Article by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr
DC Comics has revealed more details about one of their next young adult graphic novels, I Am Not Starfire.
Along with the new info, DC have given us a first look at the book! Full details are in the press release below the images.
Official Synopsis
New Young Adult Graphic Novel from Acclaimed Author Mariko Tamaki and Artist Yoshi Yoshitani Reimagines Iconic Teen Titans Super Hero in a Fun, Heartwarming Exploration of Mother-Daughter Relationships and Learning to Embrace What Makes Us Different
Book Hits Stores August 10, 2021
Available to Pre-order NowNext summer, New York Times bestselling author Mariko Tamaki is teaming up with talented artist Yoshi Yoshitani to debut I Am Not Starfire, an original young adult (YA) graphic novel that follows Mandy, the daughter of Starfire, as she navigates the highs and lows of high school along with the pressure of having a DC Super Hero for a mom.
Tamaki is the Eisner Award-winning author of the hit Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass graphic novel, illustrated by Steve Pugh, as well as other highly acclaimed titles such as This One Summer and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me. Her YA works are consistently lauded for authentically capturing the heart and awkwardness of the teenage experience. Filled with the same humor and wit readers have come to expect from Tamaki, I Am Not Starfire introduces seventeen-year-old Mandy—an original character—who is struggling to find her own identity as she deals with her school crush while also learning to understand her mom who feels so different from her.
“I feel so lucky to be able to work on these books for DC, to write superhero comics and work with incredible talents like Yoshi Yoshitani,” said Tamaki. “I wanted to work on a book about finding power in what you are (versus focusing on what you aren’t). I think Starfire is such an amazing character, so larger than life and just overall fabulous. She’s really a joy to write. I’m so excited for people to read this new comic and meet her daughter Mandy.”
Yoshi Yoshitani is a California-based artist known for crafting vibrant and charming illustrations. I Am Not Starfire is Yoshitani’s second graphic novel for DC’s Books for Young Readers program, having first debuted Zatanna and the House of Secrets, a middle grade graphic novel written by Mathew Cody.
“Creating this graphic novel has been a real dream come true,” said Yoshitani. “Partnering with Mariko Tamaki to create a world filled with familiar characters from my childhood, brand-new faces, and flashy superpowers, underpinned with feelings of teenage angst all while trying to do justice to longtime DC readers and those picking up comics for the first time has been a fulfilling whirlwind. We did a lot of great work, and I’m proud of what we made. I can’t wait for readers to pick it up!”
I Am Not Starfire is available to pre-order now and hits stores everywhere books are sold on August 10, 2021. See below for the official description and above for new artwork revealed today.
I Am Not Starfire
Written by Mariko Tamaki
Illustrated and colored by Yoshi Yoshitani
Lettered by Aditya Bidikar
On sale everywhere books are sold on August 10, 2021
MSRP: $16.99From New York Times bestselling author Mariko Tamaki (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass) and artist Yoshi Yoshitani (Zatanna and the House of Secrets) comes a story about Mandy, the daughter of super-famous superhero Starfire.
Seventeen-year-old Mandy, daughter of Starfire, is NOT like her mother. Starfire is gorgeous, tall, sparkly, and a hero. Mandy is NOT a sparkly superhero. Mandy has no powers, is a kid who dyes her hair black and hates everyone but her best friend Lincoln. To Starfire, who is from another planet, Mandy seems like an alien, like some distant angry light years away moon.
And it’s possible Mandy is even more distant lately, ever since she walked out on her S.A.T.s. Which, yeah, her mom doesn’t know.
Everyone thinks Mandy needs to go to college and become whoever you become at college, but Mandy has other plans. Mandy’s big plan is that she’s going to move to France and…do whatever people do in France. But then everything changes when she gets partnered with Claire for a school project. Mandy likes Claire (even if she denies it, heartily and intensely). A lot.
How do you become the person you’re supposed to be when you don’t know what that is? How do you become the person you’re supposed to be when the only thing you’re sure of is what you’re not?
When someone from Starfire’s past arrives, Mandy must make a choice: give up before the battle has even begun, or step into the unknown and risk everything to save her mom. I am Not Starfire is a story about teenagers and/as aliens; about knowing where you come from and where you are going; and about mothers.
A Story For All Ages
All I can say is that I wish these type of stories were around when I was a teenager, and trying to figure it all out. While I’m not the key demographic for these stories, as a parent, I love reading them. I may not always relate directly to the material, but new perspectives never hurt anyone. Even if I’m not the daughter of an alien superhero however, I frequently did feel alien to my parents as a teenager. I also had crushes; so I expect this story from Mariko Tamaki and Yoshi Yoshitani will hit me in all the right places.
I’m very excited to see this new parental take on one of my favorite Teen Titans, Starfire, and to meet her daughter, Mandy. It’ll be interesting to see how this reads differently to adults/parents and teenagers.
Are you planning on picking up I Am Not Starfire? It’s available for pre-order now, so you can be one of the first to read this new story!
Images and Press Release Courtesy of DC Entertainment