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Rising Stars #0-3
Rising Stars
From the creator of Babylon 5 and Jeremiah comes the greatest superhero epic in recent years! J. Michael Straczynski and a team of the best and brightest artistic talents in the industry unite to tell the saga of 113 strangers united by one event they will never forget. This super-hero tour-de-force is collected, beginning to end, in one massive bookshelf volume. Follow the super-powered Pederson Specials as they grow up, live, love, die, and ultimately try to save the world. One of the greatest comic series ever is now available for your bookshelf!
624 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
10 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
J. Michael Straczynski
1,352 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.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 9, 2022
Leggo finalmente per intero la saga di Rising Star. L'avevo iniziata ai tempi della prima pubblicazione in Italia (1999, possibile che sia passato così tanto tempo?!?), ma poi l'avevo abbandonata sia per la tempistica di pubblicazione che era stata effettivamente molto dilatata nel tempo, sia perché dopo un inizio con il botto, avevo perso interesse. "Omnibus" raccoglie tutti i 24 episodi che la compongono.
Rimango dell'idea che la parte migliore sia la prima, i primi 7/8 episodi, che descrivono i bambini di Penderson e come questo strano raggio cosmico li abbia trasformati. Sono storie dal taglio intimistico e malinconico, con delle idee narrative molto belle soprattutto se pensate all'interno di un contesto supereroistico. La seconda parte la definirei "la grande scazzottata" e paga pegno ad uno dei topoi del fumetto d'oltremare, ovvero i supereroi che combattono. Pure ci sono degli spunti estremamente interessanti (il personaggio di Critical Mass su tutti, la scoperta di chi sia l'assassino degli special e perché, ecc.) con un episodio, quello intitolato "Selah", che mi ha ricordato La valle dell'Eden di Steinbeck. L'ultima parte è forse quella che mi ha convinto meno, con una ricerca di una sorta di lieto fine che ho trovato un po' stonato rispetto a tutto il resto della storia. Uno di quei finali che mi strappa un "mapperfavoreeee" e fa cadere una stellina al mio voto finale. Mi fermo a 3*, anche se tutta la prima parte è da 5* pienissime!
Rimango dell'idea che la parte migliore sia la prima, i primi 7/8 episodi, che descrivono i bambini di Penderson e come questo strano raggio cosmico li abbia trasformati. Sono storie dal taglio intimistico e malinconico, con delle idee narrative molto belle soprattutto se pensate all'interno di un contesto supereroistico. La seconda parte la definirei "la grande scazzottata" e paga pegno ad uno dei topoi del fumetto d'oltremare, ovvero i supereroi che combattono. Pure ci sono degli spunti estremamente interessanti (il personaggio di Critical Mass su tutti, la scoperta di chi sia l'assassino degli special e perché, ecc.) con un episodio, quello intitolato "Selah", che mi ha ricordato La valle dell'Eden di Steinbeck. L'ultima parte è forse quella che mi ha convinto meno, con una ricerca di una sorta di lieto fine che ho trovato un po' stonato rispetto a tutto il resto della storia. Uno di quei finali che mi strappa un "mapperfavoreeee" e fa cadere una stellina al mio voto finale. Mi fermo a 3*, anche se tutta la prima parte è da 5* pienissime!
October 19, 2013
I kept thinking this book was going to be stupid because the spine is half yellow and says "Top Cow" and the other half is black and says "Rising Stars" in the same font. So I thought it was a comic called Top Cow because I'm dumb and didn't notice all the other Top Cow comics. So anyways! Finally I read it.
It was pretty good! This is a story about 100 or so people who got superpowers when a flash happened in their town while they were in utero. So kind of like X-Men but a limited number of people who all know each other and aren't immortal. They grow up and use their powers for good or evil, and horrid things happen.
I really enjoyed the story and the writing wasn't too bad, and the art was pretty standard. I'm not really a big fan of that really smooth, obviously computer-graphics colouring style, but that's just me. Some of the dialogue was pretty goofy and melodramatic, but that's okay. I'm not reading comics for the Jane Austen subtle wit. The thing that annoyed me the most is how all the "cool dudes" had long gross hair and wore trench coats, and reasonable haircuts were used to show how conformist and dumb people were. It wasn't distracting, just sometimes comics really remind me of who-writes-comics. Oh well!
