Today’s Comic> Astro City #4

I’d make a joke, but this cover perfectly reflects the story within.

Astro City #4

DC/Vertigo (November, 2013)

Martha Sullivan is a “Sideliner”, someone who chooses to use their powers for something other than crimefighting or crimedoing. In her case she uses her telekinetic powers for movie effects. However, someone calling himself the Majordomo is kidnapping Sideliners to turn into his personal army. Luckily they don’t need the Honor Guard. Just because they don’t want to fight, doesn’t mean they can’t.

Forget the format because there is nothing but praise for this issue. One of the things I like about this series is Busiek’s unique approach to the idea of a superhero universe. This is one you seldom hear about, even in the mutant-heavy Marvel Universe. (Although maybe it helps that super-powered people aren’t immediately looked down upon like in the Marvel and New 52 DCU.) Here are people who use their powers to improve the quality of life or just to live their lives. Some of them formed a group, and they meet, discuss events in their lives, and look out for each other when someone tries to forcibly recruit them. I would love to see this idea pop again in the background, like characters in a diner has a waitress that can reheat their coffee without a microwave or something.

The artwork is also as good as this series has been thus far. Like I said in the caption, the cover covers Martha Sullivan’s life as she also does favors for the Honor Guard and can have a quick conversation with the Samaritan like having a quick moment with a friend. The Samaritan (a Superman analog that isn’t a mental case who will “make the world better” but actually acts like a Superman analog should) knows about the Sideliners and it appears he has no problem with supers who pretty much stays out of things. We also see Martha’s history, that she tried being both a hero and a villain and couldn’t do either. She’s a great character and I hope she pops up again.

Recommendation: Even if you’ve bypassed this series for one reason or another any superhero story fan should really pick up this issue if you ever wondered what happened to super-powered people who didn’t want to be a superhero or a supervillain. Nothing stood out as a Best Scene nomination because the whole comic is too good.

Related articles

• Today’s Comic> Astro City #2
• Today’s Comic> Astro City #3
• Astro City #4 – Review (weeklycomicbookreview.com)