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Astro City #12
Astro City Vol. 12: Lovers Quarrel
In this new Astro City collection, the spotlight falls on Quarrel and Crackerjack as they face a real crisis: What does an aging crimefighter do when time starts to take its toll? Plus, a look into Quarrel's origins--and the end of the line for one of Astro City's most stalwart heroes. And what's a talking gorilla to do when he's always wanted to be a drummer in a rock and roll band? That's right, he goes to Astro City. But from there, well, things are never all that simple.
Kurt Busiek's critically acclaimed series continues here in Astro City Vol. 12. Collects issues #18-21 and #23-24.
Kurt Busiek's critically acclaimed series continues here in Astro City Vol. 12. Collects issues #18-21 and #23-24.
176 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2015
7 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,859 books626 followersKurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 17, 2023
One of the best volumes to-date as we see characters that have been in the background in numerous previous volumes and just focus on them for them in a four issue arc on Quarrell and Crackerjack - really tunnelling in on the idea around ageing heroes refusing to accept that they can't do this for ever. Written with some well thought out pathos and angst, it's a rare and more realistic insight into the addiction, that super-heroing could claim to be - and even more interesting as it focuses on Quarrel, a non-powered but super athletic hero.
The final two comic book issues in this volume as just as innovative, as they ask the question, what if a superhero doesn't want to 'hero' but would rather jam with a band? 8.5 out of 12, thoughtful Four Star read- a very good volume!
2019 and 2016 read
The final two comic book issues in this volume as just as innovative, as they ask the question, what if a superhero doesn't want to 'hero' but would rather jam with a band? 8.5 out of 12, thoughtful Four Star read- a very good volume!
2019 and 2016 read
November 20, 2018
Lovers Quarrel collections six issues of Astro City.
Ever wonder what happens when super heroes get old and have to face the fact that they won't be able to chase super villains forever? That's the premise behind the main tale in this volume. Quarrel and Crackerjack are street level heroes staring fifty in the face, struggling to keep going as their bodies break down. Since my shoulder and lower back hurt about half the time, I related all too well to this tale.
Quarrel's origin is told and her turbulent relationship with Crackerjack is explored. Jack's still a mystery for the most part, hung up on finding a way to regain his lost youth, which leads everyone into trouble. It's just the kind of human-based story I've come to expect in Astro City.
The other tale in the collection is of a talking gorilla that comes to Astro City to make music but keeps getting caught up in the super life. I liked it quite a bit but not as much as the lead tale.
There's a lot more action in this volume than some of the previous ones. Sticks does quite a bit of heroing and Quarrel and Crackerjack engage in their share of heroics. My favorite part of this volume was the relationship between Quarrel and Crackerjack, though.
Once again, I enjoyed my stay in Astro City and look forward to the next visit with great anticipation. Four out of five stars.
Ever wonder what happens when super heroes get old and have to face the fact that they won't be able to chase super villains forever? That's the premise behind the main tale in this volume. Quarrel and Crackerjack are street level heroes staring fifty in the face, struggling to keep going as their bodies break down. Since my shoulder and lower back hurt about half the time, I related all too well to this tale.
Quarrel's origin is told and her turbulent relationship with Crackerjack is explored. Jack's still a mystery for the most part, hung up on finding a way to regain his lost youth, which leads everyone into trouble. It's just the kind of human-based story I've come to expect in Astro City.
The other tale in the collection is of a talking gorilla that comes to Astro City to make music but keeps getting caught up in the super life. I liked it quite a bit but not as much as the lead tale.
There's a lot more action in this volume than some of the previous ones. Sticks does quite a bit of heroing and Quarrel and Crackerjack engage in their share of heroics. My favorite part of this volume was the relationship between Quarrel and Crackerjack, though.
Once again, I enjoyed my stay in Astro City and look forward to the next visit with great anticipation. Four out of five stars.
April 2, 2020
The main story is about how Quarrel and Crackerjack and how they handle aging as they have no superpowers. They're the Black Canary and Green Arrow of Astro City. It's a nice look at how people handle not being able to do as much as they push through middle age.
