Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Confession

I'm not a comic book fan; they're much too convulted for my own tastes. But even the first time I read Astro City: Confessions I knew it was something else, something different. Confessions is more literature than it is comic book; it transcends the genre and becomes something new altogether.

There is a certain innocence to the Astro City comics that still speaks with wisdom and intelligence. They are beautifull to look at, funny, self-referential, and you always get the "why hasn't this been done before" feeling whenever you read one. This is the best of the four collections that are thus far available. The story of a young "robin-like" sidekick before, during, and after his initiation into the super-hero field. You can actually see the character grow as a person, a person who is likeable in all stages of his life. All the comic cliches are here, subtely altered and so made new again. There are super-heroes galore, but this story focus's on two in particular. Some of the twists are predictable and some aren't, but you always get the feeling that it doesn't effect the quality of the comic. If you guess it ahead of time, it is still a good read. The comic is something that you can give to your children, and they will enjoy it, but, aldults can enjoy just as much on an entirely different level. The comic is fun, intelligent, and still has that sense of wonder you remember from reading comics as a child. Don't pass this one up.

The world of Kurt Busiek's Astro City is truly one of the great fictional worlds ever created; I would rank it right up there with Tolkien's Middle Earth or the "Babylon 5" universe in terms of its richness, complexity, and emotional impact. "Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Confession" is a superb example of the power of Astro City. This book is essentially a novel in comic book form. It tells the story of Brian, a small town boy who moves to Astro City with dreams of joining the city's legion of costumed heroes. He ultimately joins up with the Confessor, a dark, brooding superhero, and together they face a chilling mystery that impacts all the city's heroes.Many characters from other volumes in the Astro City series are woven into "Confession": Crackerjack, the Hanged Man, Winged Victory, Samaritan, and many more. Also woven into the superhero story are a number of "real world" issues: crime, spirituality, governmental intrusiveness, and more. Along the way are some innovative concepts and characters; I was especially intrigued by the Crossbreed, a group of evangelical Christian superheroes introduced early in the story."Confession" is at once a coming-of-age tale, an intimate character study, and a vast epic tale that spans many decades and the entire planet. The story is also a skillful blend of concepts from the horror and science fiction genres. Like many of the great graphic novels of our time ("Watchmen," "Marvels," etc.) "Confession" deconstructs the very superhero genre to which it belongs. The characters are compelling, the dialogue is gripping, and the visual artwork is awesome: many scenes look like something from a big-budget science fiction film. In my opinion, "Confession" is a profoundly moving masterpiece.

Astro City continues to be the best superhero book being published, and with quality storylines like Confession, it's a sure bet to be listed as one of the top comic series of all time once the dust settles. Busiek combines excellent technical skills - he's a master of pacing, great with dialogue, and unmatched at finding new and interesting perspectives on a story - with a sense of wonder that most of the talented writers in the superhero business have long since abandoned. Absolutely peerless.

Kurt Busiek has crafted an excellent superhero storyline in Confession. Astro City has, and continues to be the best pure superhero comic out,and Confession is the highpoint of the series. The story is completely told through the eyes of the Confessors sidekick, the Altar Boy. The fact that Busiek pulls off this narrative without seeming derivative is one thing, but the most impressive part is the quality of the story itself, and the shocking secret that the Confessor hides, adds to the drama. Throw in some mysterious religious imagery, and you get a solid enjoyable story to read. While it isnt as shocking or hilarious as Preacher, its an excellently written, beautifully drawn story, in the mold of classic comic book storytelling.