Astro City

*Astro City*
Astro City
	Cover art to Astro City (Vol. 2) #1 by Alex Ross.
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics (1995–1996, 2022–present); Homage Comics (1996–2004); Wildstorm (2004–2010); Vertigo Comics (2013–2018);
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Superhero ;
Publication date	(Vol. 1); August 1995 – January 1996 ; (Vol. 2); September 1996 – August 2000 ; Local Heroes; April 2003 – February 2004 ; The Dark Age and the specials; June 2004 – August 2010 ; (Vol. 3); August 2013 – August 2018 ; (Vol. 4); March 2022 – present;
Creative team
Created by	Kurt Busiek; Brent Anderson; Alex Ross;
Written by	Kurt Busiek
Artist(s)	Brent Anderson ; Alex Ross ; Will Blyberg;
Editor(s)	Kurt Busiek; Ann Huntington-Busiek; John Layman ;
Collected editions
Metrobook One	ISBN 1-5343-2204-3
Metrobook Two	ISBN 1-5343-2317-1
Metrobook Three	ISBN 1-5343-2462-3
Metrobook Four	ISBN 1-5343-9971-2
Metrobook Five	ISBN 1-5343-9709-4

Last updated November 16, 2024

Kurt Busiek's Astro City is an American superhero anthology comic book series centered on a fictional American city of that name. Created and written by Kurt Busiek, the series is mostly illustrated by Brent Anderson, with character designs and painted covers by Alex Ross.

The first volume was published from 1995 to 1996 by Image Comics. In 1996, a second volume was launched under the Homage Comics imprint of Image partner studio WildStorm, which was then acquired by DC Comics, where the series later transitioned to the WildStorm Signature Series imprint and continued until 2010. During this period it switched from a regular ongoing series to a sequence of periodic mini-series and special issues. A third, ongoing volume was launched under DC's Vertigo imprint in 2013^[1]^[2] and concluded in 2018, reverting to occasional miniseries and original graphic novels. Counting all series, mini-series and special issues, over 100 issues have been published.^[3]

Themes

The series portrays different perspectives on what everyday life might be like in a superhero-comic universe, with stories focusing on a variety of different superhero characters and ordinary people.^[4]^[5]^[6] It has been described as representing Busiek's effort to move away from the Dark Age of Comic Books toward more optimistic stories, functioning as a "thesis statement" of how superhero comics work. The series examines the archetypes of older superhero comics, functioning as "a vehicle to comment on [topics] buried in the subtext of old comics"^[7]^[8]

Many of the superheroes in Astro City bear similarities to famous characters from Marvel Comics or DC Comics. For instance, the feminist superhero Winged Victory is reminiscent of Wonder Woman, and the superhero team First Family resemble the Fantastic Four.^[6]

Characters

Some of the more prominent personalities of Astro City are listed below:

Heroes

Samaritan (Asa Martin) – an extremely powerful hero. A time-traveler, he appeared in this era in 1985, active as a hero since 1986 and is a current member of Honor Guard. He is sometimes referred to as "Big Red". Samaritan is the first hero in the series to receive an origin story.
The Confessor (Jeremiah Parrish) – a mysterious vigilante detective, apparently active from the 1950s to the mid-1990s. His history is a blur of myths and assumptions, as dark as his crime fighting methods. In the Confession arc from the second volume of the series, even his new sidekick struggles to know more about his mentor.
Crackerjack – an egocentric, reckless crime-fighter, with amazing agility and a staff weapon, active since 1991.
The Hanged Man – a ghostly figure who protects Shadow Hill, appearing as a floating apparition with a burlap sack over his head and a noose around his neck. He is active in Astro City since the 19th century and is rumored to have existed since at least the Middle Ages.
M.P.H. a.k.a. The Acceleration Ace (Michael Hendrie) – super-speedster and member of Honor Guard. Besides his membership duties with Honor Guard, he operates in his home city of Detroit.
Jack-in-the-Box (Zachary Johnson) – a clown-themed vigilante with no known powers but agility and an arsenal of clown and toy-inspired weaponry.
Silver Agent (Alan Jay Craig) – an armored vigilante who suffers a tragic fate, hinted at for years. Active from 1956 through the early 1970s, and via time travel, sporadically throughout thousands of years into the future. He is a founding member of Honor Guard.
Winged Victory (Lauren Freed) – a feminist Greco-Roman themed superhero, controversial due to her habit of saving women before men regardless of the situation.
Beautie – a sophisticated android modeled on a popular doll.

