Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Artist: Megan Levens
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick & Ruth Redmond
Letterer: Shawn Lee
Cover Artists: Megan Levens & Kelly Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Image
Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 7, 2023
A stranger stands amid rubble in Rana’s apartment. Her eyes and fists radiate power. At her feet lies Rana’s roommate Tyler. The stranger calls herself both Leo and Tatiana. She claims Rana has dreamed about her. What happens next? Let’s study Starsigns #2 and find out!
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Story
Tatiana says the missing constellations unite them. She sensed Rana—who she calls Taurus—stop time. While Tyler’s unimportant, she apologizes for destroying Rana’s door. Now Rana needs to come with her and learn about her destiny. Rana’s not going anywhere with someone who destroys her apartment, disdains her roommate, and claims membership in the cosmic Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Thankfully, an FBI agent appears and chases off Tatiana. Then he transforms his features, introduces himself as both Gemini and Clarence and suggests they go somewhere for a confab.\
Like Rana, we may think, “Not another one!” Thankfully, Clarence seems like a sweet guy. He takes her to a local eatery and tells her about his life. Later, Saladin Ahmed also introduces us to a boy in New Jersey who uses his cosmic powers to protect himself and his mother. I missed the last issue’s fun musical references. I wanted more answers about the central conceit–the stars dying–and Mr. Duke’s plan and capabilities in Starsigns #2. Sadly, I think less of Tatiana and her mentor now than I did after reading the first issue. Hopefully, the next issue will help ground today’s enlightened readers with answers that sparkle with uniqueness and can sustain a long series run.
Art
Overall, the art seems less polished than in the last issue. Tatania doesn’t look sophisticated or tantalizing. While interiors convey a sense of place, the street outside Rana’s apartment resembles a 1970s studio backlot. I wish I’d seen how Rana left her apartment and made it outside. The characters convey action well, but most could be more expressive. Thankfully, Rana shines in Starsigns #2. We feel her awe at her new power, anguish over Tyler, fear of Tatania, and confusion when Clarence shapeshifts. Colors likewise seem more basic and sometimes dip unnecessarily into the grays. Background colors may change from panel to panel, especially if unfilled. Light sources and shadowing are effective, and the starry glow of the cosmic foursome using their power is appealing. I liked Alejandro’s pastel-colored flashback. I loved the streaks of light surrounding Rana in the first panel and the Guardians Of The Galaxy-style starfield behind Rana as she asked how Tatiana hurt Tyler.
Letterer Shawn Lee uses big, black, uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons and rectangular narrative boxes. The large white letters he uses to indicate location changes in Starsigns #2 cried out for dark background fields. Sound effects sometimes looked garish, as did the font style and red lettering that introduced Leo. I loved the font for Gemini’s introduction and how the letters swelled the balloon.
Final Thoughts
Starsigns #2 stumbles while advancing the series but addresses contemporary issues like race, diversity, and immigration and introduces promising new characters.