Rana and her friends have escaped from Mister Duke for now, but what is his nefarious plan? Find out in Starsigns #6 from Image Comics!

STARSIGNS #6

Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Artist: Megan Levens
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick
Letterer: Shawn Lee
Editor: Heather Antos
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 8, 2023

Previously in Starsigns: After fleeing from Mister Duke and Tatiana, Clarence directs the other Starsigns to his friend Binh’s home in the country. Rana’s father calls from Germany, and she feels she cannot tell him what has happened to her. She and Cathy talk about feeling as though they have been sworn to secrecy. The group discusses that there must be six more Starsigns they don’t know yet, and they need to find them. Then they all feel the presence of a nearby Starsign. It is Ares and Tatiana, and Libra, the new recruit, as well as a bunch of armed men. Gemini stabs Libra. Duke tries to taunt Alejandro into using his powers to make the armed men shoot someone. Rana and her group decide to flee, and Cathy stays behind to hold off Duke and his forces.

ON THE RUN AGAIN

Starsigns #6 opens with Rana, Clarence, Alejandro and Silvia in Buffalo. Rana is tense, sure that Duke is still after them, and worried about Cathy. They make quick phone calls to catch up with people in their normal lives and then make their way to Albany the following day. Once there, they stop at a park to stretch. Rana and Clarence go off on their own – and meet a new Starsign!

Dan/Libra was stabbed, but he was not killed. Mister Duke has state-of-the-art medical equipment, and soon Dan is on the mend and verbally sparring with Tatiana. He talks her into going out for a drink with him, although she is reluctant. He flirts with her and questions her about why Duke has his facility in the middle of nowhere instead of someplace interesting. Tatiana instead talks about how Duke has given her purpose, and how he wants to guide the Starsigns, heroes who are meant to banish the darkness in the world. Aghast, Dan leaves.

Duke has captured Cathy. When she awakens from her drug-induced stupor, she is chained to a standing stone altar. He has not yet captured any of the others, but he tells her that he will have them soon, although she will not see them because she is going to be sacrificed. The altar dates from when the first Starsigns spell was woven. He claims the spell has a purpose – to give humans the power of the stars. His studies convinced him that twelve new heroes would arise soon, and now he hopes to harness that power directly.

To this end, he also claims that he learned that if he sacrifices a Starsign, he would acquire their power. And if he sacrifices all of them, he could become a god.

MISTER DUKE’S PLAN REVEALED

The art of Starsigns #6 reminds us that Rana, Clarence, and Alejandro may have powers, but they are also human. The fatigue of being hunted and fighting for their lives is starting to show. Clarence takes some time to call his boyfriend, even though he cannot tell him what he has really been up to. Silvia calls Alejandro’s teacher. She has been getting his homework electronically, so throughout all the chaos, she is trying to make sure her little boy does not get left behind. After all the recent action, we feel their relief even in such a short rest.

But this scene also sets up a stark contrast between normalcy and Duke’s scene with Cathy. They appear to be in a stone basement, an old stone basement. Seeing Cathy chained to what looks like an ancient, engraved altar comes as a surprise. Everything we have seen of Duke’s lair has been so modern and technologically sterile that this new side of him comes as a surprise. He has come across as somewhat of a megalomaniac, but finally, we see and understand what he is really up to.

BOTTOM LINE: THE PLOT COALESCES

In Starsigns #6, the story starts to pull together, and we get a better sense of the stakes. I like the new Starsign that was revealed, even though we don’t yet know much about him. That we still have a few more to meet gives the book a good sense of drama.

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Starsigns #6

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While Rana and her friends barely have time to catch their breaths, Mister Duke moves forward with his grand plan!

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