Rising Stars, Book 1: Born in Fire

J. Michael Straczynski continues to impress me. This little-known book (Rising Stars: Vol. 1) is a storytelling gem. His character development is top-notch. He's one of just a handful of writers that can take a super hero story and make it feel real. Volumes 2 and 3 are also well crafted. My only complaint is the constant change of artists. All of the artists are good, it just disturbs the flow of the books a bit. Straczynski's masterful writing makes up for this minor gripe. Check out J.M.S.'s "Supreme Power" books, and also "Midnight Nation," both are stunning titles. These books are for older audiences, not that they're overly sexual or violent, I just don't think they are intended for kids. Happy reading!

Every few years a writer manages to create a comic book that sets a standard within the genre. Miller did so for revamps with "The Dark Knight Returns", Gaiman did so for tragic heroes with "Sandman", and of course there is Moore's "Watchmen", which basically set the standard for comic writing in general.And now, we have "Rising Stars" which raises the bar for social interaction and commentary on the nature of man.While "Rising Stars" is indeed a superhero series, the most important aspect is not the heroes - it's the conflict of ideals between the Specials and the human race. Given the amount of racial tension present in human history, "Rising Stars" poses an excellent question: "How would humanity react to the sudden emergence of 113 superpowered beings?"

I have both collected editions, as well as the latest issue, and I am very impressed. I wish he would finish the series, or at least get back to working on it. A fun read. I enjoyed it very much, and think you will as well.

This is, by far, one of the greatest comics I've ever read. A great story line, well developed characters, fantastic artwork, and JMS's engrossing writing makes Rising Stars a true classic. The story is written with such authenticity and emotional depth you are drawn into the world of "The Specials". It's a real thinking persons comic (but don't think it's all dialogue...there are great battles and superhero action sequences in every issue !). I think JMS did a great job in portraying what would happen if ordinary people were given great powers. Who would use it for Evil? Who would use it for Good? Would the world embrace these "Specials" or fear them? JMS lays out a world where all these ideas are explored. Rising Stars is a comic that exemplifies all the qualities of great comics.Highly recommended !Also recommended: Anything by J. Michael Straczynski,Kingdom Come by Alex Ross, Star Wars Tales TBP Vols 1 & 2, Sojourn by Crossgen comics

First, let's get this clear: This is a compilation of issues 1-8 of a comic book that's projected to go on for quite a while. Not a whole lot is settled by the time the book ends. If you get into this story, you're in for the long haul.That said, it's a very good story. Like my all-time favorite comic book, _Watchmen_, Rising Stars gets deep into the motivations of all the featured superheroes. Straczynski also has come up an new twist on the genre- while all the superheros share a common origin, they also share a particular bond that drives the plot. Furthermore, it's already been made clear that the creation of the superheroes is a significant plot element, and that we haven't been told the secret about it.Finally, the main character, Poet, has a mythic quality that has a lot of emotional resonance for me. After only a couple of issues, I knew I had to know how it all ended. If that isn't good writing, I don't know what is.