Villains

Bridwell – an Enelsian spy who gathers intelligence on Earth's heroes; he is enamored of humanity's better instincts, but ultimately disgusted by mankind's baser ones.
The Conquistador (Esteban Rodrigo Suarez Hidalgo) – a mysterious armored villain who hired villains from Kiefer Square as part of an elaborate and mysterious scheme. Formerly he has been the hero El Hombre.
The Deacon (Deke MacManus) – a soft-spoken lord of "ordinary" organized crime in Astro City.
Infidel – a slave who became an immortal mystic during the Middle Ages and traveled through time to become a tyrant in the 36th century. Infidel became the archenemy of Samaritan after Samaritan's origin changed history, erasing Infidel's future empire, and Samaritan thwarted Infidel's attempts restore it. He is essentially a mad scientist who uses alchemy and magic to warp reality.
The Junkman (Hiram Potterstone) – an aged villain seeking vengeance on society for age discrimination. He recycles and enhances his weaponry from discarded trash.
The Mock Turtle (Martin Chefwick) – a generally docile and polite man who grew up obsessed with fantasies, especially Alice in Wonderland . He eventually became a costumed criminal, employing a weaponized armor themed after the Alice character from which he drew his name.

Groups

The Astro City Irregulars – a group of outcast heroes founded in the early to mid-1970s, but disbanded by the 2010s, at which time the second Goldenglove was hoping to get it going again.
The Crossbreed – a group of religious themed heroes, consisting of Noah, Daniel, Peter, Mary, David, and Joshua. The group is stigmatized by society as "Jesus freaks".
E.A.G.L.E. – a government agency charged with dealing with super-powered and other extraordinary threats to public safety.
The Enelsians – a matriarchal alien race that invaded Earth, with Astro City as their focal point.
The First Family – a family of interdimensional explorers and superheroes consisting of brothers Augustus and Julius Furst, Augustus' adopted children Nick and Natalie, Natalie's dinosaur-like husband Rex, and their daughter Astra.
Honor Guard – the most prestigious superhero group. Founded in 1959, members came and went over the years. For much of its history it maintained seven active members; more recently, the group has expanded considerably. The roster as of 2017 consists of Samaritan (leader), Assemblyman (II), Beautie, Cleopatra (II), the Gentleman, Hummingbird (II), the Living Nightmare, M.P.H., N-Forcer (latest successor of the original), Winged Victory and Wolfspider, with American Chibi on detached duty.
Pyramid – a criminal organization with an ancient Egyptian motif, led by the Sekhmet Stone, a living mystical artifact from the past.

Civilians

Looney Leo – a cartoon lion brought to life in 1946, he was briefly the Gentleman's sidekick, then a media star. When his fame faded, he was homeless for a while before becoming a pawn in a supervillain's plot. Afterwards, he was a recluse before becoming host of a nostalgic nightclub bearing his name in the entertainment district.
Steeljack (Carl "Carlie" Donewicz) – a former supervillain and member of the villain group the Terrifying Three. He is a resident of Kiefer Square who attempts to reform after serving his time. He became active as a villain from about 1970 to 1978, then in prison from 1978–1998. He is later tapped by former associates to investigate the string of "Black Mask" murders and later still became a licensed private investigator.
Charles Raymond Williams and Royal James Williams – brothers whose parents are killed in 1959 during a superhero battle. They grew up following very different paths with Charles becoming a police officer and Royal a petty criminal. They are the focus of The Dark Age four-book maxiseries.

