Golden Age Starman
By Hervé St-Louis
April 5, 2004 - 14:57
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Likeness
This figure is very similar to the Murphy Anderson designs introduced in the classic Brave and the Bold Stories with the Golden Age Black Canary. In some stories featuring Starman, however, his ears plugs are yellow. In these same stories, a white circle surrounds the star on his torso. The rod's design varies frequently too.
Sculpt
Starman's sculpt is good, although many fans do not like his bent head. It looks much better when one twists it to his left. His pose is straight and stiff. His left hand would have looked better had it been more relaxed. Starman's face is impressive, as are all of Tim Bruckner's sculpts. Starman's legs look small compared with his large torso. He's like a body builder who overtrains his upper buddy.
Paint
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Scale
Starman fits well with fellow JSA figures such as the Golden Age versions of Green Lantern, the Flash, Dr Fate, Hourman, Dr Mid-night and many early Silver Age figures like the Flash, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Starman looks good next to his son, Jack Knight, although their style is different. Starman is about six inches tall. The Shade is much taller and doesn't fit very well with him.
Stability
This figure is very stable although he doesn't look like he is. It is one of the few DC Direct action figures with ankle articulations that don't fall constantly. Starman's torso is hollow, because of the battery mechanism that fuels his rod.
Articulation
The Golden Age Starman has eight articulations at the neck, the shoulders, the hips, the left elbow and the ankles. Because of the wiring inside his right arm, only his left side's shoulder has a ball-joint. The entire arm is stiff because of the wiring. Starman's rod fits in a holster glued on his right thigh. His cape is removable and fits with pegs. To change the batteries, there's a small and fragile case in the figure's back.
Plastic
Much of Starman is hollow plastic, lighter than the stock used for other DC Direct figures from this period. Be very careful with the case in the back of the figure. It is extremely fragile and breaks easily.
Props
Starman's rod lights up when pushed completely in his palm and inserted through the fold in his hand. The prop is in translucent plastic although the base has gold paint.
Packaging
Starman comes in a blister pack with images of the other JSA characters released in the same wave.
Cost
Starman's retails for the usual DC Direct price. Price varies at every retailer because DC Direct doesn't suggest any price.
Availability
Of all the JSA figures, Starman is the most available. Unfortunately, he is the less popular or perhaps he was over ordered by retailers. However, of all the JSA figures, DC Direct has reissued only Alan Scott. DC Direct figures are not available in the same quantities as other lines, so if you it interests you, don't wait. Buy it quickly.
Update February 6 2005:
This figure has sold out from Diamond Comics, the exclusive distributor of this action figure.
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