Polite Dissent

Starjammers is a surprising fun comic that does a good job of telling a classic space opera tale. There is the beautiful and determined princess, the evil royal advisor and the brash young space cadet. There is the splendor of the royal courtiers contrasting with the rough and tumble Starjammer pirates. In traditional space opera style, battles are fought with swords and side arms and erupt across the entire ship. While battle and political intrigue run rampant, a loyal retainer does whatever she can to save the princess’s life. As I said, classic pulpy space opera.

Kevin Anderson’s script, while not spectacular, is fun in a B-movie kind of way. The art does a good job of conveying the action and is well drawn, if a bit two-dimensional. Ale Garza’s art on the first issue is superior to Jorge Lucas’s in the second (due mostly to cleaner inking in the first issue). While Raza and Ch’od are present, they are the only Starjammers I recognize; the rest of the pirate crew are sentient plants known as Thorns.

If you enjoy old-style space opera, you’ll find much to like in Starjammers. If this sort of science fiction romp is not your style, then it wouldn’t be worth your money…borrow the trade from a friend or library.