Star Runner Chronicles: Rising Star is the third chapter in Atlantis Studios’ growing sci-fi epic. Continuing from Dark Star, this series advances the franchise through world building and character development. Of course the return of an intrusive villain certainly adds to the excitement.
Star Runner Chronicles: Rising Star – Coming Together
Rising Star‘s main appeal comes from using what came before to build up what exists. From Fallen Star come most of the characters, the world, and the Earth threats. Dark Star brings its title character Monica Dark into the fold as well as a peek into galactic terrors. Now instead of just adding more lore, the characters readers come to love develop by these clashes.
Monica for example gets more time to shine than just being some faux rival. Sure she acts haughty and belittles people around her, but she’s never overbearing. Besides that’s ignoring the layers she has as a person. Monica’s loyal to friends like our protagonist Aurora even if she doesn’t go easy on her. But when danger’s afoot, Monica’s the first to act, not willing to let anyone else go through her tragic past. Of course, she’s got her own goals independent from other characters. Hey, going home is the most relatable thing there is.
Obstacle Averted, Captain!
Heck, Rising Star helps me with a pet peeve, Scott Davis. He’s still the boy next door love interest to Aurora, but he gains a few dimensions. Like how studying artifacts on his dad’s request builds something from Fallen Star. Scott wants to stay closer with his father after work kept them apart. If he can do that while supporting his girlfriend, it’s all the better.
On that note, Star Runner Chronicles: Rising Star avoids one of the biggest pitfalls of any series, love triangles. When Aurora meets a new suitor named Kalen, Scott’s reaction to him catches my attention. He acts how anyone in love would react: in shock, protective, suspicious, envious, and in suspense. The way Scott speaks can come across as possessive in certain context. Scott no longer comes across as the perfect boyfriend, but a very realized person. Unlike Kalen who fills the two-dimensional shoe.
Better yet, this gives Scott a new dynamic also built on past sagas. The reason he can seem so dependent on his father and Aurora is because he’s afraid of losing people he loves. Sure he’s still a reactant character, but this is a very welcome development.
Return of the Best Villain
But I guess what catches my attention the most is the return of Fallen Star‘s villain Maxine Pinkerton. Here she’s once again presented as this suspenseful presence driven to get whatever she wants. But in a few panels there’s a lack of the bold outlines that define her presence. I find this to be a clever technique by inker Carlos Eduardo to show Maxine’s not the biggest threat. Which leads into Pinkerton’s arc in Star Runner Chronicles: Rising Star; she wants to be the big bad.
Whatever argument or satire on American imperialism readers could make, James Watson makes it quite clear Maxine’s out for herself. She’s driven by a Cosmic treasure chest of horrific knowledge to hoard at any opportunity. Not even the death of her benefactor or going back to jail drags her down. Whatever Maxine’s got up her sleeve, she’s not going to let anyone or any policy stop her. With the insanity inducing power she’s getting, Maxine’s development into full villain is something to behold.
Star Runner Chronicles: Rising Star On Power Systems
Thankfully readers don’t have to go insane when it comes to the powers of Star Runners. For one, readers now get what makes Aurora and Monica’s powers distinct. Aside from different colors, Monica’s dark matter powers allow her to absorb energy and control density. Which if some theories and advances discover what dark matter really is might be a bit awkward. But then again, Aurora’s quantum powers don’t make any physical sense either.
But hey, quantum entangled visions sure are flashy and they make sense in context. You ever wonder how Star Wars ships can go through hyperspace without collision? Besides, it’s not like anyone can find Dune’s Spice anywhere.
On a similar note is the larger culture surrounding these powers. For example, the ships are designed with a quantum feng shui in mind. Also there’s how the sensitivity to quantum particles ties into gender roles and breeding. Which considering how connections happen like with Aurora and Scott really shows how complex everything is. All of these layers make it pretty fascinating.
Charting The Stars
If there’s one thing I have to keep on track, it’s the stellar artwork of Star Runner Chronicles: Fallen Star. Leo Cordeiro’s pencils show off important details filling a page often on elevated views. It’s quite like how Pixar emphasizes big emotional moments through camera angles. Mohan Sivakami’s colors heighten these perspectives whenever Aurora uses her powers. The lights taking the form of light blue butterflies give readers an entrancing empathetic experience with Aurora. They really feel like they have a better idea on how she views her powers like this.
Star Runner Chronicles: Rising Star – The Best Yet
The Star Runner Chronicles makes a major and enjoyable milestone in Rising Star. Characters develop in the most natural ways, the greater universe comes into perspective, and there’s always room for more. So long as the creatives enjoy themselves with this ever expanding saga, there will always be an audience for it. Final score: 9.5/10.
The ink’s not dry yet on this franchise so stay tuned. Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.
Thanks for the great review, Jake!