Since 1995, Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson have been exploring Astro City, a major metropolis known for its super powered tradition, but defined by the stories of its citizens. Busiek’s writing, paired with Anderson’s art, pulls the reader into a narrative that feels more like a documentary than a work of science fiction. Each issue is a vignette of a life- some powered, some not- examining the day to day struggles of people from all tiers of society. What does the most powerful being on the planet dream about? What happens when a petty criminal stumbles upon some life changing information? How does such a modern city affect old family traditions? These are some of the situations that are explored in the first volume of Astro City. But beyond what the plot of every chapter is, there is what the story is actually about. The broader themes that lurk just under the surface of every issue is what makes this book so special. Readers have a front row seat to the most personal and challenging moments of each character’s lives, moments that are both relatable and familiar, which ultimately create emotional challengers to the readers themselves. If you are not familiar with this comic, you’re missing out on arguably one of the strongest ongoing narratives in comics today.
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