I lost track of it in later years, but I was a big fan of Kurt Busiek's Astro City for its first few runs. The Confessor story arc was among the many highlights of the series for me. With such a rich world that Busiek (and artists Brent Anderson and Alex Ross) created, I am surprised that I have never heard any talk about adapting it for TV. It seems like a perfect candidate for either a live action or animated treatment.
The Steeljack storyline was pretty cool. After that, I kind of lost track of Astro City, too. The characters seem to be pretty original... for being one-offs of the DC and Marvel characters. I really like the concept for Samaritan. (Spoiler Alert) He came from the future and basically undid his timeline so he can never return...
ReplyDeleteAstro City also showed stories thru the eyes of bystanders. People who went on to open up support groups, work in legal offices and dating as some examples.
ReplyDeleteIt really is as good as DC's and Marvel's Earths combined along with non one off characters. The guy who lost his girlfriend and then to find she was retconned out of existence was not a traditional tale. Stories and writing are as crisp as the art is wonderful. I'm nout sure if it's done or just done for now. It's one series you could teach a class with about making comic books. Total respect to them.
The Confessor story was really well done. Great to see him on your blog too.
ReplyDeleteAn Astro City TV show was announced last year, but I don't know if anything has actually happened.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.fremantle.com/fremantlemedia-north-america-acquires-rights-to-astro-city/
https://www.newsarama.com/39335-kurt-busiek-on-astro-city-s-segue-to-ogns-a-live-action-tv-show.html
It recently ceased to be a regular series, but further graphic novels are promised.
ReplyDeleteAny chance of depicting Batman vs. the Confessor (along with Midnighter, the Shroud, et al.) in a five-against-one scenario similar to STF #359?
ReplyDeleteAstro City is something else I need to catch up on. I also loved the Confessor storyline, though my personal favorite hero in the setting is Jack-in-the-Box; clowns tend to get a bad rap in comics, with so many more clown-themed villains than heroes. That's much of the reason that I'd love to see him teamed on this blog with the Tangent Universe's Joker, possibly even heading up a team of heroic clowns. (I even have a clown-themed vigilante in my own superhero world, named Laughing Boy.)
ReplyDeleteAlways good to see KBAC get some love on this blog. Ross, you may want to pick up the "Victory" TPB. It's a Trinity story with the plot centering around Winged Victory, but since KBAC works in real-time, Altar Boy is now all grown up and running around as the second Confessor, even though he doesn't have any powers.
ReplyDeleteDid you know Buffy (by name) was on the last episode of the big Bang Theory?
ReplyDeleteBetween her, the Supernatural brothers and Lucifer, most monsters don't stand a chance.
And I think that Confessor was killed off and replaced by his partner.b
Another good match could be the Confessor vs. the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As the artwork shows, Confessor's mask was inspired by ninjas.
ReplyDeletePlus, the color scheme also reminds me of Grendel. So, in that light, how about Grendel teaming up with Deadpool against Eddie "Venom" Brock?
ReplyDeleteTrust me guys its worth catching up on Astro City. I've been with the series for the whole 20 + years. The Confessor's arch was one of the best in my opinion, and I love how his legacy has continued and if you like the character I recommend the Victory storyline; its primary focus is on Winged Victory and her origins, but in the arch she gets help from her bf Samaritan and the 2nd Confessor. Trust me getting the trade its worth getting. Also I agree Steeljack is one of my favorite characters too, I'm a Robert Mitchum fan and a bigger murder mystery fan and he too got a second run when Cutlass from the Terrible Trio is among a number of retired/former/reformed criminals framed and Jack is now in charge of the cemetery/ works for the city for special jobs, a bounty hunter, and a PI. Being a mystery writer you can guess why the Tarnished Knight is my favorite arch. I'd love to see more w/ Astro City here.
ReplyDeleteCover of the month! More astro city!
ReplyDeleteHow about Buffy and the 4th Doctor vs. both Masters?
ReplyDelete@Carycomic: it might be interesting to see which Master was scarier-looking. The vampire? Or the skeletal renegade Time Lord?
ReplyDelete