I have heard of it. Apparently this volume disregards the Bravura series entirely, and keeps only a select few elements of Peter David's run. It also leaves the door open for further stories to come soon.
There are, of course, some important questions to be asked about the exact status quo of Dreadstar and Company.
Mine is "how come he comes returning to his original costume?"
Apparently this volume disregards the Bravura series entirely, and keeps only a select few elements of Peter David's run.
I am fine with that; in fact, I prefer it. Although I followed and enjoyed Peter David's run (both at First and Bravura), Dreadstar is really Jim Starlin's baby. Way back in 1980 he said that he had an ultimate end for the series in mind (although, at this point, that may turn out along the lines of Jack Kirby's Hunger Dogs). After making the switch from Marvel (Epic) to First, he finished up the arc he had been building, set the the new one, then turned it over to Peter David. I liked PAD's run, as I said, but it is no more canon than Marv Wolfman's Sable. the last "in continuity" issue should be #32.
Having said that, though, PAD had plans for several arcs beyond where Bravura left off, IIRC, and if those should ever see print I would gladly read those as well. Same for the multiple iterations of GrimJack and the announced plans for that series before First Comics declared bankruptcy.
I still remember the end of Dreadstar #31. Dreadstar and company had moved to an entirely different galaxy. Do to a series of events, Vance was in a coma from which he awakened at the end of Starlin's penultimate issue.
ISSUE #5: Okay, let’s cut right to the chase: [SPOILERS]
The last page of this issue introduces the “Elsewhere Alliance”: Vanth Dreadstar, Oedi, the Cosmic Kid, Darklon the Mystic (!), and a robed staff-carrying figure I feel I should recognize. This is the beginning of the “Starlin-verse”! I am really, really curious where this fits in to Dreadstar continuity. My guess: everything written and drawn by Starlin remains in continuity. Therefore this will pick up sometime after Dreadstar emerged from his two-year coma, and everything penciled by Luke McDonnell or written by Peter David is out the window.
"After making the switch from Marvel (Epic) to First, he finished up the arc he had been building, set the the new one, then turned it over to Peter David."
Just to clarify, Starlin's last issue doing the art was #32, but he continued to write through #40. Peter David took over with #41 and it was he who moved the story into another galaxy.
I still think the last "in continuity" issue should be #32, though.
Man, I haven't thought about Dreadstar in ages. Loved it when it was coming out, though. These days, I doubt it'd grab me for anything beyond nostalgia.
Don't discount nostalgia! Over the years I have reread Dreadstar from time-to-time, most often the original Metamorphosis Odyssey and the first twelve issues of the ongoing series because I have those in collected format. It has probably been more than 20 years since I last read beyond #12. Yesterday I received an e-mail from Ominous Press that my order is being processed, so the next time I return to this thread it will probably be to post my thoughts on Dreadstar Returns itself.
NOTE to Luis: Dreadstar had already returned to his original outfit by the time he fought with the Elsewhere Alliance in 'Breed III #6 (see above). Metatextually, I think the "superhero" costume he started wearing in Epic issue #13 was editorially imposed so I'm not surprised Starlin ditched it, but if there's an in-story reason for the change I'll be sure to let you know here.
I noticed that in 'Breed III Dreadstar was back to the hooded costume. However, he had clearly not been plucked from a previous time period, since he mentioned his fight with Lord Papal's shapechanger.
I don't have much of a clue on the reasons for the costume changes, other than personal perceptions. Starlin seemed to have some fun with reactions from other characters to Vanth' second costume, and it was after all an Epic book, so I am not sure that editorial pressured him.
On the other hand, it is plain that the hooded look is simply far more iconic than any other outfits that Dreadstar ever used. He was readily recognizable in the 'Breed III cover in a way that no other costume would allow. Likewise in the promotion for Dreadstar Returns.
I assume that for similar reasons his easily recognizable sword is back as well despite at least three different stories having given him reasons to no longer be wielding it. I assume that Starlin could easily have resumed the hooded look during his First Comics run if he wanted to.
I don't know if editorial "pressure" is the right word, but I think he was certainly being influenced by an editor at Marvel, but whether that was Archie Goodwin or Jim Shooter or whoever I do not remember. I do remember that the next storyline became extremely repetitive in the early 20-numbered issues when he tried the technique of recapping the story up to that point in the first pages because "every issue is someone's first." That sounds like Shooter's influence to me and, although I do know exactly which box my Dreadstars are in and where it is, it's extremely difficult to get to. (You know, come to think of it, he may have addressed these issues in an issue of Amazing Heroes which I just saw around here recently... if I could just remember where.) Whether editorially imposed or not, I think the real answer is what you said, that "the hooded look is simply far more iconic than any other outfits that Dreadstar ever used."
