Sunday, July 05, 2009

‘Astro City: The Dark Age’: History lessons

Book One of ‘Astro City: The Dark Age’ is a four-parter, crammed with enough introspection, intrigue, and situations that keep you guessing. This finally reveals the fate of the Silver Agent (who’s been mentioned briefly in uncomfortable conversations), and his connection to the arc’s two narrators, brothers Royal and Charles.

The darker tone of many 1970s comic books, and the figures that represented those times, are given unique spins by Kurt Busiek, whose Astro City stories have been more human, insightful takes on superheroics and related concepts. The darker-than-usual “Book One” is powerful and meaningful; it’s much heavier than previous tales, but it’s still an engrossing read.

The art, still by Brent Anderson, is rougher and messier, but somehow, the less-controlled linework doesn’t really affect his storytelling.

2 comments:

Reno said...

I think Brent Anderson purposely let his artwork become "unfettered" here, since it is more apt to the tone of the book.

It's good to see Kurt Busiek regain full writing form here in Astro City. Trinity was too drawn out. I think that series could have been done in 12 issues rather than 52.

OLIVER said...

Brent's style here actually reminds me of a rougher Neal Adams, and Tom Mandrake. Yeah, it does fit the tone of the book.

Yes, it's nice that Busiek's writing Astro City again.

I only read about 12 issues of Trinity... not too excited about it.