In Starlight: The Return of Duke McQueen, we follow the story of Duke McQueen, an aging 62-year-old who once saved a distant galaxy from tyranny back in his youth. Across the cosmos, Duke is celebrated in song and lore, and even has a statue built in his likeness. But on Earth, he is the subject of constant ridicule from young children and newspapers alike.
With the exception of his late wife, he is hard-pressed to find anyone who believes in his adventures long past. As such, Duke spends most of his days alone reminiscing about his glory days and searching to find significance in the world — that is, until a spaceship lands on his lawn, and he is beckoned to save the universe one last time.
Beneath the glitz and fast-paced action, writer Mark Millar weaves an endearing tale of a man trying to rediscover his strength. Duke McQueen is easy to identify with, even in his old age. He is held back by doubts and an aging body, but he retains an overriding sense of justice from his early days.
Duke does not care about a medal or a statue with his face on it; all that matters to him is protecting those who cannot protect themselves. He is the glue that holds the story together, and the strength of his character makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable.
The art of Goran Parlov helps encapsulate the retro feel of this graphic novel. The artwork at first glance might seem unimpressive, but it really fits with the story being told. While the character designs may leave some wanting more, the architecture of the graphic novel’s spaceships and buildings make up for it tenfold.
Parlov’s real talent lies in making every panel seem three dimensional; every scene feels like it is bursting off the page and straight at the reader. It brings us closer to the action and makes us feel the sentimental moments that much more.
Starlight’s main flaw is that it does little to stand out. It pays homage to science fiction stories of old, such as Flash Gordon and Star Wars, but really does not bring anything else to the equation. The story is enjoyable, but familiar. While this never hurts the overall experience of reading the graphic novel, it may keep readers from revisiting the story a second time.
Starlight: The Return of Duke McQueen is a callback to a time when science fiction did not take itself so seriously. It lacks the qualities to make itself memorable, but still stands as a fun, accessible sci-fi swashbuckler. It will leave you cheering on Duke McQueen to the very end, and remind you that you’re never too old to kick some intergalactic ass.
