by Sam Hurcom
I feel pretty shitty writing a negative review about almost anything artistic. If someone has taken the time, effort, patience, dedication, heart, passion, drive, scope, vision, prudence, foresight, to create something they feel others may enjoy or learn from, it’s pretty damn easy to point fingers and rant about every minor (or major) flaw. Let’s be honest, it’s far easier to critique the work of others in lieu of actually creating something original, insightful or adventurous ourselves. I don’t care if critics say they have a tough job – they really really don’t! What’s really tough, what really takes a lot of heart and courage, is the ability to create a painting, film, novel or (even a) comic and present it to the big wide world, with every minor detail on full display. In an age of anonymous tweets, thumb toting approvals, and unaccountable, uncontrolled comment pages and blog sites, it’s become all too easy to slate the work of others at the click of a mouse.
I feel pretty shitty writing a negative review about almost anything artistic. If someone has taken the time, effort, patience, dedication, heart, passion, drive, scope, vision, prudence, foresight, to create something they feel others may enjoy or learn from, it’s pretty damn easy to point fingers and rant about every minor (or major) flaw. Let’s be honest, it’s far easier to critique the work of others in lieu of actually creating something original, insightful or adventurous ourselves. I don’t care if critics say they have a tough job – they really really don’t! What’s really tough, what really takes a lot of heart and courage, is the ability to create a painting, film, novel or (even a) comic and present it to the big wide world, with every minor detail on full display. In an age of anonymous tweets, thumb toting approvals, and unaccountable, uncontrolled comment pages and blog sites, it’s become all too easy to slate the work of others at the click of a mouse.
I began this week with the intention of writing a fairly negative review about Mark Millar’s latest six issue comic Starlight. Because it would have been easy; Starlight has one massive flaw I was going to stress repeatedly. Simply put, Starlight is far too short, often rushed in places and frankly lacking the depth and breadth befitting a concept so superb and enjoyable as that laid out in first issue or two.
That’s the negative part done – in this day and age, it’s far too easy to be fucking negative all the time.
In reality, the negativity I feel towards Starlight is born from all the things I love and enjoy about it – fundamentally I just wish there had been more comics! For anyone who’s read it, I’m sure you’ll agree, the basic premise of the narrative is just, well, lovely. We’re all going to get old one day and I’d like to think some of us may turn out to be space hopping, planet saving, alien race liberating heroes and heroines.
Anyone not familiar with Starlight may be a little lost now – I should probably start from the beginning.
Starlight follows the life and times of Duke Mcqueen, an aged, widower, with two grown up sons who rarely visit and fairly few friends in the world. That’s because, in his youth, Duke got transported to a distant planet, where, with a sleek rapier in hand, he saved the entire universe. Problem is, when he returned home to Earth, nobody believed him (except his future wife to be). Branded a bit of a whack job, Duke spends his former years in solitude, reliving the past and thinking of his loved ones.
That’s all until he’s visited by a strange boy with a spaceship who asks for his help to save the universe once more. With a bit of a squeeze into his old space gear, Duke sets off on his last great adventure...
That’s the negative part done – in this day and age, it’s far too easy to be fucking negative all the time.
In reality, the negativity I feel towards Starlight is born from all the things I love and enjoy about it – fundamentally I just wish there had been more comics! For anyone who’s read it, I’m sure you’ll agree, the basic premise of the narrative is just, well, lovely. We’re all going to get old one day and I’d like to think some of us may turn out to be space hopping, planet saving, alien race liberating heroes and heroines.
Anyone not familiar with Starlight may be a little lost now – I should probably start from the beginning.
Starlight follows the life and times of Duke Mcqueen, an aged, widower, with two grown up sons who rarely visit and fairly few friends in the world. That’s because, in his youth, Duke got transported to a distant planet, where, with a sleek rapier in hand, he saved the entire universe. Problem is, when he returned home to Earth, nobody believed him (except his future wife to be). Branded a bit of a whack job, Duke spends his former years in solitude, reliving the past and thinking of his loved ones.
That’s all until he’s visited by a strange boy with a spaceship who asks for his help to save the universe once more. With a bit of a squeeze into his old space gear, Duke sets off on his last great adventure...
Millar was quoted as calling this ‘Flash Gordon meets The Dark Knight Returns’. My first reaction was more ‘Buck Rogers meets Space Cowboys’ but you get the general idea. In any case, by the time I’d put issue one down, I was completely hooked (and a little in love) with Duke Mcqueen and his life story. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than to read an old fashioned adventure tale with an old fashioned hero. There’s no confusion about who the good guys and bad guys are, no moral dilemma or moral uncertainty. Duke’s a goody; the overlord with the snazzy head gear and legions of brutal military police, is not. That’s it. It seems like somewhat of a back handed compliment, but you don’t have to put much effort into reading Starlight. On the contrary, you just sit back and enjoy it.
I should stress that Starlight isn’t entirely the creation of Millar alone; Goran Parlov wasn’t just the artist on this one but also played a big role in creating and developing the characters and plotline. His art work really is the crowning achievement of his sizable contribution however. There’s a simplicity and roughness to the entirety of the run that’s very accessible and inviting. That may sound weird but Starlight isn’t a comic steeped in Photoshop realistic images that are a whisker away from the airbrushed celebrity snaps we see plastered in trashy magazines. Starlight is cartoon comic – it’s aimed at adults and kids alike. Scribbled drawings of crazy space dragons and ’67 GT500 Mustangs are the stuff of kids dreamscapes, etched in the back of maths textbooks and homework assignments. It’s bright, it’s enticing and a perfect match for the narrative which above all else, is quite a lot of fun.
I should stress that Starlight isn’t entirely the creation of Millar alone; Goran Parlov wasn’t just the artist on this one but also played a big role in creating and developing the characters and plotline. His art work really is the crowning achievement of his sizable contribution however. There’s a simplicity and roughness to the entirety of the run that’s very accessible and inviting. That may sound weird but Starlight isn’t a comic steeped in Photoshop realistic images that are a whisker away from the airbrushed celebrity snaps we see plastered in trashy magazines. Starlight is cartoon comic – it’s aimed at adults and kids alike. Scribbled drawings of crazy space dragons and ’67 GT500 Mustangs are the stuff of kids dreamscapes, etched in the back of maths textbooks and homework assignments. It’s bright, it’s enticing and a perfect match for the narrative which above all else, is quite a lot of fun.
I don’t like giving spoilers but I’m going to now – as with any classic adventure story, the good guys ultimately win. As in his youth, Duke saves the day once more and in the process seals his title as the universes greatest hero (earning the respect of humankind and his children in the process). When I finished the final issue, I was happy Duke won the day. I just wish I had got to enjoy a bit more of the ride along the way.
There is masses, MASSES of room in which to explore Duke Mcqueen’s past adventures. Issue one and two hint at Duke’s younger life and volumes upon volumes of comics could be written depicting his former exploits and heroism. Which I really would like to see.
I began this week with the intention of writing a negative review. I’m going to finish with a positive. Do you know what the biggest problem with Starlight was - there wasn’t enough of it. Which has to be a good sign; if you leave fans wanting more, you must have given them something pretty damn special to begin with.
There is masses, MASSES of room in which to explore Duke Mcqueen’s past adventures. Issue one and two hint at Duke’s younger life and volumes upon volumes of comics could be written depicting his former exploits and heroism. Which I really would like to see.
I began this week with the intention of writing a negative review. I’m going to finish with a positive. Do you know what the biggest problem with Starlight was - there wasn’t enough of it. Which has to be a good sign; if you leave fans wanting more, you must have given them something pretty damn special to begin with.
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