Starchild (comics)

Starchild was a densely illustrated fantasy comic book self-published in the 1990s by James A. Owen. It grew out of a comic idea entitled "Pryderi Terra", a Superman Elseworlds story for DC Comics (also titled "Starchild"), and a Classics Illustrated adaptation of "Silas Marner" that never saw print. There were 24 issues total, and the series has been collected in a boxed set of reprints titled "The Essential Starchild" from Owen's Coppervale Press.

The story was influenced by fairy tales and old English legends, and involved an old family secret linked to a dark and mysterious forest. The art was influenced by Dave Sim and Gerhard's "Cerebus the Aardvark", a link from which Owen made no attempt to distance himself. Several issues even mimic "Cerebus"’ comics-industry satire, with cartoon versions of Neil Gaiman and even Cerebus himself ("Serbius") appearing in minor roles. The latter spoof went some way toward defusing criticisms Owen was merely a Sim/Gerhard copycat.

Owen initially associated with Sim as well as self-publishers Jeff Smith, and Colleen Doran when he first entered the comics field. Yet his personality quickly gained more attention than his book, and he developed a reputation for aggressive self-promotion.

"Starchild"’s sales never matched those of "Cerebus" or "Bone", and Sim eventually dissolved ties with Owen — but not before responding to Owen's "Serbius" spoof by giving Starchild’s boggle-eyed barkeeper character Martin Humble a surprisingly substantial role in the graphic novel "Guys".

Five issues of "Starchild" were published by Image Comics, and Owen continued to appear at the San Diego Comic Con with a massive "Starchild" display featuring life-sized animatronic characters. In recent years Owen has reinvented himself as a novelist, with a fantasy trilogy titled "Mythworld" meeting with success in Germany.

The material has been kept in print in the six-volume Essential Starchild trade paperbacks through Owen's Coppervale Press Imprint, and a one-volume edition is currently planned for late 2006.

A trade paperback French translation of "Starchild: Awakenings" was released by Kymera Comics in the Fall of 2005, and additional volumes are forthcoming.