The real gem here is a fun story about a talking gorilla who just wants to play the drums. He was trained as a soldier in Gorilla Mountain before escaping to make music. Now all these supervillains keep attacking him while all he wants to do is make tunes and join a band. It's an absolute blast.
The real gem here is a fun story about a talking gorilla who just wants to play the drums. He was trained as a soldier in Gorilla Mountain before escaping to make music. Now all these supervillains keep attacking him while all he wants to do is make tunes and join a band. It's an absolute blast.
February 6, 2016
Two really good Astro City stories. The first explores the relationship between Quarrel and Crackerjack, two characters who have been floating around Astro City for a long time. They're both "normal" heroes with no powers, and they're aging. The entire story revolves around how they age and how they deal with it. If all you know is being a hero, what do you do when you can't be a hero anymore? One of them deals with that knowledge significantly better than the other, and neither of them deal with normal human relationships very well.
The second story is about Sticks, a talking gorilla who really just wants to be a drummer. This is exactly the sort of story that made me fall in love with Astro City, the push and pull between a normal life and a life with superpowers. I love Sticks, and I love how the story was resolved. And, as always, uniformly good art throughout.
The second story is about Sticks, a talking gorilla who really just wants to be a drummer. This is exactly the sort of story that made me fall in love with Astro City, the push and pull between a normal life and a life with superpowers. I love Sticks, and I love how the story was resolved. And, as always, uniformly good art throughout.
January 2, 2018
I have to say that when I was reading the first story of this volume of the immortal Astro City (which had its 100th issue published the week of February 22, 2017) I was at first lukewarm to it as it is a story that I have seen before (in-fact, Astro City, Vol. 3: Family Album did a very good job at it) concerning superheroes at the end of their careers. It was a well-told story with the professionalism you take for granted from Kurt Busiek, but the characters, who we first read about in the second and third volumes of Astro City, were not ones I particularly cared for, but it was enough for me to say, "yeah this was a decent three star read for me." The special thing about Astro City is that because it has been written for over 20 years as a single book it can be aged as close to real time as no other serialized comic book. To see these characters that I read when I first discovered this title now come to their natural conclusion was impressive, but not "wow" for me. The second story, about a super-intelligent Silverback ape trying to be a drummer in a rockband (...comics) was much more entertaining in the way I expected this book and ultimately won me over. Happy 100!
For my first review of Astro City here you go: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For my first review of Astro City here you go: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 29, 2020
And not much to change on a re-read. Except to recognize that this was a long-form story. I didn't remember either the main story or the backup story. The main story gives us a long view on the aging of some characters we've seen before, which is handled rather well. The backup story I didn't expect much from. But this is Astro City - so even an Ape who wants to play drums - shows depth and interesting side characters - as well as ties into characters we've seen and heard of before. Not as impressed though on a re-read. Most likely because it's all just a little less surprising. 4.5 of 5.
Wow. Or rather ho hum another absolutely fantastic Astro City, wow what a surprise. There was an intro to one of these books that something like Astro City treats the superhero graphic novel as a medium rather than a genre. And that kind of captures it. It's like all stories are told through Astro City. And it almost has a Charles de Lint Newford feel to it. Except there doesn't seem to be any sort of order. But maybe at some point long form stories will just come out.
This one is really just the story of Quarrel and to a lesser degree Crackerjack. But it's also the story of family and getting old and having limitations.
And a backup story of an Ape that just wants to play drums.
Wow. Or rather ho hum another absolutely fantastic Astro City, wow what a surprise. There was an intro to one of these books that something like Astro City treats the superhero graphic novel as a medium rather than a genre. And that kind of captures it. It's like all stories are told through Astro City. And it almost has a Charles de Lint Newford feel to it. Except there doesn't seem to be any sort of order. But maybe at some point long form stories will just come out.
This one is really just the story of Quarrel and to a lesser degree Crackerjack. But it's also the story of family and getting old and having limitations.
And a backup story of an Ape that just wants to play drums.
