This is a delightfully entertaining flip book that captures the spirits of both of Kurt Busiek's unique, creator-owned properties. It's the perfectlt promotional tool for both books, so I have to wonder... why is it being released after the completion of Arrowsmith and Astro City: Local Heroes? Well, we're told here that another Astro City limited series is forthcoming, and I have to assume we haven't seen the last of the world of Arrowsmith either (aside from the upcoming trade paperback edition). I'm pleased, as both books are thoroughly inventive, celebrating fantasy and wonder while bringing down-to-earth characters to life in those unlikely settings.
Busiek tees up the next Astro City storyline here with "On Mulberry Street," and it looks as though he plans on delving into the issue of race and the lower class with his next visit to the city of heroes. Busiek manages to tell a complete story at the same time in just a few scant pages, capturing both the wonder of the super-hero genre and the more grounded qualities of everyday life.
Brent Anderson's lithe figures and detailed approach reinforce the more realistic tone of the story as well. I like the understated nature of the Black Badge's costume. It looks a bit like a classic cop uniform, and it elicits trust in authority. The Black Badge's look is clearly not one of rebellion, but about staying on the right path. Broome's colors enhance the power and wonder on display as the Honor Guard goes into battle. She really captures the energy being thrown around, and those bright colors light up the otherwise grey tone of the urban setting.
Sinclair's colors in the Arrowsmith side of the book drives home the magical energy exhibited by the characters, and that wondrous lightness makes for a nice balance with the uglier side of the story: war. Pacheco's character designs are striking. The fraility and pathetic nature of the homunculi is actually rather heart-breaking. The story captures the critical and horrifying nature of war quite nicely, and a sense of the historic permeates the piece.
One of my favorite elements in this book is the look behind the curtain that's offered in the pages in between the two stories. The maps of a magical North America and Europe shows just how well thought out the world of Arrowsmith, and the design sketches for new Astro City character serve as a fascinating look at the creative process.
