Reviews

This is the third title in Boom! Studios Stan Lee created superhero universe. Right off, let me say that this has been the poorest selling of the three number ones. That tells me that there is a limit to the number of titles that can be sold based solely on a creator’s name regardless of how famous that creator maybe. That also tells me that sales figures are not always a reliable measure of the quality of a title. The reason I say that is because I found the first issue of Starborn to be a much more interesting and enjoyable read then the first issue of Soldier Zero. In fairness, I can’t compare Starborn to the second title in this universe, The Traveler, since I have not had the opportunity to read that title. Starborn however easily blows away Soldier Zero. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Soldier Zero is bad; in fact I gave it a somewhat though not overwhelmingly positive review. What I am saying is that the first issue of Starborn is head and shoulders better then the first issue of Soldier Zero.

SPOILER WARNING In this first issue we meet bored office worker, Benjamin Warner, who is sure he has written the next great sci fi epic. In fact, he is so sure that his first manuscript is going to become a best selling novel that he is already working on a sequel. He even thinks that being a famous author is his true destiny. Things really change for Benjamin when one day at work the evil aliens from his manuscript show up trying to kill him. Things get only slightly better when the girl he’s known from preschool through college and had a crush on the whole time shows up to save his life. END SPOILER WARNING

The artwork on this issue especially the coloring could have been better. The story however more then makes up for any shortcomings in the artwork and makes this issue worth reading.

Keith Forney