Aster, the Star Child
Star Impact was created by Jack McGee, it can be read on Hiveworks
Welcome back to the blog! I've been wanting to cover more series that specifically focus on martial arts for a while, but I haven't reached many from that spectrum on my readlist. Most that I I've read usually don't have sufficient enough content for a blog. Thankfully Star Impact has a few chapters, lengthy fights, and is still ongoing even if new pages are inconsistent. I have a feeling a lot of my readers would get a kick out of this series, so I totally recommend checking it out!
Background
"If it makes an impact, then it's a meteorite."
It isn't clear how boxing originated. Some say it started in Ethiopia as early as the 6th millennium BC, others claim it began in ancient Egypt or Greece. Regardless, this gnarly combat sport has evolved over the years, to the point that boxing gloves provide their wearer superpowers?!
In the setting of Star Impact, boxing matches combine standard boxing techniques and rules with superpowers granted by the participants' gloves (or leather as they're sometimes called). There's a broad variety of powers used in the professional scene like spike growth, flash steps, or even just making each blow feel like being punctured by dozens of knives. However, one leather stands above the rest: Shooting Star.
Shooting Star was wielded by the greatest fighter to grace the field of boxing simply known as The Legend. They were untouchable, unstoppable, and their pupils are some of the greatest in the whole league. When they were on the top of the world, they vanished without a trace.
The Legend left an impression on everyone who witnessed their stellar fights, but none more than a starry-eyed girl named Aster.
Aster is a boxing superfan with extensive knowledge on pro boxers, techniques, and tournament trivia. With her spunky attitude and adoration for the sport, Aster had the makings of a boxer just as legendary as her hero. Unfortunately, Aster never found gloves that were compatible with her.
Ten years after The Legend's disappearance Aster has been working at Seaside Gym. She had long since given up her dream of being a boxer before joining the fitness gym, but her friends have been supportive of her. Still, after going through three whole pairs hardly tapping into their powers, it seems Aster's aspirations are a long shot.
The one sliver of hope she clings onto is her baby-faced friend Puck, who plans on registering as a boxer. Ever since Puck took an interest in the sport, it relit a fire in Aster and passionately supported his goals. She didn't just encourage him as a friend, but clung onto the hope that she may be able to join him in the ring.
Those hopes were dashed after Puck was beaten up by the rookie killer Urchin on his way to registration. That beatdown dissuaded Puck from registering, or even becoming a boxer. Aster was devastated. Why couldn't boxing work out for her and Puck? Was there something wrong with her?
As she ponders if she could even keep on dreaming on the gym’s balcony, she looks up at the stars, searching for an answer. That's when a star shot down straight into the room. However, it wasn't actually a star that fell from the sky, but rather what she’s been looking for after so many years: Shooting Star, the very gloves that previously belonged to The Legend. Not only that, they're compatible with her.
Shooting Star's ability Star Punch is unlike any other leather's, as it can only be used once per match. It creates a giant star-shaped impact that easily downs whoever is hit by it.
Aster decides to give her leather a test drive by challenging Urchin to a match, and it's glorious. It's her first ever real fight, and she's already drawing a crowd thanks to her gloves. Even though Urchin beat up her friend and constantly mocks her throughout the match, Aster’s just having a lot of fun boxing. Their bout helps her remember why she loves the sport in the first place. She isn't one who seeks glory or success, she’s just in it for the love of the game.
Her fight went viral after beating Urchin. A lot of buzz surrounded her as the potential successor to The Legend. Others brushed her off as a hot shot that lacks skill. The Legend's pupils and reigning champions Bondi and Etna of course catch wind of this new girl with their master’s gloves. While there’s no connection between the Aster & The Legend, letting her run wild will likely shed more information on their master’s disappearance.
Aster becomes friendly rivals with Bondi's prodigy Phoebe, who helped her and Puck find a proper trainer and boxing gym at Stryker's Forge Gym. She builds up her career fighting more accomplished boxers above her skill level, but always catches them by surprise.
