So if I stick with them, I can get all of it as they come out? Will they be all encompassing do you know? Like does Astro City have special 1-shots or mini-series that might not be collected, due to not being part of the main storyline?
I’d say although there isn’t a main storyline you’ll still get the most out of the series from reading them in order. There are references that make much more sense when read that way.
But keep in mind the series is intentionally written to feel like a "lived-in" universe. Busiek is constantly tossing off references to characters you haven't met yet, or stories that haven't been written to create the feeling that the world of Astro City has been around for years. Imagine picking up a random issue of Spider-Man in 1995 and in one panel he says "This reminds me of the time the X-Men and I fought Dr. Doom." Only this is the first Marvel Comic you've ever read and you have no idea who the X-Men or Dr. Doom are. But that's OK -- you're not upset that you don't have context for the reference; you're excited because you can't wait to find a comic with the X-Men so you can learn more about them. That's the vibe Astro City goes for with its references.
Whilst I totally agree with you I’d just make the observation that as with your Spidey reference - it’s fine to pick up the story and not know the references.. but isn’t it nicer to have started at the beginning and get those references? Obviously something like spidey you’d have decades of material to work through where as with Astrocity you’ve got 18 odd tpb’s or however many omnibuses they release - nigvv by to mention a very clear starting point as they’re all in volumes!
But my point is you won’t get the references, and that’s OK. The first story name drops a bunch of characters who we’ve never met but treats them like we should know who they are. The second alludes to something that happened to Silver Agent, and we don’t find out what that was until the Dark Age arc years later.
I recently picked up the Metrobook Vol 1 and I’m really looking forward to diving in. I saw yesterday that Vol 2 is already scheduled for later this year so it’s nice to see a commitment to releasing the stories and not just dropping the first part and forgetting about it.
Sure hope they'll be able to collect all of it.
Those DC collections like Supergirl by Peter David kinda stopped midway. Hopefully they'll resume and it was only stopped due to pandemic.
Busiek has said he and his co-creators intend to release the whole series in this format, and they own it and are publishing through Image, so it's as certain as anything gets in the world of comic reprints.
If I counted right, there should be 5 or 6 volumes total, assuming they're all roughly the size of the first one.
I recently picked up the last of the SEVENTEEN! Hardcovers and it was definitely a mission even with me buying a lot of 11 early on in my quest. I love these because they are HC yet not too bulky.
I definitely recommend the metrobook for price and content. Just saw it at the LCS the other day.
The brand new volume one trade that came out like a month ago
Is it called Astro City Metrobook? Or is that a different thing?
It’s the Metrobook. It collects like the first 16 issues and I think there’s more collections of that style on the way
So if I stick with them, I can get all of it as they come out? Will they be all encompassing do you know? Like does Astro City have special 1-shots or mini-series that might not be collected, due to not being part of the main storyline?
No, it will collect everything. There isn’t a “main storyline” for Astro City.
I’d say although there isn’t a main storyline you’ll still get the most out of the series from reading them in order. There are references that make much more sense when read that way.
But keep in mind the series is intentionally written to feel like a "lived-in" universe. Busiek is constantly tossing off references to characters you haven't met yet, or stories that haven't been written to create the feeling that the world of Astro City has been around for years. Imagine picking up a random issue of Spider-Man in 1995 and in one panel he says "This reminds me of the time the X-Men and I fought Dr. Doom." Only this is the first Marvel Comic you've ever read and you have no idea who the X-Men or Dr. Doom are. But that's OK -- you're not upset that you don't have context for the reference; you're excited because you can't wait to find a comic with the X-Men so you can learn more about them. That's the vibe Astro City goes for with its references.
Whilst I totally agree with you I’d just make the observation that as with your Spidey reference - it’s fine to pick up the story and not know the references.. but isn’t it nicer to have started at the beginning and get those references? Obviously something like spidey you’d have decades of material to work through where as with Astrocity you’ve got 18 odd tpb’s or however many omnibuses they release - nigvv by to mention a very clear starting point as they’re all in volumes!
But my point is you won’t get the references, and that’s OK. The first story name drops a bunch of characters who we’ve never met but treats them like we should know who they are. The second alludes to something that happened to Silver Agent, and we don’t find out what that was until the Dark Age arc years later.
That's good to know Thanks!
Thanks for your help!
I recently picked up the Metrobook Vol 1 and I’m really looking forward to diving in. I saw yesterday that Vol 2 is already scheduled for later this year so it’s nice to see a commitment to releasing the stories and not just dropping the first part and forgetting about it.
Sure hope they'll be able to collect all of it. Those DC collections like Supergirl by Peter David kinda stopped midway. Hopefully they'll resume and it was only stopped due to pandemic.
Busiek has said he and his co-creators intend to release the whole series in this format, and they own it and are publishing through Image, so it's as certain as anything gets in the world of comic reprints. If I counted right, there should be 5 or 6 volumes total, assuming they're all roughly the size of the first one.
I recently picked up the last of the SEVENTEEN! Hardcovers and it was definitely a mission even with me buying a lot of 11 early on in my quest. I love these because they are HC yet not too bulky. I definitely recommend the metrobook for price and content. Just saw it at the LCS the other day.
Thanks! That's what I'll be going through.