Collected editions

The series has been collected into a number of trade paperbacks:

Astro City Volume 1: Life in the Big City ( ISBN 1-56389-551-X, collects Astro City vol. 1 #1–6)
Astro City Volume 2: Confession ( ISBN 1-56389-550-1, collects Astro City vol. 2 #1/2, 4–9)
Astro City Volume 3: Family Album ( ISBN 1-56389-552-8, collects Astro City vol. 2 #1–3, 10–13)
Astro City Volume 4: Tarnished Angel ( ISBN 1-56389-663-X, collects Astro City vol. 2 #14–20)
Astro City Volume 5: Local Heroes ( ISBN 1401202845, collects Astro City vol. 2 #21–22, Astro City: Local Heroes #1–5, Astro City Special: Supersonic, "Since the Fire")
Astro City Volume 6: The Dark Age Book One: Brothers and Other Strangers ( ISBN 9781401220778, collects Astro City: The Dark Age vol. 1 #1–4, vol. 2 #1–4)
Astro City Volume 7: The Dark Age Book Two: Brothers in Arms ( ISBN 1401228437, collects Astro City: The Dark Age vol. 3 #1–4, vol. 4 #1–4)
Astro City Volume 8: Shining Stars ( ISBN 978-1401229849, collects Astro City: Samaritan Special, Astro City: Astra #1–2, Astro City: Silver Agent #1–2 and Astro City: Beautie #1)
Astro City Volume 9: Through Open Doors ( ISBN 978-1401247522, collects Astro City vol. 3 #1–6)
Astro City Volume 10: Victory ( ISBN 978-1401250577, collects Astro City vol. 3 #7–10, Astro City Visitor's Guide #1)
Astro City Volume 11: Private Lives ( ISBN 978-1401254599, collects Astro City vol. 3 #11–16)
Astro City Volume 12: Lovers Quarrel ( ISBN 978-1401258252, collects Astro City vol. 3 #18–21, 23–24)
Astro City Volume 13: Honor Guard ( ISBN 978-1401263874, collects Astro City vol. 3 #17, 22, 25, 27–28, 31)
Astro City Volume 14: Reflections ( ISBN 978-1401274924, collects Astro City vol. 3 #26, 29–30, 32–34)
Astro City Volume 15: Ordinary Heroes ( ISBN 978-1401274931, collects Astro City vol. 3 #35–36, 39–40, 42, 44)
Astro City Volume 16: Broken Melody ( ISBN 978-1401281496, collects Astro City vol. 3 #37–38, 41, 43, 45–46)
Astro City Volume 17: Aftermaths ( ISBN 978-1401289447, collects Astro City vol. 3 #47–52)

Beginning in 2022, Image Comics began collecting Astro City in a series of thick trade collections, dubbed "Metrobooks":

Astro City Metrobook, Vol. 1 ( ISBN 978-1534322042, collects Astro City vol. 1 #1–6 and vol. 2 #1/2, 1–12)
Astro City Metrobook, Vol. 2 ( ISBN 978-1534323179, collects Astro City vol. 2 #13–22, Astro City: Local Heroes #1–5; Astro City Special #1; Astro City: A Visitor's Guide; and portions of 9-11: The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember #2)
Astro City Metrobook, Vol. 3 ( ISBN 978-1534323179, collects Astro City: The Dark Age vol. 1 #1–4; Astro City: The Dark Age vol. 2 #1–4; Astro City: The Dark Age vol. 3 #1–4; Astro City: The Dark Age vol. 4 #1–4; Astro City: Silver Agent #1–2; and portions of Astro City/Arrowsmith: The Flip Book)
Astro City Metrobook, Vol. 4 ( ISBN 978-1534399716, collects Astro City: Samaritan #1, Astro City: Beautie #1, Astro City: Astra #1–2 and Astro City vol. 3 #1–10, 17 & 22–24)
Astro City Metrobook, Vol. 5 ( ISBN 978-1534397095, collects Astro City vol. 3 #11–16, 18-21 & 25–34)
Astro City Metrobook, Vol. 6 ( ISBN 978-1534350380, collects Astro City vol. 3 #35-52)

Starting in 2023, Image Comics began releasing oversized hardcover collections of Astro City, dubbed "Opus Editions":

Astro City: The Opus Edition, Book One ( ISBN 978-1534399341, collects Kurt Busiek's Astro City vol. 1 #1–6 and vol. 2 #1/2, 1–22; Kurt Busiek's Astro City 3D Special #1; Astro City: Local Heroes #1–5; Astro City Special #1; Astro City: A Visitor's Guide; and portions of 9-11: The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember #2)

Awards

Astro City and its creators have won a number of Eisner Awards and Harvey Awards, the American comic industry's equivalent of science fiction's Hugo Awards, as well as several Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards.