May 1, 2016
Lover's Quarrel (18-21). We've known that Astro City embraced change since at least Confession. But it doesn't just change, it also ages, and that's what this story is all about. Quarrel and Crackerjack have been with us since some of the earliest Astro City stories, and now 20 years have gone by. So now we get a beautiful story that never could have been told by DC and Marvel, about what happens when a hero gets to old to adventure.
I loved this story for the backstory of Quarrel: learning who she is and what made her that. It's also great for the relationship between Quarrel and Crackerjack. However its best feature is that look at aging, and how we find new challengs as the old ones leave us behind.
It's one of Busiek's best. I'm glad he still has it himself [9/10].
Sticks (23-24). The other story in the volume just can't compare, but it's a nice two-parter about a person (gorilla), trying to find a way to do what he loves in a world that doesn't want to allow it. And we continue to see the evolution of Astro City as he links up with one of the newest era's newer groups [7/10].
I loved this story for the backstory of Quarrel: learning who she is and what made her that. It's also great for the relationship between Quarrel and Crackerjack. However its best feature is that look at aging, and how we find new challengs as the old ones leave us behind.
It's one of Busiek's best. I'm glad he still has it himself [9/10].
Sticks (23-24). The other story in the volume just can't compare, but it's a nice two-parter about a person (gorilla), trying to find a way to do what he loves in a world that doesn't want to allow it. And we continue to see the evolution of Astro City as he links up with one of the newest era's newer groups [7/10].
November 9, 2021
Yahoo! My new library has all the Astro City volumes my last library was lacking! Time for a week-long binge to catch up!
I start off with a melancholy volume about a pair of non-powered superheroes who realize they are starting to age out of the profession. Quarrel reflects back on her hardscrabble origin in Kentucky and her volatile romance with the carefree and careless Crackerjack. Even if she can bring herself to retire, will she be able to persuade him to join her?
The backup story is about a gorilla who runs away from a hidden city of intelligent and militant gorillas in Antarctica to pursue his dream of being a drummer in a band. But how is he supposed to find his rhythm when heroes keep wanting him to join their teams and villains keep attacking his gigs?
These are not peak Astro City tales, but they are engaging with a fair amount of fun mixed in the drama and action. I did forget how dense Astro City books are. There is so much going on, they take me twice as long to read as books of the same length from the Marvel and DC superhero universes.
I start off with a melancholy volume about a pair of non-powered superheroes who realize they are starting to age out of the profession. Quarrel reflects back on her hardscrabble origin in Kentucky and her volatile romance with the carefree and careless Crackerjack. Even if she can bring herself to retire, will she be able to persuade him to join her?
The backup story is about a gorilla who runs away from a hidden city of intelligent and militant gorillas in Antarctica to pursue his dream of being a drummer in a band. But how is he supposed to find his rhythm when heroes keep wanting him to join their teams and villains keep attacking his gigs?
These are not peak Astro City tales, but they are engaging with a fair amount of fun mixed in the drama and action. I did forget how dense Astro City books are. There is so much going on, they take me twice as long to read as books of the same length from the Marvel and DC superhero universes.
June 10, 2017
This volume of Astro City tells the story of an aging Green Arrow and Black Canary (well, their analogs) and deals with what happens when a super hero (non-enhanced) gets old. It's a touching story, seeing Quarrel come from literally nothing to be the foil and on-again/off-again love of Crackerjack, to see how she deals with the day when they come to accept that they aren't really capable any more. It's a nuanced and relatable view, and both Quarrel and Crackerjack make for interesting, multi-faceted characters, although Quarrel gets the lion's share of the attention. The collection also includes a two-issue arc about a musical gorilla, which sounds absurd but is another surprisingly effective story, both touching and funny. The art definitely feels like Astro City and it's another all-around strong package from Busiek and co.
May 7, 2016
Anther good but not great installment in the Astro City series.
This one focuses primarily on the superheroine Quarrel, her background and relationship with the cocky popinjay superhero Crackerjack, and how they as non-powered costumed crimefighters deal with getting old and losing a step.
At this point Busiek can write this stuff in his sleep, and it's competently done but not as inspired as previous efforts. Still, even coasting Astro City is better than the best efforts in other comics.
