One of the biggest crimes in all the modern history of comic books has got to be DC Comics cancelling Kurt Busiek, Brent Eric Anderson and Alex Ross' amazing Astro City. Or maybe I should say, it's a crime DC let this series slip through their fingers! Anyways, running for an amazing 52 issues as part of DC's Vertigo imprint, I was taken away to a new world every time I read a new story. It was immersive and lived in, much like George Lucas' original Star Wars trilogy.
Sure, Astro City had originally been published by Image and Wildstorm prior. But the DC/Vertigo run from 2013-18 was sheer perfection. Shortly after Astro City left DC, promises were made that Image Comics would become the new home to AC. And then the pandemic hit...
Lots of comic book projects stopped. Many were delayed. And for one reason or another, the trio of Busiek, Anderson and Ross just weren't able to get the Astro City mojo going. Then in the Spring of last year, the architects of Astro City reopened the metropolis once again for public visit. Sadly, it was a brief visit. But it was a memorable one.
There's only one story in this special. It takes place a several years in the past as a group of teenage superheroes, similar to the Teen Titans or Young Avengers, spend one last outing together before the team breaks up for the college experience or life as a solo act. Amongst the roasting of hot dogs and drinking of pop, the kiddies get a visit from Astro City's greatest hero, The Samaritan. Then in classic Astro City fashion, the action jumps ahead to the modern day and things get a tad nostalgic and oh so sentimental.
The plan after the 2018 series ended was that a graphic novel story would be released regularly. I don't know if that meant every 6 months or annually. But it's been 4 years and all we have to ask for is this 32-pager. It was a great read. But man, was it just too gosh darn short!
I'm going to need another visit reaallllll soon!
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
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