Astro City won both the Eisner and Harvey Awards for Best New Series for 1996, the Eisner for Best Continuing Series for 1997 and 1998, the Harvey for Best Continuing or Limited Series for 1998, and was a top votegetter for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Limited Series for 1997. The earliest collection Astro City: Life in the Big City, won the Harvey Award for Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work for 1997 and the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Reprint Graphic Novel/Album for 1997. Astro City: Confession was a top votegetter for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Reprint Graphic Album of 1998 and 1999. Astro City: Family Album was a top votegetter for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Reprint Graphic Album of 1999.

Particular stories or storylines have also come in for honors. Astro City #1 won the 1996 Harvey for Best Single Issue or Story, while #4, "Safeguards", took the Eisner for Best Single Issue/Single Story for the same year. The 1997 and 1998 Eisners went to vol. 2, #1, "Welcome to Astro City", and vol. 2, #10, "Show 'Em All", respectively, and the 1998 Eisner for Best Serialized Story went to vol. 2, #4–9's "Confession" storyline.

"Welcome to the Big City" in Volume 2 #1 was a top vote-getter for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Comic-Book Story for 1997. The story "The Nearness of You" from the #1/2 issue received votes for the same award that year, as did the "Everyday Life" story which ran in Volume 2 issues #2 and 3. The story "Confession" from Volume 2 issues #5–9 won the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Story for 1998. "Show 'Em All" from issue #10 was a top votegetter for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Story for 1998.

Kurt Busiek was honored with 1998's Harvey and 1999's Eisner for Best Writer, in both instances for bodies of work including Astro City. Alex Ross took both awards for Best Cover Artist in 1996, 1997, and 1998, in all instances but one for Astro City or bodies of work including it (the exception was the 1997 Harvey, awarded for Kingdom Come #1). He also took 1999's Harvey and 2000's Eisner for Best Cover Artist, again for bodies of work including Astro City.

Other media

Film

In 2003, Ben Barenholtz, Jonathan Alpers and Busiek hoped to develop an Astro City movie, with Barenholtz as producer and Alpers as lead scripter, but the plans did not take off,^[9] whereupon Barenholtz subsequently took the project to Working Title Films.^[10] In July 2010, Working Title acquired the rights to make a live-action feature film adaptation of Astro City.^[10]^[11] Busiek was to write a script treatment, and also to executive-produce, along with Barenholtz and Alpers.^[11] In May 2013, Kurt Busiek said that Working Title's option had lapsed but he was in negotiation with another party.^[12]

Television

In March 2018, FremantleMedia North America announced intentions to produce a live-action Astro City TV series with a pilot episode written by Busiek and Rick Alexander.^[13]

Related Research Articles

<i>Usagi Yojimbo</i> Comic book series by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo is a comic book series created by Stan Sakai. It is set primarily at the beginning of the Edo period of Japanese history and features anthropomorphic animals replacing humans. The main character is a rabbit rōnin, Miyamoto Usagi, whom Sakai based partially on the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Usagi wanders the land on a musha shugyō, occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard.

Wildstorm Productions is an American comic book imprint. Originally founded as an independent company established by Jim Lee under the name "Aegis Entertainment" and expanded in subsequent years by other creators, Wildstorm became a publishing imprint of DC Comics in 1998. Until it was shut down in 2010, the Wildstorm imprint remained editorially separate from DC Comics, with its main studio located in California. The imprint took its name from a portmanteau of the titles of the Jim Lee comic series WildC.A.T.S. and Stormwatch.

<i>Starman</i> (DC Comics) Fictional comics superhero

Starman is a name used by several different DC Comics superheroes, most prominently Ted Knight and his sons David and Jack.

