Astro City really is something special. In these days where some people think only hardcore and edgy superhero stories are cool, it's great to see a more thoughtful and humane take. That's not to say there aren't sad stories and tragedies in Astro City, but the creators aren't trying to shock you.
Astro City is the series that makes me feel like how I felt reading comics when I was young, no matter the age I come back to it. It's a love letter to everything that makes comics, while being a distinct universe all its own.
I’m glad to hear that the half issue is in this collection. In that story, Kurt Busiek takes the timeline-changing premise that we have seen with so many multi-superhero multi-issue cross-title storylines, and in just twelve pages, produces a story that is more compelling than any of them. That was the first Astro City story I read and I was floored.
BTW Brent Anderson is one of the best artists I feel doesn't get talked about enough. As a draftsman he's right up there with Neal Adams and Jose Luis Garcia Lopez to me. He just has a knack for capturing that perfect blend of realism and fantasy with everything he draws. Perfect for the advertising industry before the digital age.
You nailed it with your analysis of Watchmen/DKR. People misconceive Alan Moore’s goal for Watchmen. He didn’t deconstruct the super hero genre in order to leave the genre broken forever. He wanted to deconstruct it, and see other creators reconstruct the genre for the better. To go back to the good vs evil super hero comics, but with a new playing field. With new fresh takes on classic super hero comics. Unfortunately, some creators didn’t get that message. They read Watchmen and said “Let’s make ALL super hero comics like this!!!” (Mark Millar and Garth Ennis are the two that come to mind of being guilty of this.)
I recently discovered this series like a month before this book came out I bought the first 4 issues at my LCS and was hooked. So, I snapped up this collection and finished it in 2 days. Can’t wait for Volume 2.
Oh, does lcs mean "Local Comic-book Store"? Because I'm unfamiliar with this acronym and looked it up and my search engine said it stands for "League Championship Series", and I didn't think that fit and now I think it might stand for "Local Comic-book Store".
Man I just finished this first book and it was awesome. I think I’m gonna like this more than invincible by the time I finish it. I love the ideas explored and the world built.
Yes thanks for helping to promote this fantastic series and totally agree with what you have mentioned Omar. AC is a one of a kind book and one that I blind bought for years no questions asked when they were being released in standard HC. For anyone on the fence on this book do yourself a favor and get it, its that great and special. I won't be getting this one but will instead be waiting for (fingers crossed) an omnibus collection hopefully not too long. Oh yeah Brent Anderson is wonderful and a super cool guy having met him at a convention almost a decade ago. He deserves all the accolades and more.
Always had this series on my list of interesting potential reads, but never actually went through with reading it. As usual, your overview helped convince me on another series I was on the fence about!
Astro City is an amazing book. At one point I was reading them on hoopla because they had all the collections on there. And then one day they were all gone. I'm assuming, actually positive, but it's because of all the publishing changes. Now they have Metro book on there so I can read it there. I probably will wait for the omnibus that they were talking about. But I have wonder how many that they would have to release. There were 17 different hard covers or trades under the old banner
I've been comic collecting for a decade now, and I've always heard of Astro City, but never checked it out due to it being out of print. Omar, you just sold me on this, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I will pick it up on my next visit to my local comic shop! This looks and sounds awesome!
I was getting ready to spend over 300 bucks to buy all the trades then I just discovered the Metro books. The two volumes that are out plus the third one coming out in February collects pretty much everything and it's going to save me a lot of money
This is a MUST read everyone However I was disappointed by the scan quality of some pages and the lack of extras in the Metrobook Vol 1. The thin tpbs are better in both regards. Hopefully future volumes will have better scan quality and we may have a companion book with all extras (this is unlikely but we can always hope). Being more realistic, I hope they fix these issues for future volumes and correct them with a reprint of volume 1.
Astro City is truly one amazing series! it's had its up and downs (I'm looking at you, Dark Age) but it's still as fresh today as when it was first published. I can't wait for an Omnibus (or two or three). I bought the signed edition of the Metrobook and I'm so happy with this book
Born in 1987. I love 1990's comics to this day even with all of the visual ridiculousness that came along with it. All of the roided muscle men with huge guns, long capes, and a million pockets never took me out of a narrative. All of the women with Cindy Crawford height, Pamela Anderson boobs, and tight mini skirts in corporate board meetings never got to me. It's just a heighted reality with a specific type of escapism to it. And at the end of the day there were as many good stories in that decade as there were in any other regardless of the art style.
