What do you think?
Rate this book
Rising Stars #2
Rising Stars, Vol. 2: Power
TOP COW is proud to bring you issues 9-15 of the critically acclaimed series RISING STARS. This second story arc written by J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI (BABYLON 5, CRUSADE) continues the tale of the Specials as they wage war between themselves and the rest of the world. With an all new cover by current series artist Brent Anderson (ASTRO CITY), this great collection is the perfect way to revisit your favorite Rising Stars moments or finally piece together those missing issues.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
9 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
J. Michael Straczynski
1,367 books1,278 followersJoseph Michael Straczynski is an American filmmaker and comic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS and is best known as the creator of the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1993–1998) and its spinoff Crusade (1999), as well as the series Jeremiah (2002–2004) and Sense8 (2015–2018). He is the executor of the estate of Harlan Ellison.
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show. Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show. Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 8, 2016
This continues to be a great series. This volume picks up years after the first. We find out there was quite a twist, and what we thought happened wasn't exactly true.
The specials have basically been outlawed, and several have taken over the city of Chicago. The remaining specials launch a rescue mission which leads to some major revelations. We also see the specials finally making a collective effort to change the world, but will they succeed?
There was a definitive beginning, middle and end laid out for this series from the start, so it had a bit more direction than the usual monthly comic, and it shows. Also includes some art from Brent Anderson, and while I don't think it's as good as his later Astro City work, it's still good. Christian Zanier does most of the art, and it's also good.
Overall another strong volume, very curious to see how this series ends up.
The specials have basically been outlawed, and several have taken over the city of Chicago. The remaining specials launch a rescue mission which leads to some major revelations. We also see the specials finally making a collective effort to change the world, but will they succeed?
There was a definitive beginning, middle and end laid out for this series from the start, so it had a bit more direction than the usual monthly comic, and it shows. Also includes some art from Brent Anderson, and while I don't think it's as good as his later Astro City work, it's still good. Christian Zanier does most of the art, and it's also good.
Overall another strong volume, very curious to see how this series ends up.
July 21, 2012
I love this one. The story at the end, about the middle east, is simplistic in its view on how to solve the middle east conflicts but... wouldn't it be lovely to try? The idea is delicious.
The art is bugging me. The strong men have more muscles than are physically possible on a human being. The women are all svelt and boobalicious or else ugly and dumpy - no in between. I know, I know, it's a comic book about people with super powers. Guess I just wish it wasn't so over the top.
But the stories. Mm! Good stuff.
The art is bugging me. The strong men have more muscles than are physically possible on a human being. The women are all svelt and boobalicious or else ugly and dumpy - no in between. I know, I know, it's a comic book about people with super powers. Guess I just wish it wasn't so over the top.
But the stories. Mm! Good stuff.
April 15, 2020
Read all 24 issues in one sitting. Really good. 5 stars.
April 19, 2017
Ugh, too many characters, too many punches, too many capes, too many uninspred twists. They all fly and kick each other around. It feels like the 90's again. At least some of them die, but the cast is huge considering I can barely tell the characters apart.
November 8, 2008
Rising Stars book one is one of my favorite graphic novels - probably the best super hero story I've read in graphic form other than Watchmen, and if it didn't owe so much to the Watchmen, I could easily say that it was a far more human, and therefore powerful, portrayal of a super hero story.
I re-read volume 1 tonight before I dived into volume 2 and was once again blown away by it.
And I think that's why I was so disappointed with the first half of volume 2.
Yeah, I know... I'm dishing out a 5 star rating, but we'll get to that.
The first half of the story, dealing with the Chicago siege, loses so much of the focus on character, so much of the humaity of the story, so much of the powerful personal connections and contact. At the same time, the way that it deals with the action sequences seems disjointed and not in the way that the story intended. A lot of cliche creeps into the story at this point as well. I was feeling disappointed, let down completely from the heights of volume one.
And then came the second half. Once we're away from Chicago and that storyline, the narrative bares itself again, opens itself to a more personal level at the same time that it broadens itself across the globe. The writing becomes, once again, intensely powerful and the art seems to pull into focus as well. I can't say too much without spoilers, but I was once again entranced by the story, by the characters... It made me think about my own life and the world around me in a different way. And this is what a truly good story should do.
An so far, this story has been a fantastic definition of what good fiction can do. Sure, it is inconceivable that these characters could every truly exist in reality, but this story makes you look at our reality and how each of us can impact it in a completely different way. Absolutely brilliant.
I re-read volume 1 tonight before I dived into volume 2 and was once again blown away by it.
And I think that's why I was so disappointed with the first half of volume 2.
Yeah, I know... I'm dishing out a 5 star rating, but we'll get to that.