The standalone story at the end, "Sticks", is about a talking gorilla, and it's pretty clear Busiek and Anderson were having fun with this one. Talking gorillas are a staple in Golden Age comics, so it was inevitable they got around to doing a story specifically on that. As always, there are some nice twists to the story, with mash-ups from other comics: a hidden valley, an ape city, portals to other worlds, rock'n'roll, with plenty of puns liberally scattered throughout.
This one focuses primarily on the superheroine Quarrel, her background and relationship with the cocky popinjay superhero Crackerjack, and how they as non-powered costumed crimefighters deal with getting old and losing a step.
At this point Busiek can write this stuff in his sleep, and it's competently done but not as inspired as previous efforts. Still, even coasting Astro City is better than the best efforts in other comics.
The standalone story at the end, "Sticks", is about a talking gorilla, and it's pretty clear Busiek and Anderson were having fun with this one. Talking gorillas are a staple in Golden Age comics, so it was inevitable they got around to doing a story specifically on that. As always, there are some nice twists to the story, with mash-ups from other comics: a hidden valley, an ape city, portals to other worlds, rock'n'roll, with plenty of puns liberally scattered throughout.
Read
March 20, 2020The Quarrel/Crackerjack story is a long time coming, and it delivers on pretty much every level. These two non-powered heroes are pushing 50 by now. They’re at a crossroads on how to continue, and they handle the situation in very different ways. So not only is this story a fascinating exploration of aging superheroes, it’s also a portrait of two people, far from perfect, helping each other through change. It’s great getting Quarrel’s backstory, too. She’s up there with Steeljack as one of my favorite Astro City characters.
The second story is an absolute delight. We meet Sticks, a talking gorilla who just wants rock out, but those dang heroes and villains keep getting in the way. As a music nerd, I was grinning ear-to-ear the whole way through this one. Busiek is great at little stories like this and he delivers another winner. Also, Alex Ross’ covers for the Sticks issues? Awesome!!
The second story is an absolute delight. We meet Sticks, a talking gorilla who just wants rock out, but those dang heroes and villains keep getting in the way. As a music nerd, I was grinning ear-to-ear the whole way through this one. Busiek is great at little stories like this and he delivers another winner. Also, Alex Ross’ covers for the Sticks issues? Awesome!!
February 10, 2016
This volume reminded me why I enjoy Astro City. The first of the two stories deals with two aging heroes in the ACU, who have been present the entire series. They both deal with the fact that they may no longer be able to continue being heroes in different ways. You also get quite a bit of backstory on Quarrel, really defining what drives her and her actions resulting in some outstanding characterization.
Astro City, while never quite 4 or 5 star material, continues to be a solid, high quality series that takes a look at the superhero archetypes and tropes from the perspective of "normal" humans.
Astro City, while never quite 4 or 5 star material, continues to be a solid, high quality series that takes a look at the superhero archetypes and tropes from the perspective of "normal" humans.
Read
July 24, 2016The first story gets under the skin of non-powered heroes: the insane dedication required to compete with superhumans; the cost of that; and what happens when mere human flesh can no longer cope with the accumulated damage and years. After which one rather needs a break, making it fortunate that the remaining issues are about a gorilla who just wants to play drums but keeps inadvertently getting involved in superheroics.
February 29, 2020
Astro City vem sendo publicada em conta-gotas aqui no Brasil. Ainda falta um bom número de encadernados para se concluir esta última fase do trio Alex Ross, Kurt Busiek e Brent Anderson por aqui. Esse delay causa um certo problema porque acabamos não nos lembrando muito bem do que aconteceu nas edições passadas da série. Não é o caso deste Volume 12, Corações em Conflito, que é um arco à parte e, portanto, perfeito para quem quer inciar sua leitura da série. Ele trata da conflituosa relação romântica entre a heroína Balestra e o superpoderoso e canastrão Bambambão. O encadernado vai mostrando os altos e baixos desse relacionamento. A relação estabelecida entre os dois também lembra muito o romance entre Oliver Queen, o Arqueiro Verde e Dinah Lance, a Canário Negro. Possivelmente seja uma homenagem dos autores a esse casal da DC Comics. Completam o encadernado a história de um grila chamado Baquetas, que quer se baterista, e se envereda pela cidade grande, mas acaba se tornando uma espécie de super-herói meio-turno enquanto em outra parte do dia faz shows de rock.
