Astro City

• Title: Astro City #23
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Kurt Busiek
• Artist: Brent Anderson

In the first half of a two-issue storyline Astro City writer Kurt Busiek and artist Brent Anderson put their own spin on DC’s Gorilla City with the introduction of a talking ape from a hidden city filled with intelligent talking apes who arrives in Astro City with plans on becoming a drummer but quickly learns why that may be problematic and that he may have more potential as a hero.

As a fan of the Silver and Modern age Flash comics I’ve always loved Gorilla City and it’s fun to see Busiek and Anderson come up with their own version of bizarre world set not in the jungles of Africa but in an impossible jungle climate hidden away in the middle of the Antarctic.

As is true with almost all of the comic’s best storylines, Astro City #23 leaves the reader wanting more of the central character’s story and Sticks’ adventures in his new home. Thankfully we will be getting at least one more issue with the simian hero/drummer, but from what we’re given here I’m hoping that won’t be all we see from the character for the foreseeable future. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

• Title: Astro City #22
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Kurt Busiek
• Artist: Jesús Merino

The latest issue of Astro City offers readers a brief look back at the life of the cosmic hero Starfighter near the end of his career. Touching more on his life outside of the tights than inside (as is the comic’s long-running custom) Astro City #22 offers a beautiful character study of a man who found love on an alien world and a purpose through the use of scrolling mysterious symbols unlocking knowledge and power to allow him to play the hero on Earth and throughout space for decades.

Jesús Merino steps in seamlessly to provide the art for an issue that looks and feels very much like any other in the current run of the series.

As with most of these one-off stories writer Kurt Busiek creates a beautiful tale that leaves us wanting more. From the man’s life as a cosmic hero, a very John Carter-ish father and husband on an alien world, to life on Earth as a sci-fi author, there are many facets to Starfighter I certainly wouldn’t mind be explored more in future issues. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

• Title: Astro City #18
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Kurt Busiek
• Artist: Brent Anderson

So much of Astro City deals with the fringe, normal people on the periphery of the super-hero world, that when you get a comic centered around a particular hero you are always a bit surprised. Beginning a new four-issue arc, “The Dimming of the Day” gives us a peek at aging crimefighters Crackerjack and Quarrel while offering a contemplative look back at the humble origins of the later who used her natural gifts and tragic family history to carve out a life as a super-hero.

Quarrel’s back story takes up much of the first issue of the arc while introducing the idea of two crimefighters whose heroic exploits may be coming to an end. Wiser and more armored, but a bit slower these days, how hard is it for a hero to admit that it might be time to hang up the tights?

Although I’ve quite enjoyed the short one-off issues of the current series, Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson open a door here I’ll gladly walk through and stick around to see what does happen when a super-hero decides (or is forced to) retire? Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]