability to read a calendar properly... welcome to Day thirteen in our Twelve Days of Christmas on Infinite Earths.  If I'm still doing this next year... note to self: Start on December 14th... not December 13th!  Ya hear that, future Chris?

Anyhoo... Merry, Merry... and Happy, Happy...

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We open as the elder O'Dares prepare their family Christmas feast while discussing the merits of cranberry sauce... both real, and can-shaped.  After enduring each other's best Cratchit impressions, they chat about the pending arrival of family-friend Jack Knight... and his raspberry champagne punch.  He should arrive any minute... but where might he be at this very moment?  Why he is on his way... but after running into... Santa Claus, it seems as though his route might just become a whole lot more scenic.

Okay, this isn't the "real" Santa Claus... just a man who has fallen on (extremely) hard times.  He tells Jack that his locket was just stolen... a locket which contained the last picture of his wife and son... who passed away after a car accident.  He continues, informing Jack that shortly after the wreck, he'd kind of fallen apart... turned to the drink.  After one night falling asleep with a lit cigarette... he lost everything... except that locket.  He's dressed as Santa Claus as he'd taken a job as a bell-ringer... and while he was working, his own clothes were disposed of.  Jack agrees to find the missing jewelry.

Jack and Santa approach a transient who might just have a hot tip.  It is here that we learn that Santa know the thief's name... Danny Tolk.  For $20, their informant advises them that Tolk went to the "West Side Pits".  Jack gives the man $40 and tells him to find somewhere warm.  Before they depart, the informant mentions that Tolk was not alone... with him was a man who looked like he was wearing a monster mask.

We get to see a few vignettes from the O'Dare's Christmas get-together.  Family members arrive, and reconnect... it all feels very natural.  Even when families are close... there is still that possibility of having a sort of "adjustment" period.  Really dig this.  The O'Dares are soon joined by two more Starmen... the original, Jack's father Ted Knight, and our old friend from 1st Issue Special, Mikaal Tomas!  They are accompanied by Jack's friend Charity... which causes Faith to laugh... seeing as though the party now has a Hope, a Faith, and a Charity.

Back with Jack... he comes across a fella who was with Tolk when the locket-shakedown happened.  The transient is very apologetic, and claims to have only taken part because he was hungry.  Rather than run the guy in, Jack hands him $150 to get all of the local homeless a hot meal.

While this is happening, the O'Dares get a very special guest... The Shade!  I know for many folks who read this run on Starman, Shade is very much a highlight.  It was the time in which so many of us really met him, and saw the potential in his ambiguous, but ultimately... I dunno, good (?) character traits.  Anyhoo... he comes bearing a gift... a signed first-edition copy of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.  The O'Dares are shocked by the extravagance... but Shade brushes it off, claiming that Dickens had given him more than one copy.  If you're interested, a quick Google search will find you a signed first-edition for the measly sum of $35,000.

We return to Jack and Santa as Jack is in the midst of battle with Tolk and his monstrous partner "Crab Hand", who has a... well, crab-hand.  They are in a pawn broker's shop where they had initially intended to hock the locket, but instead decided to hold the place up.  Santa is attending to the fallen pawn broker.

Jack makes short work of the baddies, and we find out that the broker wasn't shot... but appears to have had a heart attack.  Not knowing CPR, Jack is pretty helpless here.  Thankfully, Santa is a Korean War vet, and is able to keep the fella alive until they can drop him off at the hospital.  As they leave, we see that Jack and Santa have retrieved the missing locket.

Santa thanks Jack... though Jack makes it clear he wishes he could do more.  He'd already given all of his money to the homeless tonight.  Santa assures Jack that he wouldn't accept any money from him... for what he'd done for him tonight is something he couldn't put a dollar value on.  Santa introduces himself as Pete... and the pair part company.

Back at the O'Dare's, the folks are wondering just what might be keeping Jack.  They assume it's some super-hero type stuff... and I guess they're kinda right.  Just then there's a knock at the door... it's Jack... and Pete!

The O'Dares are quick to accept Pete as part of the family for this night... and assure him as much when his emotions get the better of him.  No Pete, tonight is not the night for tears... it's for smiles, laughter... friends and family.

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Dang... gets me every time.  I'm glad I saved this one for Christmas Day.

It's been a long time (too long) since I've read through Starman.  It's definitely one of those "candy" books to me... I just fly through them.  Really ought to try to revisit this series soon.

This was a wonderful time... enjoyed every single page of it.  It is a story of charity, family, and taking the time to care for one's fellow man.  I really enjoyed the juxtaposition between Jack's tough talk and his charitable spirit.  He was on a simple quest of locket retrieval... and yet, he took the time to empty his own wallet to give to those less fortunate.

Santa/Pete... a man who lost everything he held dear, still knows the value of human life, and does what is needed of him in order to save the pawn broker.  There really was no reason for him to do so... outside of just doing the right thing.  This wasn't just Jack's story here... this was pretty much a Starman/Santa Claus team-up!

The O'Dare family bits were great!  I always love these kind of asides... especially with the backdrop of the Holidays.  It's so often we get caught up in the bustle... it's great to see the family pump the brakes a bit, and decompress in the glow of Christmas decorations and the warmth of family (and the oven!).

I don't think I've hid the fact that I'm a bit of a soft touch when reading certain comics.  It's not something I take any pride or embarrassment in... it's just a thing that is.  I gotta say, I was a bit trepidacious going into this one... didn't wanna blubber or nothin'.  I was fine until Mr. O'Dare tells Pete "No tears.  Not tonight."  Damn tickle in the back of my throat... almost made it!

Definitely a book and series I'd recommend to... well, anyone.  Comics fan or otherwise.  Just a magical series that hits all the right spots, and can getcha in all "the feels".  Starman truly sits in rarefied air... there really isn't anything else like it... least not anything I've come across.  This series has been collected several times over, including a series of very attractive omnibuses... which, may or may not have been completed.  This bugger is also available digitally at DC Digital.  This book definitely deserves a spot in your comics library.

Well, this has been our twelve thirteen Days of Christmas on Infinite Earths.  I hope folks enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed sharing.  I had a great time, though I gotta say I'm looking forward to things going back to normal.  I'm sure glad I didn't try and do a "25 Days of..." special!  Anyhoo... thanks (as always) for reading, Merry Christmas to you and yours... from me and mine!  Now I'm off for a long Winter's nap... until tomorrow.

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Yup... 1997

Played the hell out of this on that PlayStation demo disc that came with my original PS1

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O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...