The first half of the story, dealing with the Chicago siege, loses so much of the focus on character, so much of the humaity of the story, so much of the powerful personal connections and contact. At the same time, the way that it deals with the action sequences seems disjointed and not in the way that the story intended. A lot of cliche creeps into the story at this point as well. I was feeling disappointed, let down completely from the heights of volume one.
And then came the second half. Once we're away from Chicago and that storyline, the narrative bares itself again, opens itself to a more personal level at the same time that it broadens itself across the globe. The writing becomes, once again, intensely powerful and the art seems to pull into focus as well. I can't say too much without spoilers, but I was once again entranced by the story, by the characters... It made me think about my own life and the world around me in a different way. And this is what a truly good story should do.
An so far, this story has been a fantastic definition of what good fiction can do. Sure, it is inconceivable that these characters could every truly exist in reality, but this story makes you look at our reality and how each of us can impact it in a completely different way. Absolutely brilliant.
April 7, 2018
I finished the 2nd Volume of the Rising Stars graphic novel series;
Rising Stars Vol. 2: Power by J. Michael Straczynski. I think in my comments on the first Volume, I may have said that Straczynski was responsible for Battlestar Gallactica. I should have said Babylon 5. Anyway, this is an interesting graphic novel series. It's basically about a group of children from a small town in Illinois who obtain special powers when a fireball from space strikes their town in the '60s. The story moves into the future when somebody, we assume one of the Specials, as they're called, is starting to kill off the others. This death/ murder of one causes the energy from that person to be transferred to the remainder, making them more powerful. The US Government, who has been monitoring the Specials, is starting to feel threatened and wants to gather the group in, or terminate them if they resist. There is a battle between two groups of Specials. The individual stories follow one or other of the people, making them each unique. As with most graphic novels, I sometimes find it difficult tracking who is who or what is going on, but it's a minor inconvenience, as the story and art work are both excellent. I've one more to finish in this collection. Definitely looking forward to it. (4 stars)
Rising Stars Vol. 2: Power by J. Michael Straczynski. I think in my comments on the first Volume, I may have said that Straczynski was responsible for Battlestar Gallactica. I should have said Babylon 5. Anyway, this is an interesting graphic novel series. It's basically about a group of children from a small town in Illinois who obtain special powers when a fireball from space strikes their town in the '60s. The story moves into the future when somebody, we assume one of the Specials, as they're called, is starting to kill off the others. This death/ murder of one causes the energy from that person to be transferred to the remainder, making them more powerful. The US Government, who has been monitoring the Specials, is starting to feel threatened and wants to gather the group in, or terminate them if they resist. There is a battle between two groups of Specials. The individual stories follow one or other of the people, making them each unique. As with most graphic novels, I sometimes find it difficult tracking who is who or what is going on, but it's a minor inconvenience, as the story and art work are both excellent. I've one more to finish in this collection. Definitely looking forward to it. (4 stars)
June 19, 2023
Alors ce tome 2, pour moi, se divise en deux parties.
La première partie (chapitre 1 à 6) est juste incroyable. On a des rebondissements de malade ! (C'est juste impossible de ne pas s'extasier sur la beauté d'un tel univers.)
Il est trop bien !
Le style : déjà, au début, on doit reconstruire l'histoire et se situer avec des coupures de journaux (mais c'est trop bien ! J'avais l'impression d'être dans la peau d'une enquêtrice qui essaie de reconstituer les derniers événements.)
Le graphisme : comme toujours, au top quoiqu'un peu sombre (on dirait les films DC Universe).
Les personnages : admirables ! Chaque histoire a sa particularité. L'auteur ne nous laisse pas en plan. Au contraire, il nous donne un aperçu du passé du personnage afin qu'on comprenne en quoi il contribue à l'histoire. L'histoire de Cathy Jean (bonjour l'originalité des prénoms) m'a particulièrement secouée. Par contre, on a des personnages (et je pense à un personnage en particulier) qui a été placé exprès pour que le perso principal fasse un come-back de malade ! Un peu forcé quand même, je trouve !
Mis à part ces petits détails, cette première partie m'a beaucoup plu.
La seconde partie par contre (les chapitres 7 et 8) n'était pas ouf selon moi. L'auteur cherche un ancrage au monde réel dans lequel nous vivons. Il montre sa vision de ce qu'est un monde en paix et nos points de vue divergent sur certains points. Il accorde quand même un point d'honneur à donner un sens à l'existence des personnages, ce qui ne me déplaît pas mais je trouve que ça aurait été mieux sans (c'est-à-dire sans cette seconde partie).
Franchement, pour le tome 3, j'appréhende ! J'ai des doutes.
