These issues have, subsequently, been collected in a TPB -- Dreadstar - The Definitive Collection, vol. 1 -- by Dynamite Comics.

Dreadstar and Company

(1985 - six issues, Marvel Comics)

Writer/Artist: Jim Starlin.

Dreadstar and Company is an unusual mini-series in that, in a sense, it isn't. Dreadstar was a comic that Marvel had started publishing in 1982 through its Epic imprint -- on expensive, quality paper, sold only through comic shops. That describes most comics today, but at the time, it was the exception. Dreadstar and Company is simply a reprint of the first six issues of Dreadstar on regular (cheaper) paper, distributed to regular corner stores. Essentially, it was intended as an ad/promo for the regular series. And though I had assumed Epic was nominally intended for edgier, more mature subject matter -- like DC's later Vertigo line -- I don't think there was any editing involved in re-publishing this as a Comics Code Approved comic (I had an opportunity to flip through the first issue of Dreadstar and the first issue of Dreadstar and Company, and didn't notice any changes). There's still some "mature" subject matter, such as an oblique, but still obvious, well-intentioned sequence about child abuse, and the use of the word "bastard", but nothing that seemed to bother anyone at the CCA.

Dreadstar is basically a chip off the Star Wars block in that it follows a group of rebels battling intergalactic tyranny. Except here the heroes are caught in the middle between two warring tyrannies, the religious-fueled Instrumentality, and the royalist Monarchy. As well, the series borrows a bit from super hero comics in that this rebel group is just a team -- just five characters -- and some with super powers.

The first issue supplies a recap of what's gone before. Despite this being issue #1, hero Vanth Dreadstar had been around for a while, first being introduced in Starlin's "Metamorphosis Odyssey" saga serialized in Marvel's Epic Illustrated magazine (and collected in a TPB), and then appearing in a Dreadstar Annual #1, then a Dreadstar graphic novel.

All six issues of Dreadstar and Company tell relatively self-contained adventures (no "to be continued" cliff hangers between issues), meaning it's not too hard to just jump in.

But as such, it's hard to review. The reason the first six issues were chosen was because they provide a reasonable introduction to Jim Starlin's science fiction saga, and the characters drop references to a mysterious "plan M" in earlier issues that, then, is revealed in issue #6, creating a sort of story arc. At the same time, these six issues were never really meant to form a stand alone work, building to a definitive climax in #6. Even "plan M" isn't so much threaded through the series as a plot line, as it's just referred to occasionally, before being revealed. Viewed as a "mini-series", the story is unsatisfying, elements are introduced, but not developed, references are made that never lead anywhere. The very uniqueness of a hero caught between two forces is muted, as Vanth forms a temporary alliance with the Monarchy.

However, taken as just six issues of an on going series that don't end on a cliff hanger or anything, Dreadstar and Company is a decent enough read, with strengths and weaknesses. Each issue is published without ads, totalling about 30 pages of story (save the last issue, which is 22 pages, followed by a light-hearted Berni Wrightson sci-fi back up story). As such, Starlin can take his time with the issues, mixing talkiness with action scenes, and, as noted, crafting self-contained adventures. But, despite that, the stories and the characters aren't especially elaborate. The issues are enjoyable enough, without being that memorable after the fact, despite what should be grandiose, memorable scenes -- like Vanth and pal Syzygy trying to get out of the way of a nuclear bombardment. Likewise, issue #2, for instance, is very much a character issue focusing on Willow...but even after six issues, Willow remains a fairly bland personality.

The stand out adventure is #5, with Starlin working a little more humour into the proceedings, putting a little more of the swashbuckler into his space opera.

Starlin's art is appealing, if a lttle too prone to big muscles and, sometimes, stiff postures. But his backgrounds are detailed, which is a plus in a science fiction series where it's all about creating a reality -- though, mayhap, it's a little too connsistent: the corridors in one ship look rather like the corridors of another, which look a little like the corridors on this planet or that. Along with the 30 pages, there are plenty of little panels, meaning the stories don't feel skimpy.

And Vanth and his crew have personalities -- I don't want to suggest they don't. It's just that, like with the action-adventure, little really stands out.

Ultimately, Dreadstar and Company is an O.K. read, and certainly leaves one open to picking up later issues of the regular series. But neither are these issues strong enough to necessarily persuade one to become a regular reader. There's a feeling a lot more could be done, than is. Even Plan M, when it's revealed, is a great, audacious, potentially controversial, idea. But, at least as presented here, it's not handled especially convincingly.

Shortly after this was published, Starlin wrapped up the series' story arc at Marvel/Epic (in the pages of Dreadstar) and then took the property to another publisher for the next stage. I don't know if that means Marvel put all this effort into promoting Dreadstar with this mini-series, only to have Starlin jump ship, or whether Starlin left because Marvel was cancelling the series, unhappy with the sales figures (after all, Dreadstar and Company was intended to try and win new readers to Dreadstar, and if it failed to do that...).

This was enjoyable, the leisurely pace making it a relaxed read, even as it ends up seeming a little thin at times, with protagonists who are personable if not much more.

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