"Well, damn..."
My heart sunk a little and I grimaced with disappointment. It only took me about 30 seconds to come to my senses, and another 30 seconds to smile big. DC Universe had just announced they were developing a Stargirl series with Geoff Johns overseeing the project. Now that might be an odd reaction to such news, but it was somewhat justified.
Before I continue on about why I was disappointed I want to very clear on the fact that I'm super excited to see this show. Stargirl was created by Geoff Johns as a tribute to his late sister and the show looks to incorporate many of the elements that I fell in love with during his epic run writing JSA. There is no one better suited to bring this property to us and I think he's going to knock it out of the park.
My story starts in roughly 2003-ish. By that time I was a hardened veteran of the Comic Book world. I'd seen some things, I'd met some folks, I'd held some "Books" and owned a few "Big Boys"... I was hot shit if I do say so myself... Ok, that's a lie, I was just a nerd who drooled at any opportunity to increase my knowledge. But at 21 years old I feel like I was pretty seasoned.
James Robinson's Starman had always been on my list of books to get to, but I had pushed it aside. At that point the only thing I really knew him from was his Golden Age mini series (excellent work by the way), but I soon realized that I'd been passing over on one of the best Comic runs I've ever read. Long story short, it blew me away. I devoured it. I made 3 trips to my local shop that week to pick up more issues and made a special trip the week after to Nashville to purchase the 15 or so issues I was missing. That book slapped the taste out of my mouth and had me asking "please sir, may I have another?"
The book resonated deeply with me because, like Jack Knight, I felt disconnected to my father. We had a loving relationship but I never felt like he truly understood me. Shortly after I returned home from college I quickly realized that he didn't care about understanding me, he just loved me and wanted me to be happy. I can proudly say that we had a great relationship until his death. I still read Starman once a year (at least) and it's my favorite comic series of all time. My hardcover omnibus's will be the last items I part with in my collection.
So, in 2015 when I saw this little announcement, I got overly excited...
Don't be shocked if you don't remember this because sadly it never happened. I suspect they began developing this and binned it to begin working on the DC Universe streaming app... I've also heard unfounded rumors that James Robinson might have a contractual stipulation allowing him to decided when and where DC can use Jack Knight, but who knows if that's true.
I clearly remember being at my desk at work when I stumbled across this and I immediately opened up a new file to start writing down ideas. I was all-in on this. My love and admiration for Starman were deep and I felt like I had a better than average chance of making the cut. Hope right?
I think most big comic book fans have had the dream of becoming an industry Creative at some point and this opportunity felt like a window for me. We've all had ideas we thought were gold, and boy did I have ideas... Whether or not they were actual Gold or just Pyrite remains to be seen... but the prospect lit a fire none-the-less.
About 6 weeks or so after the initial announcement I began to realize that I was probably getting ahead of myself and decided to cool it until there was something more official.... queue the crickets.
Nada. Zilch. Zero... The infamous NZZ Trio began to confirm my fears. This thing wasn't happening. It was disappointing at the time, but so is playing the lottery. So life goes on... And boy did it. I lost my father at the end of 2015 and fell into a depression. I can thankfully say I'm much better now and that comics helped guide me out, including my dearest friends Jack Knight and James Robinson.
I can now reflect on the contest that never was, and mine it for inspiration. I poured god knows how many hours after work into those pages, and despite not being able to submit them for professional review, I'm able to scan through them for personal insights towards my own accomplishments. The goal in the beginning was to have a vision and a dream realized, and while the door of disappointment was slammed in my face, the window of reflection was opened to allow me to enjoy my efforts. They may not ever reach the audience I aimed for, but by god I focused on my goal and I surpassed it and I'll take that victory lap any day.
Like many of us I wanted to be a writer when I was younger and it didn't pan out... so when I look back at this small body of work that consumed me for 6 weeks I have no problem smiling with pride even if its wasting away on a thumb drive.
Stargirl premieres on May 11, 2020 on the DC Universe app. and a week later on the CW... If you haven't checked out the DC Universe app. I highly suggest it... I'm quite bitter over Swamp Thing being canceled, but beyond that I find it to be WELL worth the monthly subscription. The Movie and TV content is fine, but the digital comic library is excellent and has allowed me to plow through many titles I have yet to collect.
I hope you come back for my next blog where I'll be reminiscing about attending a Comic Show in Nashville in 1997... Bootlegs VHS's, Heated haggling, $30 Playboy's from the 80's, a box full Adventure Comics #247, and a fist fight between 2 vendors over a Star Wars toy, and a few other strange incidents from a world of collecting pre-smart phones ... It'll be more entertaining than the above sentimental reflections, I promise.
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DC Heroes Project -- Starman Treament
The following is not a complete summary of my work. These points highlight the changes I wanted to adopt. I ended up with over 60 pages of content outlining relationship paths and crossovers, conflicts, and how to make things from the comic work on screen.
