The above quote comes from the DC Cities thread. I started a new one because I wanted to point out that one of the reasons I love the series Astro City is that is is almost nothing but this. Dealing with Super Hero tropes in new and interesting ways. Anyone else love that series as much as I do?
Regarding spoilers: I only read the graphic novel collections so anything after Dark Ages Part 1 should be spoiler tagged; anything before that, use your own judgement.
I’ve read some of the collections, great stuff. Life In the Big City, Family Album, Confession, The Tarnished Angel, Local Heroes. I really ought to try to get hold of more of it.
Some semi-random impressions? Well, Samaritan gives me the vibe of someone who’ll snap sooner or later from his obsessive overwork. Not “go evil” snap, but more likely being found some day curled up into a ball somewhere.
Junkman’s story I found interestingly done. An interesting take on supervillain psychology; I mean if you think about it, why go to all the trouble of coming up with a villainous name, theme, costume and so forth if no one sees it or knows about it? I liked his moment of realization.
Winged Victory: When she made her comment about how she made a point of saving women before men, I did want to retort “So…just like everyone else, huh?”
Steeljack in Tarnished Angel: His story was good, the action was good, the characterization was good. I felt sorry for the guy even if 90% of his problems were self inflicted.
Jack-In-The Box: I really liked the story where he met three versions of his his time traveling son.Besides the drama/character driven parts, a nicely done combo of the Evil Clown/Evil Counterpart routine. They were pretty creepy.
The story with the man whose wife was erased from history: I’m not very romantic, but that one got to me.
These are some of my favorite stories to reread. Since I’ll be back in the States next week, I’ll have to dig them out.
Well, consider that he’s up against El Hombre, who’s even more so.
True, but I didn’t feel nearly as much sympathy for him. Partly because Steeljack was fundamentally more honest - first, he was an admitted supercriminal, then an admitted con trying to reform. And partly because Steeljack had reached the stage of trying to do the right thing, if clumsily. Well OK,
arguably El Hombre was trying to “do the right thing”, but “trying to do the right thing” by mass murder and dishonesty and dehumanization is well past the point where intent matters much. And his plan was fundamentally self aggrandizing.
No, that’s my point: despite Steeljack’s flaws, it’s easier to feel sympathy for him when he’s standing next to someone who ratchets more of the same up to eleven in various dark and twisted ways.
“The Nearness of You” is my favorite story ever, comic or no. Everything about Astro City appeals to me. I have yet to read one and be disappointed. Heck, I have yet to read one and not come away impressed.
They’re all really great reads. I was able to get all of my trades signed by Busied a few years ago too. I stopped following Dark Age in singles because the schedule was way to erratic to both follow and ensure my shop hadn’t forgotten to pull an issue or special. These stories are much more satisfying in trades anyhow.