Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., Vol. 2

Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #2

by Geoff Johns, Lee Moder

Courtney Whitmore was an average teenager when she learned that her stepfather, Pat Dugan, was once Stripesy, the sidekick of the Golden Age hero The Star-Spangled Kid. After modifying his old costume for herself, Courtney became the new Star-Spangled Kid, aiming to fight evil and annoy her stepfather. Instead of being annoyed, Dugan created a robotic suit he called S.T.R.I.P.E. and joined his daughters battle for justice. In this second and final volume of the series, the heroic duo battles the Dragon King, while Pat Dugans former comrades, the Seven Soldiers of Victory, face the threat of the Nebula Man.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Comics Manga

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2008

About the author

Geoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Comics. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time.

His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.

Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.

Reviews

[Sam Poole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this series is very good. The big problem is that it's too short! This should and could have gone on for 60 issues. Courtney doesn't get as much of a chance to shine as much of the story is instead focused on the JSA, legacy of the star spangled kid and setting up the JSA run johns subsequently had. It's still very Buffy and a fun story. The end is great and Pat and Courtney's relationship development is honestly outstanding. The art is good but the covers make her way too sexy. She's better when depicted as an awkward teenager because that's what she is! This short little series has so many ideas, characters and potential that it's really a bummer nt more happened with it.

[Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is the second volume of Geoff Johns first assignment for DC Comics (here's a review of the first volume), with a character based of off his late sister, who had been killed in the TWA 800 explosion in 1996. Unfortunately for Johns, I've been reading G. Willow Wilson's Ms. Marvel lately, and so when I read the adventures of this (at the time) new Star-Spangled Kid (and her step-dad Stripesy, who uses Iron Man like armor called S.T.R.I.P.E), I have Kamala Khan in mind as the gold standard of what a young female superhero can be. However, to be fair to Johns, the future Stargirl is a fairly innovative hero for being published in 2000. Yes, there had been teen female superheroes before (Wonder Girl, Batgirl and Supergirl, avatars of older more established and mostly male superheroes, as I discussed in my earlier review) but Courtney takes the Star-Spangled Kid identity of her own accord. In fact, in this volume Pat Dugan, the former Stripesy, when confronted with the choice to endorse Courtney's carrying on his former partner's legacy or handing it off to his son chooses Courtney, repudiating the idea that a superhero has to conform to specific parameters. Wilson takes this further with Ms. Marvel, but one could argue that Johns blazed the trail first.

The real weakness of this collection however was the cancellation of Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. itself after 14 issues. In the first half of this collection, Johns sets up several sub-plots involving Courtney's "real" dad and Dugan's biological son (who may have less than honorable intentions for wanting to be the new Star-Spangled Kid), only to have the rug pulled out from under him and being confronted with tying up the loose ends. While the Dugan's son sub-plot does a 180 the "Courtney's dad" thread ended up moving to Johns next assignment, JSA. But because the series was cancelled, it all feels rushed. Perhaps this volume would have been better had the series been allowed to continue, but that never happened.

If you are a fan of Johns, then the two volumes of Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. are an interesting historical archive of a writer's first work for a company that eventually he would be handed the keys of the kingdom to, but not indicative of the better work he did on The Flash and Green Lantern. But everyone has to start somewhere right?

[Nate]

Issue 9 is a nice recap of the Seven Soldiers of Victory’s final battle against Nebula Man, and their subsequent journey through time. The Dragon King/Shiv storyline follows, with Courtney and Pat growing closer as stepfather and stepdaughter. This was undoubtedly a very personal series for Johns (Courtney was inspired by his late sister). Courtney and Pat give the series its heart. I like the fun, family-oriented nature of Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., even if it’s not especially memorable in the long run. It doesn’t help that the title was cut short at 14 issues, with several threads left unresolved. Johns would revisit these in other books, but the ending here feels rushed nonetheless.

Once again, Johns’ attention to continuity and DC history remains a major strength. The Shining Knight cameo was a nice touch.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. wrapped up and I still love Johns' obvious love for the character he created and how she fits in this world. There was a little too much nostalgia and I'm not a fan of The Shining Knight at all. The best part of the book continues to be how Pat and Courtney begin to trust each other and become family. You see Mike and Barbara doing the same as the series ends. Lee Moder's art was very rushed at times but still fit Court well. Overall, a nice introduction to a great character.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picks up the pace from the first volume. I can't help but think it'd be better if there was a mix of school drama and superheroics from the start, as vol 1 started very slowly but this had a ton of action.

I did enjoy it, I'd absolutely love a longer Stargirl ongoing because it has potential and while she had a lot of JSA appearances, this explored her character better individually.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this series should have lasted longer. South a wonderful giddy story and ode to the past heroes of DC. It is very obvious that Geoff Johns was something of a force to be reckoned with for the future of DC comics.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I finally read these two volumes. I missed buying the monthly series when it came out. There's lots of heart and it's full of the Legacy aspect of the JSA that I love. Also love how rhe Stargirl tv show adapted the key portions of this while still doing some cool twists.

[Rahadyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope that DC sees fit to reissue both volumes in a hardcopy, omnibus format.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read with a fun Buffy meets silver age comic vibe.

That being said, the bickering between the heroes gets old and Courtney's attitude easily drifts into unsympathetic.

Nice use of DC history and any comic that focuses on the Seven Soldiers is going to get read by me, as I have a soft spot for those guys.

I generally enjoy Johns work before he became GEOFF JOHNS, the guy that can only write big event stories.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cluttered, rushed, and disappointing sequel.