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 JMS AT RASTB5M SAID:OCT.26.1998
 [Rising Stars] follows the events 
   after the small town of Pederson, Illinois, is struck by a mass of energy from an unknown, but 
   non-terrestrial source. Everyone who was in utero at the time of the flash is affected, 
   resulting in 113 individuals who develop abilities of a most unusual and highly individual 
   form. (The power is to some degree shaped by who they are, just as they are shaped to some 
   degree by the power.)
 
 To read more about why this comic series remains unfinished, please visit our 
 JMS Comics forum or read 
 JMS' comments on our Rising Stars Act 
 3 page.
 
 
 NOTE: Comics are listed by issue number from oldest to 
  newest. 
 
   
  
 | #17: Time Passes Author: J. Michael Straczynski --
 Published: Jan 2002 --
 Format: Single Comic
 |  
 |  DESCRIPTION: The final act begins in the story of the Specials. This issue marks the start of the arc
 that will follow the remaining Specials through their later adulthood and eventual deaths.
 We jump forward another dozen years, and see the effects that the Specials have had in
 their campaign to change the world, whether the world wants to be changed or not. But now
 the world has the tools to begin fighting back....
 
 MONICA'S REVIEW:The beginning of the third act takes on a somber note. I wonder how the decisions the
 Specials made about changing the world for the "better" will turn out. I think the world
 will have to deal with the consequences of their actions ... for better or worse. I cannot
 wait to see what JMS has in store for us.
 |  
 |  |  
 | #18: Fire and Ash Author: J. Michael Straczynski --
 Published: Apr 2002 --
 Format: Single Comic
 |  
 |  DESCRIPTION: None at this time...
 
 MONICA'S REVIEW:I have yet to read this comic...
 |  
 |  |  
 | #19: Terminal Error Author: J. Michael Straczynski --
 Published: Sep 2002 --
 Format: Single Comic
 |  
 |  DESCRIPTION: The government has come up with a weapon to stop the Specials in their tracks. How can they
 continue their mission to change the world when they are no longer invulnerable?
 
 MONICA'S REVIEW:I have yet to read this comic...
 |  
 |  |  
 | #20: Blood Calls Out for Blood Author: J. Michael Straczynski --
 Published: Oct 2002 --
 Format: Single Comic
 |  
 |  DESCRIPTION: J. Michael Straczynski's epic story of the Specials continues. They've tried to change to
 world for the better...but people don't like to be told what's good for them. How can a few
 extraordinary individuals stand against the very ordinary masses?
 
 MONICA'S REVIEW:I have yet to read this comic...
 
 JMS AT RASTB5M SAID:OCT.31.2002
 I loved the ending of the last issue #20. "That man is a liar,
 and I can prove it!" WOW! What a kick!
 
 Thanks, it's a good one. The color jpgs are just coming in for approval (I
 think it was almost 3-4 months ago that I turned in the script), and that
 usually means that it should be coming out in the next couple/three weeks.
 
  |  
 |  |  
 | #21: Conversations on the Hill of Dreams Author: J. Michael Straczynski --
 Published: Jan 2003 --
 Format: Single Comic
 |  
 |  DESCRIPTION: The government has developed a weapon capable of destroying the Specials, causing them to go
 into hiding. Will the government be able to systematically hunt them down and destroy them as
 it did to Pyre? And with the Specials hidden, what will happen to the order they put in place?
 Find out as J. Michael Straczynski's epic masterpiece heads toward its climatic conclusion!
 
 MONICA'S REVIEW:I have yet to read this comic...
 
 JMS AT RASTB5M SAID:DEC.15.2002
 You cannot libel public figures in general, in particular when it's
 as science fictional a context as this.
 
 To the larger question...the story of Rising Stars is set in the real world. Bush is the
 president right now, hence he had to be the one in the hot seat.
  
 I'm writing another book currently wherein we see events of this nature
 affecting every president from Carter, through Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, and
 Bush 2, all of whom are portrayed in the book as being involved in a particular
 and wholly fictional conspieracy. I don't apply a political litmus test to
 these things.
  
 The whole POINT of Rising Stars is that it's set in the real world, with real
 problems, and real historical events, right now. If I made up a fake president
 it would totally compromise the book's integrity.
  
 If Al Gore had been certified by the Supremes, it would've been him instead.
 
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 | JMS Speaks about Finishing Rising Stars 
 |  
 | JMS AT RASTB5M SAID: NOV.30.2003
 There were a number of conditions set before Top Cow in order to
 resolve this, and those conditions were met. So the final three scripts will be turned in by
 late January/early February, and the Rising Stars story will be complete.
 
 OCT.3.2003I've asked Top Cow for three things: for Dream Police back, since
 they've had it now for 3 years and have done nothing with it...for confirmation that the
 Joe's Comics title belongs to me, and for an apology for deliberately keeping me out of the
 loop on my own project at the feature stage and misleading me about drafts that had come in.
 
 Once those three things have been attended to, I can finish the series.
 
  
 AUG.24.2003And I'm not leaving anybody without closure on RS...there are details
 that have to be worked out with Top Cow. Once they have corrected those things, the book can
 be finished. It's that simple.
 
 JUN.24.2003BTW, for those who've been asking about Rising Stars, if you go over
 to www.comicbookresources.com
 you'll get a pretty good answer.
 
 JUN.4.2003So, IMHO, it's probably more in your interest to get the end of
 RS out then it is for Top Cow. That's the problem with waiting on Top Cow.
 
 If someone is not doing right by you, and they want something from you, it's in your best
 interests to get them to do right by you before you give them what they want. It's about
 being a professional business person and living up to agreements. I always honor mine, and
 tend to make sure others do the same. If you hire a contractor to build you a home, and two
 thirds through reneg or otherwise back off on the business arrangement, a reasonable person
 doesn't expect the contractor to continue working anyway. The logic you employ is the logic
 constantly used to screw writers. I don't work that way.
 
  
 JUN.3.2003When might we see the last few Rising Stars issues? PLEASE!!
 
 That depends entirely on a situation with Top Cow that is in need of resolution. The delay in
 writing has not been a delay in writing; it's been working through some problems with Top Cow
 for the last...almost year now. The final issues won't be turned in untnil those issues are
 resolved.
 
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