La première partie (chapitre 1 à 6) est juste incroyable. On a des rebondissements de malade ! (C'est juste impossible de ne pas s'extasier sur la beauté d'un tel univers.)
Il est trop bien !
Le style : déjà, au début, on doit reconstruire l'histoire et se situer avec des coupures de journaux (mais c'est trop bien ! J'avais l'impression d'être dans la peau d'une enquêtrice qui essaie de reconstituer les derniers événements.)
Le graphisme : comme toujours, au top quoiqu'un peu sombre (on dirait les films DC Universe).
Les personnages : admirables ! Chaque histoire a sa particularité. L'auteur ne nous laisse pas en plan. Au contraire, il nous donne un aperçu du passé du personnage afin qu'on comprenne en quoi il contribue à l'histoire. L'histoire de Cathy Jean (bonjour l'originalité des prénoms) m'a particulièrement secouée. Par contre, on a des personnages (et je pense à un personnage en particulier) qui a été placé exprès pour que le perso principal fasse un come-back de malade ! Un peu forcé quand même, je trouve !
Mis à part ces petits détails, cette première partie m'a beaucoup plu.
La seconde partie par contre (les chapitres 7 et 8) n'était pas ouf selon moi. L'auteur cherche un ancrage au monde réel dans lequel nous vivons. Il montre sa vision de ce qu'est un monde en paix et nos points de vue divergent sur certains points. Il accorde quand même un point d'honneur à donner un sens à l'existence des personnages, ce qui ne me déplaît pas mais je trouve que ça aurait été mieux sans (c'est-à-dire sans cette seconde partie).
Franchement, pour le tome 3, j'appréhende ! J'ai des doutes.
May 27, 2018
A great improvement from the first volume. I found the story more interesting and the flow also improved.
The characters were fleshed out here. Especially the villains from Acte 1. I very much enjoyed the fact that they let go of said villains and made them heroes instead : the story only got better from this choice. Didn't particularly like them in the first volume.
I enjoyed the plot twist.
One of the things I liked the most was how real the reactions of humans were to different events : humanity depicted very realistically in all it's ugliness.
Although I have no criticism to make against this particular volume, I can't really give it 5 stars. I don't know why except it didn't really feel like a 5 star read I guess. But still nice. Very interested in knowing how this will finish.
The characters were fleshed out here. Especially the villains from Acte 1. I very much enjoyed the fact that they let go of said villains and made them heroes instead : the story only got better from this choice. Didn't particularly like them in the first volume.
I enjoyed the plot twist.
One of the things I liked the most was how real the reactions of humans were to different events : humanity depicted very realistically in all it's ugliness.
Although I have no criticism to make against this particular volume, I can't really give it 5 stars. I don't know why except it didn't really feel like a 5 star read I guess. But still nice. Very interested in knowing how this will finish.
February 20, 2019
A group of kids born with superpowers become adults and struggle with what to do with their powers.
This volume was a bit of a mixed bag. I really like the second half of the book, where the meta humans decide to do something constructive with their powers. The first half was a bit of a mess. The art looks good but the action sequences are so hard to follow. There are a multitude of characters, most of whom are extremely one dimensional or not even fleshed out at all. I think a lot of the potential from the first volume was squandered.
Not a bad story, it tries a lot of interesting things, the execution just falls flat at times.
This volume was a bit of a mixed bag. I really like the second half of the book, where the meta humans decide to do something constructive with their powers. The first half was a bit of a mess. The art looks good but the action sequences are so hard to follow. There are a multitude of characters, most of whom are extremely one dimensional or not even fleshed out at all. I think a lot of the potential from the first volume was squandered.
Not a bad story, it tries a lot of interesting things, the execution just falls flat at times.
May 4, 2025
There are some interesting twists, and all of the events taking place in Chicago were fun.
A large part of the plot is proposing an end to conflicts in the world... and that part feels a bit naive.
Also, considering that the chaos / civil war has been going on for 10 years since the last comic I would have expected more things to change in the world, whole US being drawn in superhero fights should have a chain effect on the whole planet.
Still looking forward to the 3rd part of the comic!
A large part of the plot is proposing an end to conflicts in the world... and that part feels a bit naive.
Also, considering that the chaos / civil war has been going on for 10 years since the last comic I would have expected more things to change in the world, whole US being drawn in superhero fights should have a chain effect on the whole planet.
Still looking forward to the 3rd part of the comic!
March 19, 2023
I'm still very much in love with this series and already have the rest of the comics lined up.
It's been a while since I was that taken with a comic, but honestly I'm not surprised, it's J. Michael Straczynsky after all.
It's been a while since I was that taken with a comic, but honestly I'm not surprised, it's J. Michael Straczynsky after all.
July 24, 2017
Continues to be solid. Thought the Chicago plotline was extended a little to far, but still excellent.
