I am not Starfire is a young adult graphic novel from Eisner Award-winning author Mariko Tamaki (Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass) and artist (Zatanna and the House of Secrets). New from DC, I am not Starfire focusses on relationships and self-discovery.
Seventeen-year-old Mandy is not like her superhero mother Starfire. Yes, Starfire is an actual superhero, with powers, sparkles and the ability to save the world on a normal day. Mandy doesn’t have powers. She has one friend at school, Lincoln, and doesn’t get on with anyone else. Everyone is telling her she should be choosing her college but Mandy wants to go to France to do things like drink coffee and read poetry.
Things start to becoming interesting for Mandy when is partnered with the popular Claire for a school project. Even Mandy likes Claire, even though she would never admit it. Mandy finds herself at a crossroads in life trying to chose which path to take. The problem is, how do you find out who you are when the only thing you’re sure of is who you’re not? All Mandy knows is she is not Starfire. Then something comes up from Starfire’s past that changes everything, leaving Mandy wondering if she should give up without a fight.
The bold and distinctive art style from Yoshi Yoshitani really suits I am not Starfire. The story from Mariko Tamaki is subtle in places but also easy to follow. There are layers to it, like how does a seventeen-year-old cope with a relative that’s practically perfect and everything you’re not? What if that person is a superhero? The relationship with Claire means both of them are dealing with some new feelings in a good LBGTQ+ friendly storyline. Does Claire even like Mandy or is she just using her for her superhero links?
I liked what I saw in I am not Starfire and hope there’s more of this to come. I am not Starfire is available from July 27 2021.
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