damn, but this stuff is good.

[thehefner]

What Neil Gaiman's SANDMAN is for fantasy, what FABLES is for fairy tales, James Robinson's STARMAN is for superheroes.

I just had no idea until this past week.

It was probably a foolish thing to buy the entire series without having really read it before. I thought it would be important for my collection, especially considering I want to build my collection around having good and important stories to lend to people like spacechild, and it's a pretty beloved and raved-about comic. But of course, that latter part means nothing. Some extremely popular books are either total crap claptrap to me (see most of Jeph Loeb) or are completely lost on me (I do not understand the appeal of SCOTT PILGRIM... it reads like a lame webcomic).

And let's not forget, this is James Robinson. The dude wrote the screenplays for LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN and COMIC BOOK VILLIANS, but to mention the abysmal "Face the Face" Batman story recently. And yet, I blindly bought (or rather, had Dad buy for me for Christmas) the entire run of STARMAN. And thank god I did.

I'm only halfway through the series right now, so of course I worry about it petering out. I still haven't gotten over what happened with DARK TOWER, the resentment of which grows the more I think about it. But so far, it's absolutely wonderful, a nostalgic love letter to classic superheroes. Not superpowered superheroes, but rather the mystery men of the 1940's, normal guys with no superhuman powers of their own who throw on a colorful costume or a fedora and trench coat and fight crime and nazis.

And at the same time, it's very much its own thing, firmly establishing the unique nature of Starman, his enemies, and his city. It's not about one single superhero, but rather about the generations of people and families tied together by Opal City and the protectors who, for one reason or another, called themselves "Starman." The characters are all rich, complex, and rather delightful in their ways, and a literate sense of wonderment pervades all ten books of the entire STARMAN saga.

But at this point, I doubt I'm converting much anyone who hasn't already long ago read these books. It's a shame. No, scratch that. The real shame is that several volumes of this series seem to be out of print, including volume 3, "A Wicked Inclination," which includes the lovely and moving "Sand and Stars" story. If all the volumes were currently available, I'd be pushing STARMAN right alongside my top recommendations: THE WALKING DEAD, Y-THE LAST MAN, EX MACHINA, INVINCIBLE, PUNISHER (MAX), and Alan Moore's SWAMP THING.

Ah well. At least what I can do is lend the books to friends.

Comments

[adaptor.livejournal.com]

"but rather the mystery men of the 1940's, normal guys with no superhuman powers of their own who throw on a colorful costume or a fedora and trench coat and fight crime and nazis."

Dang, but you have got to read my play!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Hee hee hee, I have been thinking about it, I confess. Rest assured, I shall one of these days.

Still, he doesn't have a WWI era gas mask, does he?

[adaptor.livejournal.com]

I assume he must have.



And no one new more about how to rock the costume ware than our Mme. D'Arc.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Hardcore.

Oh yeah, it's that John Dark fella.

[suburbfabulous.livejournal.com]

Read every issue of STARMAN, from the first preview during Zero Hour.
That and ILLEGAL ALIEN are Robinson's best.
Rock.
G.

[kosher-jenny.livejournal.com]

What a coincidence, I'm working my way through Starman right now. Have you gotten to the arc where he teams up with the Sandman? (the golden age one) That was pretty keen. And the Shade is awesome, but that goes without saying. ;) It's a shame that some of the trades seem to be out of print.

All that talk about how the series treats the golden age mystery men reminds me that I still need to download the Shadow radio programs from archive.org.

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

My collection of this series is unfortuantely incomplete. I ahev the beginnings and the endings, but there's a few bits in the middle I need and the store no longer has them much of the time. I managed to save what i do have from the flood last year, thankfully.

I really loved the series, right to the end, what I have. The voice is refreshing and the love for the golden age superheroes is just awesome.

[heykidzcomix.livejournal.com]

I thought it really slowed down when Jack et al. went to space, but the rest was brilliantly cozy.

(Also, YEA upon your Scott Pilgrim diagnosis.)

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

And I ask again: do you have and are willing to sell the Shade mini-series?

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Yeah! That was the selfsame "Sand and Stars" I mentioned above. I thought it was simply awesome and honestly moving in places. Although before I lend STARMAN to anyone now, I'll lend them SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE, so they can see some of the greatness that is Wesley Dodds. And the worst part is, far as I can tell, that trade is the only one out of print.

Those classic Shadow programs are indeed awesome. Must... buy... Blue Coal...

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

The only one I think is outright out of print (according to Amazon.com) is the brilliant third volume, "A Wicked Inclination." So if you need to get 'em in trade...

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm wondering about that story myself, but it DOES have Space Cabby.

And yeah, I knew at least you'd agree about Scott Pilgrim. One customer at the store asked if we had the first volume. When I said we had sold out, he said, "Yeah, probably because it's too good!" I just rolled my eyes. Just do NOT get it.

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

I think that may be one I'm missing? Argh, I need the list. And then I need to ransack the book room adn find what I have.

[swimpenguin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I put in an order for the third volume at my comic store and the guy said it could take a month or two, and yup, it's still taking that long :) And amazon is of no help, pricey pricey.

[suburbfabulous.livejournal.com]

Yes and maybe.
I wish they'd collected it, somewhere.

[suburbfabulous.livejournal.com]

Sloooooooooooow...aaaaaaaaaas...shiiiiiiit...aaaaaaafterrrrr...tooooo...muuuuuch...cheeeeese.
Still, better than the stupid Gotham Earthquake crap that was being foisted on us at the same time!