It was pretty good! This is a story about 100 or so people who got superpowers when a flash happened in their town while they were in utero. So kind of like X-Men but a limited number of people who all know each other and aren't immortal. They grow up and use their powers for good or evil, and horrid things happen.
I really enjoyed the story and the writing wasn't too bad, and the art was pretty standard. I'm not really a big fan of that really smooth, obviously computer-graphics colouring style, but that's just me. Some of the dialogue was pretty goofy and melodramatic, but that's okay. I'm not reading comics for the Jane Austen subtle wit. The thing that annoyed me the most is how all the "cool dudes" had long gross hair and wore trench coats, and reasonable haircuts were used to show how conformist and dumb people were. It wasn't distracting, just sometimes comics really remind me of who-writes-comics. Oh well!
May 6, 2021
Three months on, I'm still thinking about this.
In a lot of ways, it feels like a comic made in the 90's which is to be expected, but it was refreshing to see something that went so completely beyond the usual superhero tropes.
When I thought okay, this is where it's heading good old JMS threw another surprise loop into the story tapestry.
I got here after reading his autobiography Becoming Superman: A Writer's Journey from Poverty to Hollywood with Stops Along the Way at Murder, Madness, Mayhem, Movie Stars, Cults, Slums, Sociopaths, and War Crimes which is now on my "read every year list"
In a lot of ways, it feels like a comic made in the 90's which is to be expected, but it was refreshing to see something that went so completely beyond the usual superhero tropes.
When I thought okay, this is where it's heading good old JMS threw another surprise loop into the story tapestry.
I got here after reading his autobiography Becoming Superman: A Writer's Journey from Poverty to Hollywood with Stops Along the Way at Murder, Madness, Mayhem, Movie Stars, Cults, Slums, Sociopaths, and War Crimes which is now on my "read every year list"
April 15, 2020
Great story. Mostly linear and well written. Had s few touching moments too that were rather well done. 5 stars.
June 8, 2012
I thought that this was a great start to the series and can't wait to read the next five. The characters were great and after reading JMS's Earth One : Superman, I was not disappointed. A great storyteller.
June 3, 2012
Definitely entertaining; I love books that show how corrupt people in power can be when they are afraid/intimidated
July 25, 2020
Where do I begin with Rising Stars? Well, let me just say, do not judge a series by their #0 issue. I learned that real quick with this series. The prequel issues were take it or leave it; they’re okay, stupid, better and brilliant— and in that order. But none of that matters. What matters is the main meat of the comics: issues #1 through #24 and let me say... they blew me away.
The art is pretty basic for the most part (what you’d expect a superhero comic to look like); however the art design was off the chain— especially early on. Pretty often there was a brilliant layout or artistic mockup I will say. But the art didn’t the big draw here (pun unintended)... it’s the writing.
Prior to reading this, I hadn’t been all too familiar with Straczynski’s work— perhaps just the Spider-Man: Civil War miniseries and Clint Eastwood’s Changeling were the only glimpses I’ve seen of his writing. But after reading this, I’m certainly a fan. The writing is absolutely beautiful. Every issue. For such a big and grand magnum opus, Straczynski writes it so simply. He holds back when he needs to and embraces the epicness of certain moments with a real-world sentiment, effectively avoiding teaching over the top until perhaps the end of each arc.
It’s such a big story that spans for nearly sixty years and the amount of changes that happened through the series would be utter nonsense by many of other writers, but Straczynski writes it in a way that we accept it. Like almost as if we’ve been reading these characters in comics for decades already. It’s all fluid to the last detail.
Sure there were a couple issues that were alright or weren’t quite up to speed, but the overwhelmingly vast majority of the issues were nearly perfect in every way. Often in film, tv, novels and comics you get what I call forced subversion which is all about subverting expectations for the sake of subverting expectations (i.e. Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Season 8 of Game of Thrones), but with Rising Stars you get it the way it should be— subverting expectations for the sake of the story. I never want to spoil the story for anyone, so I won’t go into major details, but every time something happens with a twist, that twist doesn’t just propel the story but rather it also enhances it, often by furthering character development through changing dynamics or quite literally the playing field.
