Rising Stars (comics)

Rising Stars is an American superhero comic book series written by J. Michael Straczynski and published by Top Cow Productions and Image Comics. It began in 1999 and concluded in 2005.

The series tells the story of the 113 residents of Pederson, Illinois, who were in utero when a mysterious meteor struck the town in 1969. These children, upon reaching puberty, began to develop superhuman abilities. The story follows their lives as they grapple with their powers, their relationships with each other and the outside world, and the burden of being "special."

The narrative explores themes of destiny, free will, the responsibilities that come with great power, and the nature of heroism and villainy. The series is notable for its realistic and grounded portrayal of super-powered individuals, often focusing on the psychological and emotional impact of their abilities.

Rising Stars is presented as a mystery from the perspective of a government investigator, Special Agent Abigail Taylor, who is trying to understand the events surrounding the Pederson children and the increasing number of deaths amongst them. The narrative unfolds through her investigation, interwoven with flashbacks into the lives of the main characters.

The series is divided into multiple volumes, each focusing on different aspects of the Rising Stars mythology and developing the core characters, their motivations, and their ultimate fates. The storyline includes elements of government conspiracy, corporate exploitation, and internal conflict among the powered individuals as they struggle to define their place in the world.