Starman

Starman 74-75

The death of Brian Savage, followed by a chat between Jack and Superman where Jack reveals that he’s thinking about quitting the superhero gig.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Starman 76

The last “Talking with David,” this time predictably with Ted as well.  It’s a lot of navel gazing about the lineage of Starmen, and a completely unnecessary recap of the entire run given that I’d just read the whole thing.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Starman 77-79

Because James Robinson has a compulsion to retcon every Starman ever into this narrative (I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, it’s pretty impressive), Jack’s final adventure takes him to 1951 to learn the identity of the Starman from that year.  It turns out to be his brother David, somehow.  Coincidentally, since I just watched Spider-Man: No Way Home yesterday, David got pulled to another time and place in the moment before he dies.  The realization that he’s about to return is haunting, but the rest of the arc is so so.  Oh, it is interesting to see Ted Knight while he’s still struggling with his part in atomic bomb development.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Starman 80

Final issue.  James Robinson hits all the classic “last episode wrap up” beats, and quite effectively.  Jack says goodbye to everyone, bequeaths his staff to Stargirl, and drives off to live the rest of his life.  It’s enormously satisfying, and while the second half of the series wasn’t nearly as good as the first, I’m glad that Robinson had the chance to tell this epic story that he must’ve had planned from the very beginning.  

The bit with Mason, Charity, and Zatara is completely random, but for some reason, I absolutely love it.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Starman 81

I don’t know who was asking for this nine years later, but here we are with a Robinson-penned “Blackest Night” tie-in.  A resurrected David Knight fights Shade and the O’Dares.  Shade and Hope admit they’re in love with each other.  Works for me.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Shade 1-12

The Shade goes on a series of adventures before Robinson finally tells us how he originally got his shadow powers.  (It’s not nearly as interesting as whatever the reader had imagined in their head.)  Also, Shade’s personality jumps all over the place, it’s pretty disconcerting.  The stories are fine, it’s the art that makes this worth keeping - Darwyn Cooke, Javier Pulido, Frazer Irving, and Gene Ha all contribute to the fun.  

The ending also comes out of nowhere, with no kind of closure with Hope.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Starman

Starman Annual 1

Shade of the far far future tells stories about two Starmen.  Cools.  More world building.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Starman 80-Page Giant

James Robinson uses a tribal African knife to connect Starman characters through six time periods.  It’s pretty forced, and not that interesting on top of it.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Didn’t suck

Shade 1-4

This is such a good series, a great example of using conflict to illustrate character.  Every conflict between the Ludlows and Shade reveals another facet of his personality.  By the way, love the concept of a family hellbent on killing an immortal being across generations.

Also, what a great group of artists. Even Bret Blevins, who does acceptable work here.

Outstanding, beautiful work from Gene Ha.

He really is a big softie.

I don't buy Shade dressing like a hipster, but it is a sweet looking outfit.

Yeah, running sucks.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

Starman Annual 2

Another opportunity for Robinson to tell multiple stories.  This time, he delves into the romantic lives of Scalphunter, Ted Knight, and David Knight.  It’s all framed by Sadie falling in love with Jack and her eventual reveal that she’s Will Payton, one of the Starmen of the past.  (Along with Marguerite Ludlow, there’s a lot of “falling in love with you was never part of the plan” going on.) It’s all very effective.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Starman 36

And on cue, we get a “Times Past” featuring Will Payton.  We’re also introduced to the Bodines  (A more murderous Bonnie and Clyde).  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Starman 37-38

The third “Talking with David.”  The brothers have dinner with the dead members of the JSA.  It’s followed by the Mist killing off a bunch of Justice League of Europe wannabes.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good