Now that the pint-sized powerhouse has had several matches, she's happier than ever before. She's always smiling in the ring due to how much fun she’s having, no matter how battered she is. She gets so into fighting that she forgets everything outside arena. She wants to bring out the best in people through their fights, like she did with Phoebe.
Aster continues to train and improve so her fighting style is deserving of the gloves. However, her mind is clouded by the pressure put on her to be a successor. Aster is a slugger by nature, but she wants to adopt her idol’s boxer-puncher style. Has to learn to be herself instead of chasing after The Legend.
Aster is forced to face this when her winning streak is inevitably broken once she fights the gatekeeper Dove. She did well, even downing him with her Star Punch. Her friends are supportive of her and don’t think she needs to be compared to the legacy of a boxer who’s been MIA, yet she does.
This loss causes division in her fandom. Many lose faith in her, others don’t care about The Legend and love her regardless. Aster acts like she's fine, but hasn't fought in a month. Winning and losing don’t usually enter her mind, but this match affected her since she’s weighed down by the gloves’ legacy. This isn't just because they belonged to her hero, but they gave her the chance to box in the first place.
She has this overwhelming certainty that losing the fight isn't something she can recover from, but her friends won't let her stay down in the dumps forever.
Right now, it's up to Puck to restore Aster's mojo, as he's been intrinsically connected to her dream for years.
Experience and Skill
Aster has been training herself in boxing for three years and has been studying everything she can about the sport. Despite that, she hadn’t ever been in a real fight before gaining Shooting Star. For a rookie she's able to strategize on the fly and is adaptable to whatever power her opponent throws her way. She's known for really taking hits. Aster's usual strategy is to tank all damage and go for counters. She's smart for a slugger and handles pressure well.
She stands toe to toe with boxers who mix their fighting style with superpowers, when Aster can only use her power once per match. She spars against boxers more accomplished and experienced than her, which has caused her own talent to increase at an exceptional rate. That coupled with training at Forge Gym for half a year really boosted her skill.
When she had less than a year of professional experience—and zero junior league experience—she downed Dove, who was in the ring for over a decade.
Aster has been training herself in boxing for three years and has been studying everything she can about the sport. Despite that, she hadn’t ever been in a real fight before gaining Shooting Star. For a rookie she's able to strategize on the fly and is adaptable to whatever power her opponent throws her way. She's known for really taking hits. Aster's usual strategy is to tank all damage and go for counters. She's smart for a slugger and handles pressure well.
She stands toe to toe with boxers who mix their fighting style with superpowers, when Aster can only use her power once per match. She spars against boxers more accomplished and experienced than her, which has caused her own talent to increase at an exceptional rate. That coupled with training at Forge Gym for half a year really boosted her skill.
When she had less than a year of professional experience—and zero junior league experience—she downed Dove, who was in the ring for over a decade.
Equipment
Shooting Star
The Legend’s leather. While leathers are typically able to unleash their power at any given moment, Shooting Star is unique in that its ability can only be used once per match. I'll elaborate on that in the techniques section.
The Legend’s leather. While leathers are typically able to unleash their power at any given moment, Shooting Star is unique in that its ability can only be used once per match. I'll elaborate on that in the techniques section.
Abilities
High Resilience
Aster is known for taking hits. No matter how much punishment she receives, it's hard to keep her down in the ring. She won’t even realize she’s tired until she’s out of gas.
Aster is known for taking hits. No matter how much punishment she receives, it's hard to keep her down in the ring. She won’t even realize she’s tired until she’s out of gas.
Perspiration
Her sheer perspiration in fights has caused opponents’ fists to slip off her and weaken damage. Grody…
Her sheer perspiration in fights has caused opponents’ fists to slip off her and weaken damage. Grody…
Techniques
Slugger-Style Boxing
She’s got hooks, jabs, ducks, weaves, all that good stuff. In boxing terms she's considered a slugger, a boxing style that prioritizes knockout punches and sheer power over strategy and technical polish.
