You've ALL Been Sleeping On ASTRO CITY! 

I loved the "Why would anyone live in Astro City" story a few issues later. To me, it was one of the first times the true power of superheroes was shown. Great book, thanks for calling attention to it.

Honestly the story of the Samaratin added some depth to Clark Kent for me. In this story we can see one of the differences is that Clark decided and worked it out in his mind that it is just as important for him to be Clark Kent with friends and a life, as it is for him to be Superman.

Poor Samaritan. He needs to get some sidekicks so he can take some time off.

It's surprising that no one's tried to adapt Astro City for television.

His dreams that he's flying naked is a psychological representation of his desire to leave everything behind and just be free. Free of responsibility, of guilt, of worries, and just fly. At least this is how I saw it.

The most memorable thing from Samaritan was the way he was overbooked. He is micromanaging how much to dedicate to rescues and supervillain battles 😂 I mean if you have the luxury of allotting time to villain battles , you have to be awesome.

It is crazy how underappreciated and little known Astro City is.

I was introduced to Astro City by the proprietor of a comic shop in Lansing, Michigan, who said "Kurt Busiek writes Iron Man for the paycheck. He writes Astro City for love." Since Busiek was in the middle of writing one of the best takes on Iron Man I knew, I took the proprietor at his word and checked out Astro City. I have loved the series ever since. Thanks for being a fellow lover of Astro City.

"... But you do have to listen to me talk about it." - Sasha "Absolutely." - littrtally everyone

Astro City would make for a good HBO series one day.

"Flying naked"..another thing I'd never would've thought of. Thank you comics

I love this issue as well. Another favorite is his nemesis who tells his own story when the Samaritan visits him for diner.

I'm an unapologetic evangelist of Astro City myself. I got interested flipping through some random issues during the much-delayed original run of the Confession storyline (yes, I am that old). But what sold me was that first story you just highlighted, which I read in Life In The Big City. At the start, I was thinking Samaritan=Superman clone. Then my brains slammed on the brakes when I saw him stop a tsunami with a handful of lightning. I know it sounds silly but that moment of "Superman can't do that" was enough to make me go for the rest of the series. I've not regretted it since.

I love Kurt Busiek. He has such a deep understanding of super hero comics that allows him to give a perspective that's respectful to the genre while approaching it from an angle few people think about.

As someone who often experiences burnout AND guilt for not doing more with my life, I won't lie, the summary of this choked me up a bit. I'm gonna have to give this a try.

Wow when I was a young 20 something back in the 90’s I picked this comic up put it in plastic, added into my collection and never read it. It’s ironic that almost 30 years later I would have a young person with the same love for comics as I had back then would review this book that I purchased because I liked the cover art but no time to enjoy the story. Thank you, because you helped me scratch this off a very old to do list 👍🏾

Yes yes yes. I've been re-reading Astro City recently, and just finished Confession. It brought me to tears, in that there is just so much humanity packed into the fantastic. It's inspiring and exciting and fun - The type of story creators wish they could write. Astro City builds on and pays homage to what has gone before in comics, with love and respect. It's like the anti-Watchmen in so many ways. Cynicism is ditched for an earnest longing for joy, and I love it for that.

It really shows that you can do a fully rounded, non cliche, character story and still have it be about a superhero. AND be exciting.

I think I’ll always love the real Superman more when he gets done well but this is definitely a welcome take on the tropes.

I love the way you appreciate superheroes. Thanks a lot

The confessor arc was amazing. Astro city kept me in comics for a long time.

What I especially love about this series is that something that's little more than a footnote in one story is often expanded upon in another. We only get a glimpse of Samaritan's colleagues in Honor Guard.....Winged Victory,Black Rapier,Beautie,Quarrel....but many of them were the focus of future stories. There was even one about one of the members of the Menagerie Gang (3:41).

This sounds like a sweet angsty comic book. I can see why you like it.

I've read some later Astro City (I forget what, so it's been a bit), but not this one. I'll definitely keep an eye out during the next Comixology sale. Busiek is one of the best writers out there. Ever. And not to be but so creepy in my eternal worship of you, Sasha dear, but the lavender makeup is fantastic on you! 🤩😘

Love Astro City! The Mock Turtle story, Steeljack-and I have cosplayed the Confessor, my absolute fave from this series!

