yoshida@hpfcla.UUCP (09/24/85)
Marvel's Epic line of comics has come out with an interesting series
called "Starstruck" that's been lacking the attention I feel it should
get, so herein is my attempt to fill the gap...
The rating scale I use is obviously a rip-off of jayembee's, which is
a rip-off of moriarty's, and God Only Knows where moriarty got his
scale (he might have even thought it up himself from the depths of his
twisted mind!).
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*A = A Classic. Definitely not to be missed. *
*B = Noteworthy. Lots of good parts, but it just misses hitting the mark.*
*C = Average. Take it or leave it. *
*D = Trash. Not worth buying, but at least it's in four colors... *
*F = Sewer Hole. Use this one to line your bird cage bottom. *
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STARSTRUCK, THE GRAPHIC NOVEL and STARSTRUCK #'s 1-5. Published by
the Marvel Comics Group. Writer/Creator: Elaine Lee.
Artist/Creator: Mw. Kaluta.
[Art: A+][Story: A-]
Originally, the idea for "Starstruck" started out as a play written by
Elaine Lee, Norfleet Lee, and Dale Place. Elaine met Mw. Kaluta on a
casual basis and was impressed by his talent. She later recruited him
to do work on costume design and advertising posters for the play.
Eventually, the idea of turning "Starstruck" into a comic was
conceived, and a "Star" was born.
So far, there are six books in the "Starstruck" series, the first of
which is a Marvel Graphic Novel, and the next five being comics from
the Epic line. Unfortunately, if you don't have the graphic novel,
the Epic "Starstruck" comics won't make much sense. The story line is
far too complex to be picked up from just reading "Starstruck" #'s
1-5. This fact has probably caused many a reader to quit buying
"Starstruck" after being hopelessly confused by the first few issues,
which is a shame since this is really an enjoyable creation.
"Starstruck" is a soap opera on a grand scale. The intergalactic
misadventures of a multitude of strange and interesting characters
(see below for a brief description of the main players) are detailed
in a string of what appear at first to be unrelated stories. The only
thread which might hold the reader's interest is the pathos and quirks
which are vividly told by Elaine Lee's dark, satirical wit and Mw.
Kaluta's exquisite art. Kaluta has really outdone himself in drawing
"Starstruck." His detailing and facial expressions are at their best
throughout the books. The scenery has a dreamlike surrealism that
nicely complements Lee's eclectic story-telling style. The Epic
series doesn't quite have the crispness, detail, and rich coloring of
the Graphic Novel, but they're still an excellent artistic endeavor.
The only complaint I have is the gratuitous sex which is thrown in
every once in a while. It doesn't add much to the story, but then
again, these books are aimed at "mature" audiences. (I guess it just
comes with the territory, right?)
For those who can stick with the novel and don't fall by the wayside
of frustration trying to tie everything together, there's actually a
discernable direction that the story follows. Granted, it would have
helped to keep things simpler (the dialogue does become circular at
times), but there's no rule that says a good story has to have a plot
that stands out like a lighthouse beacon. However, to gain mass
appeal "Starstruck" relies heavily on Kaluta's art work until Lee's
writing style takes hold -- and from then on you're hooked! Lee's
stories remind me of Kurt Vonnegut -- a lot of "Hi-Ho's" and "Who
Cares?" -- but she's less interested in making a social statement and
more into having a good time. So sit back, enjoy the view, and
somewhere along the line (around "Starstruck" #5) things will start to
make sense.
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******************WARNING: Mild Spoilers Below This Line**************
**********************************************************************
*** Starstruck's Cast of Characters ***
**********************************************************************
MOLLY MEDEA - The original Molly Medea was instrumental in starting
the United Federation of Female Freedom Fighters (U4F) in the
first year of Anarchera (AE 1). She was later reincarnated (or
otherwise cloned) around AE 93, and ended up on Omega 6, a small
abandoned agricultural-penal colony in deep space. During an
initiation ritual wherein the initiate must kill the dullard "seed
rustlers" of Omega 6, Molly was given the name Galatia 9. After
passing this bizarre Rite of Passage, Galatia accidentally falls
into a launch bay and triggers an escape pod. She then flys
off-planet and begins a series of bizarre encounters across space.
