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dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
Lovers Quarrel collections six issues of Astro City.
Ever wonder what happens when super heroes get old and have to face the fact that they won't be able to chase super villains forever? That's the premise behind the main tale in this volume. Quarrel and Crackerjack are street level heroes staring fifty in the face, struggling to keep going as their bodies break down. Since my shoulder and lower back hurt about half the time, I related all too well to this tale.
Quarrel's origin is told and her turbulent relationship with Crackerjack is explored. Jack's still a mystery for the most part, hung up on finding a way to regain his lost youth, which leads everyone into trouble. It's just the kind of human-based story I've come to expect in Astro City.
The other tale in the collection is of a talking gorilla that comes to Astro City to make music but keeps getting caught up in the super life. I liked it quite a bit but not as much as the lead tale.
There's a lot more action in this volume than some of the previous ones. Sticks does quite a bit of heroing and Quarrel and Crackerjack engage in their share of heroics. My favorite part of this volume was the relationship between Quarrel and Crackerjack, though.
Once again, I enjoyed my stay in Astro City and look forward to the next visit with great anticipation. Four out of five stars.
Ever wonder what happens when super heroes get old and have to face the fact that they won't be able to chase super villains forever? That's the premise behind the main tale in this volume. Quarrel and Crackerjack are street level heroes staring fifty in the face, struggling to keep going as their bodies break down. Since my shoulder and lower back hurt about half the time, I related all too well to this tale.
Quarrel's origin is told and her turbulent relationship with Crackerjack is explored. Jack's still a mystery for the most part, hung up on finding a way to regain his lost youth, which leads everyone into trouble. It's just the kind of human-based story I've come to expect in Astro City.
The other tale in the collection is of a talking gorilla that comes to Astro City to make music but keeps getting caught up in the super life. I liked it quite a bit but not as much as the lead tale.
There's a lot more action in this volume than some of the previous ones. Sticks does quite a bit of heroing and Quarrel and Crackerjack engage in their share of heroics. My favorite part of this volume was the relationship between Quarrel and Crackerjack, though.
Once again, I enjoyed my stay in Astro City and look forward to the next visit with great anticipation. Four out of five stars.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
5.0
And not much to change on a re-read. Except to recognize that this was a long-form story. I didn't remember either the main story or the backup story. The main story gives us a long view on the aging of some characters we've seen before, which is handled rather well. The backup story I didn't expect much from. But this is Astro City - so even an Ape who wants to play drums - shows depth and interesting side characters - as well as ties into characters we've seen and heard of before. Not as impressed though on a re-read. Most likely because it's all just a little less surprising. 4.5 of 5.
Wow. Or rather ho hum another absolutely fantastic Astro City, wow what a surprise. There was an intro to one of these books that something like Astro City treats the superhero graphic novel as a medium rather than a genre. And that kind of captures it. It's like all stories are told through Astro City. And it almost has a [a:Charles de Lint|8185168|Charles de Lint|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1494881016p2/8185168.jpg] Newford feel to it. Except there doesn't seem to be any sort of order. But maybe at some point long form stories will just come out.
This one is really just the story of Quarrel and to a lesser degree Crackerjack. But it's also the story of family and getting old and having limitations.
And a backup story of an Ape that just wants to play drums.
Wow. Or rather ho hum another absolutely fantastic Astro City, wow what a surprise. There was an intro to one of these books that something like Astro City treats the superhero graphic novel as a medium rather than a genre. And that kind of captures it. It's like all stories are told through Astro City. And it almost has a [a:Charles de Lint|8185168|Charles de Lint|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1494881016p2/8185168.jpg] Newford feel to it. Except there doesn't seem to be any sort of order. But maybe at some point long form stories will just come out.
This one is really just the story of Quarrel and to a lesser degree Crackerjack. But it's also the story of family and getting old and having limitations.
And a backup story of an Ape that just wants to play drums.
rouver's review
4.0
Another fantastic installment in the Astro City series. If you haven't picked up Vol 1, go out & do so immediately.
This one focuses on two different characters. The first is about a 'regular woman' superhero who finds herself & her partner getting older, slowing down, and having to face the fact that life is going to change for her. Since they have to physically train in order to be crime fighters, rather than being aliens or with innate super powers, they're facing more & more injuries, with the potential of death becoming greater with each encounter.
