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Underground > Comic Books >

Lost in the stars

Robot Man Reformed

15:46 / 11.07.01

For some reason I always think of Starman, mainly the James Robinson-Tony Harris run as being somewhat overlooked.

So which is your favourite issue, arc and run?

My favourite issue would have to be 11, the one where Jack goes to the sewers to find Grundy, prompted by Jade. After many unbelievably bad comics, this one blew me by surprise, my first.

Arc, I rather found the sins of the child(?) wild.

Run, Harris is an Artist but Snejberg is one of the most deserving of wide attention.

04:30 / 12.07.01

Big S.M. fan here. (That just doesn't sound right.)

I really like Harris' stuff, but Snelberg leaves me cold. He might have been O.K. on his own, but after Harris? No chance...

And as sappy and Speilberg as Robinson is, he writes well, real well. I can't pick a favorite, but many of the meetings with his brother really get to me- especially the pirate adventure one. The circus ones are cool too.

Oh, for the lonely guys among you, if you ever want to introduce a woman to the world of comics, Starman (Robinson & Harris) and Astro-City (Busiek & Anderson) will do the trick. Trust me on this- it's worked six out of six times. You gotta ease 'em into 'the Invisibles,' if at all- many of my indoctrinees can't take it, for whatever reason.

04:41 / 12.07.01

I really liked the Sand and Stars arc, with the Golden Age Sandman. Of course, those are the only Starman issues I've ever actually read, so I guess that narrows the field down.

Robot Man Reformed

15:26 / 12.07.01

Theo Kalypso, have you studied Snejbergs art in Books of Magic? He was the best thing to happen to that title. And yeah, there was something truly special in the Robinson-Harris pairing but I thought Snejberg was the best replacement to happen onto SM.

17:33 / 12.07.01

Why, no, I haven't seen Snelberg in 'Books of Magic.' In fact, I just read the first compiled tradepaperback of the Books last month. That one was full of great painted art, Charles Vess, John Bolton, Scott Hampton.... I loved it. Sadly, comics are loosing their sparkle for me these days. Lack of funds, no good comic store within eighty miles, etc....

I just really, REALLY like Harris' stuff. Hell, I'll even buy the appallingly badly written Dan Jolley stuff he's exclusive to these days. In fact, next to perhaps J.H. Williams III of 'Promethea' fame, Harris is probably my current favorite comic artist. I find it odd that I like these 'baroque' style artists, being one of the least baroque people I've ever met. (I wear the same clothes every day until I shower- which I do not do unless I've worked out first.)

On Snelberg's positive side- I think his personal skills were put to best use in the Culp- 'Darkness over Opal' (Grand Guignol?) storyline. He really captured the sinister aspect of the Condor, as well as the pliable humor of Elastic Man. His Culp and Grundy weren't bad either.

[ 12-07-2001: Message edited by: Theo Kalypso ]

19:49 / 12.07.01

Snelberg's Books of Magic ROCKED

Starman as a whole was Great . . . sorry to see it done, but kind of glad too.

20:03 / 12.07.01

every time I drop comics, something comes along that renews my interest. Last time it was Starman... got hooked by the cover (Jack and David on the pirate ship), and loved every page of it. The title really suffered when Harris left, IMHO. I always looked at Starman as The perfect collaboration between writer and penciller... without Harris to translate, Robinson's scripts seemed clumsy. Snejberg just didn't have that grand Opal magic...

(Theo: I was thinking about dropping Astro City on friends of the female persuasion; nice to have a precedent set. I figure Teminal City would work well too, as would Red Rocket 7 ... for the pop-fans)