What makes a man dress to the nines to commit crimes? Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross are joined by ASTRO CITYs first-ever guest artist, Graham Nolan (BATMAN, TALON, X-Men Forever), for a look deep into the life of a costumed criminal the Gentleman Bandit of the Menagerie Gang, the Sweet Adelines, the Gatsbies and more. Featuring appearances by the Jack-In-The-Box and the Confessor!
So, yeah, this issue proves I'm a terrible person full of schadenfreude (for enjoying Ned's turmoil) and jealousy (for my grinding envy of Busiek's towering writing talent), and yet I'm still going to recommend it, and let you decide whether you wanna listen to the advice of a terrible, horrible evil man. The question of whether anyone else could make Astro City look as amazing as Brent Anderson is answered, the question of what drives people to do self-destructive things is examined, and most impressively, a twenty-odd page comic book becomes a portal into another person's life, a story full of emotion and authenticity. Astro City #12 hits the proverbial home run touchdown sports metaphor thingy, with beautiful art and an affecting story, earning a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars overall. I keep saying this, but if you're not reading this book, you're missing the most consistent monthly book around… Read Full Review
Highly recommended! Read Full Review
So if you haven't read a comic before or just looking for something different in comics I recommend this issue. It's has a different main character then one would normally see and makes him an interesting character without killing anyone. Which you see a lot in comics focusing on villains these days. It's an interesting issue that will probably get more readers interested in the Astro City series. Read Full Review
Obsessed with the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood, the glory days for Edward “Ned” James Carroway involved working alone and with other “Dapper Dans” or “Clotheshorses” whose robberies always included a touch of style and grace and providing an ideal life for his wife and daughter. However, after being caught first by Jack-in-the-Box and later the Confessor we also see the lows of Ned's life which include loosing his family and being lured once again back into a life of crime by old friends and a pair of expensive shoes. Worth a look. Read Full Review
It's getting a little old hat to continually express how consistently enjoyable this title is. Although Brent Anderson is absent this issue, the inclusion of artist Graham Nolan is a nice aesthetic fit, and it doesn't stop Kurt Busiek from doing what he does best, showcasing alt POV stories that push hard on world-building. The story of the Gentleman Bandit is just such a tale, one that fleshes out stray corners of the universe, while capturing a tone of regret, brushes with fame, and a compulsion to do what the heart wants, despite the brain knowing better. Read Full Review