We also get to meet Sticks, a sentient talking gorilla who comes from a remote, hidden tropical oasis. Tired of a life in his society's military, he travels to Astro City to become a drummer, hoping to make music and create joy in people. But a highly-trained gorilla is a much sought-after resource & things don't turn out quite the way he planned.
This one focuses on two different characters. The first is about a 'regular woman' superhero who finds herself & her partner getting older, slowing down, and having to face the fact that life is going to change for her. Since they have to physically train in order to be crime fighters, rather than being aliens or with innate super powers, they're facing more & more injuries, with the potential of death becoming greater with each encounter.
We also get to meet Sticks, a sentient talking gorilla who comes from a remote, hidden tropical oasis. Tired of a life in his society's military, he travels to Astro City to become a drummer, hoping to make music and create joy in people. But a highly-trained gorilla is a much sought-after resource & things don't turn out quite the way he planned.
trike's review
3.0
Anther good but not great installment in the Astro City series.
This one focuses primarily on the superheroine Quarrel, her background and relationship with the cocky popinjay superhero Crackerjack, and how they as non-powered costumed crimefighters deal with getting old and losing a step.
At this point Busiek can write this stuff in his sleep, and it's competently done but not as inspired as previous efforts. Still, even coasting Astro City is better than the best efforts in other comics.
The standalone story at the end, "Sticks", is about a talking gorilla, and it's pretty clear Busiek and Anderson were having fun with this one. Talking gorillas are a staple in Golden Age comics, so it was inevitable they got around to doing a story specifically on that. As always, there are some nice twists to the story, with mash-ups from other comics: a hidden valley, an ape city, portals to other worlds, rock'n'roll, with plenty of puns liberally scattered throughout.
This one focuses primarily on the superheroine Quarrel, her background and relationship with the cocky popinjay superhero Crackerjack, and how they as non-powered costumed crimefighters deal with getting old and losing a step.
At this point Busiek can write this stuff in his sleep, and it's competently done but not as inspired as previous efforts. Still, even coasting Astro City is better than the best efforts in other comics.
The standalone story at the end, "Sticks", is about a talking gorilla, and it's pretty clear Busiek and Anderson were having fun with this one. Talking gorillas are a staple in Golden Age comics, so it was inevitable they got around to doing a story specifically on that. As always, there are some nice twists to the story, with mash-ups from other comics: a hidden valley, an ape city, portals to other worlds, rock'n'roll, with plenty of puns liberally scattered throughout.
bowienerd_82's review
4.0
I really loved the look at Quarrel- she was one of the characters I'd been hoping to hear more about for a long time, and this book did not disappoint. I loved the exploration of aging heroes (particularly those without powers) and the choices they are forced to make. One of the things I love most about Astro City is the way it explores what it might really be like to live in a world of superheroes, and all the different points of view we visit as part of this exploration. I love the way time actually passes and things change.
I was less interested in the section about Sticks, but I've never cared much about super-intelligent ape characters, good or bad, and the story itself just didn't quite hook me in. However, it wasn't badly written- just not of much interest to me- and it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the Quarrel story.
I was less interested in the section about Sticks, but I've never cared much about super-intelligent ape characters, good or bad, and the story itself just didn't quite hook me in. However, it wasn't badly written- just not of much interest to me- and it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the Quarrel story.
antij's review
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mrpink44's review
3.0
I think this is the first volume of Astro City I'm giving a 3-star. Not a big fan of the first 4 issues which revolves around Quarrel and Crackerjack - two characters I don't really care about so that explains a lot of it. The last 2 issues that round out this trade were fun - a talking gorilla who came to Astro City to play the drums! If you're a fan of Astro City, it's worth a read, but not a buy for me.
sbisson's review
2.0
Recent Reads: Lovers Quarrel. Another slice of Astro City life from Kurt Busiek. What happens when superheroes age, and can a gorilla rock?
rball's review
2.0
Probably the weakest art Anderson's ever done, with his new digital style that debuted in vol 11 looking egregiously uncontrolled and overshaded.
Stick's characterization is really the only notable element here, with Busiek choosing to give him a nuanced attitude toward his violent capabilities instead of the naive pacifism we usually see in this sort of story.
Stick's characterization is really the only notable element here, with Busiek choosing to give him a nuanced attitude toward his violent capabilities instead of the naive pacifism we usually see in this sort of story.
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