If the Golden Age of comics superheroes is known for anything, it’s super weird heroes. Like Blue Bolt, who can shoot lightning bolts from his hands — but also has a gun that shoots lightning bolts. Or, Nightmare and Sleepy, who put a kind of pro wrestling spin on the whole Batman-and-Robin dynamic. Yet of all the many illustrious and totally kooky champions to emerge in these years, few are as singularly out there as Stardust the Super Wizard.
Created by writer-artist Fletcher Hanks in late 1939, Stardust is a hero who has mastered “interplanetary science,” which he uses (alongside some nifty superpowers and gear) to bash bad guys like so many other crimefighters of the era. Only unlike many of his colleagues, Stardust relied on increasingly violent methods to defeat his normally undermatched foes, including turning into a panther to eat villains he’d transmogrified into monster rats, or just straight squeezing a guy like an empty Capri Sun. Yet his methods clearly worked, as despite appearing for just an initial 16-issue run, Stardust has become something of a minor cult hit in recent years, with his stories collected in a series of Hanks-centric anthologies from Fantagraphics.
Now, an even bigger celebration of Stardust could debut as writer Van Jensen has recently launched a Zoop campaign for a star-studded new anthology. Jensen is joined by a wide array of writers and artists, including Mike Allred, Francesco Francavilla, Pete Woods, Jeff Parker, and even actor Jay Baruchel. For a better idea about as to what new feats we can expect from the “strongest, boldest, bat$#!%iest superhero who ever lived,” we spoke with Jensen recently via email. We talked about Stardust’s larger appeal, how Jensen’s organized this book, some teasers and standouts from the actual stories, and even a possible next act for this Golden Age standout.
If you’d like to contribute to the Stardust campaign, head here.
The anthology’s main cover by Michael Allred.
AIPT: What drew you to Stardust to the point of organizing this anthology?
Van Jensen: I first came across Stardust in the late 2000s, and it just strikes like a bolt of lightning. It’s superheroics without any filter of rationalism or, well, taste. Stardust smites his villains in the most macabre, bizarre ways. Truly a singular work of art.
Why organize the anthology? I suppose it must’ve been some kind of madness, because it’s a huge effort. But when I heard from dozens of other creators that they shared my fascination, I couldn’t help it. It’s like playing in the sandbox with all my friends.
AIPT: How does Stardust compare to other Golden Age heroes?
VJ: I think it’s important to note that Stardust hails from the primordial ooze of comics. This was the late 1930s, and no one even really knew what comics—or superheroes—were. In that era, Stardust was probably still less polished than his peers. Stranger. A bit more deranged. But because it isn’t governed by any logic, it’s also vastly more creative.
Art from Stardust’s original Fantastic Comics run.
AIPT: How important is a platform like Zoop for specific projects like this one?
VJ: Zoop has been an incredible partner. We’ve talked for a while about collaborating, and this felt perfect. They offer the platform, but also a ton of guidance and project oversight in terms of production, marketing, fulfillment. Because they exclusively focus on comics, I think they’re also really able to connect to the market.
I actually did a very early comics Kickstarter (The Leg back in 2013), and managing that on my own was so brutal I said never again. Yet here I am, crowdfunding again, thanks to Zoop.
AIPT: This anthology features the first comic from Ian Hanks, the grandson of creator Fletcher Hanks. What does that do to boost the “prominence” of this book?
VJ: I’m a big believer in doing things the right way. Even though Stardust is in the public domain, I wasn’t going to pursue the book without getting permission from Hanks’ family. My thanks go to Paul Karasik, who edited the collection of Hanks’ work from Fantagraphics. Paul put me in touch with Ian, and when Ian not only supported the project but offered to contribute I was over the moon.
As far as the prominence of the book, that’s for fans and critics to decide. I just want to make good comics.
Art from Stardust’s original Fantastic Comics run.
AIPT: This anthology features some big names, including Mike Allred, Pete Woods, and Ron Marz. What can you tease about some of these contributions?
VJ: The stories are every bit as strange as I’d hoped, and truly living up to Hanks’ legacy. There’s a story about a diner that’s a hellish purgatory for villains. A story about the fall of the Brain Men from Mars. A story about clones and parental love.
And Pete Woods and I have a metatextual story that threads through the whole book, tying it into one narrative.
AIPT: Similar to the last question, do you have a favorite story from this anthology?
VJ: Would you also ask me which of my children is my favorite?!
I will say, one of my absolute favorite cartoonists is Joshua Cotter (Nod Away, Skyscrapers of the Midwest), and I’m just thrilled that he’s contributing a story.
AIPT: What are some of the logistical issues in organizing a book like this?
VJ: Oh, I mean, just coordinating dozens of people across the country and world, pairing up creative teams, managing messaging on emails, texts, Twitter DMs, editing stories, handling art files, making sure stories don’t overlap, making sure I don’t forget anyone or anything (and failing). It’s a lot. And yet…
I’m loving it so much.
Art from Stardust’s original Fantastic Comics run.
AIPT: I think there’s a lot of nostalgia inherent to comics writing and reading. Is that a good thing, and do you think you’re stoking those flames?
VJ: I would say that comic books is a niche art form, and this lends itself to nostalgia. It’s a special thing that we share as fans, and we become keepers of the history and the lore. I don’t think that’s good or bad, though I do think superhero comics specifically can be overly stuck in the past.
I’m not setting out to stoke nostalgia for the Golden Age. I’m trying to make a beautiful, weird book and to point more people toward Fletcher Hanks’ work. (Speaking of which, Fantagraphics is reprinting that collection this year.)
AIPT: Are there some essential lessons and/or insights this book and this hero/character have to offer comics fans and creators in 2023?
VJ: Don’t go into racketeering. You might have your head pulled off and thrown onto an alien planet. Other than that…
When I was writing for DC, I remember being so focused on making things make sense. And as I’ve grown older, I’ve found that I just care less about that. Life is often irrational. And I think great art emerges from a deeper unconscious, which is weird and scary and illogical. Consider this book a vote in favor of that way of viewing the world.
AIPT: How much have superhero comics changed since these early Stardust tales? How have they perhaps stayed the same?
VJ: Great question. Superhero comics have grown much more refined. They evolved and evolved and found a fairly idealized form. Much more nuanced and realistic. Perhaps a bit more boring, even if vastly superior in quality.
I think that superhero comics remain an expression of the id. They’re wish fulfillment. They’re childish. I just think they’re too often ashamed of that reality.
Art from Stardust’s original Fantastic Comics run.
AIPT: Why should anyone contribute to this campaign?
VJ: If you’re into Golden Age comics and you want to see top creators letting their hair down and having a blast making superhero comics, then this is for you. It’s got stuff for mainstream superhero readers, and it also has some underground comics voices. It’s going to be beautiful and well packaged and unique. It also has a smaller number of longer stories, rather than a larger number of one-pagers.
AIPT: Could there be a future for Stardust/more books based on this campaign?
VJ: Stardust is public domain, so I think people are going to continue to be fascinated by him and breathe new life into him. Does this project lead to something specific? All I can say is some of the creators have already said they’d love to do more.
But for now, I just want to think about finishing this book!
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