So much YES!!! Such an underappreciated series. And we get Alex Ross covers, too?! WHHAAATTTT??!!

Maybe my favorite comic series of all, there have been issues of this that have made me cry, or smile, or something in between. Beautiful stuff

I remember seeing 'Astro City' #1 on the rack at my FNCS back in '95, and I was just blown away. Great stuff.

Astro City #1 is one of my favorite single-issue comics ever. It's a better Superman comic than Superman.

Well seems like he should talk to Superman he probably could give him some great advice 😂😂💯

Sasha you have been talking about this series for a minute and I know you have good taste. I just haven't had the time to commit and get all in. But I will.

Yes!!!! Astro City was AWESOME!!!!! I collected this back in the '90s. Whew! You too me back.

Samaritan is, in my opinion, the best non-Superman I've read, because he embodies the most important aspect of Clark Kent, his heart.

The combined DC/Marvel/MLJ world you always wanted. The BEST DESIGNED characters ever! Period.

I collected Astro City back in 95 it's one of my faves

The Samaritan misunderstood when someone told him Astro turf was easier to look after!

One of the best and underrated books out there.

I freaking LOVE Astro City, and it was the inspiration for me to create my own audio superhero series... well, to begin it at least. Thanks for having such awesome taste

Thank you Sasha - after this video I had to pick this up when I found it in a bargain box in a comic shop, and I loved the stories in it for many of the same reasons...

Glad someone appreciates this comic as much as me.

This seems like if someone with the crippling sense of responsibility of Peter Parker had the power of Superman.

I love Astro City. My favorite stories are the ones with Steeljack and The Confessor.

Kilraven the warrior of the world's is still my favorite from the early seventies. Great art work and interesting stories. I've since found that I've grown out of comic books when my wife and son took me to a comic Con here in LV in 2009. I just couldn't get into it anymore. But I will always appreciate my times with kilraven,, Spidey, Nova and John Carter in weird world's back in the 70s. They kept me out of a lot of trouble.

If I could throw things into the sun, I'd do it, probably too often.

Wow. Thank you for this. You were right. I was sleeping on it. I just got volumes 1-17 and I'm already hooked. And your description of it is refreshingly literary. I'm subscribing.

This channel deserves more views, this is one of the only videos I’ve seen talk about Astro City

Great breakdown of the story, great detail and thoughtful explanation.

Love Astro City you've prompted me to dig them out again... More Astro Vids!

This comic is deep...not a fan of a naked dude flying but it's a good story with depth. I like

It's not a gory deconstruction, but a reconstruction. Finally some good news.

You're talking about Astro City. I know there are other fans out there but I've met so few. I'm so glad RU-vid recommended your channel to me by chance- and I noticed the Astro City volumes behind your right shoulder. Astro City isn't merely a deconstruction-reconstruction of superhero comics. It's a LOVE LETTER to the history of genre. Anyone who really loves superhero stories should follow this series (whose monthly publication ended recently). There are 17 volumes- very afforable but ALL WORTH IT.

It makes me happy knowing that there's someone out there that talks with their hands almost as much as I do. Good video

Astro City! Thank you soooooo much for reminding me about this series. Love it.

After watching this video, I went out and bought the first volume, Life in the Big City. From the foreword, I was hooked. A story truly about the love of superheroes, I am currently in the middle of the second volume, Confession, and bought a handful of more volumes. Thank you for this recommendation.

I just found your channel recently, and I love that you have two videos on Astro City. The Nearness of You (the stand-alone story around the time of Confessions, as opposed to the two-parter that wrapped up the monthly series) is one of my favorite stories, comic book or otherwise, and I would love to see more Astro City discussion.

oh oh, cover their 1 issue promo "crisis" like tale w/ Hangedman! Confessor would be neat... But more Astro City please.

There are so many interesting takes on classic archetypes in this series. It really seems sort of underrated in 2019. Also thank you, you introduced me to the concept of reconstructionist works. Any other works in that vein you recommend? Would love to see a video on the jester. Keep up the great work, you're becoming one of my go to channels:)

I absolutely love Astro City!! Every book-even the delays. Lol Great series.

