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Starman (1994)
Starman: A Wicked Inclination
Book by James Robinson
240 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1997
7 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
James Robinson
1,265 books236 followersJames Dale Robinson is a British writer of American comic books and screenplays.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 23, 2020
In this third collection of Starman comics, reluctant superhero Jack Knight finds himself caught up in an adventure with the original Sandman, Wesley Dodds, while visiting New York. Returning home to Opal City, he soon finds himself battling a demon to rescue the Shade and Matt O'Dare...
The Starman series improves with each installation, as the reader gradually becomes more involved in Jack Knight's world. His complicated relations with his father, his poignant communications with his dead brother, and his ambiguous feelings about his role as "hero," all make for fascinating reading. As I mentioned in my review of Starman: Sins of the Father , the comic-book neophyte can sometimes feel a little lost when reading a series of this nature. I myself don't know much about the figure of Wesley Dodds (or the Shade, for that matter), and get the sense that I would better appreciate some of the subtleties if I did.
However that may be, Robinson's Starman: A Wicked Inclination was so engaging that I soon forgot to feel like an uncomfortable outside observer. I committed to reading the first three issues of Starman for a book club, but have found them so involving, that I have decided to read the entire ten-book series. Congratulations Michael, you've won a convert!
The Starman series improves with each installation, as the reader gradually becomes more involved in Jack Knight's world. His complicated relations with his father, his poignant communications with his dead brother, and his ambiguous feelings about his role as "hero," all make for fascinating reading. As I mentioned in my review of Starman: Sins of the Father , the comic-book neophyte can sometimes feel a little lost when reading a series of this nature. I myself don't know much about the figure of Wesley Dodds (or the Shade, for that matter), and get the sense that I would better appreciate some of the subtleties if I did.
However that may be, Robinson's Starman: A Wicked Inclination was so engaging that I soon forgot to feel like an uncomfortable outside observer. I committed to reading the first three issues of Starman for a book club, but have found them so involving, that I have decided to read the entire ten-book series. Congratulations Michael, you've won a convert!
April 9, 2023
Probablemente los mejores números del Starman de Robinson y Harris están aquí. Primero con un arco de cuatro números con el cruce entre Jack Knight con el Sandman de los años 40, un relato criminal clásico que se alinea con el Sandman Mistery Theatre de Matt Wagner, Steven T. Seagle y Guy Davis, y después la saga donde se cierra todo lo relativo al póster que te lleva al infierno. Aquí he disfrutado mucho de la química entre todos los personajes (los Knight, los O'Dare, Shade...), la consumación de lo que hasta entonces había estado trabajando Robinson.
January 3, 2011
Two strong stories here. The first involves Jack going to NYC to meet one of his father's former colleagues, Wesley Dodds and Dian Belmont. The interplay between Wesley and Dian comes off as realistic to me, and the time hopping between the 1930 and the 1990s works for the mystery tale. The second tale involves the man whom Oscar Wilde used as the inspiration for the Picture of Dorian Gray, but in actuality is a killer who made a pact with a demon for immortality. A short side trip to the fifth ring of Hell reveals a little more about Jack, Shade the the former corrupt cop Matthew O'Dare.
March 17, 2021
Volume three of these collected editions. Jack Knight has become slightly less self-conscious in his role as superhero and his universe is expanding nicely to give space to the supporting characters including his dad and Wesley Dodds, the original Sandman and the family of red-headed cops in Opal City. Plot-wise, I preferred the industrial espionage/wrongly accused wife strand over the demon dragging victims to hell through a carnival poster bit, but it's all good. I already have the next in the series, but these older trade paperbacks are becoming harder to find.
December 6, 2021
This bit here is top line James Robinson Starman, where everything clicks and the build up from several plot threads earlier starts to come through. The Harrison and Von Grawberg's art on this is stellar, especially during the Sand and Stars arc (with a lovely fill in from Guy Davis for the Sandman Mystery Theater story).