My LCS hooked me up with a bookplate signed by Alex Ross, Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson. I about lost my mind! Never thought I would ever SEE any of those signatures, let alone have them. Also, I just found an old out of print hardcover copy of The Tarnished Angel, my favorite Astro City story, at 2nd & Charles.
somehow i discovered this got the book and i'm loving it! i've read so far 7 chapters and they are great. i'm hoping this book (and the universe) will get another chance because so far it looks like a hidden gem.
I took one for the team and bought this in hopes that the hardcover will be released. This is a classic story and deserves to be on everyone’s shelf👌🏻🔥
Astro City is one of the all time greatest superhero comic books, no question. I didn't realize it had gone out of print, this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who doesn't have it yet - get it! For me personally, Alex Ross covers is the exact right amount of Alex Ross. Marvels and Kingdom Come are classics, but they feel almost like live action adaptations. Anderson is firmly grounded in The Big Two house style - Neal Adams is a very apt comparison - emphasizing that even though Astro City is exceptionally good, it's not trying to subvert or reinvent classic tropes, but rather use them as a force for good (stories).
Busiek and Ross are an awesome combo. Really looking forward to hardcovers. Want these but I know I'd want to upgrade for sure (and gotta out a hold on that).
Been waiting on the hardcover for a long time. Astro City was an absolute gem during the low point that was 90s comics. I was mainly reading independent comics during this time.
Kurt said in the back of the most recent one-shot, that yes, those are in the cards, but are pushing the more cost-efficient way for old and new readers to get into the meat of this series. Also, a coffee table book is in early development featuring Alex Ross’s character designs and covers as a walk through the book’s history through his art.
So yeah, omnis and the like are on the way, but I wouldn’t plan on one being solicited until maybe this winter? Mindless speculation, but I can’t imagine one coming out until after Metrobook Three/whenever the ongoing proper gets a relaunch with a shiny new #1 in the next year and a half.
I love Astro City so much, but I always thought that the artwork, as a whole, isn't the best fit for this series. Brent Anderson isn't a bad artist at all, but to me Astro City's tone would benefit so much from a more clean and elegant style, something like a Carlos Pacheco or a Stuart Immonen. But, really, the coloring is what I think is the bigger problem here. In theory, the bright saturated colors aren't necessarily a bad fit for Astro City (although they could be a lot less glaring and harsh on the eyes) -- but they certainly don't gel with Anderson's gritty and more realistic style. The stories, the characters and the universe are so amazing, that none of that matters to me so much. But maybe it does for some people.
Really tempted to get this, but I'm going to hold out until the HCs get released. I'll have my back issues in the meantime - one of the best series ever, an absolute masterpiece!
God this series is amazing. I only found out about the metro books while I was looking to fill out my collection (My copy of Confession went missing). The individual volumes dont seem to be in print anymore so I guess the metro books are replacing them. A place I shop at still has some of the individual volumes but the prices are through the roof to the extent that the price of a single volume is more than it costs to buy a Metrobook, I might just replace what I do have already with these big volumes.
The deconstruction of superheroes is great when it's done well, Watchmen is a classic and The Boys is one of my favorite all time books, but I think it's what is currently putting me off almost all current day books. It's all so nihilistic now and I really miss good old fashioned heroism.
rickymcn1 It is because a lot of modern deconstruction is done horribly. Star Wars, Trek etc. Busiek makes a good point. The problem with a lot of deconstruction is that these folks know how to take apart a character(or in TLJ's case, Johnson sucked at doing this with Luke) but fail to know how to put them back together. That's why Born Again is my favorite Daredevil comic because Matt Murdock is stripped of everything and is broken down BUT comes back stronger and more resilient. Reconstruction I prefer because I like when heroes can be hopeful and beacons of inspiration.
The original trade run made is to 17 vols. Going off this first book (Which collects the first 3 OG trades content-wise). Take this into account & doing just math, My guess is probably 6 books total.
(Jay RoC) it's crazy how people hate on the 90s comics but most of the biggest names & most groundbreaking changes came from that era . Every era has good storys if you look for them but not every decade flips the industry upside down like Jim Lee's art or Image did .. some good artist out there but we don't have that guy that inspires 20 other copy cats
Thanks for the review as always Omar. Unfortunately my tastes have gravitated over to darker more pessimistic Alan Moore-ish From Hell, Tom King Vision Little Worse than A Man & Rorsarch , or Steve Gerber Defenders and Man Thing runs. I also can’t seem to warm up to Alex Ross’s art style Kingdom Come is always on my back burner and he just lacks the powerful emotional abstraction and precision of a Frank Miller or David Gibbons .