January 19, 2020
Quarrel has been an intriguing regular in the margins of Astro City so far, and vol12 finally gives her full origin story and the fading career focus she deserves. It shows the tempestuous relationships that drive her to be a non-superpowered hero, and the tradeoffs she believes have been required to maintain her abilities. Crackerjack has been a lovably annoying figure in AC since the beginning, and he also gets explored in a major role here without losing his puckish edge. Altogether, this four-issue story emphasizes the unique strengths AC has acquired over so many years with its commitment to a realistic passage of time and genuine consequences.
The closing two-issue arc is much lighter, introducing an intelligent ape who just wants to be a drummer but superhero/villain interests keep getting in the way. Sticks is a fun main character, and the plot helps expand the world of Astro City that much more.
The closing two-issue arc is much lighter, introducing an intelligent ape who just wants to be a drummer but superhero/villain interests keep getting in the way. Sticks is a fun main character, and the plot helps expand the world of Astro City that much more.
January 12, 2016
Another fantastic installment in the Astro City series. If you haven't picked up Vol 1, go out & do so immediately.
This one focuses on two different characters. The first is about a 'regular woman' superhero who finds herself & her partner getting older, slowing down, and having to face the fact that life is going to change for her. Since they have to physically train in order to be crime fighters, rather than being aliens or with innate super powers, they're facing more & more injuries, with the potential of death becoming greater with each encounter.
We also get to meet Sticks, a sentient talking gorilla who comes from a remote, hidden tropical oasis. Tired of a life in his society's military, he travels to Astro City to become a drummer, hoping to make music and create joy in people. But a highly-trained gorilla is a much sought-after resource & things don't turn out quite the way he planned.
This one focuses on two different characters. The first is about a 'regular woman' superhero who finds herself & her partner getting older, slowing down, and having to face the fact that life is going to change for her. Since they have to physically train in order to be crime fighters, rather than being aliens or with innate super powers, they're facing more & more injuries, with the potential of death becoming greater with each encounter.
We also get to meet Sticks, a sentient talking gorilla who comes from a remote, hidden tropical oasis. Tired of a life in his society's military, he travels to Astro City to become a drummer, hoping to make music and create joy in people. But a highly-trained gorilla is a much sought-after resource & things don't turn out quite the way he planned.
August 20, 2021
Reprints Astro City (2) #18-21 and #23-24 (February 2015-August 2015). Quarrel has had a long career as a crime fighter following a childhood of being the daughter of a supervillain. As a member of the Honor Guard, Quarrel has saved the world, but now something is different. Quarrel and her lover Crackerjack are getting older, and while Jessie is considering a different life, Jack is all in…even if it kills him. Also in the city, Sticks is a gorilla from Gorilla Mountain. All he wants to do is play music in band but being a talking gorilla in Astro City is a path to danger.
Written by Kurt Busiek, Astro City: Lovers Quarrel is a superhero comic book collection released under DC’s Vertigo imprint. The twelfth entry in the Astro City collections, the series follows Astro City: Honor Guard and features art by Brent Eric Anderson. Astro City (2) #22 was included in the previous volume.
Astro City is always a treasured read. Over the years, I’ve fallen off reading the comic but every time I return I remember why I love it. The format of Busiek’s world has been copied many times (Busiek even stole it from himself after writing Marvels), but Astro City still does it best. Astro City: Lovers Quarrel is a solid entry in the series.
The Quarrel-Crackerjack storyline takes up a majority of the collection. The four issue story presents a “surprise” hero character in Quarrel who in classic comic style rejected her father’s behavior to become a hero (like Raven, Spoiler, or Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch), but in addition to being a “family drama”, the story deals with the idea of aging. While DC and Marvel characters generally don’t age, Astro City tries to take a more time-based approach and the idea of when a hero should “give up” is a legitimate questions since the hero MO is generally “never give up”. In a real world scenario it has to happen.
