Rising Stars
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| Rising Stars | |
 Cover of Rising Stars #1 |
|
| Publisher | Joe's Comics |
|---|---|
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | limited series |
| Publication date | August 1999 – March 2005 |
| Number of issues | 24 issue |
| Main character(s) | See Characters |
| Creative team | |
| Creator(s) | J. Michael Straczynski |
Rising Stars is a 24-issue comic book limited series by J. Michael Straczynski about 113 people (called "Specials"), as they are born with special abilities following the appearance of a mysterious light in the sky. The comic explores how a society may react to the introduction of superpowers, and how those Specials may react towards society and each other. Rising Stars was one of the first comics produced under Straczynski's own Joe's Comics imprint for Top Cow Productions.
Contents |
[edit] History
The comic was published in August of 1999, monthly at first by Top Cow/Image Comics, and then under the Joe's Comics imprint. Within a few months, however, there were unscheduled artist changes and unexplained delays by Top Cow in shipping the comics -- sometimes lasting months.
The comic itself came to an unexpected halt after issue 21 due to internal arguments between Straczynski and Top Cow. Straczynski claimed he was cut out of the loop on the potential Rising Stars movie. After communication broke down between them, he held back the scripts for the last three issues, and the entire comic was put on hold. In addition to an apology for the way Straczynski was treated in regard to the possible film, Top Cow relented by giving him the full rights to an anthology comic he had written for them, Dream Police (later published by Marvel Comics), as well as the rights to the name and logo for the Joe's Comics imprint.
The last issue of Rising Stars was published in March 2005. During the intervening time, Straczynski had gone on to write a revamp of Marvel's Squadron Supreme, Supreme Power.
[edit] Story
The story is narrated by the last living Special in the future, John Simon aka Poet. The story starts when the Specials are all grown up, but it constantly flashes back to when they were children. Through these flashbacks, the development of these 113 Specials is shown, starting with the government's monitoring and handling of the events, to the manifestation of their powers, to the impact of these abilities on the afflicted children and the world around them. Some of the Specials use their powers for the good of the world, others for personal benefit and fame, while others simply wish to forget about them and live a normal life.
While John was investigating a series of murders in Specials' community, he learned that when Specials died, their "force" would transfer to the remaining Specials, making each more powerful. A Special with multiple personality disorder, who called herself Critical Maas, had begun using Jason Miller aka Patriot to kill other Specials so her own power would be increased. Maas manipulated the U.S. Government into attacking the Specials so more would be killed. Using her newly increased powers, Maas and a handful of Specials she controlled were able to conquer Chicago, claiming it for themselves.
Ten years pass and John, his half-brother Randy Fisk aka Ravenshadow, Elizabeth Chandra, and Joshua Kane a.k.a. Sanctuary lead the Specials in an attempt to liberate Chicago after they are promised by the U.S. Government that all charges against them would be dropped. Maas is defeated, but at a price: Matthew Bright, who had been sent by the government to assist in her defeat, was beaten into a coma by Patriot, who was still under Maas' control.
Seeing that fighting amongst themselves was not what they were empowered for, John proclaims that he wants them all to act as a unit so they can help humanity. The violence in Chicago affected the rest of the Specials profoundly as well and they all agree to assist John in his mission.
Another ten years passed, and their mission was almost complete. Humanity had been helped by the Specials, and more importantly, had been given the confidence and resources to further help themselves. After Randy Fisk won the Presidency, the U.S. Government, seeing the Specials as a threat to their power, plotted to assassinate the remaining few.
A bomb, specifically designed to destroy even the most powerful Special, was set off during a gathering of all the Specials, except for John who was busy working on a secret project. All were killed, including Randy and John's lover, Elizabeth Chandra. The power was initially distributed amongst all the people of the world instantly curing all forms of illness and injury. It also granted everyone limited telepathy which brought an end to all wars, violence, strife, etc. as people became aware of the thoughts and feelings of those they had previously viewed as their enemies. Those involved in the assassination voluntarily came forward and confessed. For 24 hours, not a single human being died. After 24 hours was up, the power departed into the sky and sought out John, giving him all the power and knocking him out for seven days. He used that power to provide energy for the project he had been working on: a space ship that could travel near the speed of light.
The immense power within John directed the ship to yet another world, an alien planet much like Earth. John's ship erupted into a fireball, strikingly similar to the one that had empowered the Specials, as it came crashing down onto the planet's surface. It can be assumed that a process similar to what happened with the Specials would happen to this planet's populace. The circle had been completed.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Specials
There are 113 Specials, with the story focusing on a select few and often featuring appearances by others.