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Dreadstar is one of those comics that I've always heard about, but never read.
I have heard of it. Apparently this volume disregards the Bravura series entirely, and keeps only a select few elements of Peter David's run. It also leaves the door open for further stories to come soon.
There are, of course, some important questions to be asked about the exact status quo of Dreadstar and Company.
Mine is "how come he comes returning to his original costume?"
He spilled pasta sauce on the new one, so he had to wear the old while the new one was being cleaned.
Luis Olavo de Moura Dantas said:
Luis Olavo de Moura Dantas said:
I am fine with that; in fact, I prefer it. Although I followed and enjoyed Peter David's run (both at First and Bravura), Dreadstar is really Jim Starlin's baby. Way back in 1980 he said that he had an ultimate end for the series in mind (although, at this point, that may turn out along the lines of Jack Kirby's Hunger Dogs). After making the switch from Marvel (Epic) to First, he finished up the arc he had been building, set the the new one, then turned it over to Peter David. I liked PAD's run, as I said, but it is no more canon than Marv Wolfman's Sable. the last "in continuity" issue should be #32.
Having said that, though, PAD had plans for several arcs beyond where Bravura left off, IIRC, and if those should ever see print I would gladly read those as well. Same for the multiple iterations of GrimJack and the announced plans for that series before First Comics declared bankruptcy.
I still remember the end of Dreadstar #31. Dreadstar and company had moved to an entirely different galaxy. Do to a series of events, Vance was in a coma from which he awakened at the end of Starlin's penultimate issue.
DREADSTAR: How long have I been out?
OEDI: A long time, old friend: two years.
I had completely forgotten about the Elsewhere Alliance.
Jeff of Earth-J said:
"After making the switch from Marvel (Epic) to First, he finished up the arc he had been building, set the the new one, then turned it over to Peter David."
Just to clarify, Starlin's last issue doing the art was #32, but he continued to write through #40. Peter David took over with #41 and it was he who moved the story into another galaxy.
I still think the last "in continuity" issue should be #32, though.
Man, I haven't thought about Dreadstar in ages. Loved it when it was coming out, though. These days, I doubt it'd grab me for anything beyond nostalgia.
Don't discount nostalgia! Over the years I have reread Dreadstar from time-to-time, most often the original Metamorphosis Odyssey and the first twelve issues of the ongoing series because I have those in collected format. It has probably been more than 20 years since I last read beyond #12. Yesterday I received an e-mail from Ominous Press that my order is being processed, so the next time I return to this thread it will probably be to post my thoughts on Dreadstar Returns itself.
NOTE to Luis: Dreadstar had already returned to his original outfit by the time he fought with the Elsewhere Alliance in 'Breed III #6 (see above). Metatextually, I think the "superhero" costume he started wearing in Epic issue #13 was editorially imposed so I'm not surprised Starlin ditched it, but if there's an in-story reason for the change I'll be sure to let you know here.
I noticed that in 'Breed III Dreadstar was back to the hooded costume. However, he had clearly not been plucked from a previous time period, since he mentioned his fight with Lord Papal's shapechanger.
I don't have much of a clue on the reasons for the costume changes, other than personal perceptions. Starlin seemed to have some fun with reactions from other characters to Vanth' second costume, and it was after all an Epic book, so I am not sure that editorial pressured him.
On the other hand, it is plain that the hooded look is simply far more iconic than any other outfits that Dreadstar ever used. He was readily recognizable in the 'Breed III cover in a way that no other costume would allow. Likewise in the promotion for Dreadstar Returns.
I assume that for similar reasons his easily recognizable sword is back as well despite at least three different stories having given him reasons to no longer be wielding it. I assume that Starlin could easily have resumed the hooded look during his First Comics run if he wanted to.
That's true.
I don't know if editorial "pressure" is the right word, but I think he was certainly being influenced by an editor at Marvel, but whether that was Archie Goodwin or Jim Shooter or whoever I do not remember. I do remember that the next storyline became extremely repetitive in the early 20-numbered issues when he tried the technique of recapping the story up to that point in the first pages because "every issue is someone's first." That sounds like Shooter's influence to me and, although I do know exactly which box my Dreadstars are in and where it is, it's extremely difficult to get to. (You know, come to think of it, he may have addressed these issues in an issue of Amazing Heroes which I just saw around here recently... if I could just remember where.) Whether editorially imposed or not, I think the real answer is what you said, that "the hooded look is simply far more iconic than any other outfits that Dreadstar ever used."
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