Kamen America: Stars & Strife Review

 

So while planning out the next installment of the Road to Avengers: Doomsday I came to a sudden realization. That being I've been reviewing one too many DC and Marvel comic books. I haven't reviewed a comic outside of those two since June 2025. Almost an entire year. So I decided to change that by reviewing some indie comics. Starting with one I've seen and read getting high praise from people I follow on X for years.

Kamen America: Stars & Strife is a 2020 superhero comic published originally by Antarctic Press before reprints were later published by Iconic Comics. This volume not only serves as the debut of the Kamen America series but it's also the first chapter it the Stars & Strife saga. The story was written by Mark Pellegrini and Timothy Lim, the latter of who also did the artwork.

The story is, Carly Vanders is an inspiring fashion designer who was just trying to get her name out there and selling her clothes. Then after a USO show Carly is hit by radioactive debris and given electric superpowers. She later becomes the hero Warhen...but that doesn't work out and she becomes Kamen America.

• Negatives

I've got nothing here so just move on to the next part.

• Mix

It's the story. It's very simplistic. Now don't get the wrong idea, I still liked the story overall. It's still got a bit of fun to it, but at the same time the only surprise comes from the cliff hanging ending. Other than that a very straightforward story. But despite there's still a lot of fun to be had. And what also saves the story from being a boring read is Carly. Not only is pretty likable, but she has a good arc of at first just putting up with corporate control before having enough and branching out on her own.

• Positives

Let's start off with the tone. Now if any of you know me, then you know I really dig superhero stories that can be darker and more intense. From Frank Miller's classic The Dark Knight Returns to Alan Moore's Watchmen to Garth Ennis' run on The Punisher to Mark Millar's Old Man Logan to everything in-between. However, I'm also not against more lighter toned superhero stories. So I did like the tone to this. Especially since the comic does provide a lot development for Carly as a previously mentioned.

Now this also has a lot of comedy to it. No it's not MCU humor where a serious movement is ruined by a stupid joke. I mean there's moments in the dialogue where I actually burst out laughing. One moment being how Carly thinks she's being enlisted but it was just a simple job offer. But the story also has satire regarding that corporate control. The personification of that being Lansky. The guy is so obsessed with chasing trends that he only named Carly "Warhen" because "chickens are big money" but funnier than he told Carly to lie about her parents being alive because and I quote "You can't be a hero unless you're an orphan!". Yes, that's an actual quote from the comic and it's hilarious.

The last thing I'll praise is Timothy Lim's art work. First let me provide some examples to give you a taste.

Now Timothy Lim does have some western elements to it, but there's also some manga elements as well. But regardless of which kind of elements are in his art, Lim's style gives characters get expressions and a lot strong action scenes. The art can be detailed and has an energy to it, while also being very bright and colorful.

All in all, after hearing about this comic since 2020 and finally getting around to reading it, I can safely said I really liked it. I might have to read the other volumes after this because I also read those getting high praise.

My final rating is, Good.

That's gonna wrap things up. Come back on Saturday, Jun 13th, for my review of the newest Steven Spielberg movie, Disclosure Day. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.