It's implied (but not yet explained in detail) that Galatia is a
blood relative of Mary Medea (see below). Galatia befriends
Brucilla "The Muscle" on Rec Station 97 after Bru lost a fortune
in credits by accidentally crashing a mineral rich asteriod into
the landing bay.
MARY MEDEA - Mary Medea was a rebel soldier who went astray on a
suicide mission to destroy the crystal base of Vaikuntha. She is
co-founder of Living Dolls, Inc., but also later dissolved the
company due to a dispute with one of her partners (Randall).
Living Dolls' most famous products were Joe Andy Nova and Erotica
Annie. The Erotica Annies were Pleasure Droids patterned after
Mary, and they could pass for her cybernetic twin. Mary was
presumed dead on the planet Onolos, but in actuality took on the
alias of Glorianna of Phoebus. She was the one time lover of
Harry Palmer and is the sister of Verloona Ti.
HARRY PALMER - Harry was a former rebel who was on the crystal base
raid with Mary Medea. Instead of blowing the crystals and
themselves to kingdom come, they decided instead to stop for some
"recreational" activity ("booting," as they call it). Harry was
one of the partners of Living Dolls. After Mary liquidated the
company, he became a bartender on Rec 97 in a dive formerly called
"The Sailor's Grave." Harry was killed or incapacitated in an
encounter with Verloona Ti. He was trying to rescue some Girl
Guides whom Verloona was using in an insidious life prolonging
experiment.
KALIF BAJAR - Kalif is the nuerotic son of the Baronet Bajar. Most of
Kalif's neuroses stem from his father's high expectations and his
sister's tormenting. He has a fetish for Erotica Annies that have
been decapitated. This is due to an incident which occurred when
he was younger that involved his infatuation with an Annie which
belonged to his father. When his father discovered what was
happening, the Baronet shot the Annie's head off. Kalif (at
present) runs around with Verloona and her band of followers and
drags around a beheaded Annie (Number 74).
RONNIE LEE ELLIS BAJAR - Ronnie is the meddling sister of Kalif. She
is the watcher, tormentor, wise-ass interloper who loves to
manipulate people behind the scenes. Ms. Bajar witnessed what is
known as "soul sharing" among androids when a batch of Annies were
being destroyed in an acid bath. Mary Medea rescued the last
Annie before she walked into the acid bath, and now Annie Number
333 is the "Holder of Souls" and is self-aware. After observing
this event, Ronnie wrote a book about it. She is a Hugo Award
winning author.
VERLOONA TI - Verloona is a lustful green goddess who is experimenting
in various sadistic and gruesome means of life extension. Some of
her victims include Girl Guides, whom she uses as sources of life
force. Verloona has a harem of subservient men that she drags
around in her interstellar philandering. She was not aware (until
recently) that Molly/Galatia was alive, and doesn't know that her
sister, Mary, is also alive.
BRUCILLA "THE MUSCLE" - A former lieutenant of the Americadian Space
Brigade (ASB), Bru was stripped of her rank and commission due to
a disastrous raid into one of the Neutral Zones. She lost almost
all of her Squadron, and was blamed for the incident even though
it was "Windy" Weatheral, Jr., who gave the command. Bru then
became a renegade of sorts, and teamed up with Galatia 9 on Rec
97. She later stole Galatia's ship, "The Harpy." Bru has more
muscle than brains, but she knows how to have a good time and gets
the job done.
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"The preceding statements are the sole opinions of the author and --"
"Ooooh...go jump up my butt!"
Stuart Yoshida
UUCP: ...ihnp4!hpfclh!hpfcla!yoshidarandy@bcsaic.UUCP (randy groves) (09/28/85)
In article <6300002@hpfclh.UUCP> yoshida@hpfcla.UUCP writes: > > Marvel's Epic line of comics has come out with an interesting series > called "Starstruck" that's been lacking the attention I feel it should > get, so herein is my attempt to fill the gap... > Hear! Hear! It is good to see other psople that appreciate the sly wit and beautiful art of this series. Check it out! -- =========================================================================== ... only a hollygram, but one more is gone. =========================================================================== randy groves ...!uw-beaver!uw-june!bcsaic!randy