Roleplaying, Comic books, and Science Fiction
Science Fiction Comic Books for your next Starforged Role-playing Campaign
If you are looking for a quick campaign starter for Starforged, consider comic books. Forget the brightly colored superheroes and supervillians in capes and tights. Look beyond the flashy super powers, and you’ll find many superhero comic books with strong, science fiction elements to them. Some of our favorite comic books are space operas disguised as superheroes punching each other. Aliens, super weapons, and entire otherworldly cultures wait for you in these four-color, funny pages.
For the purposes of this blog, we are going to ignore two things.
- Godlike creatures : beings like Galactus and the Watcher.
- Characters that don’t need spaceships like Silver Surfer, Superman, and the Green Lanterns.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is one of the big two comic companies in North America. All of Marvel Comics’ tent pole brands — X-men, Avengers, and Fantastic Four — have science fiction elements to their stories. There is an entire section of the Marvel Universe referred to as the ‘Marvel Cosmic Universe’ because the stories are huge space operas with sci-fi based heroes.
Marvel’s galactic empires are perfect for campaign outlines, alien backstory, and potential enemy NPCs.
X-men Space Characters
The Shi’ar Imperium is an integral part of the X-men lore. The non-super-hero Shi’ar are a bird like species best known as religious fanatics. In the name of their gods, the Shi’ar have conquered their entire galaxy bringing all worlds under the Shi’ar Imperium’s control.
I would summarize the Shi’ar as “pretentious peacocks with a holier than thou attitude.’
In the early years, the Shi’ar were a Star Trek knock-off. Look at the interior of their ships and their uniforms. As the X-men evolved, the Shi’ar did too. New artists and writers expanded the Shi’ar beyond their spoof origins.
Fantastic Four and Avengers
The Avengers and Fantastic Four have also contributed many alien races to the Marvel Cosmic Universe. The Kree, the Skrulls, the Cotati, the Xandarians, the Badoon, and more come from this corner of the Marvel Universe.
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will remember the Guardians of the Galaxy, a ragtag group that often find themselves at the center of galactic emergencies. It is the same in the Guardians of the Galaxy comics.
Marvel Comics with Space Characters
Consider these Marvel Comic books for your next Starforged role-playing adventure.
Classic X-men 13 / Uncanny X-men 105
First appearance of Shi’ar starships. A Shi’ar noble on the run from their siblings transports to your ship as her enemies destroy her vessel. Bug ships. Bird people. What could go wrong?
Starjammers mini-series from 1995
Two comic book masters, Warren Ellis and Carlos Pacheo, ditch the superheroes for a four issue mini-series that focuses on the space pirates as they try to save the Shi’ar Imperium from a new threat.
Uncanny X-men #275 - 277
Your sworn enemy, the sister of the empress asks for your help in killing her sister. Shape-changers. Political intrigue. Huge battles. This one has it all.
DC Comics
The cosmic portion of the DC Universe is just as vast as its Marvel counterpart. You’ll find a bird-like species called the Thanagarians, the science focused Rannians, the creepy Spider Guild, the power-wielding Tamarans, and the computer-like Coluans.
Back in 2004, Andy Diggle and superstar artist, Pascal Ferry, did a mini-series with a character called Adam Strange. Adam is a combination of Flash Gordon and the Rocketeer. In his origin story, Adam is teleported from Earth to the planet Rann where he becomes their champion. The mini-series quickly covers his origin story before moving onto something new. It is the perfect campaign starter. Ferry’s character, ship, and environment designs are exquisite.
Notable Characters
- Adam Strange, Earth/Rann
- Hawkman, Earth/Thanagar
- Blackfire, Tamaran, Starfire’s people
- Braniac, Coluan
- Omega Men, terrorists from many civilizations
Story Starters and Campaign Outlines
Consider these DC Comic books for your space adventure.
Adam Strange: Planet Heist
Your family from another world has disappeared. You vow to find them no matter the cost!
Rann-Thanagar War
Your starship is pulled into a war between the Rannians and the Thanagarians. A mad-god threatens the galaxy.
Other Comic Series
These comic book series avoid superheroes altogether weaving strong stories with all the elements you need for your next space-based campaign.
- Empress by Marvel Icon
- Descender by Image Comics
- We Only Find Them When They Are Dead by BOOM Studios!
- Sun Devils by DC Comics
- Atari Force by DC Comics
- Jules Verne’s: Lighthouse
- Outer Darkness by Image Comics
- Dreadstar by Jim Starlin
- Star Slammers by Dark Horse
- Marassa by Evoluzione Publishings
- Red Vector by Mad Cave Studios
- Sigil by CrossGen
References
No affiliation between The Untrodden Ways and any of these references. The mention of or references to any companies or products on this homebrew blog post is not a challenge to the trademarks or copyrights concerned.
- Ironsworn is copyright Tomkin Press. Ironsworn Game Engine used with Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
- Fantastic Four, Avengers, X-men, Starjammers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Skrulls, Kree, and Shi’ar are copyright of Disney DTC LLC.
- Star Trek is a trademark of CBS Studios Inc.
- Adam Strange, Starfire, Blackfire, Omega Men, Hawkman, and Brainiac are copyright and trademarks of DC Comics
Raw artwork provided by Pexels and Morguefile: flyingpete, alex_france, chris-f, cottonbro, theshuttervision, blackcurrant, caique-araujo, kristaps, rostislav