The second story falls into the Astro City “fun” story category. Gorillas (for whatever reason) have always been a staple of comic books. Here we get a gorilla that has always wanted to be a musician but is pulled into the crime fighting life. This of course creates a conundrum for the character (he’s really good at fighting crime and helping people), but it isn’t his dream. The solution seems easy from the get-go, but it takes two issues to get there (which it feels a bit long).
Astro City feels like a comic book for those who truly love comic books. While you can read Astro City and enjoy it on his own, it helps to have a strong background in comic books to understand the tropes and twists that bring the humor, social commentary, and satire to the series. If you’ve never read Astro City, you can kind of jump in anywhere, but I still recommend starting from the beginning…whatever you start with, keep reading! Astro City: Lovers Quarrel is followed by Astro City: Reflections.
Written by Kurt Busiek, Astro City: Lovers Quarrel is a superhero comic book collection released under DC’s Vertigo imprint. The twelfth entry in the Astro City collections, the series follows Astro City: Honor Guard and features art by Brent Eric Anderson. Astro City (2) #22 was included in the previous volume.
Astro City is always a treasured read. Over the years, I’ve fallen off reading the comic but every time I return I remember why I love it. The format of Busiek’s world has been copied many times (Busiek even stole it from himself after writing Marvels), but Astro City still does it best. Astro City: Lovers Quarrel is a solid entry in the series.
The Quarrel-Crackerjack storyline takes up a majority of the collection. The four issue story presents a “surprise” hero character in Quarrel who in classic comic style rejected her father’s behavior to become a hero (like Raven, Spoiler, or Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch), but in addition to being a “family drama”, the story deals with the idea of aging. While DC and Marvel characters generally don’t age, Astro City tries to take a more time-based approach and the idea of when a hero should “give up” is a legitimate questions since the hero MO is generally “never give up”. In a real world scenario it has to happen.
The second story falls into the Astro City “fun” story category. Gorillas (for whatever reason) have always been a staple of comic books. Here we get a gorilla that has always wanted to be a musician but is pulled into the crime fighting life. This of course creates a conundrum for the character (he’s really good at fighting crime and helping people), but it isn’t his dream. The solution seems easy from the get-go, but it takes two issues to get there (which it feels a bit long).
Astro City feels like a comic book for those who truly love comic books. While you can read Astro City and enjoy it on his own, it helps to have a strong background in comic books to understand the tropes and twists that bring the humor, social commentary, and satire to the series. If you’ve never read Astro City, you can kind of jump in anywhere, but I still recommend starting from the beginning…whatever you start with, keep reading! Astro City: Lovers Quarrel is followed by Astro City: Reflections.
March 13, 2019
I have of course lauded Kurt Busiek for his Astro City series for its looking at the superhero genre from different perspectives than what we are used to from the genre. While someone like Ed Brubaker can deliver amazing work based on the superheroes "adventures" themselves (see his run on Captain America for proof), Busiek excels in Astro City by showing stories from the "street level" perspective. His conceit is that if you've seen one superhero battle, you've seen them all.
For this collection, Busiek elevates the perspective from "street view" and focuses on two heroes from earlier story arcs--Quarrel and Crackerjack. Of course, there is a reason for this--Busiek has shown us that Astro City operates in real time and as such, the heroes of Astro City also age in real time. This doesn't matter for some of the stars of the show like the Samaritan or Winged Victory, but for Quarrel and Crackerjack, who have more in common with Batman than those super-powered near gods, it matters. Even though the perspective is elevated from "street view" the fight against father time for both Quarrel and Crackerjack (and the ways these heroes deal with the inevitable march of time) is the sort of storytelling we've come to expect from Busiek on Astro City and I doubt you've seen it laid bare this way before.
In addition the collection is padded with a two part story arc where Busiek pays homage to the number of gorilla characters that have littered comics over the last sixty years. I don't remember who the writer was (Jerry Siegel? Otto Binder?) who said that since chimps sold comics, there should be more chimps. The story in this collection concerns a self-aware Gorilla who wants to be a drummer in a band. That big is interesting, but Busiek did a better version of this same story in the Through Open Doors collection, and just seems to be repeating himself here, as I consider the earlier story the superior of the two.