At one point Phoebe questions if she’s a swarmer when she fights more aggressively. Her speed and oppressive pressure make her overcommit to her combinations.
She’s got hooks, jabs, ducks, weaves, all that good stuff. In boxing terms she's considered a slugger, a boxing style that prioritizes knockout punches and sheer power over strategy and technical polish.
At one point Phoebe questions if she’s a swarmer when she fights more aggressively. Her speed and oppressive pressure make her overcommit to her combinations.
Star Punch
Star Punch is the power of the Legend's gloves. It’s a mighty punch that creates an impact in the shape of a star, capable of blowing through any defense. With the exception of Dove, landing this punch at the right moment has always led to victory.
Star Punch is the power of the Legend's gloves. It’s a mighty punch that creates an impact in the shape of a star, capable of blowing through any defense. With the exception of Dove, landing this punch at the right moment has always led to victory.
Feats
Overall
- Beat Urchin the rookie killer, who uses leather with retractable spikes that increases his area of range
- Fought Phoebe “The Prince,” forcing her to use Moonlight Step in the first round and dealt a powerful punch in the last round after Phoebe dodged her the whole fight. It ended in a tie.
- Defeated the professional idol boxer Lily, forcing her to go all out and use her muscle-enhancing power at its max
- Fought Dove, a boxer with over a decade of experience who became known as the gatekeeper, able to accelerate his punches like a rocket. Aster lost but she did really well for a rookie, even downing Dove.
Strength
- Star Punch made a star-shaped indent in a wall
- Blew her trainer Stryker's mitt off her hand with the force of her punch
- She gave Dove a scar with Star Punch
Speed
- Dodges Phoebe’s punch, who moved fast enough to visibly kick up air
- Dodges Dove's instantly accelerated punches
Durability
- Aster was hit square in the gut with spikes. They didn’t break skin, but still dealt serious damage
- Endured a face full of spikes to bulldoze through them
- Withstood blows from Lily, who can increase her musculature
- Fights often leave Aster battered and swollen
- Fractured an arm while fighting Dove
Scaling
Weaknesses
- Passionate, but forgetful, especially when it comes to working at Seaside Gym
- She’s easy to read despite how much she practices. She hasn’t been in a real spar prior to her fight with Urchin
- Her footwork has improved since training, but it’s never going to be her strongsuit
- Her fundamentals are a mess
- When she focuses on something, she has trouble seeing anything else. Aster can become so in the zone while fighting that she forgets everything outside of it, including strategies she and her coach or friends planned beforehand
- Aster is weighed down by her gloves’ legacy—not just because they’re her hero’s, but they gave her the chance to box in the first place. That legacy can really put a toll on her psyche if she fails to meet expectations.
Matchup Potential
Aster vs Andy (Star Impact vs Invincible Fight Girl)
(thumbnail by Vibe Check)
Vibe Check
The connections are as follows: Leading women in a world where boxing/wrestling with superhuman elements is a major focus, who want to follow in the footsteps of those who inspired them. Both can take a LOT of punishment and refuse to back down.
I haven't watched Invincible Fight Girl yet, but this quickly vibed after a pal online referred this matchup to me. The author is even aware of the similarities between both series!
There aren't many matchups that pair a boxer and wrestler together, but given how out there both series' fights can become, the difference in fighting styles is easy to work around. The fight would radiate tons of shonen energy. It would be cool to see the episode play with stylization to match the Star Impact's newer simplified color scheme at certain points.
I can't speak for the verdict, but I have a suspicion Andy would win.
Jay
Even the creator noticed the similarities between his webcomic series and Invincible Fight Girl. Plus boxing versus wrestling is an interesting clash of fighting styles.
It'll be interesting to see which of their decisive blows Aster with her Star Punch and Andy with her Perfect Strike is superior. Not to mention both can take a LOT of punishment.
NEXT TIME ON WCAB… whenever I feel like it