September 10, 2018
Wow! This is an incredible series.
January 5, 2019
Ironically the art gets better once Lashley and Immonen take over, but the whole concept of Critical Maas as the big bad feels like a letdown compared to the promise of the first book.
January 20, 2020
Has a few surprisingly relevant things to say about American democracy, but also has some narrative issues (such as nesting victim-hood for the villains).
August 10, 2020
A compelling story. Tragedy, redemption, a better world. I want to see how this ends.
December 5, 2022
Got this as single issues via the Humble Bundle Top Cow 30th Anniversary.
See my review for the third volume.
See my review for the third volume.
August 28, 2023
Wonderfully written antihero comic by the creator of Babylon 5. An entertaining and thoughtful comic.
October 1, 2024
Fun graphic novel. It was a little hard for me to follow at times, but I enjoyed it.
March 12, 2017
Comparable to the first in the series. It is still doing well in the 'telling' department.
August 9, 2016
Not read in the Graphic Novel Book Club, but read inspired by it
I went on into this one after we read Vol 1, since it was the perfect time to pick up the rest and read to the ending JMS/Top Cow were not giving the world in their long, once upon a time, war. This book was baffling in a lot of ways. There is a sudden 15 year gap, and the conversations take place that have no purpose to be being had now when they would have a decade and more ago.
Chicago makes me think a lot. The reveal of Joshua made me think a lot. The last 2-3 issues each pretty much tried to make me tear between opening and closing a cover for brand new reasons, as the clarification for the reason of it all became more and more clear to people..
I went on into this one after we read Vol 1, since it was the perfect time to pick up the rest and read to the ending JMS/Top Cow were not giving the world in their long, once upon a time, war. This book was baffling in a lot of ways. There is a sudden 15 year gap, and the conversations take place that have no purpose to be being had now when they would have a decade and more ago.
Chicago makes me think a lot. The reveal of Joshua made me think a lot. The last 2-3 issues each pretty much tried to make me tear between opening and closing a cover for brand new reasons, as the clarification for the reason of it all became more and more clear to people..
Read
June 9, 2015Volume two definitely upped the stakes, recontextualizing some of the elements of Volume one while expanding the mythology out in new and interesting ways, while also delving deeper into the psychology of the Rising Stars. The first half of the volume is more focused on the recovery of Chicago from rogue Powers, while the second half extrapolates from those events in a new direction for the survivors. The Chicago attack is the most traditional section, feeling like most any other hero title. But the rest of the book is denser and more nuanced than most other super-power titles.
May 7, 2016
JMS continues his fantastic series, starting with the battle for Chicago, before moving on to to tackle the question of how superheroes could really better our world, rather than just engaging in an ongoing cycle of violence.
Given that virtually every super hero book is heavy on the punching and light on the actual problem solving it's surprising that this is not a topic which is tackled more often. I really appreciate this book transitioning from a standard super hero book into something a bit more complex and am looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.
Given that virtually every super hero book is heavy on the punching and light on the actual problem solving it's surprising that this is not a topic which is tackled more often. I really appreciate this book transitioning from a standard super hero book into something a bit more complex and am looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.
October 8, 2009
The middle act of the Rising Powers graphic novel, the story again takes a pretty radical twist in the middle, changing from one focus to another. The first book set up the story to be one thing, then changed to something else. This one continues the second, then abruptly spins on its ear in a new direction. But in a good way—an unexpected twist to keep a broad story going. It'll be interesting to see how it all wraps up in the final act.
September 18, 2009
Not as good as the first, but hey, it’s a middle. I found that we got into the characters a little less this time, and there was a fair amount of muddled fight scenes, which more served to distract me from the story than to engross me. Still, the premise remains interesting, and there were enough twists to keep it interesting. I’m keen to see how it turns out.
July 13, 2013
"Rising Stars" is one of my favorite graphic novels of all time. The second volume, "Power," tells the story of how the Specials finally overcome their first major challenge, and commit themselves to changing the world instead of simply trying to live "normal" lives . . . . brilliant stuff.
October 25, 2015
Not a bad comic certainly. Straczynski has managed to twist a fairly recurrent idea (group of people with superpowers) enough to avoid total cliche. Unfortunately beyond that this series has few redeeming qualities, and suffers from a lack of nuance and subtly.
January 26, 2016
A very interesting view of what the world would do to and how it would view superhumans born suddenly into the population. A scary view of human prejudices and the cause and effect of these prejudices. Fantastic art and one of the best comic storylines I have ever read. High recommended
July 26, 2009
JMS shows himself to be an excellent storyteller regardless of the medium.
December 6, 2010
Fantastic series. Much like the television series "Heroes".
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews