Introduction to Starman Omnibus #4

James Robinson set out to write his ultimate comics saga by staying true to the real world. Of course his "real" world is different from others that have gone before him. His involves collectibles and tattoo ink as opposed to, say, biker rings and snake gods. Oh and Jack Knight is a lot like James at least was when these stories were coming out, whereas I doubt certain people were ever much like Rohrschach.

I first met James not long after the new Starman emerged in ZERO HOUR #1. He was doing a signing at LA's premiere comics book shop, Meltdown Comics on Sunset Boulevard and I just went up and introduced myself. A friendship slowly emerged from that, and literally for years James, myself and Gaston the shop's owner trekked one hour south every Saturday to buy comics we didn't need down in a town called Walnut. By the time the comics collected herein were published we had been friends for years, looking to work together on something.

I can't believe that over a decade has gone by since I first read these books. Upon re-reading, I was struck by how easy James' makes it look. He manages to shift tone almost imperceptibly, going from serious to cartoonish when dealing with the Big Red Cheese, to dark and brooding with the Hellboy books and then to everything and the kitchen sink with the 80 page Giant. In a world in which most writers excel at one thing only, this is no easy feat. James can write funny scenes, romantic interludes and action before most people finish their outlines.

I was struck too by how, at this point in the saga, James is damn good at working other characters into his stories. There's Batman, Hellboy, Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel, Sarge Steel (who the hell was that?), Golden Age Flash, Ragdoll (sort of) and dozens more from the DC Universe who drive up, say hello, and then move on. I could ask James why the old Fawcett hero Bulletman shows up in one of the longer stories, but I can already guess the answer. James liked the character and wanted to use him. Simple as that.

It's not the use of incidental characters that make this volume of Starman stand out however. You can tell in this volume James has reached his stride. He has sorted out, for the first time, the meshigas of the Starman legacy. Ted Knight, son Jack, the Kirby Starman, the blue guy, Mikaal etc. Maybe you didn't care to know, but thanks to James it all makes sense for the very first time. If, like me, you read comics because of the continuity of the characters which link to your memories growing up, then this herculean task is one to tip your hat to. You see, like Swamp Thing and Daredevil and Sandman before him, no one cared too much about Starman before James came along. This left a history that was convoluted, to say the least.

This volume, thanks to the vagaries of fate, is episodic. A lot of self-contained short stories. James is having the most fun with the 80 page giant. While tracking the history of an idol/weapon he manages to do short tales of all the major characters in the new Starman mythos. Gangsters, druggies and the like populate the adventures, as James flexes his muscles and writes many stories about one story. But my personal fave is the Times Past story with Phantom Lady. Not just because she's a cool character. James manages to take this almost ancient super heroine and effortlessly tie her into the present Starman world. You'll like it.

Though episodic, the stories all build toward James' masterwork, AMONG THE STARS which will really get going in the next volume. This saga, I feel, is still underrated and more than holds its own against WATCHMEN, A GAME OF YOU or THAT YELLOW BASTARD, similar comics highpoints. But you have to work to get your saga. You can't have EMPIRE without NEW HOPE. You can feel the cornerstones of the upcoming saga being laid all about you in this book.

James and I eventually did work together on a film that I produced and he scripted called THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. The Sean Connery starrer grossed $200 million worldwide and tons more on DVD. I'm proud of it. If you liked it, credit James's smart screenplay with making it work. If you are a hater, then blame someone other than the hard working screenwriter. Either way, if you are reading this volume I think you should check out the film.

If you read the amazingly introspective final essays in these volumes you can learn what happened to Jack Knight's real life counterpart in the ensuing decade. He's now happily married and living in San Francisco. Kismet. He's also writing some of the best comics out there every month. And I am glad that after all these years we remain friends.

Don Murphy
October 2009