August 30, 2008
James Robinson's Starman is the text book all other writers should use when trying to update an older character.
He uses the characters history, showing how things fit together and fixing the bits that don't. Jack Knight feels real, and Opal city is a fake comic book city that feels like a real place.
All of the supporting cast are interesting enough to carry a story on their own, and he manages to change the Shade from a minor JSA villain into one of one my favorite characters.
The stories mix straight super hero, with some really strong character moments. Jack walks the line between hero and 'what sort of craziness have I gotten myself into?' without it ever feeling like Robinson is trying to make fun of super heroes.
Mostly importantly, the stories are fun and you can feel Robinson's love for comic books in every story.
He uses the characters history, showing how things fit together and fixing the bits that don't. Jack Knight feels real, and Opal city is a fake comic book city that feels like a real place.
All of the supporting cast are interesting enough to carry a story on their own, and he manages to change the Shade from a minor JSA villain into one of one my favorite characters.
The stories mix straight super hero, with some really strong character moments. Jack walks the line between hero and 'what sort of craziness have I gotten myself into?' without it ever feeling like Robinson is trying to make fun of super heroes.
Mostly importantly, the stories are fun and you can feel Robinson's love for comic books in every story.
August 1, 2010
This was my favorite of the Starman trades and the hardest to track down affordably.
My main attraction to the Starman series was always that he was a legacy hero and always trying to live up to what his father, the original Starman, accomplished. This one was great because it had Starman teaming with a collegue of his father and a superhero in his own right, Wesley Dodds, the original Sandman, now a very old man.
The relationship between Jack Knight and his family, and in this story Wesley Dodds, make the Starman series more than just another superhero comic that you forget about ten minutes after you read it.
My main attraction to the Starman series was always that he was a legacy hero and always trying to live up to what his father, the original Starman, accomplished. This one was great because it had Starman teaming with a collegue of his father and a superhero in his own right, Wesley Dodds, the original Sandman, now a very old man.
The relationship between Jack Knight and his family, and in this story Wesley Dodds, make the Starman series more than just another superhero comic that you forget about ten minutes after you read it.
May 4, 2009
Robinson build upon the mythos of Opal City in the third volume of Starman. While not as glamorous, this version of Starman is as willful and distinctive as the other major superheroes. Harris' art has improved over the first two volumes bringing an offbeat feel to the story, as if he has started to settle into his role along with Jack Knight.
February 10, 2019
A great set of Starman stories. Obviously the two longer stories, the team-up with the original Sandman and the hunt for a murderous immortal, are the best of the volume. But the stand-alone tales bookending those two are great as well. This is an excellent sampling of the best of the title, as the writer has clearly hit his stride. (A-)
August 27, 2024
Our titular hero embarks on two different adventures in this one, literally going to hell and back.
I feel like the title is finally starting to really gain traction, as James Robinson has definitely found his footing by this point. Of course, at the beginning of any series, there is a process of finding the true "voice" of the character. The quest is forefront in the beginning, but the character work grows along with the story, and here I feel it is something that is very noticeable. Suddenly I find myself caring for not just Jack, but for the cast as well. His father and friends are a big part of the story and the cast rounds out the main character well.
In this one, we see an adventure where Jack teams up with the original Sandman, who is now advanced in his years. This was a great story to really round out the character of Starman, both father and son, as the multiple flashbacks fill in some of the more important story beats. The second story is about the demon who springs out of a poster and traps people within. We have seen a glimpse of this in past issues, but here Jack confronts the demon head on, traveling to hell to try and defeat him.
Also the art by Tony Harris is developing quite nicely at this point. He has always had a good style since vol 1, but it hadn't really come into it's own just yet. In this volume, we see more of the style of Ex Machina, with its clean lines and deep shadows. It's very cool to see an artist - and writer - develop and grow.
This is easily my favorite volume so far. I like the everyman tone and the reluctant nature of Jack Knight as he finds himself becoming something he never thought he would be - a hero.
