Starman, Vol. 5: Infernal Devices

Starman (1994)

by James Robinson, Tony Harris (Illustrator)

The fifth collection from the critically acclaimed "Starman" series, featuring the Eisner Award-winning team of James Robinson, Tony Harris and Wade von Grawbadger. Young Jack Knight, hero of Opal City, must stop the evil of Dr. Pip and save the enigmatic giant known as Solomon Grundy in this epic that guest-stars Batman and the Golden Age Green Lantern.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Science Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

James Dale Robinson is a British writer of American comic books and screenplays.

Reviews

[Daniel Sevitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a fair amount of Jack Knight getting saved by others at the last second in this volume. Perhaps that's the lesson. I enjoyed the trip into Solomon Grundy's subconscious even if I didn't love the portrayal of Batman here or the twee conversation about everyone's fave Woody Allen movie. some of Robinson's wordiness feels dated, but I still think that it mostly originated with him and so I forgive him his excesses.

I was never a big fan of the JSA so those issues drowning in nostalgia leave me a little cold. Solid.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun crossovers, some pretty major plot twists. As well as the continuing motifs of collectibles and different aesthetic preferences. The Mist becomes both incredibly creepy and incredibly formidable in this volume even as she is a side note to the more pressing Dr. Pip, who subverts a number of supervillain tropes even as Mist creepily, consciously leans hard into them. This is opera ladies and gentleman, it may not be great for those seeking the subtle and timid, but you don't see opera for timid voices.

[Roberto Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Infernal Devices pits Starman against the bomber called Infernal Pip, but also deepening the universe of Opal City. From the opening one-shot story about an ex-con returning to Opal trying to find a new leaf, to the tale of the rescue of a friend from inside the depths of his own mind, and the revelation of the motives of a ghost figure walking Opal since volume one. Threads from previous volumes keep growing closer, with a wonderful cast of recurring and guest characters.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty intriguing, but this new volume still doesn't stand up to some of the earlier ones. With the introduction of a new character from a alternate timeline, things are starting to get MUCH more interesting. However, there are still more questions than answers and I'm hoping these get answered shortly.

[Alex E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mad bomber on the loose is evading the police and even Starman himself. And what's worse is that he is frighteningly good at what he does. Also, a battle for the very essence of Solomon Grundy.

AFter the last volume, which was very much a breather in terms of action we get two storylines that were a bit more action packed... for the most part. James Robinson is great at rounding out the stories, so that it's not just half a plot and a bunch of action, no - we get to actually learn about our characters, and the villains (to an extent). We see interactions between characters, and we see how events transpire from things learned or experienced. I really like the way Robinson writes, as it flows very naturally and feels organic.

The art switches between Tony Harris - who lends his pencils to his last few issues, and Mark Buckingham from Fables fame. The book looked great, and their styles meshed well. I think the booko needs to have a bit of a toned down, realistic look to it, and both of these artists hit the mark really well.

Overall a really solid volume of Starman. One that grew not only the mythos but the explores the past as well. HIghly recommended for fans of the series.

[Brian Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its interesting that this arc opens with the issue covered "Join the Revolution" trying to further draw in new readers to this clearly hot new book - not dissimilar to the Sandman issue 8 (?) that opens with a "what has gone on before" to help acclimate new readers - just as the time when the book starts to fade. The stories in this volume show the first stages of the self indulgence that will eventually become 'decompressed' storytelling, and it really hurts it overall. The first advertised 4 issue story ends up running 6 issues, which is a good indicator of things to come. It's a shame.

it's not that the book is bad; it's just on its way to being nowhere near as good.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m divided on this one. On the one hand it has issue 29, which holds a special place in heart, and a damn good, mostly self contained story. But the main story of the mad bomber Pip is disjointed in story and art, with the regular team having to juggle the regular story with imposed the DC big cross over at the time. Have two artist who are so very different from Tony Harris is jarring. There are bright spots, such as Jack and Sadie dating and talking, or Jack’s reverence of Alan Scott (same!), and the Talking with David story where Jack learns from Golden Age heroes who’ve passed on. But the parts don’t come together a cohesive whole.

[***Dave Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robinson's Starman series remains one of my favorites, and even as this volume marks the farewell of Tony Harris as artist, it's still at the top of its form here. Ex-villains, ghost pirates, a bombing spree by Mr Pip, Batman and Solomon Grundy, a Dinner with David, and the murderous madness of the new Mist. It's all a little good, if slightly scattered.

[James Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grab-bag of stories with only a few threads connecting them all together, but still an interesting installment in the series. The Solomon Grundy stuff was probably my favorite, though I also appreciated the backstory of the Black Pirate. (The last story struck me as a little mean, though.) (A-)

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less pages by Tony Harris who is an awesome artist, but the rest is great.
James Robinson is a fabulous writer and how he manages to blend back ground stores into arcs later on reminds me of a better Dennis O’Neil.
Jack dealing with Batman is almost as great as when Hitman dealt with Batman.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mad bomber is striking at various points in Opal City and only Jack Knight, the city's current Starman, and his rag tag supporting cast of cops, a reformed monster and a villain can stop him.
Lots of action, strong characterization of one of the all time great comic book supporting cast, a vile bad guy and a fictional city that feels entirely real.
Starman is one of the great comic book series. Brilliant in how it takes comic history and builds on it.

[Alan]

Jack has to be a more active hero than usual with the firebombing Pip destroying parts of Opal. Nice interaction between Jack and Sadie. The Shade starts to develop more as a character, and we find out why the ghost of the Black Pirate is haunting the city.

[Armand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Starman sequel from the 90's. Here is a link to my somewhat lengthy blog review of Starman: https://armandinezian.wordpress.com/2...

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darn fine graphic novel. Start with volume 1 and read them all.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, all of the backstory (some 3 years worth) pays off... I do NOT understand how the book lasted long enough to get here, though.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm liking the Starman series -- it's not a work of graphic novel literature, but it's been entertaining.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite so far, nearly gave it five stars. I'd say 4.5 at least.

[Jamie Manley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. The last story “Talking with David 97” gets 5 stars all by itself.

[John Wick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hardcore.