This Comic From Babylon 5 Legend J. Michael Straczynski Rivals Watchmen (But Everyone Forgot About It)

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J. Michael Straczynski is a highly popular comic book writer who rose to prominence in the 21st century. He began his career writing for the stage and radio before landing a job writing for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, which launched his television career. This eventually led to Babylon 5, a celebrated sci-fi series from the mid-90s. While not as broadly popular as Star Trek, Babylon 5 gained a dedicated following, and Straczynski was deeply involved, writing the vast majority of its episodes (92 out of 110) with a detailed, pre-planned storyline. A lifelong comic book enthusiast, Straczynski transitioned to the comic industry in 1999, continuing to work in both TV and film.

J. Michael Straczynski is famous for his work on *The Amazing Spider-Man*, but he first made a significant impact in comics at Image Comics. While Image is now known for groundbreaking titles, back then it primarily published typical superhero comics that emphasized artwork over storytelling. Straczynski joined Marc Silvestri’s Top Cow Studios and created *Rising Stars*, a book that has largely been overlooked. *Rising Stars* is a truly exceptional comic that deserves to be mentioned alongside classics like *Watchmen*. It’s a hidden gem, a lesser-known masterpiece that deserves a wider audience.

Rising Stars Is a Classic Superhero Story in the Best Possible Way

As a huge fan of superhero stories, I was immediately hooked by *Rising Stars*. It tells the story of the Specials – a group of 113 kids who all developed superpowers after a strange object crashed near their town of Pederson, Illinois. The government took them in and raised them together, figuring out what each of them could do. Some, like Flagg (who later became the hero Patriot), Ravenshadow, Matthew Bright, and Pyre, went on to become well-known heroes – Patriot working with the government, Bright as a super-powered cop, Ravenshadow as a brooding vigilante, and Pyre as a mercenary. Then there were characters like Chandra, considered the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen, Sanctuary, who struggled with his identity while using his powers, and Poet, who was easily the most powerful of them all.

The story really kicks off when the Specials start turning up murdered, and Poet begins investigating. He quickly uncovers a huge conspiracy involving some of the most powerful members of their group. What’s really strange is that after each death, the deceased’s powers are absorbed by the others, leading everyone to believe someone is trying to become all-powerful. This escalates into a massive showdown between the Specials and the government, with more casualties and even more power being distributed. There’s a ten-year time jump, and when we pick up again, Critical Maas has taken control of Chicago, and the world is incredibly uneasy about the existence of the Specials. That leads into the final story arc, where we finally learn the truth about the Flash and what the Specials were *really* meant to be.

Rising Stars immediately stood out as a fantastic series, running for 24 issues divided into three eight-issue story arcs. With art from Keu Cha, Ken Lashley, Christian Zanier, and Brent Anderson, it delivered a unique and compelling superhero epic. When it launched in 1999, Image Comics wasn’t known for stories like this, and J. Michael Straczynski’s writing was a clear standout. Straczynski excelled at creating memorable characters, and Rising Stars quickly drew readers in with its well-developed cast. Each character had a compelling personal journey, felt authentic, and was involved in exciting action sequences. The series also featured clever ideas – the concept of ‘Specials’ was original, and Straczynski put a fresh spin on familiar superpowers (the story of Peter Dawson will change how you think about invulnerability). Though 1999 wasn’t a peak period for comics, Rising Stars was highly praised. Several spin-off miniseries featuring different Specials were also released during its run. Ultimately, the series’ popularity waned due to delays caused by Straczynski juggling multiple projects and some disagreements with Top Cow, but it remains a standout title from the late 90s and early 2000s.

Rising Stars Is Straczynski’s Best Work

From the very beginning, *Rising Stars* stood out. It was a thrilling read that filled a gap for imaginative superhero comics, something that was relatively rare in the late 90s and early 2000s. It’s a truly well-crafted story, but sadly, it’s not discussed much these days and can be difficult to find. The book is currently out of print, making it even harder to get a copy.

The fact that *Rising Stars* has been out of print for so long has prevented many readers from discovering it. Works like *Watchmen* and *Kingdom Come* remain popular with both longtime fans and new readers because they’re consistently available. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with *Rising Stars*, making it hard for people to enjoy it as they deserve. However, it’s a truly fantastic book and well worth the effort to find a copy. If you can, seek it out and share it with others!

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2025-09-15 21:13