I’m honestly struggling to think of things I didn’t like from the title series. Perhaps the only thing of any weight might be that often I would confuse characters because they all pretty much looked the same (and maybe that was by design) but, again, that’s more a critique on the art of anything. The writing is air tight. There’s not much I can say without giving away too much but you can tell many creators were inspired by this story, from Heroes to The 4400 to the full Marvel Civil War arc to even other self-contained superhero universes such as the one in The Boys. It’s mark is there and it is legendary. I hope one day it’s made into a television series because the world needs to talk about Rising Stars once again.
The art is pretty basic for the most part (what you’d expect a superhero comic to look like); however the art design was off the chain— especially early on. Pretty often there was a brilliant layout or artistic mockup I will say. But the art didn’t the big draw here (pun unintended)... it’s the writing.
Prior to reading this, I hadn’t been all too familiar with Straczynski’s work— perhaps just the Spider-Man: Civil War miniseries and Clint Eastwood’s Changeling were the only glimpses I’ve seen of his writing. But after reading this, I’m certainly a fan. The writing is absolutely beautiful. Every issue. For such a big and grand magnum opus, Straczynski writes it so simply. He holds back when he needs to and embraces the epicness of certain moments with a real-world sentiment, effectively avoiding teaching over the top until perhaps the end of each arc.
It’s such a big story that spans for nearly sixty years and the amount of changes that happened through the series would be utter nonsense by many of other writers, but Straczynski writes it in a way that we accept it. Like almost as if we’ve been reading these characters in comics for decades already. It’s all fluid to the last detail.
Sure there were a couple issues that were alright or weren’t quite up to speed, but the overwhelmingly vast majority of the issues were nearly perfect in every way. Often in film, tv, novels and comics you get what I call forced subversion which is all about subverting expectations for the sake of subverting expectations (i.e. Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Season 8 of Game of Thrones), but with Rising Stars you get it the way it should be— subverting expectations for the sake of the story. I never want to spoil the story for anyone, so I won’t go into major details, but every time something happens with a twist, that twist doesn’t just propel the story but rather it also enhances it, often by furthering character development through changing dynamics or quite literally the playing field.
I’m honestly struggling to think of things I didn’t like from the title series. Perhaps the only thing of any weight might be that often I would confuse characters because they all pretty much looked the same (and maybe that was by design) but, again, that’s more a critique on the art of anything. The writing is air tight. There’s not much I can say without giving away too much but you can tell many creators were inspired by this story, from Heroes to The 4400 to the full Marvel Civil War arc to even other self-contained superhero universes such as the one in The Boys. It’s mark is there and it is legendary. I hope one day it’s made into a television series because the world needs to talk about Rising Stars once again.
June 17, 2023
Cette lecture était tout simplement incroyable !
D'abord, à la lecture du résumé, je m'attendais à une histoire du même style que la série télé « Umbrella academy ». On retrouve une sorte d'académie d'enfants Spéciaux qui sont des enfants à l'état de foetus au moment de l'écrasement d'une boule de feu à Pederson, dans l'Illinois. Je pensais que l'histoire allait se concentrer sur ces 113 enfants. Eh ben non. Pas du tout.
Ce qui fait l'originalité de cette BD, c'est le fait que justement, il y est question du présent, du passé et du futur de ces enfants. L'auteur a su jongler avec les différentes versions de ces derniers en âge. Tout au long de la lecture, on a des flashs-backs, des histoires individuelles mais également des histoires collectives... Pourtant, on ne sort jamais du cadre de l'intrigue principal qui est, tout de même, de savoir qui tue qui.
À la fin de ce tome 1, on sait qui est l'assassin sauf que l'ennemi est rusé (mais vraiment rusé) et l'histoire prend une tournure machiavélique où se mêlent politique, droit (eh oui, un texte de droit dans un Comics, c'est du jamais vu!), science (fiction bien sûr), médias...
