I've been wanting to read Astro city a long time. I love Kurt's stuff usually and I really wanted to love this. Did I? Well...I loved parts of it.

The volume really focuses on the city itself. We get a bunch of different stories, some intertwined with each other somewhat, but mostly it's there to build these characters in the city up. The idea is to give the people of this amazing city their own life and through their eyes learn about the heroes. On the flipside it also gives us focus sometimes on the heroes themselves and why they're interesting. This brings it all together a interesting experiment but also can cause some flaws.

Good: Loved 2 stories, enjoyed 2 others, and thought 2 were duds. Let's talk about the two I loved. There's one where this criminal sees a hero unmasked. He then goes the rest of his days always afraid, always looking always the shoulder. It's a great, tense, interesting chapter. I also really loved the last story here that two superheroes, basically wonder woman and superman characters, going on a date. It has love, politics, and sexism all in one great chapter.

Bad: There's one really boring issue about a bug human who's story isn't only dull but also leaves you not giving a shit what happens. I also thought the first story was a tad boring and didn't give the series the start it deserved.

Overall this was a solid, good, interesting idea. I have a feeling as it goes it gets even better. Right now it's good, so a 3 out of 5, but I'm eager to keep trying.