<i>The Avengers</i> (comic book) Comic book titles by Marvel Comics

The Avengers is a comic book title featuring the team the Avengers and published by Marvel Comics. The original The Avengers comic book series debuted in 1963.

Leonard Norman Wein was an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men. Additionally, he was the editor for writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons' influential DC miniseries Watchmen.

Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer. His work includes the Marvels limited series, his own series titled Astro City, a four-year run on The Avengers, Thunderbolts, and Superman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Michael Bendis</span> American comic book writer and artist, born 1967

Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and artist.

Nelson Alexander Ross is an American comic book writer and artist known primarily for his painted interiors, covers, and design work. He first became known with the 1994 miniseries Marvels, on which he collaborated with writer Kurt Busiek for Marvel Comics. He has since done a variety of projects for both Marvel and DC Comics, such as the 1996 miniseries Kingdom Come, which he also cowrote. Since then he has done covers and character designs for Busiek's series Astro City, and various projects for Dynamite Entertainment. His feature film work includes concept and narrative art for Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004), and DVD packaging art for the M. Night Shyamalan film Unbreakable (2000). He has done covers for TV Guide, promotional artwork for the Academy Awards, posters and packaging design for video games, and his renditions of superheroes have been merchandised as action figures.

Strange Tales is a Marvel Comics anthology series. The title was revived in different forms on multiple occasions. Doctor Strange and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. made their debuts in Strange Tales. It was a showcase for the science fiction/suspense stories of artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and for the groundbreaking work of writer-artist Jim Steranko. Two previous, unrelated magazines also bore that title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Anderson (comics)</span> American comics artist

Brent Anderson is an American comics artist known for his work on X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills and the comic book series Astro City.

<i>Marvels</i> Limited series comic book

Marvels is a four-issue miniseries comic book written by Kurt Busiek, painted by Alex Ross and edited by Marcus McLaurin. It was published by Marvel Comics in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian K. Vaughan</span> American screenwriter, comic book creator

Brian K. Vaughan is an American comic book and television writer, best known for the comic book series Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways, Pride of Baghdad, Saga, and Paper Girls.

Carlos Pacheco Perujo was a Spanish comics penciller. After breaking into the European market doing cover work for Planeta De Agostini, he gained recognition doing work for Marvel UK, the England-based branch of Marvel Comics, for his work on the Spider-Man magazine Dark Guard. He then began doing work for the American-based Marvel and DC Comics, where he was one of the first Spanish-born artists to make a major impact in that country, attaining popularity for his work on Avengers Forever, JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice, X-Men: Legacy, Fantastic Four, Green Lantern, and Captain America. He contributed to some high-profile storylines published by the Big Two, including 2009's "Final Crisis" at DC and 2013's "Age of Ultron" at Marvel.

<i>Superman</i> (comic book) Comic book series featuring Superman

Superman is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero Superman as its protagonist. Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book Action Comics #1 in June 1938. The strip proved so popular that National launched Superman into his own self-titled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with the cover date summer 1939. Between 1986 and 2006 it was retitled, The Adventures of Superman, while a new series used the title Superman. In May 2006, it was returned to its original title and numbering. The title was canceled with issue #714 in 2011, and was relaunched with issue #1 the following month which ended its run in 2016. A fourth series was released in June 2016 and ended in April 2018, while the fifth series was launched in July 2018 and ended in June 2021. The series was replaced by Superman: Son of Kal-El in July 2021, featuring adventures of Superman's son, Jon Kent. A sixth Superman series was released in February 2023.

Barbara Randall Kesel is an American writer and editor of comic books. Her bibliography includes work for Crossgen, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, and Marvel Comics.

Eric Powell is an American comic book writer/artist, best known as the creator of The Goon.

Matt Kindt is an American comic book writer, cartoonist, and graphic designer. His early creator-owned works were spy fiction, and their success led to mainstream work for hire projects in superhero fiction and other genres. His work has been nominated for Eisner Awards and Harvey Awards. In the comic industry, he is best known for his work on MIND MGMT, the Valiant Entertainment superhero universe, and BRZRKR, the first issue of which is the highest-selling single comic issue of the 21st century.