I tried flying naked, but it didn't bring me joy because I was thrown off the plane and arrested.

Astro City came out in the middle of a period where comics had "heat" again. We were seeing books very influenced by the 80's renaissance that were hitting around the same time again and delivering as well. We really seem to be in a slump now even though there are several individually good titles, but so sense of a broad movement or momentum in the medium as a whole. In any case, Astro City and Alan Moore's ABC title Top 10 were a nice double act looking at the soap opera of a superhero filled society. With Astro-City though, what got me to pick up the book was Alex Ross. The guy's covers are worth whatever he's paid.

Sorry bout' that, caught up in the moment! Love the AstroCity stories because they dive more into the, every day life, moments being heroes( or villains).

I saw the Kurt Busiek hashtag and I was already sold. Loving this new channel :)

"Samaritan got back!".... dude! Ehrmagawd that was too dang funny.

I literally just searched Astro City Essays and found you talking about one of my favorite comic issues ever and I'm pretty happy to subscribe instantly

I'm so glad you hit this comic up it worth it's weight in gold.

For my Very powerful characters (especially) they have a responsibility to "balance" and have to take time off just to relax and be themselves. Also have personal lives, play games, rest and get psychological help. You can't and shouldn't fix everything (even when super powerful) and will eventually run out of desire to give; if its totally unbalanced. That's a path to 1) giving up helping others entirely because you deserve things and have needs too 2) villainy out of neglect, pain and suffering 3) nervous breakdown/suicide etc. I believe this very strongly. I understand the points this comic is making about the way a 'superman' type hero would suffer for the sake of others. Everyone please remember even if you seek to help others 1) you deserve love and joy AS MUCH as those you help 2) balance is better for the long haul. You will have nothing left to give if you "burn out" 3) don't be guilty to have self care as a balanced part of life! 4) no matter the power or money or position you have (or don't); it is NEVER one persons responsibility alone to "fix" or "save" everyone. Be a part of a solution and just do what you can within balance and reason. This all applies to regular people without powers too. And it applies to working or caring for loved ones as well! Interesting comic thanks for sharing!

Astro City has been my favorite superhero comic since I picked up that first issue. I don't exactly begrudge Kurt Busiek writing anything else, but, well, y'know.

Really glad I found this channel. I've been a comic fan for a while now and it still seems like there's so much I haven't read! Thanks for introducing me to Astro City, will definitely be picking it up when I finish Invincible.

I'm going to check out the series. Thanks for making this.

Astro City is wonderful. For newbies, I'd recommend the Life in the Big City trade paperback, which collects the first six issues, including the one reviewed here. Other good ones are Confessions, which contains the first major story arc and Lovers Quarrel, which looks at how two heroes introduced early on in the series cope with ageing after twenties years of crime fighting.

I haven’t read the series in a while but was a huge fan in the late 90s and grabbed as many of the trades as I could. Confessions has to be the best one of the bunch for me, but I loved Jack-in-the-Box, the Furst Family, and the date that Samaritan eventually gets to go on. That argument was epic! The story about how newspapers print what they can vette (sp?) was really cool. Silver Agent: To Our Eternal Shame One day I’ll figure out what was going on with that statue. Yeah, I’m way behind.

Sasha thank you for sharing this, I've never seen this comic and your commentary has been so enlightening that I am looking forward to getting all the issues. Keep up the awesome service. Love you

Been a HUGE fan since '99 when I came across the tpb vol 1 of the first five issues, and I've stuck with the series since. When I dropped out of DC & Marvel a while back, partly due to both companies wiping out their universes and restarting, I stuck w/ AC because the series has gone on; characters age, retire, get injured like Crackerjack who was w/ us since the beginning but during the Lover's Quarrel arch bad things happen (no spoilers) and Samaritan said one line that has stuck with me because of the number of losses my family has had over the years, "We've lost too many people, we've got to do something about it." but I think he knows he cant save everyone. I wish this is one title DC didn't stop (since they picked it up) and know Kurt has plans for the N-Forcer and finally give the whole story. And Sasha I'm sure you know, but get issues 50 and the tpb Victory involving Samaritan Winged Victory & Confessor. Trust me

