Review by Frank Plowright
The groan inducing title refers to Jack Knight now being among the stars within a fabulously decorative old spaceship, in the company of blue-skinned alien Mikaal, and a very capable holographic representation of his father. As shown in To Reach the Stars, he has a purpose, but that’s not going to be fulfilled for a while, so put that to the back of your mind and enjoy the trip.
It’s almost a complete change on the creative front. First Steve Yeowell, then new regular artist Peter Snejbjerg are both excellent, although their strengths lie in storytelling rather than the decorative embellishments of their predecessor Tony Harris. Yeowell looks best when inking his own work, while Snejbjerg works with Keith Champagne on inks.
James Robinson is now plotting with screenwriter David Goyer, then already a man with an impressive CV, and what they produce together is unpredictable and largely very good. Jack travels not only in space, but in time, visiting the 30th century and the 1920s. Along the way he visits places familiar to those immersed in DC continuity, although this is no tying up of loose ends for the few, but an all-access pleasure.
The space setting means the stories are more science-fiction oriented, but the strong character-based writing is consistent, so it little matters whether Jack Knight is interacting with the sterile society of Krypton or the squeaky clean future of the Legion of Super-Heroes, adequately defined via a mere two members. The annual conversation with David Knight is for Mikaal here, and even with Starman in space Robinson manages to foreshadow future material. Warnings are given, by several people actually, and Jack becomes increasingly more capable as he faces greater challenges.
What’s most impressive is that despite the distance from Earth and location, Robinson and Goyer find methods of incorporating versions of the regular supporting cast. That’s while also introducing at least one person who’ll have a relevance in the future, and guest shots for Adam Strange and the Justice Society, although not as we know them.
This and its successor Stars my Destination form volume five of the Starman Omnibus series, along with a few extras. One, sadly missing here, has always welcome Craig Hamilton art.