Avec tout ça, on ne s'attend pas à ce qu'il soit question de vie de famille, de patriotisme ou de thèmes plus sensibles tels que l'amour ou la haine. Pourtant, il y en a! Des leçons de vie ? Ce comics en regorge ! (Et pas des moindres, il s'agit vraiment de sentiments auxquels on peut s'identifier.)
En tout cas, moi, l'auteur m'a conquise. Si tous les Comics sont comme celui-là (autant au niveau de l'histoire que des dessins), je veux bien en lire.
D'abord, à la lecture du résumé, je m'attendais à une histoire du même style que la série télé « Umbrella academy ». On retrouve une sorte d'académie d'enfants Spéciaux qui sont des enfants à l'état de foetus au moment de l'écrasement d'une boule de feu à Pederson, dans l'Illinois. Je pensais que l'histoire allait se concentrer sur ces 113 enfants. Eh ben non. Pas du tout.
Ce qui fait l'originalité de cette BD, c'est le fait que justement, il y est question du présent, du passé et du futur de ces enfants. L'auteur a su jongler avec les différentes versions de ces derniers en âge. Tout au long de la lecture, on a des flashs-backs, des histoires individuelles mais également des histoires collectives... Pourtant, on ne sort jamais du cadre de l'intrigue principal qui est, tout de même, de savoir qui tue qui.
À la fin de ce tome 1, on sait qui est l'assassin sauf que l'ennemi est rusé (mais vraiment rusé) et l'histoire prend une tournure machiavélique où se mêlent politique, droit (eh oui, un texte de droit dans un Comics, c'est du jamais vu!), science (fiction bien sûr), médias...
Avec tout ça, on ne s'attend pas à ce qu'il soit question de vie de famille, de patriotisme ou de thèmes plus sensibles tels que l'amour ou la haine. Pourtant, il y en a! Des leçons de vie ? Ce comics en regorge ! (Et pas des moindres, il s'agit vraiment de sentiments auxquels on peut s'identifier.)
En tout cas, moi, l'auteur m'a conquise. Si tous les Comics sont comme celui-là (autant au niveau de l'histoire que des dessins), je veux bien en lire.
October 28, 2019
Ho letto questa storia dopo molto tempo aver acquistato l'omnibus e posso dire che è una buona storia,con buoni disegni e con un finale non perfetto ma coerente.
In realtà la mia valutazione sarebbe di 3 stelle e mezzo, l'opera va letta e apprezzata però per quanto mi riguarda non è eccelsa e non racconta niente di nuovo, è solo una buon racconto di fantascienza. Per quanto riguarda l'autore, dopo aver apprezzato il lavoro su spiderman (tranne il finale che anche se non tutto farina del suo sacco, secondo me, è una delle macchie più grandi della storia della marvel) con questa serie trovo la conferma di un signor scrittore di fumetti.
In realtà la mia valutazione sarebbe di 3 stelle e mezzo, l'opera va letta e apprezzata però per quanto mi riguarda non è eccelsa e non racconta niente di nuovo, è solo una buon racconto di fantascienza. Per quanto riguarda l'autore, dopo aver apprezzato il lavoro su spiderman (tranne il finale che anche se non tutto farina del suo sacco, secondo me, è una delle macchie più grandi della storia della marvel) con questa serie trovo la conferma di un signor scrittore di fumetti.
February 25, 2011
Dumbest part so far: The Poet punches another renegade special to show him that The Poet has gotten weaker as the result of the people preying on them, when the whole book so far has been about specials killing specials to become more powerful.
Big plot hole, circling the drain around the hugely stupid tactic of punching someone during an argument in order to gain cooperation. Four pages later, someone else is apologizing to the Poet... who sucker punched the other guy, remember, and The Poet is all like, aw shucks, the dude was just afraid.
Big plot hole, circling the drain around the hugely stupid tactic of punching someone during an argument in order to gain cooperation. Four pages later, someone else is apologizing to the Poet... who sucker punched the other guy, remember, and The Poet is all like, aw shucks, the dude was just afraid.
