Starman: when ziggy eclipsed bowie

With Starman, published by Casterman a few weeks ago, Reinhard Kleist takes on a monumental subject: the transformation that turned David Bowie into Ziggy Stardust, then the struggle to break free from a character that eventually suffocates its creator. After Johnny Cash and Nick Cave, the German author continues his exploration of major music figures and delivers a dense graphic biography strongly influenced by glam aesthetics.

Visually, it’s a success. Bright colors, strong stage energy, full-page silhouettes of Bowie in his iconic outfits: early 70s glam rock regains all its intensity. Starman revisits several key moments from this era: the essential role of Mick Ronson in shaping the Spiders From Mars sound, the connections with Lou Reed and the New York scene at Max’s Kansas City, the tensions with manager Tony Defries, the shock of announcing Ziggy’s end on stage without telling the band…

From Ziggy Stardust to “plastic soul”

The book also highlights a decisive turning point: once he let go of his character, David Bowie turned to American soul. It clearly shows how, during his US trip in 1973 to promote Aladdin Sane, he attended Motown shows, including the Temptations in the Detroit area. This discovery, reinforced by soul and funk concerts he witnessed during the 1974 US tour, fueled the direction of Young Americans. Surrounded by musicians such as Luther Vandross, he searched for a new path, away from glam, adopting what he ironically called “plastic soul” while molding Black music influences into his own style. This marks a shift from Ziggy to a David Bowie more grounded in groove and R&B. The book shows how these influences shaped a new musical identity leading to Young Americans, now a cult album in his discography.

Where the book excels visually, it loses a bit in narrative efficiency. Its 344 pages stretch the story and the rhythm suffers. By covering the rise of Ziggy, his disappearance and what followed, Reinhard Kleist tries to include too much and the thread of the story becomes harder to follow.

Starman is an impressive and appealing visual tribute to David Bowie. Historically and musically, it’s fascinating, though less controlled in pacing. A recommended read for fans and for comic readers who enjoy ambitious music biographies, perhaps a bit less ideal for newcomers. Best enjoyed while listening to Ziggy Stardust then Young Americans to fully grasp how radical the transformation was.