Thursday, July 5, 2018

Astro City #52


The longest continuous run of Astro City comes to a close in issue 52. Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Brent Anderson aren't going away as they still have several projects in mind to continue and explore a world where heroes are observed by, and often interact with, the city's locals. Even knowing that there are other graphic novels, mini-series, and one-shots still to come, it will be missed.

Astro City #52 concludes the volume's final arc centering around Michael Tenicek, a broken man whose wife was deleted from existence during one of the Honor Guard's battles years ago. Since then the man has found meaning leading a support group of others affected by super-heroes and being the only one to remember a woman who the rest of the world never knew existed.

The issue deals with the conflict in the group led by the woman who refused to believe Michael's story and the others who were confused by it. There's healing here, but no quick fixes (despite what the Hanged Man offers). Like always, Astro City reminds us it's a complicated world out there in this fitting finale. Must-read.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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