As my first story to the astro city world, it was brilliant., 28 Sep 2008
Right, I had always wanted to read astro city and didnt know where to start, so I started with this story when it came out as a comic book series. I hadnt realised at this point that the dark age would be as significant as it is in astro city, which any reader of earlier stories such as life in the big city would know.
Like usual, the charm of astro city is due to the interesting perspective the story is told from, in this case two brothers. One, a police officer, the other, a thief. It shows how the city transcended into a knightmare and what brought it out and the remains left behind which even several decades on in other stories, leave not simple a sadness but a shame for all who lived through the dark age.
Personally, I enjoyed it as you can see. You dont need to be an previous astro city reader to enjoy it but personally, reading other stories such as confessions and life in the big city before this would have made me appreciate the significance of this tale a bit more.

As my first story to the astro city world, it was brilliant., 28 Sep 2008
Right, I had always wanted to read astro city and didnt know where to start, so I started with this story when it came out as a comic book series. I hadnt realised at this point that the dark age would be as significant as it is in astro city, which any reader of earlier stories such as life in the big city would know.
Like usual, the charm of astro city is due to the interesting perspective the story is told from, in this case two brothers. One, a police officer, the other, a thief. It shows how the city transcended into a knightmare and what brought it out and the remains left behind which even several decades on in other stories, leave not simple a sadness but a shame for all who lived through the dark age.
Personally, I enjoyed it as you can see. You dont need to be an previous astro city reader to enjoy it but personally, reading other stories such as confessions and life in the big city before this would have made me appreciate the significance of this tale a bit more.

I could angst but I choose not to., 09 May 2002
This isn't just another super-hero story, though it has all the needed elements. It is the story of real heroes, super or not, who go out to do what must be done because it is their moral duty as human beings. Confessor could have angst the night away but didn't, he had a world to save. A true hero to the core, never stopped to think about himself. You'll get no higher level of true heroism than in 'Confession'. One of those rare books that leave you thinking for days. Running the story back and forth in your mind to see how all the pieces fit together so perfectly.

One of the best stories ever!, 24 Oct 2000
In "Confession" Kurt Busiek has crafted a magnificent piece of comic literature. The focus of the book is on a young boy who becomes the sidekick to one of the grittier heroes of Astro City, the Confessor. Covering just about every super hero convention, (suprise twists, Alien Invasions, conspiricies etc ). I cannot stress enough just how good this book is.

As my first story to the astro city world, it was brilliant., 28 Sep 2008
Right, I had always wanted to read astro city and didnt know where to start, so I started with this story when it came out as a comic book series. I hadnt realised at this point that the dark age would be as significant as it is in astro city, which any reader of earlier stories such as life in the big city would know.
Like usual, the charm of astro city is due to the interesting perspective the story is told from, in this case two brothers. One, a police officer, the other, a thief. It shows how the city transcended into a knightmare and what brought it out and the remains left behind which even several decades on in other stories, leave not simple a sadness but a shame for all who lived through the dark age.
Personally, I enjoyed it as you can see. You dont need to be an previous astro city reader to enjoy it but personally, reading other stories such as confessions and life in the big city before this would have made me appreciate the significance of this tale a bit more.

I could angst but I choose not to., 09 May 2002
This isn't just another super-hero story, though it has all the needed elements. It is the story of real heroes, super or not, who go out to do what must be done because it is their moral duty as human beings. Confessor could have angst the night away but didn't, he had a world to save. A true hero to the core, never stopped to think about himself. You'll get no higher level of true heroism than in 'Confession'. One of those rare books that leave you thinking for days. Running the story back and forth in your mind to see how all the pieces fit together so perfectly.

One of the best stories ever!, 24 Oct 2000
In "Confession" Kurt Busiek has crafted a magnificent piece of comic literature. The focus of the book is on a young boy who becomes the sidekick to one of the grittier heroes of Astro City, the Confessor. Covering just about every super hero convention, (suprise twists, Alien Invasions, conspiricies etc ). I cannot stress enough just how good this book is.

Looking at a fascinating super-powered world from the inside, 01 Jun 2001
In a parallel America, Astro City has the world's highest incidence of superhuman activity. Another superhero comic? The difference is the perspective. These stories are about what it's like to be a superhero (or, in fact, villain), and what it's like to be an ordinary inhabitant of a place where superheroes are a part of everyday life. There are only a few big fight scenes, and they're only there to help tell stories about people rather than as ends in themselves. Often we see just a few establishing frames of a battle that would clearly take most of an issue in other comics.

The artwork is strong, with just enough shadow and outlining to give a hint of realism, and the ideas are good. There are clear homages to well-established comics characters, but they're always inspired by the originals and given their own life rather than simply copied. For instance, Samaritan is inspired by Superman, the Honour Guard is inspired by the Justice League of America, and the First Family is inspired by the Fantastic Four. These aren't your late 90's brimming-with-attitude supers - the style is that of an earlier age of comics, but with more emphasis on the human side.

This is the second Astro City collection, after 'Life in the Big City'. It contains 7 issues. The first is about an ordinary family who move into the city on the very day that someone big and angry comes calling. There's a two-parter about Astra, the youngest member of the First Family, and what it's like to be a 10-year-old kid living among technological miracles and spending your time fighting villains. Aging techno-villain the Junkman resolves to finally put one over on the heroes. In another two-parter, a brush with the future leads Jack-in-the-Box (clearly a favourite of the creators, and seen on the cover shot) to rethink his career as a hero. Oh, and the last one is the life story of a cartoon lion who now runs a restaurant. Go visit.