The Compuserve Comics and Animation Forum's Don Thompson Awards were given for achievement in comic books, comic strips, and animation. Initiated in 1992, they were originally known as the Compuserve Comics and Animation Forum Awards for the CompuServe forum that created and gave out the award. In 1994, after the death of long-time comics enthusiast and publisher Don Thompson, the awards were renamed in Thompson's honor. The final awards were presented in 1998.

<i>Thunderbolts</i> (comic book) American comic book series

Thunderbolts is the name of several comic book titles featuring the team the Thunderbolts and published by Marvel Comics, beginning with the original Thunderbolts comic book series which debuted in 1997.

"The Nearness of You" is a 1996 comic book story about grief. Written by Kurt Busiek and pencilled by Brent Anderson, it first appeared as a promotional item for Busiek's Astro City project, available free upon presentation of a coupon included in Wizard #62.

References

↑ Sun, 03/31/2013 – 1:00pm (2013-03-31). "ASTRO CITY comes to Vertigo | Vertigo". Vertigocomics.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2013-11-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ "Busiek's Triumphant Return to "Astro City"". Comic Book Resources. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
↑ Whitbrook, James. "Reflecting on 100 Issues of Astro City With Writer Kurt Busiek". io9. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
↑ Firestone, Andrew (October 13, 2020). "Astro City Asks, What if Superman Never Stopped Helping?". ScreenRant.
↑ Anders, Charlie Jane (February 2, 2008). "Comics Epic Astro City Will End With Super-Pets Playing Poker". Gizmodo .
1 2 Booker, M. Keith, ed. (2010). Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels. Vol. 1. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 35–36.
↑ Murray, Noel (June 4, 2010). "Astro City vs. Planetary: Superhero reconstruction vs. deconstruction". The A.V. Club .
↑ Hoffer, Christian (March 30, 2022). "Astro City: That Was Then... Special Review: An Intriguing Prologue". Comicbook.com.
↑ David Rooney (2003-11-19). "Panama Leo shapes up 'Astro' pic". Variety. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
1 2 Fleming, Mike (21 July 2010). "Working Title Plants Flag in Kurt Busiek's Graphic Novel 'Astro City'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2013-11-04.
1 2 "SDCC: Working Title Films Adapting Astro City". ComingSoon.net. 2010-07-21. Archived from the original on 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
↑ Rogers, Vaneta (March 23, 2018). "Busiek, Anderson Gear Up for Astro City's New Ongoing". newsarama. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
↑ Musnicky, Sarah (March 23, 2018). "FremantleMedia North America to Tackle an Astro City Series". Comingsoon. Retrieved March 23, 2018.

External links

Astro City at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. From the original on April 6, 2012.
Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards index
Kurt Busiek's Astro City, vol. 1 at the Grand Comics Database
Kurt Busiek's Astro City, vol. 2 at the Grand Comics Database
Astro City: Local Heroes at the Grand Comics Database
Astro City: The Dark Age, Book One at the Grand Comics Database
Astro City: The Dark Age, Book Two at the Grand Comics Database
Astro City: The Dark Age, Book Three at the Grand Comics Database
Astro City: The Dark Age, Book Four at the Grand Comics Database

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Sun, 03/31/2013 – 1:00pm (2013-03-31). "ASTRO CITY comes to Vertigo | Vertigo". Vertigocomics.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2013-11-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[2] "Busiek's Triumphant Return to "Astro City"". Comic Book Resources. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-11-04.

[3] Whitbrook, James. "Reflecting on 100 Issues of Astro City With Writer Kurt Busiek". io9. Retrieved 2017-12-13.

[4] Firestone, Andrew (October 13, 2020). "Astro City Asks, What if Superman Never Stopped Helping?". ScreenRant.

[5] Anders, Charlie Jane (February 2, 2008). "Comics Epic Astro City Will End With Super-Pets Playing Poker". Gizmodo .

[encyclopedia-6] 1 2 Booker, M. Keith, ed. (2010). Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels. Vol. 1. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 35–36.

[7] Murray, Noel (June 4, 2010). "Astro City vs. Planetary: Superhero reconstruction vs. deconstruction". The A.V. Club .

