And Then I Read: ASTRO CITY 18

Image © Juke Box Productions.

Crackerjack, the battered character above, and Quarrel, his partner in crime fighting and life, also above, are the focus of this issue, but Quarrel gets the most attention. They’ve been doing this for many years, and while attending the retirement dinner for one of their comrades, questions of hero longevity are the topic. Crackerjack is a wise-cracking optimist, with no plans to quit, though events suggest he might be losing his edge. Quarrel finds herself questioning her own life decisions, leading to a long flashback/origin that I found quite interesting. Great art and writing, as usual, by Busiek, Anderson and Ross.

Recommended.