Review: Doctor Star and The Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows #1
My, how the recent round of publisher musical chairs has changed the comic racks. With DC preferring to emulate the “Marvel Age of Heroes” with their ” New Age”, they have, at least for the moment, forsaken their own history. Step up Dark Horse and Jeff Lemire to put pen to pen to paper for a book that practically screams Justice Society of America, whilst channelling James Robinson’s classic Starman series.
Taking the time to look back on his life, Doctor Jim Robinson (coincidental name?), remembers he once had a purpose, though some would have called it an obsession. His work on para-radiation has made it to the ears of the US government who are on the lookout for weapons to use when they eventually join in the World War.  When the two stoolies from Raiders of the Lost Ark turn up offering Doctor Robinson the funds to complete his work, the good Doctor, full of optimism leaps at the chance, despite the impact it may have on his family. Now, at his observatory lab, where he once touched the stars, amongst other things, he sees his life through jaded eyes., regaling the story of his heroic past.
Jeff Lemire writing on this book is an excellent example of deconstructing a story. By taking a two-pronged style, past and present, the reader gets a chance to witness the events that shaped the main characters life and the impacts that he had. Of course, not everything is given away, but there is enough of a vibe to enjoy. As part of the story, there is a facsimile of the JSA, with a number of characters that bear more than a passing resemblance, Wingman in lieu of Hawkman for example. There is also the parallel of who the teams were active during the war and going even further, Doctor Star himself with a Star Wand and the aforementioned observatory base could be seen as more than an homage. In fact, seeing as how DC aren’t kicking up a fuss over this book’s similarities makes me wonder if I can put out a book about a crime fighting detective who works from a cave and is called Nightbird? Kidding aside, with Lemire’s writing and setup of the character you can’t help but be drawn into his world.
The art is by Max Fiumara, who has been a bit of a Dark Horse mainstay, with his work on Abe Sapien and B.P.R.D. Here, his art has an old school feel that accentuates the vibe of the Golden Age that I think Lemire is aiming for. At first glance, Fiumara’s figure work reminds me of Mark Bagley, which is either a good or bad thing depending on your own point of view. However, Fiumara’s work becomes more distinctive around the facial elements of the book. Granted that a superhero book may seem to be more of a standard fare than the Mignola-verse books that he has worked on in the past, but there still needs to be a certain feeling drawn from the art. In this regard, Fiumara excels in spades. As this is a Dark Horse book, you would expect the incomparable Dave Stewart to provide the colors and as always, he does so with aplomb, mixing in a bold scheme of the past that epitomizes Doctor Robinson’s hope and dreams, a drudgery look for his long-suffering wife and the dark despair of the present.
Jeff Lemire is certainly starting to show his versatility of late, working on a range of books from a range of publishers. Here, his “JSA wannabes” and Doctor Star himself, have an opportunity to shine some light on the long forgotten Golden Age and quite possibly by doing so, go someway to show that not every great story needs to be centred around an event.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Written by; Jeff Lemire
Art by; Max Fiumara
Colors b; Dave Stewart
Published by: Dark Horse Comics
Author Profile
- I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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