Review: Stargirl: The Lost Children #6
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Todd Nauck
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Rob Leigh
Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
As Hourman stands revealed apparently in league with Childminder, Courtney relies on her previous experience with the android to save them just when … shows up!
Positives
Without giving anything away, there’s a nice twist in the conclusion with Corky Baxter. It ads some depth and gravitas to the character while not diminishing the fun that’s been present in the series. It recalls the approach to Booster Gold in “52 Pick-Up” by the same Geoff Johns and Booster’s creator, Dan Jurgens. Playing with time can be fun and exciting, and it’s at the crux of Stargirl: The Lost Children #6.
Visually, Todd Nauck has a lot of fun with the group shots of all the lost children in double page spreads, but he really connects things with the past in panels that homage DC covers of the past. Nauck uses All-Star Squadron #1 as Courtney talks to Pat and her mom about a new team and Justice League of America #100 as the we learn the fate of Wing. There’s also a full page image of childminder with a close up of a grimacing face. I can’t place it…, but I’m sure I’ve seen it before. It’s a great page no matter what, but the fact that it feels familiar makes me feel like I’m missing something- maybe a Golden Age Hawkman image? These connections to older comics are a beautiful touch and Nauck does a great job with them.
Negatives
The pacing feels a little off in this issue. Despite having a higher page count, this finale would’ve benefited from a longer conclusion. Perhaps, a 7-issue series would’ve been better. Additionally, with what this story potentially brings to the wider DC Universe, it begged the question of how this series would end. But, that also brings up the question if there was a good ending for this series? It’s something that’s lingered around the fringes since issue #1. Adding in all these new characters to the DC Universe who are supposed to be from a the Golden Age brings up a lot of continuity issues. While some like Judy Garrick have hit well, it’s not clear how well the rest of them will.
Additionally, there’s a sense that these characters may have initially been conceived of as additions to the cancelled Stargirl television series. While they could’ve been used effectively there as that world was still being built, in the main DC comic book Universe, one has to wonder if there’s a place for all of them or if this is just an exercise.
Verdict
When Stargirl: The Lost Children began, the premise of the series raised a lot of questions about continuity. As it conclude with issue #6, Geoff Johns has given the reader a lot of answers and as can be seen on the last page there’s still more to come in the pages of Justice Society of America #6. At the beginning I wasn’t sure how I wanted to series to end, and after reading it I’m still not sure if this is the right way for it to have concluded. The execution is good, and there’s some good character bits with Corky, Android Hourman and Courtney, but it’s a waiting game for the apparent fate of the Lost Children. Nauck definitely delivers on the art throughout the series.