[8] Hoffer, Christian (March 30, 2022). "Astro City: That Was Then... Special Review: An Intriguing Prologue". Comicbook.com.

[film1-9] David Rooney (2003-11-19). "Panama Leo shapes up 'Astro' pic". Variety. Retrieved 2013-11-04.

[film2-10] 1 2 Fleming, Mike (21 July 2010). "Working Title Plants Flag in Kurt Busiek's Graphic Novel 'Astro City'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2013-11-04.

[film3-11] 1 2 "SDCC: Working Title Films Adapting Astro City". ComingSoon.net. 2010-07-21. Archived from the original on 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2013-11-04.

[film4-12] Rogers, Vaneta (March 23, 2018). "Busiek, Anderson Gear Up for Astro City's New Ongoing". newsarama. Retrieved March 23, 2018.

[13] Musnicky, Sarah (March 23, 2018). "FremantleMedia North America to Tackle an Astro City Series". Comingsoon. Retrieved March 23, 2018.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

v t e DC Vertigo ongoing series
Pre-Vertigo	Swamp Thing (vol. 2) John Constantine, Hellblazer The Sandman (vol. 2) Shade, the Changing Man (vol. 2) Doom Patrol (vol. 2) Animal Man
1993–1999	Sandman Mystery Theatre Kid Eternity (vol. 2) Black Orchid (vol. 2) The Books of Magic (vol. 2) The Invisibles (vols. 1 and 2) Preacher The Dreaming (vol. 1) Seekers into the Mystery House of Secrets (vol. 2) Transmetropolitan The Minx Flinch 100 Bullets
2000–2004	Deadenders Swamp Thing (vols. 3 and 4) Lucifer Outlaw Nation American Century The Crusades Codename: Knockout Hunter: The Age of Magic Fables Y: The Last Man The Losers Human Target (vol. 2) The Witching Books of Magick: Life During Wartime
2005–2010	Loveless Trigger DMZ Testament The Exterminators American Virgin Jack of Fables Deadman (vol. 4) Crossing Midnight Scalped Army@Love The Un-Men The Vinyl Underground Northlanders Young Liars Madame Xanadu Air House of Mystery (vol. 2) Unknown Soldier (vol. 4) The Unwritten Greek Street Sweet Tooth American Vampire iZOMBIE
2012–2016	Fairest Saucer Country Dominique Laveau: Voodoo Child Astro City (Vol. 3) FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics Coffin Hill Hinterkind Dead Boy Detectives (vol. 2) American Vampire: Second Cycle The Unwritten: Apocalypse Art Ops Clean Room Fables: The Wolf Among Us Red Thorn Suiciders Survivors' Club Everafter: From the Pages of Fables Lucifer (vol. 2) Unfollow
2018–2019	Border Town The Sandman Universe The Dreaming vol. 2) House of Whispers Lucifer (vol. 3) The Books of Magic (vol. 3 Hex Wives American Carnage Goddess Mode High Level

Astro City
Cover art to Astro City (Vol. 2) #1 by Alex Ross.
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics (1995–1996, 2022–present) Homage Comics (1996–2004) Wildstorm (2004–2010) Vertigo Comics (2013–2018)
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Superhero
Publication date	(Vol. 1) August 1995 – January 1996 (Vol. 2) September 1996 – August 2000 Local Heroes April 2003 – February 2004 The Dark Age and the specials June 2004 – August 2010 (Vol. 3) August 2013 – August 2018 (Vol. 4) March 2022 – present
Creative team
Created by	Kurt Busiek Brent Anderson Alex Ross
Written by	Kurt Busiek
Artist(s)	Brent Anderson Alex Ross Will Blyberg
Editor(s)	Kurt Busiek Ann Huntington-Busiek John Layman
Collected editions
Metrobook One	ISBN 1-5343-2204-3
Metrobook Two	ISBN 1-5343-2317-1
Metrobook Three	ISBN 1-5343-2462-3
Metrobook Four	ISBN 1-5343-9971-2
Metrobook Five	ISBN 1-5343-9709-4