Feel free to ask me any questions you'd like. 😀
Q: How do I explain the heroes staying younger?
-I wanted to keep the World War 2 era identity of Ted Knight's Starman and his JSA friends relevant while staying true to a more modern tale, and to reasonably explain why they appeared to be 35 years younger than they were.
I found the answer in Johnny Sorrow. I changed Johnny to Joannie Sorrow. Joannie Sorrow was to be a failed actress in the early 1950's who was corrupted by her own vanity and chasing eternal youth. Her obsession would lead her to a life of crime using a stolen device that allows her to walk through walls. She would use this device to steal artifacts so she can explore the Dark Arts for an answer. She would be confronted by the Golden Age Starman, Hourman, Black Cat, Sandman, and Dr. Midnight. In the process of her defeat, she would open a portal to the Subtle Realm, and her device would explode after a direct hit by Ted Knight's Gravity Rod, and she gets sucked into the universe by the King of Tears, sending a shock-wave that would be absorbed by the heroes, slowing their aging process by half.
Joannie would find her way back to our realm after Jack Knight defeats Kyle Nimbus in his first battle as Starman. Kyle's city wide attack and his battle with Jack would awaken the beacon Joannie used decades earlier, creating a tether for her to re-manifest herself in the present day with the power of the King of Tears at her disposal.
I like the idea of Sorrow being a woman because using it adds to the tragedy of the character and the events that broke Ted Knight. Haunted by her death it would weigh on Ted (much like Kyle's death will weigh on Jack) and contribute to the mental health issues he'd suffer before his boys were born.
Joannie would also play an integral role in releasing Culp later on.
Q: How do I explain the power of the Gravity Rod?
-Ted Knight develops a telescope unlike any before. It's range is greater than any other of the day through a series of lenses he created that allows him to see the "twinkle" in stars more clearly. In 1940 Ted discovers a new Star, just beyond the Moon. The Star shouldn't exist. After emitting a radio signal to the star from a high altitude weather balloon, Ted is visited by an alien race one night, Thangarian Scientist. They bestow upon Ted the knowledge to construct an anti-gravity device, and the ability to collect and manipulate energy from light. They telepathically plant a seed of knowledge deep into Ted's mind. The seed is a layered construct, that opens new layers to Ted after each step is taken, and each lesson learned.
The Thangarians had been watching Earth, leaving a beacon in orbit and waiting for a signal to return. They visited once before, to ancient Egypt, but left after realizing Earth was not yet advanced enough to accept the truth about what's beyond the Stars. They gifted Ted with this knowledge to help his world better understand what is waiting for them in Space. The caveat is that the technology should be used to advance man-kind, and that eventually the seed of knowledge growing in Ted's mind would likely overcome him, as the concepts would outpace the limits of the human mind.
Ted wakes in his bed late the next day, and discovers a chalk board covered in script, with a simple design planned out at the bottom. It's all in his handwriting, but he doesn't recall writing it, and all in a flash, he realizes his "dream" was real. He crafts the Anti Gravity Belt first, and then a Gravity Rod.
-Nash would remain a mystery to Jack at first instead of taking the direct approach. She would stalk him and prey upon his insecurities to gain his trust and form a relationship in a ploy to destroy his world before killing him. She would eventually fail, and return to rape him like she does in the comics to conceive a child.
-David would be more of a "bad ass". He would have had a stint in the military and be a successful Lab Tech. and Tyler Chemicals. His status as an over achiever and an "All American" son would be more prominent. Ted will come to David to adopt the Starman mantle after a warning from the Shade about there being danger on the horizon. Ted will train David in secret for several weeks before David is murdered and Jack is forced into the role. Ted will harbor some resentment towards Shade over Davids death.
- Rick Tyler
Rick Tyler will be David Knight's best friend and will have misgivings about Jack Knight's role as a hero. Rick will have already taken on the role as Hourman from his father. Rick and Jack will ultimately form a friendship and Jack.
Q: Do I need all of the O'Dares?
-Yes. But I want to move Barry O'Dare to Gotham and have him transfer in later. I feel like creating the distance from his family and putting him in such a crime ridden city will help his transition into betraying his family.
- Hope and Matt O'Dare will likely be the only regulars. Mason and Clarence will have increased roles as the story progresses.
-Matt O'Dare will have his near death experience during Kyle Nimbus's assault on the city, and his friendship with the Shade will begin immediately. The dynamic between them is great and will open new avenues for series.
Q: Times Past/Evening wit David/Shade's Journal?
- These aspects add great layers of depth to the series. I would also want to incorporate stand alone adventures with Shade and Matt O'Dare as another outlet to relieve pressure from the main story line. Having these tools to buffer the flow create great flavor. The prospect of showing Golden Age Starman in action is juicy, as is doing episodes that are partially in Black and White.
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| R.I.P. Ted & David Knight |
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