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Jim Starlin's Dreadstar Omnibus Volume 1
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jan 79
The spiraled arms of the Milky Way embrace hundreds of billions of stars, planets, and Earth--the little blue dot we call home.
But humans aren't the only inhabitants of this swirling galactic disc; it's also given rise to a number of beautiful and terrible alien species--one of which is so dangerous, so destructive, and so inevitable that the only way to save the universe is to DESTROY THE MILKY WAY.
Vanth Dreadstar, last survivor of the Milky Way, has been tasked with safeguarding the future from the same fate that befell our galaxy. His crew, a cyborg sorcerer Syzygy Darklock, cybernetic telepath Willow, cat-like humanoid Oedi, and the freebooter Skeevo, are the universe's unlikely protectors.
From the mind of comics icon Jim Starlin (Infinity Gauntlet, Captain Marvel, Warlock), creator of Thanos, Drax, Gamora, and many more, comes an eon-spanning space fantasy--remastered and collected from the very beginning in this, the first of three definitive tomes!
But humans aren't the only inhabitants of this swirling galactic disc; it's also given rise to a number of beautiful and terrible alien species--one of which is so dangerous, so destructive, and so inevitable that the only way to save the universe is to DESTROY THE MILKY WAY.
Vanth Dreadstar, last survivor of the Milky Way, has been tasked with safeguarding the future from the same fate that befell our galaxy. His crew, a cyborg sorcerer Syzygy Darklock, cybernetic telepath Willow, cat-like humanoid Oedi, and the freebooter Skeevo, are the universe's unlikely protectors.
From the mind of comics icon Jim Starlin (Infinity Gauntlet, Captain Marvel, Warlock), creator of Thanos, Drax, Gamora, and many more, comes an eon-spanning space fantasy--remastered and collected from the very beginning in this, the first of three definitive tomes!
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
512 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 2, 2079
About the author
Jim Starlin
1,340 books447 followersJames 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Jim Starlin's Dreadstar is curiously a tale in two parts.
The first part, which is properly "Metamorphosis Alpha" is much more a high-concept/art piece. Running through Epic Magazine and various graphic novels, it's the sort of story you'd have found in Heavy Metal (or some of the stranger SF books of the '60s). "Must they destroy the galaxy to save it?" Absolutely gorgeous art, interesting SF, poor characterization.
The second part, which is properly "Dreadstar" is a much more typical monthly comic. One might even call it a variant of Star Wars, since Vanth Dreadstar and his small crew of rebels are fighting against the intergalactic empire. Except it turns out to be two empires, which offers some depth and variety to the trope.
The two storylines are continuous, despite the big change in style, and they fight together fairly well. Good to have the whole story here, even if it's become a much more standard comic by the end.
And what an annoying cliffhanger at the end!
The first part, which is properly "Metamorphosis Alpha" is much more a high-concept/art piece. Running through Epic Magazine and various graphic novels, it's the sort of story you'd have found in Heavy Metal (or some of the stranger SF books of the '60s). "Must they destroy the galaxy to save it?" Absolutely gorgeous art, interesting SF, poor characterization.
The second part, which is properly "Dreadstar" is a much more typical monthly comic. One might even call it a variant of Star Wars, since Vanth Dreadstar and his small crew of rebels are fighting against the intergalactic empire. Except it turns out to be two empires, which offers some depth and variety to the trope.
The two storylines are continuous, despite the big change in style, and they fight together fairly well. Good to have the whole story here, even if it's become a much more standard comic by the end.
And what an annoying cliffhanger at the end!
April 24, 2026
Jim Starlin’s Dreadstar work is finally being collected into an omnibus. You have no idea how hard it was to find this stuff back in the 80’s. My first exposure to Dreadstar was the old marvel graphic novel which was one of my most cherished possessions back in the day.
Dreadstar was ahead of its time when it originally appeared. To the modern reader it’s a fascinating time capsule of Cold War thought and the beginning of income inequality in America.
Now for the review. The best part of this collection is the original concept story and the old graphic novel. The art is spectacular and the writing matches it as well. Unfortunately, When the regular comic starts Starlin reboots parts of the work, and the art and dialogue suffer. The contrast is very striking. The plot continues to be good though.
Others volumes will be published soon and I will continue to read them for nostalgia’s sake. I’m hoping the quality improves and the rewrites cease to be an issue.
Dreadstar was ahead of its time when it originally appeared. To the modern reader it’s a fascinating time capsule of Cold War thought and the beginning of income inequality in America.
Now for the review. The best part of this collection is the original concept story and the old graphic novel. The art is spectacular and the writing matches it as well. Unfortunately, When the regular comic starts Starlin reboots parts of the work, and the art and dialogue suffer. The contrast is very striking. The plot continues to be good though.
Others volumes will be published soon and I will continue to read them for nostalgia’s sake. I’m hoping the quality improves and the rewrites cease to be an issue.
April 24, 2026
I remembered a lot of the very early material in this first volume and I'm looking forward to the next two!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews