Comic Book Review: Astro City Metrobook 4 written by Kurt Busiek, art by Brent Anderson, covers by Alex Ross
Astro City is filled with superheroes and supervillains. But it’s also filled with ordinary people trying to live their ordinary lives in an extraordinary world. Both these groups have stories to tell. This independent “universe” was created in 1995 to explore various story ideas that couldn’t be done in the Marvel or DC comics because they’d disrupt the characters or interrupt major storylines or examine the underpinnings of superhero tropes in a way that standard superhero stories can’t. It’s been published off and on since then–since it’s creator-owned, the series is heavily dependent on whether the writer is in good health or busy with other commitments.
There’s no one central character, with each storyline focusing on an appropriate character for the story’s theme and time setting. Time passes in a somewhat realistic fashion, so people we saw twenty years ago are twenty years older. Children grow up, veterans retire, rookies become veterans. While there are tragedies and bittersweet endings, the overall setting is idealistic. This volume includes stories printed between 2003-2017.
“The Eagle and the Mountain” starts off the collection by introducing us to Superman-like Samaritan’s arch-enemy Infidel. Kiyu was born in Nubia (now Kenya) and sought knowledge. On his quest, he was enslaved but eventually got into the service of an alchemist. Understanding the proto-science better than his master, Kiyu gained power and immortality, and slew his enslaver. This was not taken well by society, which called him an “infidel”. After much learning and gathering of power (at the cost of some human lives, but Infidel considered it a price he was willing to pay), Infidel created a stronghold in an alternate future where humanity had destroyed itself.
Until Infidel woke up one morning in a very different future filled with humans who were not under his control and did not recognize him. This turned out to be the result of timeline meddling by Samaritan who’d also locked himself out of his original utopian future. Infidel kept trying to either restore his own timeline or rule the new one, and Samaritan kept stopping him. They finally realized that combat was senseless as neither of them could get a final victory, and Infidel is in self-imposed exile in a pocket dimension.
Every so often, Samaritan and Infidel meet, trying to wear each other down to come to the other’s point of view.
“Her Dark Plastic Roots” gets into the origins of Beautie, a superpowered robot that looks like a fashion doll. She has amnesia about those origins, and spends the story trying to puzzle out her past. Given this year’s Barbie movie, this story is worth another look.
“Graduation Day” catches us up with Astra, a member of the First Family, which is pretty much the Fantastic Four. When last we saw her, she was a little girl who wanted to go to a normal elementary school. Now she’s graduating college! In a whirlwind celebration, Astra shows the wonders of her world to her boyfriend Matt. She needs to make decisions about her future, but what is “normal” to her now?
Then the series started having continuous publication again, this time through Vertigo Comics. We’re introduced to the Broken Man, who seems to be able to perceive the reader through the fourth wall (or might be insane), the anime-inspired hero American Chibi, and the alien ambassador Telseth. There’s also a callback to a very early story, about Ben Pullam, an ordinary person who was a newcomer to the city. Ben, now a longtime resident of Astro City, winds up helping the ambassador, but the Broken Man hints that there are darker things going on behind the scenes.
There’s a story about Marella Cowper, a call center worker for Honor Guard (Avengers/Justice League equivalent). She helps deal with the constant calls for help, information and less savory reasons that Honor Guard gets. Marella makes a mistake that endangers people, and works to make up for it.
“On the Sidelines” focuses on Martha “Sully” Sullivan, who uses her telekinetic powers to work in film and television special effects. (She had a tiny part in a previous story about an actor who played a superhero on a soap opera.) Unfortunately, every so often, she and other people who use their superpowers for mundane purposes like glassblowing and construction get approached by jerks who think they should be using those powers for less mundane purposes. Like helping would be conqueror Majordomo take over the world. Sure, Sully could call up Samaritan and the Honor Guard to help, but sometimes a gal and her friends need to take care of their own problems.
A brief interlude as we see glimpses of backstory, but only glimpses, as the Broken Man thinks we’re not ready yet.
Next up, Thatch Jerome, a mobbed-up union man, becomes the unofficial supplier of whatever Ambassador Telseth needs. This gives him an opportunity to gain great power for himself, but is this door one he wants to go through? Maybe, just maybe, there’s such a thing as “enough.”
This is followed by a long story about Winged Victory (Wonder Woman equivalent). She’s empowered by a council of wise women to protect and inspire women, and primarily focuses on women’s issues. That gets her a lot of flack from misogynists and people who “totally aren’t misogynists, they’re just saying.” A battered boy shows up at one of her women’s shelters, in sore need of help, but these are safe spaces for women, so there may be no place for him here.
That decision has to be put off, however, as suddenly some of her old villains are claiming that their fights were staged, and Winged Victory is actually a female supremacist who wants to enslave men. And women who’d been helped by her shelters are suddenly claiming they were full of abuse and brainwashing! Certain elements of the American government were clearly spoiling for this excuse, as within hours, WV has been outlawed and law enforcement is invading the shelters. (“Lock her up! Lock her up!”}
Naturally, Samaritan and Confessor (Catholic Batman basically) don’t buy it for a moment, and the E.A.G.L.E. (SHIELD) agent sent to her headquarters has severe doubts, but the conspiracy runs deep, and the media is pushing the false narrative.
Worse, the council that gives Winged Victory her powers is worried that she’s weakening the message by working as equals with men, and being tarnished by the accusations–perhaps they should fire her?
It mostly works out in the end. There’s a dig at motive decay, as Winged Victory admonishes the secret villain for wasting all this effort on “making a point.” “You used to do things.”
“Sorrowsday” reveals the tragic reason behind Honor Guard’s “Red Cake Day.” It’s a tale of guilt and honoring sacrifice. A powerful short story.
“Hero’s Reward” focuses on Starfighter, a hero on two worlds. He’s getting old and his powers seem to be fading, but he has a wife who loves him, a family, and a generally good life. Maybe it’s time to pass the torch…even if his last attempt didn’t turn out well.
And “Sticks” has a young soldier who’s defected from Gorilla Mountain to become a musician. He’s sick of fighting as his only occupation, he just wants to bang on the drum all day. Problem is that because he’s a talking gorilla who’s an expert combatant, villains and heroes just won’t leave him alone. He can’t even finish an audition! But maybe, just maybe, there’s a way he can achieve his dreams.
Overall, this is a strong collection of stories with characters I either cared about or found interesting. It feels a bit like Mr. Busiek’s own health problems and aging are influencing the subject matter of the stories–the average age of the protagonists is over middle age.
The art is excellent as always, the threads from previous stories and hints at new ones are woven well. Despite being published by Vertigo, the subject matter doesn’t go excessively gross or “mature audiences only” and most teenagers should be able to handle it.
This volume might not be the best place to start for new readers, but you could probably handle it if this is the only one you can find. Highly recommended to superhero fans.