Astro City is one of my top 3 all time favorite superhero comics. All of the characters are fantastic and definitely have that Marvel/ DC vibe. The way the comic follows different heroes and that a good chunk of the stories are being told through the eyes of ordinary citizens who live in Astro City. I will go as far to say that the Astro City Universe is just as good as The main Two Marvel And DC Universes. Im constantly surprised that no studio has gotten their hands on this property. Astro City would make for an epic movie franchise but because of the way the stories are told and that you follow so many different characters from comic to comic, Astro City would work so much better as an episodic Television series. Astro City essential screams to be made for tv. I could totally this on HBO, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. I highly recommend Astro City to anyone who loves Classic Superheroes that aren’t Marvel or DC.

Just started reading Astro City on ComiXology cuz of your review. Thanks, Sasha!

Love your new channel i hope it grows big. We need more female comic channels who just..well talk comics. Not window dressing (even though you are beautiful) but objective comic deep dives. There are a few but they kinda strayed. Good luck!

Love your videos👏🏾 a breath of fresh air. Its more than just a comic read.

Thanks for such interesting and informative articles, I'm just getting interested in collecting again and you've got me hooked on this Astro City series. I've managed to get hold of #1 & #2 (or order at least) and am looking forward to them. Keep up the good work, thanks again, take care!

I always wanted to get into the world of Astro City but never did when this first came out... I read about it in Wizard back in-- uh oh lol-- 1998.. back when those mags were thick. Anyway, I am at the library right now. RIGHT NOW. And this library has a few AC comics!! I just finished one, and it was so inspiring! AND sad. And hopeful. I need to get all of these. This stuff is the inspo I have been needing to help me write my own stories. Great video!

I loved the issue and the 2015 sequel to this issue, which also focuses on the Samartian. But, the Astro City story I love the most? The Silver Agent two parter from 2010. I thought that was a masterpiece.

I love your videos with your Analysis all of these books such as Astro City. As a performer and a writer slowly returning my pen to the page (so to speak) listening to your critique on Comic books is refreshing. Thank you.

🤩 man I love listening to people narrirate comics because im such a noob

Such a great Samaritan summary, Sasha!

Great video Sasha. Thanks for covering Astro City. I LOVE alt superhero stories but somehow didn't get into this. It sounds really cool. I'm sure I will be hooked.

So I have owned a copy of the original Astro City #1 but, never read it because I knew it was a valuable book back in the late 90s. When I heard there was going to be a one shot coming out in 2022 with Busiek and Ross returning I was able to get the remaining 5 issues of the mini series. My God, this book is beautiful! It feels like if Watchmen was written with a Golden Age comic book feel. It's beautiful and I am looking forward to the new one shot and possibly the new series.

Absolutely love your Comic book list. Refreshing.

At "Samaritan got back", I hit subscribe. Glad to be here!

Very nice vid. I'm really enjoying your channel. I'll never forget how "In Dreams" blew me away back when I first bought it off the rack in 1995. WOW, 25 years already. Such a brilliant start to a brilliant comic book mini series. I Thanks for the great work. Hope you'll be more Astro City soon. You really know your stuff. Stay awesome.

Finally found my new favorite comic info, suggests and go to person...😁

Sasha: ever want to throw something into the sun? Me: willing to settle for a flerken of my own, but would only use tentacle mode on really bad days

I love and get all the Astro City I can. It's even my cell phones wallpaper.

I never heard of this, but really appreciate the fact that you took the time to break it down so we'll. Keep making good videos I'll keep watching. Till the next one be well.

I love this channel. I am so glad I have found you

Astro City has one of my favorite comic stories of all time, one that actually got a few tears out of me. The promotional issue, Astro City 1/2, issued through Wizard Magazine has the story "I Dream of You", one of the most emotional things I've ever read in comics.

I love Astro City! Great review!

Love that your spreading the good word on Astro City

Thanks! Going to give it a read. You are so ♥️♥️♥️

Awesome comic. Amazon purchases since way back!

Do the Eagle and the Mountain (Maybe not the right title) about Samaritan's supervillain, an immortal scientist who lives in the future. Also, the one about the guy who remembers a wife who doesn't exist.

Great analysis! 🙏❤️