- John Simon (Poet) — Poet and writer, but not a very popular one. It is commonly known that he has a knack with electronics; he can avoid security systems, and is sensitive to electrical impulses. Secretly however, he is the most powerful of all the Specials — whereas the other 112 Specials have powers fueled by the energy of the Flash, Poet can control that energy directly. He's not the fastest or strongest but the deadliest — he can defeat any of the others in single combat.
- Matthew Bright — A Police officer with the powers of Flight, super-strength and speed, near-invulnerability. At first he hid his identity as a Special so as to join the police. After a series of serial bombings, he is exposed and the Federal Government revokes his badge as Specials are not allowed to participate in any form of government department. His fellow officers then name him a 'special' deputy rank and supply a new badge and uniform.
- Jason Miller (Formerly Flagg, Patriot) — Masked corporate superhero employed by NexusCorp, later turned vigilante - Flight, super-strength and speed, near-invulnerability, can sense radiation. Was seduced by Stephanie Maas and taken over by her split personality Critical Maas. Jason was used to murder other specials so that their power would transfer to the rest and eventually would have allowed Critical the ability to control them all. He was later freed and decided to help the world by forcing a nuclear disarmament. He proceeded to every country with nuclear weapons and took their weapons and hid them in the Antarctic. He left each country with one nuclear weapon each. While transporting one of these weapons it detonated after being hit by several bullets, the resultant EMP allowed the radiation to affect Jason and would have eventually killed him had he not died protecting Matthew Bright. It was this incident which suggested to members of the US military the idea of using a high powered EMP to temporarily knock out the power of the specials.
- Elizabeth Chandra — Former model - Appears as the physically ideal woman to whoever is looking at her. Later gains the ability to inspire love rather than lust in both male and female onlookers.
- Randy Fisk (Ravenshadow) — Artist - Flight, super-strength, ability to see things nobody else can, is sensitive to electrical impulses, energy projection.
- Stephanie Maas/Critical Maas — Split personality able to access powers of flight, super-strength and speed, broadcast telepathy, and the ability to psychically control any Special she has had contact with. After the Surge, she is able to control almost any Special. Committed suicide when Stephanie regained temporary control.
- Jerry Montrose (Pyre) — Pyrokinetic - Controls fire, capable of surrounding his body in intense heat without burning and the ability to fly as well as enhanced strength. Originally an enemy of Patriot, Jason went on to be a hero by burning cocaine fields, he was eventually lured to one of these fields were an EMP was used to temporarily knock out his powers and he was shot.
- Paula Ramirez — Singer - Telepathic singing voice that can only be described as 'beautiful.'
- Willie Smith — Flight, super-strength and speed, can locate the rest of Specials. As a child Willie could only hover a few feet as he was the victim of teasing over his weight and this directly affected his confidence and in turn his abilities. During a particularly rough day Willie "snapped" as it is put and proceeded to float off and leaves not to be seen again until he saves Cathy Holmes in Chicago from Critical Maas.
- Joshua Kane (Sanctuary) — Televangelist - Levitation, energy absorption, ability to generate and concentrate light. Able to switch genders, his powers are much stronger in female form. Died saving the special from a tactical missile.
- Laurel Darkhaven — Telekinetic Government assassin. Laurel had the ability to telekinetically manipulate small objects. She was employed as an assassin because, as noted in the comic book, "The carotid artery is a small object". At John Simon's urging, she later expended her powers moving the arable soil in the Middle East from beneath the sand to the surface.
- Lionel Zerb — Medium - Able to detect and contact the recently deceased. Later gains the ability to talk to those that have not died recently. Ability seems limited by proximity to place of death or place of burial, but he has been known to contact particular individuals.
- Cathy Holmes — Healer - Rejuvenative abilities, to the point of raising the recently dead. Nicknamed "Cathy Jean" by Critical and her minions.
- Brody Kempler — Supergenius - Einstein, Archimedes, and Stephen Hawking rolled into one don't even come close. Inventor.
- Clarence Mack — Psychologist - Telepathically visits other people's dreams. Murdered by Patriot.
- Peter Dawson — Invulnerable - a microthin energy shield protects his body from all injury, and filters his environment. As result, he has no physical sensation bar taste. Cannot be physically injured, or poisoned in any way. Peter was murdered by Patriot while under Critical Maas' control. Patriot placed a plastic bag over his head and tied him down, the shield covering Peters' body meant he could not feel this happening and suffocated.