Still, when it comes to quality comics, Astro City should be on your list, and you need to check this one out. Busiek has such amazing feel for examining superhero tropes through varying lenses (in the case of this collection, aging) you'll be satisfied with the end result.
For this collection, Busiek elevates the perspective from "street view" and focuses on two heroes from earlier story arcs--Quarrel and Crackerjack. Of course, there is a reason for this--Busiek has shown us that Astro City operates in real time and as such, the heroes of Astro City also age in real time. This doesn't matter for some of the stars of the show like the Samaritan or Winged Victory, but for Quarrel and Crackerjack, who have more in common with Batman than those super-powered near gods, it matters. Even though the perspective is elevated from "street view" the fight against father time for both Quarrel and Crackerjack (and the ways these heroes deal with the inevitable march of time) is the sort of storytelling we've come to expect from Busiek on Astro City and I doubt you've seen it laid bare this way before.
In addition the collection is padded with a two part story arc where Busiek pays homage to the number of gorilla characters that have littered comics over the last sixty years. I don't remember who the writer was (Jerry Siegel? Otto Binder?) who said that since chimps sold comics, there should be more chimps. The story in this collection concerns a self-aware Gorilla who wants to be a drummer in a band. That big is interesting, but Busiek did a better version of this same story in the Through Open Doors collection, and just seems to be repeating himself here, as I consider the earlier story the superior of the two.
Still, when it comes to quality comics, Astro City should be on your list, and you need to check this one out. Busiek has such amazing feel for examining superhero tropes through varying lenses (in the case of this collection, aging) you'll be satisfied with the end result.
November 24, 2020
La Astro City de Kurt Busiek sigue sumando historias y personajes con el paso de los años, y, en los últimos tomos, se ha notado que el autor ha intentado introducir nuevos temas en su obra. De forma a veces poco sutil estamos viendo como en los últimos tomos se introducen temas como las diferentes opciones sexuales, el papel de los personajes femeninos o el envejecimiento de los héroes. No es que hasta ahora Busiek no hubiera tocado estos temas, recordemos la magnífica historia sobre Atomicus y su eterna novia (una parodia de la relación entre Superman y Lois durante décadas) como una crítica muy poderosa al papel de la mujer en el género superheroíco o la agridulce historia de madurez que conforma Superman: Identidad Secreta. Pero recientemente nos hemos encontrado con la superheroína transexual Starbright, la presencia clara de parejas homosexuales en diversos arcos (incluso en simples escenas de fondo, trasmitiendo una normalización que se agradece) parece que el guionista ha decidido darle mayor presencia a estos temas en su colección más personal en los últimos tiempos.
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June 16, 2020
Two really good stories. The first about Quarrel and Crackerjack (two characters I've been excited to read a story focused on) it gave us a great view from the powerless superheroes and deals heavily with their relationship and coming to terms with getting older. This series has pretty consistently made it clear that their is a timeline and characters age normally and this story gave a really good look at that.
The second story focused on a talking Gorilla that plays drums. Don't really need to say much more about that. But I will anyway, it felt pretty similar thematically with the 4th issue of this Vertigo series about the super powered old woman who never like being a superhero. I feel like I didn't get a good enough vibe on Sticks' (the gorilla) personality but this is very much a nitpick and I can see it changing upon reread. Overall very nice stories with strong characters, however keep in mind I'm a sucker for Astro City and have consistently loved it.
The second story focused on a talking Gorilla that plays drums. Don't really need to say much more about that. But I will anyway, it felt pretty similar thematically with the 4th issue of this Vertigo series about the super powered old woman who never like being a superhero. I feel like I didn't get a good enough vibe on Sticks' (the gorilla) personality but this is very much a nitpick and I can see it changing upon reread. Overall very nice stories with strong characters, however keep in mind I'm a sucker for Astro City and have consistently loved it.
June 17, 2018
One of the neat things about Astro City is how it takes time into account for its characters. This is about two heroes who really shouldn’t be fighting crime at their age. They’re normal—relatively—people, whose edge is constant training. But even constant training can’t keep off the effects of age. One of them compensates with better and better armor; the other by a determined course of reality denial.
