Fish and Cherries Productions

Title: Starman Omnibus, Volume V
Author: James Robinson
Type: Comic Book
Genre: Superhero

Summary: The DC Universe is a tough place, and it’s even tougher when you’re the child of a former superhero. But Jack Knight, son of the Golden Age Starman Ted Knight, is having no trouble filling his father’s shoes and defending the majestic Opal City from terror and harm. But he has to put that on hold for a bit: acting on a promise from his girlfriend to find her long-lost brother, Jack is taking to the stars with a few allies to find him. While the police and a few unlikely acquaintences try and keep the city safe, Jack, Mikaal, and a computer imitating his dad go across space and even time searching for Thom Kallor, the lost Starman.

Jack Knight is one of my favorite narrative voices to listen to, alongside Harry Dresden. Both have very distinct voices that sound like real people and both have interesting insights about the powers they’ve been gifted with. These are my favorite types of characters, the ones I’d like to invite over and go a few round of X-Box with*. In this chronicle of Jack’s story, he shows a growing maturity in the face of countless odds, many of which are literally alien to him.

*Granted, Harry’s magic would destroy the X-Box just by him being near it, but that’s not the point.

But Jack isn’t the only great character in this ensemble. Starman is populated by dozens of colorful characters, some of whom’s skin tone can be found on the Roy G. Biv spectrum. My personal favorite will always be the Shade, the classiest immortal anti-hero this side of a Sephiroth fan fiction. Starman also manages to keep the rosters fresh by various guest stars from the rest of the DC Universe popping in. Captain Marvel, Adam Strange, the Legion of Superheroes, and Even Superman’s ancestors bring in their own charm to make an excellent series even moreso.

Normally, with the Starman Omnibuses, there are a few stories in one book because each one encompasses a sixth of the comic’s entire run. Volume 5 is an odd duck in that it has one arching plot throughout the whole book. As such, the thing felt like it dragged in more than a few places; the story doesn’t really develop in a relevant way until the end and everything else is more or less filler. It’s still good filler, though, and it is an absolutely minor nitpick in a very good story.

James Robinson’s Starman set the bar for quality when it came out in the 90s and few since then have managed to pass it. Beautiful artwork, intriguing characters, and a gripping story are only a few of its numerous qualities. My only regret is that I have one more omnibus before the journey is over…