Ahh the 90s. When DC wasn’t a total dumpster fire. The work DC did for adult comics in the 90s can’t be understated. Vertigo kids. That said. The toilet paper they have been pumping out since the New 52 , is what makes that hard to fathom.
Astro City really is something special. In these days where some people think only hardcore and edgy superhero stories are cool, it's great to see a more thoughtful and humane take. That's not to say there aren't sad stories and tragedies in Astro City, but the creators aren't trying to shock you.
I prefer lots of blood, violence, killing and sex. Does this provide that?
Astro City is the series that makes me feel like how I felt reading comics when I was young, no matter the age I come back to it. It's a love letter to everything that makes comics, while being a distinct universe all its own.
I’m glad to hear that the half issue is in this collection. In that story, Kurt Busiek takes the timeline-changing premise that we have seen with so many multi-superhero multi-issue cross-title storylines, and in just twelve pages, produces a story that is more compelling than any of them. That was the first Astro City story I read and I was floored.
BTW Brent Anderson is one of the best artists I feel doesn't get talked about enough. As a draftsman he's right up there with Neal Adams and Jose Luis Garcia Lopez to me. He just has a knack for capturing that perfect blend of realism and fantasy with everything he draws. Perfect for the advertising industry before the digital age.
He really is one of the masters of the classical style of superhero art.
Brent is extremely underrated,but an awesome artist!
You nailed it with your analysis of Watchmen/DKR. People misconceive Alan Moore’s goal for Watchmen. He didn’t deconstruct the super hero genre in order to leave the genre broken forever. He wanted to deconstruct it, and see other creators reconstruct the genre for the better. To go back to the good vs evil super hero comics, but with a new playing field. With new fresh takes on classic super hero comics. Unfortunately, some creators didn’t get that message. They read Watchmen and said “Let’s make ALL super hero comics like this!!!” (Mark Millar and Garth Ennis are the two that come to mind of being guilty of this.)
I recently discovered this series like a month before this book came out I bought the first 4 issues at my LCS and was hooked. So, I snapped up this collection and finished it in 2 days. Can’t wait for Volume 2.
I’d love to see an old reader/new reader on this.
Oh, does lcs mean "Local Comic-book Store"? Because I'm unfamiliar with this acronym and looked it up and my search engine said it stands for "League Championship Series", and I didn't think that fit and now I think it might stand for "Local Comic-book Store".
Man I just finished this first book and it was awesome. I think I’m gonna like this more than invincible by the time I finish it. I love the ideas explored and the world built.
Astro City is hands down one of my favorite comics ever. The stories are awesome and heartfelt and so underated. Thank you for the review!
It’s one of the very best!
Never knew it existed. 7 minutes into this review and I already ordered it. Thanks again, Omar! Really looking forward to reading this one.
Yes thanks for helping to promote this fantastic series and totally agree with what you have mentioned Omar. AC is a one of a kind book and one that I blind bought for years no questions asked when they were being released in standard HC. For anyone on the fence on this book do yourself a favor and get it, its that great and special. I won't be getting this one but will instead be waiting for (fingers crossed) an omnibus collection hopefully not too long.
Oh yeah Brent Anderson is wonderful and a super cool guy having met him at a convention almost a decade ago. He deserves all the accolades and more.
All of Astro City is just so timeless.
Except that one issue with the tranny.
You hit it on the nail with your Alex Ross hypothesis, even though i understand and prefer the art we have now
Reading my copy now! Came with a nice surprise, a signed bookplate. Loving it so far.
Opening phrase is absolute GOLD 🤣
I *seriously* hope they continue the line allllll the way. 👊🏻
One of the best superhero comics. I am soooo glad we are getting new issues.
Omar, thank you so much for posting this video! I didn't know this book was out. Astro City is a joy and I ordered a copy immediately.
Always had this series on my list of interesting potential reads, but never actually went through with reading it. As usual, your overview helped convince me on another series I was on the fence about!
Astro City is an amazing book. At one point I was reading them on hoopla because they had all the collections on there. And then one day they were all gone. I'm assuming, actually positive, but it's because of all the publishing changes. Now they have Metro book on there so I can read it there. I probably will wait for the omnibus that they were talking about. But I have wonder how many that they would have to release. There were 17 different hard covers or trades under the old banner
Looks like a good time for Comic 📖 Fans 😊
I've been comic collecting for a decade now, and I've always heard of Astro City, but never checked it out due to it being out of print. Omar, you just sold me on this, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I will pick it up on my next visit to my local comic shop! This looks and sounds awesome!