They also have one of the most realistic relationships I’ve seen in a superhero comic.
The end of the arc leaves it open for the super supers to really screw things up; it’ll be interesting to see if they don’t let it drop.
They also have one of the most realistic relationships I’ve seen in a superhero comic.
The end of the arc leaves it open for the super supers to really screw things up; it’ll be interesting to see if they don’t let it drop.
May 2, 2020
These "Astro City" books have a "Marvel"ous quality to them... early Marvel [early to mid 1960s]. Really they have all the good elements from DC, Marvel, Gold Key, Charlton, etc. Something that has been missing from comics for a long time. The artwork is great, the writing is taut and the storylines range from good to great. Not a whole lot of politics filter in and even less profanity. Its comics done right. I will repeat this in every review and then try to make it fit that book.
This one surprised me by making me like a character I wasn't originally that fond of.
This one surprised me by making me like a character I wasn't originally that fond of.
January 2, 2017
What do you do when you're getting too old to be a super-hero? It's a question both Crackerjack and Quarrel have to face in the main story arc collected here, and Busiek, Anderson, and Ross do their usual good job in collecting Silver Age style with contemporary questions in a style approachable to youth and adult alike.
The backup story, about a talking gorilla who's less interested in fighting crime than simply playing drums in a band, is typical charming Astro City.
The backup story, about a talking gorilla who's less interested in fighting crime than simply playing drums in a band, is typical charming Astro City.
February 23, 2020
A pair of stories here, the first deals with the protagonist known as Quarrel who took over her super-villain father's name and turning it around to become a hero. We see what motivates and drives her and as the years wears on what motivates her to make a change. The second deals with a refugee from Gorilla Mountain who escapes his forced service in the simian army to run off to Astro City and become a drummer. Quality is excellent as always.
August 16, 2020
I think this is the first volume of Astro City I'm giving a 3-star. Not a big fan of the first 4 issues which revolves around Quarrel and Crackerjack - two characters I don't really care about so that explains a lot of it. The last 2 issues that round out this trade were fun - a talking gorilla who came to Astro City to play the drums! If you're a fan of Astro City, it's worth a read, but not a buy for me.
January 12, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this one. I hate Crackerjack and it seems like the author thinks we're supposed to like him despite ourselves. But he's a jerk.
Quarrel, on the other hand, is a relateable character (with a bewildering name). It's not clear if she every believes in herself, which seems to be the lesson the book is building towards
Quarrel, on the other hand, is a relateable character (with a bewildering name). It's not clear if she every believes in herself, which seems to be the lesson the book is building towards
November 8, 2019
This volume focuses on the relationship between an aging Quarrel and Crackerjack as they enter the twilight of their hero years. There's also a story featuring Tuxedo Gorilla and his quest to form a super-powered rock band.
As usual Astro City brings a depth to superhero stories that's rarely seen, and Brent Anderson's art is always spectacular.
As usual Astro City brings a depth to superhero stories that's rarely seen, and Brent Anderson's art is always spectacular.
September 18, 2025
Love and relationships in Astro city, heroes have a lot going on beside their love life but love is what ties it all together. This storyline was stretched out a bit longer than I expected but it was a fine tale.
A super smart gorilla hates his war torn monkey kingdom and comes to the city to ROCK. This is prime comic book- just imagine a gorilla rocking out!
A super smart gorilla hates his war torn monkey kingdom and comes to the city to ROCK. This is prime comic book- just imagine a gorilla rocking out!
August 28, 2017
As I continued through the ASTRO CITY some it became hit and miss. The misses weren't without their pluses, but Vol. 12 (to me) was a definite high point. Equal parts love story, Quarrel backstory, superhero dynamics, fallen heroes and a dramatic treatise on aging. Very well done.
March 20, 2018
Quarrel has never been my favorite character - and I think folks may bump on this story in light of the #MeToo movement. That said, the writing is well-done and the issue of "what happens when a superhero gets old?" is an interesting premise.
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