October 10, 2012
Amazing. Even though I've read it over a dozen times, I still love it. It still makes me laugh and makes me cry.
JMS has a real talent for creating realistic characters. They may be fictional but they feel as Real as any Velveteen Rabbit. There's a depth which is often lacking, especially in comic book characters.
It's a great story about a what if. What if people really had the sort of powers you see in comic books? They wouldn't all try to save the world. There's a great line where Poet, the narrator, says their powers didn't change who they were, just made them more.
JMS has a real talent for creating realistic characters. They may be fictional but they feel as Real as any Velveteen Rabbit. There's a depth which is often lacking, especially in comic book characters.
It's a great story about a what if. What if people really had the sort of powers you see in comic books? They wouldn't all try to save the world. There's a great line where Poet, the narrator, says their powers didn't change who they were, just made them more.
October 15, 2013
JMS is a genius. The range and scope of projects he's worked on is sufficient proof of that, and Rising Stars is perhaps my favorite of all of his work. The setup, the characterization, the plot, and the scope of Rising Stars are all exemplary of the author's seemingly endless creativity and passion for story-telling. Low star reviews on this book are probably a matter of complaining about how huge the thing is and how easily it falls apart. Who cares? Not me. It's the story matters, and this story is one of the best.
July 8, 2009
The series is very much in JMS style in that it throws in a large number of characters with different theological/philosophical issues, then half way through the series a single revelation changes the perception of everything. The ending seems a little hurried. The compendium includes a number of side stories which certainly add a good amount to the characters.
The short of it: If you like Babylon 5 and, to some extent Heroes, then you'll like this.
The short of it: If you like Babylon 5 and, to some extent Heroes, then you'll like this.
October 29, 2013
I am generally into graphic novels from vertigo, love the real anti-heroes that actually can be evil and vunerable both physically and mentally. Always thought that what it would be like super powered individuals could do to a world that corrupted not by super villans or intergalactic beings but normal humans just like in our world. This comic let me taste it all. The story had a potential to be much more deeper and longer. There was not many comics that can wet my eyes like this one...
January 28, 2016
I've never read superhero comics but I'm so glad I read this one, because it's REALLY good. I read them all back to back, just couldn't stop. Very impressive. Great story (made me realise just how satisfying a plot with a decent beginning, middle and end can be), lovely characters, nice artwork: as near to perfect as a comic can get!
March 29, 2013
This epic tale about a generation of superheroes is not easy to follow, because there are so many characters. It's an ambitious piece of work, as it gets very political in the end. Unfortunately the story just has its good moments and most of the characters are not really likeable.
The art changes a few times, which makes the ending look not as polished as the beginning.
The art changes a few times, which makes the ending look not as polished as the beginning.
August 10, 2012
Pretty interesting take on the superhero-genre, but suffers from both some hurried twists and sometimes feels less important than it should have been. the artwork varies somewhat,but never bothered me much.
November 12, 2012
Easily the most overrated comic I've ever read. Looks and feels like the worst of 90's comics but with the added gravitas of a writer who seemsed to have firmly believed that he was writing the next Watchmen.
October 3, 2010
If you're wondering what Heroes ripped off besides X-men, look no further.
June 5, 2009
Good, but:
1) had a tendency to get a little corny at times, and
2) the spin-offs were TERRIBLE. Jaysus!
1) had a tendency to get a little corny at times, and
2) the spin-offs were TERRIBLE. Jaysus!
August 3, 2010
A truly great series; completely captivating from beginning to end with rich characters and thoughtful storylines. I slowed down halfway through the book because I didn't want it to end.
April 3, 2012
Really enjoyed the story, but this book has the worst binding I've ever seen.
August 8, 2012
I finished this in a day. It was that good.
The storytelling was superb and that artwork, magnificent. I'd recommend this to anyone who was a fan of Heroes (pre- writes' strike).
The storytelling was superb and that artwork, magnificent. I'd recommend this to anyone who was a fan of Heroes (pre- writes' strike).
August 15, 2012
I really am not inot graphic novels or comics, but this blew me away back when I read it. Great use of the medium.
February 11, 2014
Seriously fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews