Astro City 9

astro city 9Today, Greg and Shelby are discussing Astro City 9, originally released February 12th, 2014.

Greg: I don’t know where I stand on free will versus fate. Sometimes the idea of everything happening for a reason brings me comfort; sometimes the idea of me being the only author of my universe does. This type of unsettled philosophical flip-flopping (phlip-phlopping?) may suit me in my regular life just fine, but in fiction, we often demand clear lines drawn in the sand. While this latest issue of Astro City may not be this specific (probably wisely), it does delineate what it wants to do stronger than previous Winged Victory issues, to highly effective results.

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Astro City 7

astro city 7

Today, Greg and Shelby are discussing Astro City 7, originally released December 11th, 2013.

Greg: Beyoncé.

I’d like to end my survey of Kurt Busiek’s Astro City 7 right there, as all things should begin and end with Ms. Knowles, but we have word counts to hit, so let’s keep going.

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Zero 3

zero 3

Today, Taylor and Scott are discussing Zero 3, originally released November 20th, 2013.

Taylor: Tell you what, reading a Cormac McCarthy novel is a chore. This is by no means a criticism, merely an observation. I think anyone who has read any book by McCarthy would agree with me – the guy writes some pretty bleak stuff. Despite that, his writing is some of the most important to grace the written page in the past fifty years. He’s a master at his craft and his style and voice are so unique that one could argue they have become iconic. Still, reading the likes of Blood Meridian or The Road is far from a pleasant way to pass the time. These books are beautiful in their own way, but they are equally violent and incredibly depressing. Given this, it seems fitting that the afterward of Zero 3 quotes a passage from Blood Meridian. Like McCarthy’s work, Zero is bloody and disturbing, but also like McCarthy’s work it is thought provoking and occasionally beautiful.

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Astro City 6

astro city 6

Today, Greg and Patrick are discussing Astro City 6, originally released November 13th, 2013.

Greg: I’ve always struggled with the idea of enjoying the quiet comfort of what I know versus plowing through the loud struggle of what I don’t. I feel like I vacillate erratically between these two extremes, never quite finding a balance. I’m either saying yes to everything or nothing. I’m either a bounding explorer or a feeble couch potato. The choices that lead to these kinds of feelings fascinate me, and Kurt Busiek’s latest Astro City entry takes a character to this crossroad; his choice is something unexpected. 
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