Starman

Starman 54-60

The rest of the “Stars My Destination” arc.  This is way better than the first half, since it’s focused on Jack’s rescue of Will Payton, who turns out to be Prince Gavyn reincarnated (or something like that, it’s complicated and very retconn-y).  A decently satisfying ending to a really, really long story.  (Issue 55, the one that made me quit the series the first time around, is equally bad this time.  It’s a stupid Roshamon about how Gavyn’s energy staff ended up where it did.)

Amazing use of sound effects by Craig Hamilton.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice (Disliked for 55)

Starman 61-73

The “Grand Guignol” arc - Culp, Shade heretofore unseen archnemesis, unveils his master plan to destroy Opal City.  Because he hates the Shade.  It’s all very convoluted and ties in all the plot threads James Robinson has been laying out since the very beginning of the comic.  It’s perhaps needlessly complicated, but it’s nice that he gets to show off his master plan, much like Culp himself.  

As with “Stars My Destination,” this gets better as it goes.  There’s a lot of set up and explanation that needs to happen.  (The two Culp history issues are particularly monologue-y and ponderous.  He isn’t nearly as interesting as Robinson seems to think, and I really didn’t need to see how he recruited every single one of his henchmen.)

Things get really fun once the heroes start fighting back.  There’s a real scrappiness to it, and Robinson pulls off the “each hero has their own subquest to accomplish, and if any one of them fails, it’ll all go to shit” trope very well.

Sigh.  Sue Dibny.  Identity Crisis ruined her.

What a cute moment.

Robinson saves his best for last, with Ted’s sacrifice/death and his memorial service.  Robinson treads well-walked ground here, but the execution is pitch perfect; Ted’s sacrifice is moving and suitably heroic.  He gets to hug his grandson, say goodbye to his son, save the city he loves, share a final moment with his archnemesis, and die in an explosion of glory.  Good stuff.  

Anticlimactic ending for Jack's archnemesis.

Jack’s grief, plus the added wrinkle of being a new single parent, is palpable, and the gamut of feelings that he’s experiencing comes across loud and clear.  Really nice writing by Robinson and ably supported by Peter Snejbjerg on art.

Right, his girlfriend leaves him as well.  Poor guy :(

Art fail.  How in the world is the cosmic rod strapped to his back?

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice to Pretty Good to Good by the last two issues.  66 and 68 Didn’t Suck.