Astro City - Local Heroes [Hardcover]

Kurt Busiek (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics 1/1/2001 1/1/2001 (2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401202810
• ISBN-13: 978-1401202811
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 6.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,246,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not my favorite AC, but still very good., November 27, 2005

By 

Linquel (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Astro City Vol. 5: Local Heroes (Paperback)

This volume in the Astro City series (vol. 5?) was a little different than the previous volumes. While the Astro City series has always tried to portray its heroes and people in a realistic light, this book seemed to focus more on the people and what it's like to live in the world of Astro City. The heroes are still there, but they are in the background. The stories follow the regular people and how they live their lives. This happened once before in one of the previous volumes. The story focused on a newspaper editor and his first story about the Shirrak shark worshippers. But here, all but one is about everyday people. Newcomers is about hotel doorman, Pete Donacek. Where the Action Is is about comic book writer Sally Twinings. Great Expectations is about stuntman turned actor, Mitch Goodman. Shining Armor is about political aide, Irene Meriwether. Pastoral is about city girl Camilla spending the summer at her Uncle's farm. Knock Wood is about attorney Vince Oleck. Justice Systems is also about Vince Oleck and continues from where the previous story ended. Old Times is about retired superhero Dale Enright, aka Supersonic. Since the Fire is about former firefighter Arnie Prentice. Don't get me wrong. Every Astro City book is well worth the price. And while I appreciate the intent behind focusing on the real people, I do still like reading about the super heroes rather than the local heroes.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tales From A Different View, November 29, 2005

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Astro City Vol. 5: Local Heroes (Paperback)

Astro City has been a favorite of mine ever since I first stumbled upon it. Bringing to mind Hero Alliance with its non-standard approach to superhero comics, Astro City is about the people and the people behind the mask and not about the fights and defeating the supervillains. This collections contains stories of different sorts of heroes than what are usually found in a comic.

We start with Astro City as seem through the eyes of a doorman at one of its finer hotels. Next we see the city through the eyes of a local comic book company and includes some industry cameos. Next a soap opera star playing a super hero gets caught up in reality. Then we see a love story from the view of the mortal woman who loved and lost. Next an Astro City resident learns about heroes in the heartland. Then a two-issue story examines the legal system as it meet the hero world. Then a retired hero is called back into service. Finally a short story honoring firemen and 9/11 ends the collection.

A wonderful collection that shows not all superhero comics are cast from the same mold. Some aren't cast at all but finely crafted as unique works of art. If you are unfamiliar with Astro City, this volume would make an fine introduction to the series. Existing fans will still find it fresh and original. Check it out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out of Towners, March 15, 2011

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Astro City Vol. 5: Local Heroes (Paperback)

"Astro City: Local Heroes" is the fifth collected edition in the Eisner and Harvey award-winning series, and collects "Astro City Vol. 2 #21-22," "Astro City: Local Heroes #1-5," "Astro City Special: Supersonic," and "After the Fire" from the 9/11 benefit book. This is the last batch of short stories before Busiek and crew headed into Astro City: The Dark Age which was the longest running storyline for the series.

"Local Heroes" showcases much of what I love about "Astro City." How do courts of law work in a world of DNA clones and shapeshifters? ("Knock Wood") What about the small towns outside of the big city? ("Pastoral"). Are there any comic books in a place were real superheroes fly the sky ("Where the Action Is") and what do they watch on TV? ("Great Expectations"). For some of the stories, it helps to have a background in Silver Age comic books, like "Shining Armor," which shows what happens when Superman gets sick of Lois Lane's constant attempts to expose his secret identity. And you have to look closely at every panel. I only noticed later that the aged hero Supersonic from "Old Times" had popped up in the court case during "Knock Wood."

Some people might be disappointed that none of Astro City's big guns show up during "Local Heroes." No Samaritan. No Winged Victory. No Confessor. No First Family. Not even Steeljack. The only real impactful even from "Local Heroes" is the introduction of the Blue Knight who playes an important role in "Dark Ages." But I liked the focus on the fringe characters, the doormen an firemen and city-smart teens annoyed at having to spend the summer in the country with their cousins. The heart of soul of the series, the human element, is well-represented.