Written by Kurt Busiek; Art by Brent Anderson Brian Kinney has left his rural home, seeking adventure in the big city - Astro City. After literally working his way into the super-hero scene as a busboy and waiter, Brian attracts the attention of Astro City's vigilante Confessor. Dubbed Alter Boy, Brian becomes the Confessors sidekick. While Astro City suffers under the looming threat of a serial killer on the loose and the city government moves to ban super heroes altogether, Brian questions the actions of his mentor. If that weren't enough, there just may be an alien invasion looming!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Comic
The world of Kurt Busiek's Astro City is truly one of the great fictional worlds ever created; I would rank it right up there with Tolkien's Middle Earth or the "Babylon 5" universe in terms of its richness, complexity, and emotional impact. "Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Confession" is a superb example of the power of Astro City. This book is essentially a novel in comic book form. It tells the story of Brian, a small town boy who moves to Astro City with dreams of joining the city's legion of costumed heroes. He ultimately joins up with the Confessor, a dark, brooding superhero, and together they face a chilling mystery that impacts all the city's heroes.
Many characters from other volumes in the Astro City series are woven into "Confession": Crackerjack, the Hanged Man, Winged Victory, Samaritan, and many more. Also woven into the superhero story are a number of "real world" issues: crime, spirituality, governmental intrusiveness, and more. Along the way are some innovative concepts and characters; I was especially intrigued by the Crossbreed, a group of evangelical Christian superheroes introduced early in the story.
"Confession" is at once a coming-of-age tale, an intimate character study, and a vast epic tale that spans many decades and the entire planet. The story is also a skillful blend of concepts from the horror and science fiction genres. Like many of the great graphic novels of our time ("Watchmen," "Marvels," etc.) "Confession" deconstructs the very superhero genre to which it belongs. The characters are compelling, the dialogue is gripping, and the visual artwork is awesome: many scenes look like something from a big-budget science fiction film. In my opinion, "Confession" is a profoundly moving masterpiece.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By J. Russell
Format:Comic
There is a certain innocence to the Astro City comics that still speaks with wisdom and intelligence. They are beautifull to look at, funny, self-referential, and you always get the "why hasn't this been done before" feeling whenever you read one. This is the best of the four collections that are thus far available. The story of a young "robin-like" sidekick before, during, and after his initiation into the super-hero field. You can actually see the character grow as a person, a person who is likeable in all stages of his life. All the comic cliches are here, subtely altered and so made new again. There are super-heroes galore, but this story focus's on two in particular. Some of the twists are predictable and some aren't, but you always get the feeling that it doesn't effect the quality of the comic. If you guess it ahead of time, it is still a good read. The comic is something that you can give to your children, and they will enjoy it, but, aldults can enjoy just as much on an entirely different level. The comic is fun, intelligent, and still has that sense of wonder you remember from reading comics as a child. Don't pass this one up.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Comic
Kurt Busiek has crafted an excellent superhero storyline in Confession. Astro City has, and continues to be the best pure superhero comic out,and Confession is the highpoint of the series. The story is completely told through the eyes of the Confessors sidekick, the Altar Boy. The fact that Busiek pulls off this narrative without seeming derivative is one thing, but the most impressive part is the quality of the story itself, and the shocking secret that the Confessor hides, adds to the drama. Throw in some mysterious religious imagery, and you get a solid enjoyable story to read. While it isnt as shocking or hilarious as Preacher, its an excellently written, beautifully drawn story, in the mold of classic comic book storytelling.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
New "old-fashioned" comic
I've just bought and read this recently, and for my first Astro City book, I'd say it makes perfect sense without having read the previous book. Read more
Published on February 13, 2011 by Cilantron Xenotheophilos ERV
3.0 out of 5 stars
An intelligent read but dull comic
Of the three volumes released so far, Confessions is probably the best in the Astrocity series. It tells about the coming of age of a young boy with the superhero name Altar-boy,... Read more
Published on August 4, 2009 by danny boy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Like finding a $20 in an old pair of pants
Used to collect Astro City when it first came out, so this wasn't a new discovery. It was nice to find this storyline collected in one volume. Read more
Published on March 21, 2009 by Ingeneeus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great one
I was not really captured with the first TPB but this one is great. Tells a good story with a sudden twist.
Published on March 16, 2009 by Yevgen Ostroukhov
4.0 out of 5 stars
Graphic SF Reader
A young man looks up to the heroes of the city after he arrives, and wants to be like them, or help them if he can. Read more
Published on September 2, 2007 by Blue Tyson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A memorable dark epic
If you're 'old school' and like Miller and Moore don't miss this book. Worth several re-reads
Peace
Peace
Published on December 29, 2006 by Maitri
5.0 out of 5 stars
What is a Superhero?
Kurt Busiek asks that question, to a certain degree, in all the Astro City stories. This story follows Brian, a young man who resents both the father that gave free checkups to his... Read more
Published on August 30, 2005 by David Lev
5.0 out of 5 stars
Darkness and light
Busiek has an amazing way of taking familar superhero comic themes and using them in new ways. Unlike some modern comic writers, he respects the genre and knows how to tell great... Read more
Published on May 18, 2004 by Bryan D. Costin
5.0 out of 5 stars
A shining example of comic book writing
I'm not a comic book fan; they're much too convulted for my own tastes. But even the first time I read Astro City: Confessions I knew it was something else, something different. Read more
Published on January 20, 2004 by John Beeler
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but not the best Astro City
I had all three other TPB's of Astro City and loved them all. "Confession" was the last one I read and I have to say it was a little bit dissapointing. Read more
Published on April 24, 2003
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