I was getting ready to spend over 300 bucks to buy all the trades then I just discovered the Metro books. The two volumes that are out plus the third one coming out in February collects pretty much everything and it's going to save me a lot of money
This is a MUST read everyone
However I was disappointed by the scan quality of some pages and the lack of extras in the Metrobook Vol 1. The thin tpbs are better in both regards.
Hopefully future volumes will have better scan quality and we may have a companion book with all extras (this is unlikely but we can always hope).
Being more realistic, I hope they fix these issues for future volumes and correct them with a reprint of volume 1.
I managed to snag a numbered hardcover copy of confessions signed by Busiek, Anderson, and Ross. I have #43 of 1200. I absolutely love this series.
Astro City is truly one amazing series! it's had its up and downs (I'm looking at you, Dark Age) but it's still as fresh today as when it was first published. I can't wait for an Omnibus (or two or three). I bought the signed edition of the Metrobook and I'm so happy with this book
I love Dark Age. I can understand people getting frustrated with how decompressed the main story is, but honestly every issue works for me.
I can't believe how good Astro City is! This needs a omnibus!
Born in 1987. I love 1990's comics to this day even with all of the visual ridiculousness that came along with it. All of the roided muscle men with huge guns, long capes, and a million pockets never took me out of a narrative. All of the women with Cindy Crawford height, Pamela Anderson boobs, and tight mini skirts in corporate board meetings never got to me. It's just a heighted reality with a specific type of escapism to it. And at the end of the day there were as many good stories in that decade as there were in any other regardless of the art style.
Same here, I still love 90s comics, most of them are just lots of fun.
💯 agree. Some of the outrageous artwork might put some people off, but there are tons of great books from the 90's.
It is 100% one of the best comics ever made.
My LCS hooked me up with a bookplate signed by Alex Ross, Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson. I about lost my mind! Never thought I would ever SEE any of those signatures, let alone have them. Also, I just found an old out of print hardcover copy of The Tarnished Angel, my favorite Astro City story, at 2nd & Charles.
Ordered mine from IST and was so happy to see that they sent the bookplate with the book! One of the best surprises and I lost my mind as well!
somehow i discovered this got the book and i'm loving it! i've read so far 7 chapters and they are great. i'm hoping this book (and the universe) will get another chance because so far it looks like a hidden gem.
I took one for the team and bought this in hopes that the hardcover will be released. This is a classic story and deserves to be on everyone’s shelf👌🏻🔥
How does it compare to The Three Musketeers?
Best. Intro. Ever.
Brent Anderson was great on Ka-Zar. Underrated.
I’ve been dreaming of an oversized hardcover of Astro City for so long… really hope we get one soon.
My goodness, I've waited for some big OHC's of Astro City for a long time. Way too dang long. Hope isn't lost just yet of course. 😛
Astro City is one of the all time greatest superhero comic books, no question. I didn't realize it had gone out of print, this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who doesn't have it yet - get it!
For me personally, Alex Ross covers is the exact right amount of Alex Ross. Marvels and Kingdom Come are classics, but they feel almost like live action adaptations. Anderson is firmly grounded in The Big Two house style - Neal Adams is a very apt comparison - emphasizing that even though Astro City is exceptionally good, it's not trying to subvert or reinvent classic tropes, but rather use them as a force for good (stories).
Busiek and Ross are an awesome combo. Really looking forward to hardcovers. Want these but I know I'd want to upgrade for sure (and gotta out a hold on that).
I hope they make them.
I was waiting for you to do an overview!!! Really interested in this book.
Been waiting on the hardcover for a long time. Astro City was an absolute gem during the low point that was 90s comics. I was mainly reading independent comics during this time.
This series is amazing and one of my all time favorites! I really was hoping for an OHC but I’ll be picking up the softcover until that happens.
Trying to avoid FOMO. Is a hardcover collection of the whole run likely, or is the softcover the no brainer here?
Kurt said in the back of the most recent one-shot, that yes, those are in the cards, but are pushing the more cost-efficient way for old and new readers to get into the meat of this series.
Also, a coffee table book is in early development featuring Alex Ross’s character designs and covers as a walk through the book’s history through his art.
So yeah, omnis and the like are on the way, but I wouldn’t plan on one being solicited until maybe this winter? Mindless speculation, but I can’t imagine one coming out until after Metrobook Three/whenever the ongoing proper gets a relaunch with a shiny new #1 in the next year and a half.
The creator has said recently he’d like to do a hardcover book, but he has said that for a number of years and thing has happened
I loved that beginning LMFAO!!
