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Issue: Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Life in the Big City #[nn]
Publication Date: January 1996
 
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Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating:
Publisher: FlagImage
Brand: object(PgSql\Result)#3 (0) { }
Indicia Publisher: Homage Comics
On Sale Date: 07/1996
Volume:
Pages: 196
ISBN: 0965329003
UPC/EAN: 978096532900290000
Price: $27.50 CAD
$19.95 USD
Indicia Frequency:
Content Items: 15 (6 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s):  
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Publication Type: Comic Book
Color: color
Dimensions: standard Modern Age US
Paper Stock: cardstock cover; glossy interior
Binding: softcover
Publishing Format: collected edition
Format Notes:  
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[untitled]

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Subject Matter
superhero
Samaritan
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Introduction

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
4
In Dreams

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Samaritan [Asa Martin]; Rich; Karen; Shakira; Dr. Saturday; Honor Guard [MPH; The Black Rapier; Cleopatra; Quarrel [Jessica Darlene Taggart]; N-Forcer; Beautie]; The Menagerie Gang [Foxy Loxy]; Ms. Cavendish; The Living Nightmare
In my dreams I fly.
Though Samaritan devotes every moment of his waking day to using his great powers to aid humanity, it is only in dreams that he can enjoy them.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
24
The Biro Island in the story is most likely an homage to comics creator Charles Biro. Jack-in-the-Box's name appears in a newspaper's headline. The Irregulars appear on a page pinned on Asa Martin's office wall. Asa Martin is assigned an article on the First Family to proof-check. Gnomes, The Deacon, and Pyramid are discussed at an Honor Guard meeting.
The Scoop

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Eliot Mills; The Silver Agent; Jack Meskin; Karnus; Shirak the Devourer; The Honor Guard [Max O'Millions; Cleopatra; Leopardman; Kitkat; Starwoman; The N-Forcer; The Bouncing Beatnik]; The Old Soldier
The salary's acceptable, then?
Newspaper editor Eliot Mills explains the meaning of the brief, seemingly insignificant article he has framed on his wall to a novice reporter.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
24
Samaritan's battle with The Living Nightmare headlines a newspaper. Other newspaper headlines include references to The First Family, Commando K, and The Experimentals. Eliot Mills' cup says "World's Finest Granddad" in the style of the classic World's Finest Comics logo. In 1959, The Frontiersman advertises cigarettes. Homages include Briefer's, Toth's Fineries, Maneely's, Tripp's, Jack Meskin, Elias Street Station, Feldstein's Bar & Grill, and Iger Square Station. In Mills' story, The Lamplighter and The All-American are referred to as having just retired in 1959. The Silver Agent's tragic fate is obliquely referred to.
A Little Knowledge

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Jack-in-the-Box [Zachary Johnson]; Andrew Eisenstein; Tamra Dixon; The Deacon; Quarrel [Jessica Darlene Taggart]
This is the greatest city in the world.
A small-time crook sees Jack-in-the-Box unmasked and has to decide what to do with that knowledge.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
24
Homages in this story include the Chesler neighborhood, Biro Island, Craig Avenue Bar & Grill, Ingels Street, Davis Grocers, Kamen's Deli, and Elder's Gym. Winged Victory, The Confessor, Boilermaker, The Middleman, and Samaritan are mentioned in the story.
Safeguards

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Marta; The Hanged Man; Mr. Irons; Winged Victory; Darcy Conroy; Shellie; Jenny; Mama (Marta's mother); Nicu (Marta's father); First Family [Nick Furst; Natalie Furst; Julius Furst; Augustus Furst; Rex]; Unholy Alliance [Demolitia; Flamethrower; Glowworm; Spice; Slamburger]
Morning in Shadow Hill, below the looming bulk of Mount Kirby's eastern face--Shadow Hill, where night falls first in Astro City.
Each morning Marta commutes from Shadow Hill to downtown Astro City. But when a co-worker offers her a place in her apartment in town, Marta has to choose between her traditional life at home and life in the city.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
24
Homages in this story include Mount Kirby, Grandenetti Ave., Kiefer St., Szenic's Market, Fass Gardens, Rensie Avenue, Derbyfield, Binderbeck Plaza, and the Grant, Miller, Conroy, McConnell & Ingersoll law firm. Honor Guard and Samaritan are mentioned in the story.
Reconnaissance

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Mr. Bridwell; Astro City Irregulars [El Robo; Palmetto; Ruby; Juice; Homegirl; Stray]; Crackerjack [Eugene Wallace]; Samaritan; Starwoman; Gnomicron; Quarrel [Jessica Darlene Taggart]; Steel Devil; Jack-in-the-Box; Nightingale; Sunbird
Once upon a time... there was a little old man who lived in an undistinguished rooming house on the north side of Astro City.
An alien disguised as a human gathers information to report to his superiors about the superheroes of Earth, including, to his surprise, his neighbor Crackerjack.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
24
Also listed under Color Art & Separations are several other people, most not by their full names. Mr. Bridwell is named after longtime DC editor E. Nelson Bridwell. Homages in this story include Nordling's Department Store and Klein St. Cleopatra's battle with Gnomicron headlines a newspaper. Starwoman appears on a cover of Current, the magazine where Samaritan works. The alien has a file on Confessor, but no pictures. On the walls of his apartment, Mr. Bridwell has articles mentioning the First Family and N-Forcer. According to Mr. Bridwell's computer, Jessica Darlene Taggart is Quarrel II.
Dinner at Eight

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Samaritan; Winged Victory; N-Forcer; Quarrel [Jessica Darlene Taggart]; Cleopatra; The Black Napier; MPH; Beautie; Crackerjack; Goldenboy; First Family [Rex; Nick Furst; Natalie Furst; Astra Furst; Julius Furst; Augustus Furst]
The zyxometer, still working in my office gives me the news: there's a securities heist in progress at the Astro City Stock Exchange.
Samaritan and Winged Victory go on a date, but end up discussing business. Samaritan tells how he came to the present from the future to prevent the space shuttle disaster in 1986, but when he returned to his time, it had changed and he no longer existed there. Winged Victory grows frustrated with the differences between her and Samaritan, but they come to an understanding and seal it with a kiss before heading back to work.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
24
Also listed under Color Art & Separations are several other people as "& Pals." Samaritan refers to a battle with Eterneon. Homages in this story include Judge Marston, Senator Haney, Goscinny's Fine Dining, Stallman Street, Arriola's Taco Cafe, and Sekowsky Street.
Infrastructure

Text Article  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
11
Issue #1 Cover

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page)  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Samaritan
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Issue #2 Cover

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page)  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Silver Agent; Eliot Mills
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Issue #3 Cover

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page)  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Jack-in-the-Box
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Issue #4 Cover

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page)  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Winged Victory; Marta
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Issue #5 Cover

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page)  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Crackerjack
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Issue #6 Cover

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page)  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
superhero
Samaritan; Winged Victory
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1

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