Advance Review: ‘Starsigns’ #1 Rises As The Stars Fall
by Anton Kromoff
Summary
On the surface, it’s easy to dismiss Starsigns as a run-of-the-mill superhero comic. However, once you get into the meat of the story there is a really grounded, and timely feeling and tone that reminds me of how I use to feel when I would read Generation X in the 90s. The series is light and entertaining but also feels like it’s really relevant in the current global conversation.
Overall
8/10Welcome to the table,
Stars and constellations have always been a significant part of the human experience. From mythology to folklore, songs, and lullabies the stars above and below are laced into every aspect of the cultural conversation. Lately, even my weekly TTRPG table has been exploring just how important the magic of constellations can be and how they inform the webwork of reality, and how we define our place in the universe. So when Starsigns, a new series from Image Comics, came across my desk I knew I had to take a look.
With a story by Saladin Ahmed and art by Megan Levens, the story has a whimsical and vibrant feel to it. Keely Fitzpatrick adds colors to the project along with Shawn Lee‘s lettering, and Heather Antos round out the creative team on this celestial-to-terrestrial romp.
The first issue of Starsigns starts off with a bang as the constellations disappear from the astrological landscape, leaving the world in a state of confusion. Soon after, it seems select individuals all over the world are starting to gain superhuman powers.
One of those select few is the protagonist of this first issue, Rana Fawaaz. She’s charming, talented, and not without her personal trauma, making her very relatable and sympathetic. Her father is also a delightful side character who I hope we see more of as the series progresses.
On the surface, it’s easy to dismiss Starsigns as a run-of-the-mill superhero comic. However, once you get into the meat of the story there is a really grounded, and timely feeling and tone that reminds me of how I use to feel when I would read Generation X in the 90s. The series is light and entertaining but also feels like it’s really relevant in the current global conversation.
Set to hit shelves May 3rd, be sure to grab a copy and see what this talented team has in store for you.
Until next time, it always struck me as odd, that people attributed their lives to the light from stars that could have died hundreds of thousands of years ago, and the shapes they make in the sky, that in some ways could be dots formed by things long gone and dormant in the space beyond the sky. The cosmos is weird like that.
