Rising Stars

In 1999, a mysterious flash in the sky over the town of Pederson, Illinois, grants extraordinary abilities to 113 unborn children—and J. Michael Straczynski’s Rising Stars (2000–2002, Semic S.A.) follows these “Specials” from childhood through adulthood as they grapple with power, responsibility, and the world’s fear of them. Over ten issues, artists Christian Zanier, Ken Lashley, and Brent Anderson bring a grounded, human-scale feel to this superhero epic, which explores what happens when ordinary people become extraordinary—and whether they can live up to the hope or the dread they inspire. A thoughtful, character-driven saga that questions the cost of great power in a world that isn’t ready for it.