I love Astro City so much, but I always thought that the artwork, as a whole, isn't the best fit for this series. Brent Anderson isn't a bad artist at all, but to me Astro City's tone would benefit so much from a more clean and elegant style, something like a Carlos Pacheco or a Stuart Immonen. But, really, the coloring is what I think is the bigger problem here. In theory, the bright saturated colors aren't necessarily a bad fit for Astro City (although they could be a lot less glaring and harsh on the eyes) -- but they certainly don't gel with Anderson's gritty and more realistic style.
The stories, the characters and the universe are so amazing, that none of that matters to me so much. But maybe it does for some people.
Amazing collection I can’t wait for!
“You can throw anything else in their face” 😂
A love letter to superheros
Really tempted to get this, but I'm going to hold out until the HCs get released. I'll have my back issues in the meantime - one of the best series ever, an absolute masterpiece!
Interested in this not going to lie
I have the OG, so I¡ll wait for an oversized hardcover edition
God this series is amazing. I only found out about the metro books while I was looking to fill out my collection (My copy of Confession went missing). The individual volumes dont seem to be in print anymore so I guess the metro books are replacing them. A place I shop at still has some of the individual volumes but the prices are through the roof to the extent that the price of a single volume is more than it costs to buy a Metrobook, I might just replace what I do have already with these big volumes.
Hopefully hardcover will be coming in some kind of omnibus format
I'm holding out for a HC mainly due to the fact to upgrade my tpbs. I hope this sells well though.
I just bought it
Was waiting for a Omnibus but at last it's here
Hopefully we get an oversized hardcover.
I need that Hardcover!!!!!
The deconstruction of superheroes is great when it's done well, Watchmen is a classic and The Boys is one of my favorite all time books, but I think it's what is currently putting me off almost all current day books. It's all so nihilistic now and I really miss good old fashioned heroism.
rickymcn1 It is because a lot of modern deconstruction is done horribly. Star Wars, Trek etc. Busiek makes a good point. The problem with a lot of deconstruction is that these folks know how to take apart a character(or in TLJ's case, Johnson sucked at doing this with Luke) but fail to know how to put them back together. That's why Born Again is my favorite Daredevil comic because Matt Murdock is stripped of everything and is broken down BUT comes back stronger and more resilient. Reconstruction I prefer because I like when heroes can be hopeful and beacons of inspiration.
Hahahahahaha! I love that opening line.
90s comics get historical-revisionist hate. Reallity is, some of the best stories hit back then.
Omar, you are the best on UA-cam, Born Again is better than Man Without Fear.😉 Thank you for the overview. Please stop assaulting my wallet.🤪
Lol I will try.
I want to read these but in hardcover or omnibus format
I'm interested in this but does it have an overarching narrative? Or is it just loosely connected stories?
Many issues are standalone, but there are some multi-part stories that have a bigger narrative and you do feel the passage of time for the characters.
So bummed they didn’t go deluxe hardcovers a la the Remender books or at least OHCs 😫
How many metrobooks to complete the series?
The original trade run made is to 17 vols. Going off this first book (Which collects the first 3 OG trades content-wise). Take this into account & doing just math, My guess is probably 6 books total.
Opus edition releasing December 2024
Good morning. Speaking of Neal Adams Im reading Whos who in the DC universe omnibus and I wonder why he didnt draw any character
I’m going to keep preordering these but busiek said hardcovers are a possibility. That’s nerve wracking.
He has said that for years. Despite that, we’re getting this. I wouldn’t put much stock in his comments in this regard
HC are nice, but I avoid them now because they take up more room on my shelf which is getting limited.
(Jay RoC) it's crazy how people hate on the 90s comics but most of the biggest names & most groundbreaking changes came from that era . Every era has good storys if you look for them but not every decade flips the industry upside down like Jim Lee's art or Image did .. some good artist out there but we don't have that guy that inspires 20 other copy cats
Thanks for the review as always Omar. Unfortunately my tastes have gravitated over to darker more pessimistic Alan Moore-ish From Hell, Tom King Vision Little Worse than A Man & Rorsarch , or Steve Gerber Defenders and Man Thing runs. I also can’t seem to warm up to Alex Ross’s art style Kingdom Come is always on my back burner and he just lacks the powerful emotional abstraction and precision of a Frank Miller or David Gibbons .
Looks interesting but until it comes in an oversized hardcover format, I am not buying it.
Ahh the 90s. When DC wasn’t a total dumpster fire. The work DC did for adult comics in the 90s can’t be understated. Vertigo kids. That said. The toilet paper they have been pumping out since the New 52 , is what makes that hard to fathom.
Your so right the art is what made me interested in this comic when I seen the inside art it lost me