Starlight #1

Mark Millar and Goran Parlov, you got me for the long haul on Starlight. An amazing tale of rollicking adventure and humanity all in one excellent first issue. How all of this was managed in one issue impresses me beyond words. You will not want to skip over Starlight #1 on your comic book reading journey this week. If I feel as strongly as I do about the first issue of Starlight, imagine what the rest of the series will be like? Starlight excites me about the possibilities to come and it's only going to get better from here. Read Full Review

IfMark Millaris planning on tying all his comic book franchises together under his “Millarworld” label, thenStarlightis a worthy first step. Duke is a protagonist readers can root for, and the sci-fi concept offers a lot of story possibilities. Hopefully Millar keeps these titles coming out on a consistent schedule so we can learn how everything ties together. Read Full Review

Along with this team, Millar is back to form with Starlight #1. Saying that, he does have a tendency to loosen his grip and his resolve as his series move forward, so I hope he can hold onto the tremendously mesmerizing melancholy he has established in this book, while at the same time capitalizing on the adventures that are no doubt on the way for Duke. If he can keep pace and the art can follow suit, Starlight may end up being regarded as the most rewarding thing he has ever written. To me at least, that's saying a lot. Read Full Review

This is an incredibly strong opening salvo to what could the best new series of the year. There's a lot of promise when it comes to the emotional side of the story and even more when it comes to the science fiction aspect. The premise is sound and should capture audiences young and old. Recommended. Read Full Review

So to recap, you have a rich story deep in weighty themes about a man of two worlds. This is definitely a non-"Big Two" title that everyone should get on board with because it is definitely one of the stronger new series to hit shelves in recent times. Read Full Review

Starlight #1 is an excellent read from cover to cover and an amazing beginning for a brand new series. Read Full Review

Starlight #1 is an issue that will make you cry, make you laugh, make you smile, and make you want to come back for more. One of the biggest writers in the industry putting his spin on the pulp adventure side of the science fiction genre with a perfect artist for the job should be enough of a reason for readers to take notice, but when the unexpected emotions come and hit you like a ton of bricks, that's when one will realize that Starlighthas the potential to be something special. Read Full Review

Starlight is a fantastic entry in Millarworld, being a very deep and emotional tale of life and heartache. It also shows a previous life of action for our main character with the cliffhanger having me begging for more. Highly recommended. Read Full Review

Starlight blew me away. It's a fantastic first issue and a toned down Millar that delivers some fun action along with a heartfelt touch. Read Full Review

A very emotionally strong first issue. If the whole of the Millarverse is this good, we're in for a treat. Read Full Review

Millar and Parlov's portrait of Starlight is an easy one to grasp. It feels accessible and reads like a charm. Definitely a departure from Millar's recent hard sci-fi Jupiter's Legacy and pretty much world's apart from his ultraviolent works, Starlight is for fans hungering for a throwback adventure story, and for those who know that Millar is capable of delivering more than just twisted spins on superhero stories. Should Millar and Parlov keep this up, this book could be the next big hit for Image and given the impressive start, I don't know how it couldn't be. Read Full Review

Starlight may not be for everyone. It takes time and true interest to want to discover classic ideas, however Millar and Parlov certainly help give new readers the push they may need to not only read their book, but discover the realm of the bronze age of comics as well. You have to walk before you learn to run, and Starlight is the perfect book to start with. Read Full Review

The last interesting point I want to bring up is how different this is from many of Mark MIllar's other books. It is well known to comic book fans that Millar's books have pervasive adult content; sex, drugs,and extreme levels of violence are common place in a lot of his work. Some of which I am perfectly fine with or love like “Old man Logan” for instance. I only bring up this point to inform readers that this book doesn't have a tone like “Wanted” or “Kick-Ass”. Starlight #1 is the start of something new and the first in his shared universe of superheros; “Millarworld”… Whatever your feelings are on that, I highly recommend Starlight #1. It is a refreshing, emotional, and all around well-written comic that marks the start of a promising new series. Read Full Review

"Starlight no. 1" is well-written, and the art is great. If readers are unfamiliar with Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, or John Carter; then Millar's story will feel fresh. For those of us who are familiar with them, let's do ourselves a favor: read it. Let's trust that "Starlight" will not be a simple re-tread, but that it will attempt to do something different. Something we could not have imagined. Read Full Review

Starlight #1 is a great start to the Millarworld universe. Let's hope it lives up to the promise. Read Full Review

The opening issue of Starlight balances drama and emotion with short spurts of action and glory to create a solid book that pays its characters service. Duke is shown as a warrior, a father and a husband as well as man in his own right. This immediately creates a bond with the reader and aging hero and although the neglectful children plot is not exactly new it is written well, making it real and emotionally engaging. A strong first instalment of a series I expect to get even better. Read Full Review

