Rising Stars is the story of the Pederson Specials, a group of 113 people empowered by a single event. In the late Sixties a fireball struck the town of Pederson, Illnois granting fantastic powers to the 113 children who were in utero at the time of impact. They grew up as the world watched. Labeled the "Specials" by the Media, their powers were monitored and catalogued by the United States Government. Public perception of them changed often. Were they the future of mankind? A scourge? A random occurrence? Heroes? Villains? Role models or simply caricatures? What would be their impact on culture and society? They were a waried as kids and adults ever are; some were more powerful, some less. As adults they became many a policeman, a corporate symbol, a singer, an assassin, a writer, a painter, a thief, a preacher. Some found celebrity, some notoriety, while others simply went to work and raised families like everyone else. But they all carried inside them a seed of something great. Something special. Something that made them stars. As their epic stories unfolded, there were other stories as well...of their lives and the lives of those around them. This book is about those stories. Collected here are the short stories about the Specials, a bit about their beginnings, a bit about their middles and just a little bit about their end.

TOP COW is proud to bring you issues 1-8 of the critically acclaimed series RISING STARS. This is the first story arc written by J. Michael Straczynski and tells the tale of the beginnings of the Specials. With new cover by MIDNIGHT NATION artist Gary Frank. This collection is the perfect way to revisit the earlier issues of RISING STARS in one sitting or to discover for the first time the most realistic superhero epic since Alan Moore's Watchmen.

TOP COW is proud to bring you issues 9-15 of the critically acclaimed series RISING STARS. This second story arc written by J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI (BABYLON 5, CRUSADE) continues the tale of the Specials as they wage war between themselves and the rest of the world. With an all new cover by current series artist Brent Anderson (ASTRO CITY), this great collection is the perfect way to revisit your favorite Rising Stars moments or finally piece together those missing issues.

Writer J. Michael Straczynski's superhero tour-de-force reaches its stunning conclusion as the final fate of the 113 "Pederson Specials" is revealed. The final chapter of one of the greatest comic series EVER is now available in trade paperback for your bookshelf! Collects Rising Stars #17-24.

Launched in 1999, Rising Stars is about a group of people who are born with special abilities after a mysterious light appears in the sky. Parallels have been drawn between this series and The 4400 TV series on USA Network and Heroes on NBC. This new collection includes all 24 issues of J. Michael Straczynski's run on Rising Stars, as well as all three spin-off mini-series written by his protégé, Fiona Avery.