Dreadstar, Vol. 3: Plan M

Dreadstar #3

by Jim Starlin

This book collects the first six issues of the original and long out-of-print Dreadstar series. Follow Dreadstar & Company as they attempt to end the two-hundred year war between the Instrumentality and the Monarchy. While on the run from Lord High Papal, Dreadstar's band of outlaws must cut a deal with the Monarchy's King Gregzor and get the assistance of The Commune before they can launch their ultra-secret scheme to bring peace to the universe known only as...Plan M.

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Space Opera

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters Thanos and Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. Death and suicide are recurring themes in Starlin's work: Personifications of Death appeared in his Captain Marvel series and in a fill-in story for Ghost Rider; Warlock commits suicide by killing his future self; and suicide is a theme in a story he plotted and drew for The Rampaging Hulk magazine.

In the mid-1970s, Starlin contributed a cache of stories to the independently published science-fiction anthology Star Reach. Here he developed his ideas of God, death, and infinity, free of the restrictions of mainstream comics publishers' self-censorship arm, the Comics Code Authority. Starlin also drew "The Secret of Skull River", inked by frequent collaborator Al Milgrom, for Savage Tales #5 (July 1974).

When Marvel Comics wished to use the name of Captain Marvel for a new, different character,[citation needed] Starlin was given the rare opportunity to produce a one-shot story in which to kill off a main character. The Death of Captain Marvel became the first graphic novel published by the company itself. (

In the late 1980s, Starlin began working more for DC Comics, writing a number of Batman stories, including the four-issue miniseries Batman: The Cult (Aug.-Nov. 1988), and the storyline "Batman: A Death in the Family", in Batman #426-429 (Dec. 1988 – Jan. 1989), in which Jason Todd, the second of Batman's Robin sidekicks, was killed. The death was decided by fans, as DC Comics set up a hotline for readers to vote on as to whether or not Jason Todd should survive a potentially fatal situation. For DC he created Hardcore Station.

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume introduces the reader to Dreadstar and Company - aka Vanth Dreadstar, Syzygy Darklock, Willow, Oedi and Skeevo. Freedom fighters in some distant future, in some distant galaxy … far, far away. And Dreadstar in one of the best space opera stories ever published in the sequential art form. This volume culminates with the revelation of Plan M and how Dreadstar and Company plan to free their galaxy from both The Monarchy and the Instrumentality. If your a fan of cosmic level superhero sagas, it doesn’t get any better than this.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost good science fiction comic.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the greatest story and character from this awesome comic writer and artist. Incredible story and characters. Exceptional plot. Highly recommended