Mark Millar is bringing readers an amazing space taleafter retirement, but every epic has to start somewhere. Read Full Review

“Starlight” #1 isn't by any stretch a game changer. Like most of Millar's works, the book puts a twist on tried and true comic trope. In this case, it's “Flash Gordon meets ‘Dark Knight Returns.'” However, as this opening issue focuses more on the characters than the plot itself, it feels delightfully fresh. The issue is primarily set up for the inevitable call to the stars, heralding the action packed adventure that will carry the series through five more issues, but it's certainly set-up done well. “Starlight” #1 is a beautiful little title, both in plot and style, and definitely one you should check out. Read Full Review

Overall, this is a great start to a new series that will have you clamoring for more. The concept here is really cool and Millar has a hit on his hands. While the issue spends a bit too much time beating down Duke, Millar does a phenomenal job at setting all of this up and giving the reader a dynamite first issue which will undoubtedly become an amazing series. If you're a fan of sci-fi serials, this is a must have book. Read Full Review

Between this and "Jupiter's Legacy," Millar's been debuting some refreshingly strong new series as of late. "Starlight" #1 has a real emotional heart, and that's definitely a lot of the attraction. Millar and Parlov are off to a great start with "Starlight," and if they can keep this up, they've got a real winner on our hands. Read Full Review

Millar has set up another intriguing story for us here, reliant on the protagonist Duke McQueen, if you like the heart and soul displayed by this man in this issue as much as I did then you'll want to see what happens to him as he embarks on the story that will really launch in issue #2. I'm coming back for more. Read Full Review

Starlight #1 was definitely a pleasant surprise. This book has fun adventure while also retaining a strong sense of realism and emotion in terms of character interactions and development. If youre looking for something that feels different from most other titles currently available, Starlight may be a good place to search. Read Full Review

Paired with Goran Parlov's economic line art and Ive Svorcina's flat colors, Millar and the team give us an opening issue that can't help but make readers pick up the rest of the series. Read Full Review

Starlight is an old concept. An old hero, with or without superpowers, has one last hurrah. This book tries to make this variation a little different by providing a very sad setup for the main character. The book is a good first step. I recommend checking this out. This isn't your typical Millar book (if one exists). Read Full Review

"Starlight" is a really fun adventure mini-series, beautifully illustrated by Parlov and Svorcina. It just felt at times that "Starlight" had the potential to level up to something really spectacular and memorable, something highly emotional, and instead it settled for just good fun. Read Full Review

While this may not be a perfect start to the Millarworld Universe, it is certainly an unexpectedly thoughtful entry into Mark Millar's canon and and welcome change of pace and tone from the man who gave us The Ultimates. Science fiction is a genre in which you can tell a myriad of stories, ranging from cosmic horror to explorations of class, yet who could have guessed that Starlight would be a thoughtful mediation on age and one's place in a world that has moved on? Duke McQueen may be fading on Earth, but still has a chance to re-ignite his spark beyond the stars. Read Full Review

Here in Starlight, everything about the writing is crafted to make Duke's life miserable, and while I understand that this in service of him having a character arc to being less miserable (hopefully), there isn't a good version of Duke we really know other than the Zap Brannigan-type character we see in the flashbacks. All of this leaves Starlight just feeling empty and more than a little mean-spirited; it's something I wouldn't want to come back to, but if you're more inclined to this style of storytelling, maybe you'll like it. Read Full Review

melt_man

Mar 06, 2014

FANTASTIC. This is a story that can only be told in comic book medium. Millard pulled me in immediately, first with excitement, then with sympathy. Parlov does a genius job of expression and emotion. Each character has their own demeanor and thought process and each panel shows that. Svorcina, The colorist, does a great job traversing between times, and has captured the concept of stereotypical bright, colorful Sci-Fi artwork. Paired with the drab colors of "reality", this is truly a treat.

Master Destructo

May 16, 2014

Any comic that gives me chill-bumps on the last page gets a 10 from me. I've been hearing a lot of good buzz about this series, so I gave the first issue a try. It's a really great introduction to a character and his world(s). I feel like the "ungrateful children" thing is a somewhat overused device, but I anticipate the characters may become a little more complex as we go along. Much like Jupiter's Legacy, the fact that one consistent art team will be doing the book means that it won't be coming out every single month. That fact, coupled with the friendly $2.99 price tag makes it much easier for me to put this on my permanent pull-list.

Gizmo

May 17, 2014

This just made me melt into a puddle of goo. Thank you for reminding us that comics can still be emotional and truly touching.

Pym

Mar 08, 2014

Colour me surprised, Mark Millar wrote something decent again. This comic hass got none of his over the top "edgieness" and instead is surprisingly a very subdued and emotional comic. I can't wait for the next issue and I am now definitely going to be checking out his other new series.

Cosmic Ray

Nov 16, 2014

Great first issue!