I feel like the title is finally starting to really gain traction, as James Robinson has definitely found his footing by this point. Of course, at the beginning of any series, there is a process of finding the true "voice" of the character. The quest is forefront in the beginning, but the character work grows along with the story, and here I feel it is something that is very noticeable. Suddenly I find myself caring for not just Jack, but for the cast as well. His father and friends are a big part of the story and the cast rounds out the main character well.
In this one, we see an adventure where Jack teams up with the original Sandman, who is now advanced in his years. This was a great story to really round out the character of Starman, both father and son, as the multiple flashbacks fill in some of the more important story beats. The second story is about the demon who springs out of a poster and traps people within. We have seen a glimpse of this in past issues, but here Jack confronts the demon head on, traveling to hell to try and defeat him.
Also the art by Tony Harris is developing quite nicely at this point. He has always had a good style since vol 1, but it hadn't really come into it's own just yet. In this volume, we see more of the style of Ex Machina, with its clean lines and deep shadows. It's very cool to see an artist - and writer - develop and grow.
This is easily my favorite volume so far. I like the everyman tone and the reluctant nature of Jack Knight as he finds himself becoming something he never thought he would be - a hero.
July 13, 2024
The early era of the Starman masterpiece continues beautifully here. Robinson’s thick and buttery prose continues to wash over you, impressive stories on the original Sandman and demons and Santa clause are all here. Tony Harris evolved into peak Harris - but the rigors of a monthly deadline also start to show with guest artists filling in - good ones! But it does dilute the singular vision.
December 8, 2023
I timed the reading of this one perfectly as it ends with a great Christmas story. Of course there was a story about a demon prior, but that has a
Nice ending too.
Nice ending too.
March 29, 2025
I (re)read these as singles. Again, the collections for Starman are from the nineties and so not standardised at ALL (and Goodreads, bless them, is not providing clear information as to how the stories are actually split up) so I am having to make some on the fly decisions as to how to review them. XD I’ve decided to contain my reviews of the multi-issue stories from #18-#29 in this collection.
Sand and Stars - I absolutely adored this one all around. The story is really fun, everything Jack does is GOLDEN (I especially love his fangirling over Dian) and it’s just so fun to get to see him interact with another superhero. Just an absolute joy to read, really.
Very amused by Jack being utterly oblivious to how many men his dad has previously dated, though. Bless his cotton socks.
Demon Quest - I wish it had been a little longer, as some elements of it seemed a little truncated, but on the whole this is quite good! I really liked Jack and The Shade’s parts, and the art style is even more gorgeous than usual.
Sand and Stars - I absolutely adored this one all around. The story is really fun, everything Jack does is GOLDEN (I especially love his fangirling over Dian) and it’s just so fun to get to see him interact with another superhero. Just an absolute joy to read, really.
Very amused by Jack being utterly oblivious to how many men his dad has previously dated, though. Bless his cotton socks.
Demon Quest - I wish it had been a little longer, as some elements of it seemed a little truncated, but on the whole this is quite good! I really liked Jack and The Shade’s parts, and the art style is even more gorgeous than usual.
May 19, 2009
Collecting issues 17 and 19-27 and includes the Eisner award winning story Sand and Stars featuring the final team-up of Starman and the golden age Sandman. By this third collection in the James Robinson penned Starman continuity the family of characters is really starting to bite and the central character of Jack Knight is as fully realised in all his faults, habits, mannerisms and persona as any characterisation in comic book history. Tony Harris' art, particularly with the depth and realism of the expressions just gets it right. It takes more than one person to make a good comic and this is as good an example of everyone just getting it right as can be seen. Don't just barge through this collection in one sitting - put the thing down when the cliff hangers are delivered and string it out for gods sake because stuff as good as this doesn't come round very often.
February 7, 2014
Another great installment in the 90's Starman series.
July 9, 2019
4.75 stars.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews