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.

--

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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(Not the) Letters Page:

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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!

--

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?

--

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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(Not the) Letters Page:

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Justice League of America (vol.2) #0 (2006)

Justice League of America (vol.2) #0 (September, 2006)
"Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow"
Writer - Brad Meltzer
Pencillers - Eric Wright, Dick Giordano, Tony Harris, George Perez, J.H. Williams III, Luke McDonnell, Gene Ha, Rags Morales, Ethan Van Sciver, Kevin Maguire, Adam Kubert, Dan Jurgens, Jim Lee, Howard Porter, Andy Kubert, Phil Jimenez & Ed Benes
Inkers - Paul Neary, Kevin Nowlan, Dexter Vines, Jesse Delperdang, Andy Lanning & Sandra Hope
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Colorist - Alex Sinclair
Assistant Editor - Jeanine Schaeffer
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.99

Well, that be a lotta pencillers, eh?  Wow, for the first time in ever I couldn't fit'em all into the tags/labels!

This is bound to be an amazing book right?  Either that or a colossal mess, to be sure?  Well, nah... it's neither of those things really... but we'll get there.  I guess I'm still in a post-Infinite Crisis mood (is anyone ever in an Infinite Crisis mood?  This might be a first!), so we may as well see how the new-look League (starts to) shake out!

This bugger features a lot of callbacks (it's basically a series of vignettes of the past and "future")... and I'll do my best to fill in the bits and pieces as we go.

--

We open in the Batcave... a long time ago.  This is happening right after Justice League of America #9 (February, 1962) "The Origin of the Justice League" (Gardner Fox/Mike Sekowsky)... ya know, the one with where the Leaguers are almost turned into trees?  Superman is trying to convince Batman that when a threat becomes too big for one of them, they should band together as the Justice League to take it down.  Batman kinda hems and haws, before accepting.  This is drawn in a time-appropriate style, the "face" part of Batman's cowl is darker than the rest, sort of like the Adam West '66 show.

After the handshake heard 'round the world... both men look a bit ill at ease.  Turns out they aren't alone.  Wonder Woman is also there... invited by both men without checking with one another, it's a pretty cute bit.

We jump ahead in League history to around issue #102 of Justice League of America (October, 1972) "... And One of Us Must Die!" (Len Wein/Dick Dillin) where Red Tornado sacrifices himself to save the team.  Our trinity really starts tearing into one another about this... Diana thinks Red Tornado was kind of their best bet for a sacrifice, as "it's better we lost a machine than one of our own."  Batman is furious... he always thought they considered Tornado "one of their own" regardless.

Next stop, the future... or a possible one, at least.  The trinity is attending the wedding of... Hal Jordan?  Ehhh? They are joshing one another about the betting odds for some of the male Leaguers taking a wife.  Behind the three is a woman lost in thought... I'm gonna take a stab and say this is Carol Ferris... and Hal's marrying another woman.  This story (to my knowledge) never came to pass, so it's pretty moot.

The talk of weddings leads us to a flashback to an issue we discussed here not too long ago!  The wedding of Donna Troy and the Creep... er, Terry Long in Tales of the Teen Titans #50 (February, 1985) "We Are Gathered Here Today......." (Marv Wolfman/George Perez).  We get a neat callback (via Perez's own pencil!) to a discussion Dick and Bruce had during the reception.

Tales of the Teen Titans #50 (Feb, 1985) / Words-Wolfman - Art/Perez

Back to... the future, where we see the trinity fighting Lex Luthor!  Lex has actually punched Batman in the face so hard he knocked a tooth out!  He's ranting about something having happened to his son... which, again... this is a possible future, I suppose.... buuuuut, being as though this is right after Infinite Crisis, an event that saw the death of Superboy (Kon-El/Conner Kent), who was cloned from a DNA cocktail featuring the mojo of Superman and Lex Luthor, he might be referring to that.

Back to the past, and we're at around Justice League of America Annual #2 (1984) "The End of the Justice League" (Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton).  This is at the dawning of the Detroit-League run by Aquaman, and featuring characters like Vibe, Gypsy, Vixen, and Commander Steel.  Batman ain't quite feelin' it... I feel like that's something of a theme here.  Superman and Wonder Woman try to get him to settle his tea kettle... and tell him it's Arthur's turn to run the show.

Back to the future... and this is a story that actually came to pass.  We're in Smallville, and in the shadow of Pa Kent's passing (at the end of the Brainiac storyline right before the New Krypton saga), Clark has returned to try and remove all traces of Superman.  Of interest, he fills in the tunnel from his childhood bedroom, which I've always associated with pre-Crisis Superboy... hmm...

Back to the past... and the Batcave!  Batman and Wonder Woman spar as Superman looks on.  Batman is excited that he's found himself a new partner... Jason Todd!  This kid's gonna be great, really great!  This is the first time in awhile Batman feels "alive".  Can't really place this one... since, ya know... Batman met Jason Todd twice.  His happiness here makes me think pre-Crisis, however everything Red Hood related from here on makes me think post.

To the future!  We're on Paradise Island as Wonder Woman is preparing for her upcoming nuptials.  Apparently her taking a husband brings with it a sacrifice... her immortality!  Can't say that this story ever happened... my Wonder Woman knowledge is pretty spotty.  I'm gonna go with "never happened".

In the past, we get a little bwa-ha-ha, when the trinity huddles around a photo of a kayoed Guy Gardner.  This occurred in Justice League #5 (September, 1987) "Gray Life Gray Dreams" (Keith Giffen/J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire) They ask Batman about the (to my mind, kinda "over referenced" by this point) "one punch".  It's sad that an entire (amazing) run of Justice League is often reduced to Batman punching Guy Gardner.

In the future, Superman arrives to the new JLA Satellite for his annual meeting with the rest of the trinity... alas, they are a no-show.  Clark sheds a single tear.  Not sure this one ever came to pass either.  It looks like the League has the head of the Incredible Hulk in their trophy room though!

Back to the past, looks like we're hopping into my wheelhouse, 1992.  Batman and Wonder Woman see the news of Superman's passing.  That of course happened in Superman (vol.2) #75 (January, 1993) "Doomsday!" (Dan Jurgens).  All Bruce can say is that they're going to need to build a stronger League next time.  A reference to Doomsday absolutely wrecking the current League, and perhaps the justification for Wonder Woman joining the "new" League immediately following the Death of Superman.

In the future, the trinity discuss a recent revelation by the Flash... wouldja believe, there's a second Earth out there?  I remember there being some rumblings and measures taken in regard to doing some Earth-2 stuff post-Infinite Crisis, but it never felt like it took off.

Back to the past!  Superman and Wonder Woman are reading Batman the riot act on his secretly having protocols on taking out each member of the League should they go rogue.  This doesn't sound like a terrible idea, until you consider what might happen if say... Ra's al Ghul were to get a hold of them.  This happened in the Tower of Babel arc in JLA, issues 43-46 (Mark Waid/Howard Porter).  In the fallout of this arc (JLA #50 - February, 2001 - Mark Waid/Bryan Hitch), the League members revealed their secret identities to one another.

And, back to the future... Wonder Woman and Superman are at Crime Alley in Gotham City discussing the passing of Batman.  This would (sorta) eventually come to pass nearly a half-decade after this issue!  Superman/Batman #76 (November, 2010) "The Brave and the Bold" (Judd Winick/Marco Rudy) featured Superman's reaction to the death(s) of Batman.  I get fuzzy here because Batman died in Final Crisis... and during Batman R.I.P., right?!

We next get a very brief flashback bit regarding Batman's involvement with Brother Eye... like one panel brief.  They are discussing events that occurred during the OMAC Project miniseries (2005-Greg Rucka) which was part of the lead-up to Infinite Crisis.

That's our last time-traveling moment here, as we (finally) arrive in the present.  Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are having their latest annual Trinity-Meeting.  Batman accidentally refers to the League as "friends", which is pretty cute.

Our issue ends with the big-three knowing they've got a few big decisions ahead of them... and, ya know, gets our hopes up about what new members they're going to add to the ol' order.

--

It's hard to really review this as a story... but it's still something worth checking out.  Not only does it provide a fun Justice League history lesson (including art from the original artists, or in the style of) but it also helps us conceptualize what the current post-Infinite Crisis DC Universe may look like.

I remember having a ton of questions following Superboy-Prime's reality punch insofar as what is and isn't part of continuity anymore.  This issue allows us to observe vignettes to answer (even nebulously) some of those questions.

I think I could have done without some of the "flash forwards", which wound up not panning out.  Not sure if they were included as red herrings, or if they simply didn't wind up happening due to... whatever reasons.  It is interesting to consider that even as Infinite Crisis was a thing, DC already had an eye toward Final Crisis (if, in fact, that's what the Crime Alley scene was alluding to). Seems like an unreal amount of forethought for a comic book company of any era.

The first time I read this, I think my main takeaway was the idea that perhaps Superman was, at one time, Superboy.  I wasn't terribly familiar with the concept, or even fond of it at the time... but it was still intriguing.  I saw this as, potentially, the first radical shift (that didn't serve a larger story) to a character I'd "grown up with".  Hell, it's possible I was reading too much into it... but, that underground tunnel in Clark's room always yelled "Superboy" to me.

It was neat revisiting some older incarnations of the League... even if I could do without the "cheap pop" Batman "one-punching" Guy Gardner reference.  It really bugs me that when folks talk about that era they're all "One Punch!  One Punch!" rather than talking about all of the great stories and character work that amazing run brought with it.  Though, I guess it's good enough people remember it at all.

The art was... ya know, kinda jarring... but in the right way.  This is supposed to be something of a Justice League community quilt... it's supposed to look different as it goes.  I'll say that I wasn't a fan of all the art here, but feel it did all serve the tone(s) the book is going for.

Overall, as I read this I thought to myself "Self, this would'a made a really good Free Comic Book Day issue!" and upon further review, saw that it actually was the year after it came out!  Then I thought... hey, I can tell folks to check this one out digitally for free!  But alas, no... it is available digitally, but it's gonna cost ya some credits.  I'd say it's worth a look, though I would advise against breaking the bank to do so... it does, after all, feature Terry Long.

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