A copy of Astro City: Local Heroes is one of the prizes that sponsors of $25 or more can potentially choose from.
Astro City: Local Heroes (Wildstorm) [collects AC vol 2 #21-22, AC:LH #1-5, AC Special #1, 9-11 vol. 2]
w. Kurt Busiek; a. Brent Anderson, Alex Ross
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New reader? | |
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Non-comics reader? | |
Astro City’s forte has always been telling tales of “normal people” in a world full of super-heroes and villains. The super-powered types sometimes make an appearance, but Busiek makes it clear that what the series about is not flash and plots and bustiers and fisticuffs, but about people.
Local Heroes tells tales as mundane as what life’s like for a door man at a major downtown hotel where the street out front can see everything from normal criminals to giant robots; for writers of comic books in a world where they’re real; for an actor on a super-hero TV show who gets a little too close to the action; for the unrequited lover of a super-hero; for the agonies of a young girl forced to summer at her uncle’s farm so far away from the excitement of the big city … and more.
All are well-crafted, enjoyable, little mini-parables and myths in terms of both telling a story and conveying a lesson. Busiek loves comics; that comes out in every word and nuance, and makes the whole AC series a joy to read. Highly recommended to anyone, including folks who think comics are all about big boobs and muscles.
Astro City: The Dark Age, Book 1 (Wildstorm) [collects AC/Arrowsmith #1, AC:DA Vol 1 #1-4, AC:DA Vol 2 #1]
w. Kurt Busiek; a. Brent Anderson, Alex Ross
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New reader? | |
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Non-comics reader? |  |
Busiek does both one-offs, as with the previous book, and collection-long tales. In this case, he’s even more ambitious, pulling together a long story from the “Dark Age” of Astro City, the 50s and 60s, as the social forces that threatened to tear apart the rest of the country are reflected here as well. Told from the perspective of two estranged brothers — one a cop, the other a petty criminal — the story is long, tortured, and not nearly as fun as much of what else Busiek has done here. It does fill in some gaps, as we see the oft-mentioned end of the Silver Agent, and the rise of some other heroes that the contemporary AC tales take for granted. All of this takes place against the backdrop of racial tensions, youth-vs-establishment tensions, and a gang war.
It’s good stuff, and I’m glad Busiek is going for a stretch goal here. I can’t rate it quite as highly as his other tales, but it’s still a hell of a lot better than a lot of other pieces out there. Highly recommended.
Listening to: Kamen, Michael, “Vulcan and Venus: A Little Fodder?/Venus Rising/The Munchausen Waltz” (Adventures of Baron Munchausen))
Great Start. I know you’re busy today, but Michelle asked me about Steam Punk (there have been a fair number of costumes at the Con). I suggested Girl Genius, but wasn’t sure about any others. Since there is free wifi at the Con, I’m taking my laptop today so I can read your blog at larger than 2×3. See you later.
Coolness.
Girl Genius, of course, as you note. Ellis’ Aetheric Mechanics, as reviewed above. Not thinking of anything else off the top of my head, but I’ll ponder the question.
Have fun!