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A review by dantastic
Astro City, Vol. 1: Life in the Big City by Kurt Busiek
4.0
I normally start reviews with a teaser but this is a really difficult collection to write a teaser for. Astro City was Kurt Busiek's follow up to Marvels. I'm only a couple decades late to the party but I have to say this is a good beginning.
While tales featuring The Samaritan, Astro City's Superman analogue, bookend the tale, it's more about the non-superpowered denizens of Astro City. Like the reporter who witnessed a battle between the Honor Guard and some shark men. Or the crook who saw the Jack in the Box unmasked. Or Marta, the girl from Shadow Hill, the scary part of town. Or the weird old man who seems to be cataloging super heroes.
One thing that knocked me on my ass about Astro City is that in six issues, Kurt Busiek has created a deep sense of history. It feels like there are decades worth of Astro City comics before this that no one has ever read. It would be easy to dismiss this as Busiek's attempt at playing with the Big Two's toys without permission, filing off the serial numbers and calling them something else, but it's a lot more than that.
It's about people living in a world with super heroes in it and the super heroes feel pretty human to me. Samaritan and Winged Victory are overworked. Crackerjack wishes he was the top of the super hero food chain. Marta just wants to escape Shadow Hill. Eyes wants to be a big shot.
I picked this up used for $4, thinking I wouldn't be out much if I didn't enjoy it. Well, now I'm in for the long haul. I've got a couple decades worth of comics to catch up on. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
While tales featuring The Samaritan, Astro City's Superman analogue, bookend the tale, it's more about the non-superpowered denizens of Astro City. Like the reporter who witnessed a battle between the Honor Guard and some shark men. Or the crook who saw the Jack in the Box unmasked. Or Marta, the girl from Shadow Hill, the scary part of town. Or the weird old man who seems to be cataloging super heroes.
One thing that knocked me on my ass about Astro City is that in six issues, Kurt Busiek has created a deep sense of history. It feels like there are decades worth of Astro City comics before this that no one has ever read. It would be easy to dismiss this as Busiek's attempt at playing with the Big Two's toys without permission, filing off the serial numbers and calling them something else, but it's a lot more than that.
It's about people living in a world with super heroes in it and the super heroes feel pretty human to me. Samaritan and Winged Victory are overworked. Crackerjack wishes he was the top of the super hero food chain. Marta just wants to escape Shadow Hill. Eyes wants to be a big shot.
I picked this up used for $4, thinking I wouldn't be out much if I didn't enjoy it. Well, now I'm in for the long haul. I've got a couple decades worth of comics to catch up on. 4.5 out of 5 stars.