And now, much like Kevin Smith, he has set his sight on the world of comics.
RISING STARS is the episodic comic debut of his latest vision. It's a "real" superhero tale set in a "real" universe. And, like most good fiction, most notably Dave Sim's CEREBUS, it has a beginning, a middle and a definitive end; not the old "we'll keep going with it until we get bored". The series WILL end someday at the author's choosing.
Due to a strange comet phenomenon that hits Pederson, Illinois, 113 unborn children become affected by what is commonly called 'the flash'. These 113 developed super powers. This series is their story: the highs and the lows and everything in between.
Issue #1 is the starting point, as Poet, in his journal which will be used throughout the series, explains how the event happen, how HE was the first to reveal his powers at a young age and how, because of that, the dam burst open wide and all of the 113 showed their unusual skills.
As expected, the government begins running their tests to determine just how many of these children exist. Until they could figure it out, they placed all the children they are aware of in Camp Sunshine. Basically, it's a concentration camp for what, in another comic universe, would be called mutants.
All is well, as the kids see it as no school until things are settled. But one night, an older adult takes it one step too far and Lee Jackson uttered a word which forced him and his parents to spend the rest of his life running. That word-BURN.
Poet goes on to tell us that Jackson didn't use his powers again for another twenty years. And when he did, he did it in front of a worldwide audience. He also explains that this journal is the record of what has transpired for the last five decades. And he is the last of the 113.
That's the premise of the series: documenting the lives of these "rising stars". Some became cops; others criminals. Some were celebrities; others just plain old everyday folks. Some were superheroes; some were super-villains.
Issue #2 tells the story of Peter Dawson. More specifically, the death of Peter Dawson. Peter was one of the 113 and his power was invulnerability. He couldn't be harmed by guns, or knives or common weapons. He was suffocated by a plastic dry cleaning bag; the ones that have the big notes on them that they shouldn't be played with.
And thus the Poet, seen in this series for the first time, is called in to investigate what seems to be a series of murders involving the 113. Who is doing it and why? That remains the question.
And it's one which, I am sure, will not be answered any time in the future.
Don't expect any answers any time soon as Straczynski is in this series for the long haul. That's how he approaches all of his works. These two issues are just the very tip of what promises to be a lengthy and quite involved tale of power, passion and betrayal. Based upon these two issues, I would say it's pretty much certain, that the powers and traits of the 113 will be revealed slowly and cautiously.
Keu Cha and Jason Gorder, penciller and inker respectively, provide the pictures to Straczynski's epic tale. Their art is nice but uninspiring. That's not to say they aren't talented. But we've been down this road before. If you've ever read any of the Top Cow books, which this IS), then you've seen it. It looks like every other issue of WITCHBLADE, DARKNESS or ASCENSION; three books that I happen to be big fans of.
But, for a story this unusual, I want something which will make me sit up and notice. And this isn't it. I found myself breezing through the art rather than letting it compliment the story. Not to JMS-change the art team frequently, if possible. Let THEIR work compliment yours and those of the characters.
All in all, this series has the feel of a book which, if it can come out on a regular schedule and keep the intensity of its' writing, will be nominated for and probably win a whole slew of Eisners and Kurtzmans in 2000. Let's hope it's around with us for a long time to come.