Starlight #2

By Mark Millar, Goran Parlov & Ive Svorcina

Starlight keeps the classic pulp-era sci-fi feel going in issue #2. This series really feels like a throwback to something from the golden age of science fiction crossed with silver age comic book stories like those featuring Adam Strange. The similarities between Starlight and Adam Strange feel quite strong, while this series definitely maintains its own unique course.

The second issue picks up right where things left off after the fantastic first book. Mark Millar writes terrific character interactions in Starlight #2, often providing humorous moments that are sincere and organic instead of silly or forced. This certainly keeps things light-hearted amidst the chaos that we’re sure to encounter in future installments. One of the most enjoyable moments was when Duke explains to the young space faring lad that, although he may be considered a hero on Tantalus, people on Earth not only don’t recognize his great achievements, they don’t even believe him! Again, the social interactions in this issue were just really well-written and enjoyable throughout the book. It’s also neat how Millar seems to work in some intentionally pulpy aspects, while rationalizing their appearance in a modern context. Overall, this issue was perfectly paced and seemed to open up the next stage of this story for next month.

Once again, Goran Parlov’s style in Starlight is perfectly suited to the classic pulp era elements, as well as the silver age feel. The line work is fairly simple, and there isn’t much shading or detail in this series, but these facts only enhance the classic look of this book. The colors by Ive Svorcina fill in the “visual gaps” and enhance each panel quite a bit without detracting from the simple overall appearance. The more sci-fi elements are also simultaneously very interesting and well-designed, while still retaining a fairly minimalist sensibility. This series really looks like an older-style comic book with perfect execution from the artists. There are some overtly pulp visuals, like the classic looking rocket ship included in issue #2. As previously mentioned though, these seemingly anachronistic elements are rationalized in a humorous way; Duke and his new companion just happen to be piloting a retro model made for folks who want that old-school look!

Starlight #2 was a really fun book from start to finish. This series has been off to a tremendous start with its first two installments, and things are only going to get crazier! The story is engaging and interesting, and the characters feel real with very sincere interactions. The subtle humor throughout adds a lot to an already interesting story. This is a book that will be enjoyable for fans of any genre, especially those who like the classics!