Doctor Star And The Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows
Jeff Lemire, writer; Max Fiumara, artist; Dave Stewart, colorist; Nate Piekos, letterer
Dark Horse Books, 2018
Another winner from the Black Hammer universe, a four-issue miniseries that is almost completely independent of the main series. You don't need knowledge of Black Hammer to read it (although that will make the setting more familiar), nor do the events here have an impact on those stories. Doctor Star is clearly an homage to James Robinson's Starman run: in addition to the name and the star in the costume design, the Doctor uses a similar energy rod (in this case to tap into Para Zone energy). It follows the driven scientist as he largely abandons his family, first to pursue his research, then to lead life as a superhero as part of The Liberty Squadron (the only real connection to the heroes we later meet in Black Hammer) . A space mission takes him close to a black hole. Time passes more slowly for him than outside, and he returns home 18 years later, irreparably estranging himself from his wife and son. His (now adult) son is dying from cancer. Star desperately returns to space seeking a cure, but returns empty-handed, leaving him with a heartbreaking final reconciliation.
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