- Lee Jackson — Pyrokinetic - Abilities similar to Jerry Montrose (Pyre). Abused as a child by a camp counselor Lee later killed the counselor wishing him to "burn" after the counselor again attempted to abuse him. This led to the government cracking down on the specials. Also believed to have accidentally killed his parents by burning down their apartment while having a nightmare. Eventually died publicly after burning himself out on live TV after taking revenge on a group of thugs who killed a friend of his who took him in off the street.
- Patrick Ferry — The ability not to be noticed. Stealth, hiding in shadows.
At first, the Specials possessed varying levels of power, ranging from the clearly superhuman, such as Matthew Bright and Jason Miller, to almost negligible abilities like being invisible when not in direct sunlight. However, when a Special died, the energy they possessed was evenly distributed among the rest, making them stronger. In an incident similar to the Waco Siege, a number of Specials were killed. The resultant transfer of energy, later known as the Surge, was enough to turn all specials regardless of their standing into high powered individuals.
[edit] Others
- Dr. William Welles - The Supreme Court assigned Dr. Welles to the Specials shortly after their powers manifested in order to document their abilities and teach them to cope with their new powers. Further, he was to compile files on each to be used by government should any of the Specials ever go rogue. He has a close personal friendship with John Simon (Poet), whose main power he never reveals. Dr. Welles dies half-way through the story, leaving John Simon to solve the Specials crisis.
[edit] Collected editions
Typical of Straczynski, the beginning and end of the story was planned before he wrote the first issue. It was set to span 24 issues, and neatly divide up into three acts. Each trade paperback collects one of those acts.
- Rising Stars Vol. 1: Born in Fire (collects #1-8; ISBN 1-58240-172-1)
- Rising Stars Vol. 2: Power (collects #9-16; ISBN 1-58240-226-4)
- Rising Stars Vol. 3: Fire and Ash (collects #17-24; ISBN 1-58240-491-7)
- Rising Stars: Visitations (collects Rising Stars #0, #½, Prelude and Preview; ISBN 1-58240-268-X)
- Rising Stars Hardcover (collects #1-24, #0, #½ and Prelude; ISBN 1-58240-488-7)
- Rising Stars Vol.4 (collects Rising Stars: Bright and Rising Stars: Voices of the Dead; ISBN 1-58240-613-8)
[edit] Spin-offs
[edit] Rising Stars: Bright
The first Rising Stars spin-off, a three-issue miniseries, written by Fiona Avery, penciled by Dan Jurgens and published in Feb-Apr 2003, is about Matthew Bright's rookie years as a police officer in the NYPD under the name Brendan Miller, after he left Pederson.
[edit] Rising Stars: Voices of the Dead
The six-issue miniseries Rising Stars: Voices of the Dead features Lionel Zerb, a Special who can see dead people, and was published in Apr-Dec 2005. It was again written by Fiona Avery, with pencils by Staz Johnson and Al Rio. It concentrates on various mysteries Lionel uncovers because of his abillity.
[edit] Rising Stars: Untouchable
The five-issue miniseries Rising Stars: Untouchable features Laurel Darkhaven, a Special who worked for the CIA as an assassin. Written by Fiona Avery with pencils by Brent Anderson. Published February 2006 - June 2006.
[edit] Novelization
Between 2002 and 2005, a novelization of Rising Stars by Arthur Byron Cover was published in a three-volume series.
- Rising Stars Book 1: Born in Fire (ISBN 978-0743435123) follows the storyline of the trade paperback of the same title.
- Rising Stars Book 2: Ten Years After (ISBN 978-0743452762) follows the storyline of Power.
- Rising Stars Book 3: Change the World (ISBN 978-1416504320) concludes the trilogy and follows the storyline of Fire and Ash.
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- There were 113 specials born. The protagonist's name is John. In the Bible, John 1:13 reads: "Who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
[edit] Television
Parallels have been drawn between Rising Stars and the USA Network's The 4400 where 4400 missing people have been returned by a ball of light similar to that in the beginning of Rising stars, with newly discovered supernatural powers.
Parallels have also been drawn between Rising Stars and the television series Heroes. The show revolves around people around the world who exhibit special abilities.[1]
In July of 2006, JMS' website reported that "Sam Raimi's production company is currently developing Rising Stars as a series."
