I got a couple of e-mails commenting on the harshness of my recent review of Kurt Busiek's Superman #654 (click HERE). I stand by the review, but I understand why some readers were so surprised. Busiek is a skilled writer who's not only told some fascinating super-hero stories in the past, but some great Superman stories as well. And this week, he does so again with his latest journey to his Astro City characters and the property's Superman analog, Samaritan. This is easily the strongest Astro City story we've seen in some time, perhaps even since the title's inaugural run under the Image Comics banner in the mid 1990s. it's a safe bet that those who have checked out past Astro City comics will be drawn to this latest one-shot, but genre fans unfamiliar with the property would be well-advised to pick up this accessible special.
Once a year, Samaritan, one of the most powerful heroes to call Astro City home, meets and dines with one of his deadliest enemies, the alchemist known as Infidel. The pair has fought devastating battles over the years, conflicts that have rendered cityscapes into rubble and that have even torn through the fabric of space and time. And neither has ever gained the upper hand over the other in any permanent way. So they've arrived at a truce, agreeing to these annual get-togethers, during which they share knowledge, conversation and food. But all the while, one sizes up the other.
Brent E. Anderson's style is a grittier one, something one might not expect to be that effective in capturing a Silver Age feel or to elicit memories of the Curt Swan Superman. But it does tap into that vibe somehow, but more importantly, the harsher side of his art here brings out the hate and anger that are so integral to the character of Infidel. The designs for his ornate bases of operations and the clean, sleek gleaming futurescapes found in the story really catch the eye as well. The classical and refined quality of the character and his surroundings is reinforced by the sharp, vibrant colors as well.
The title of the story refers to the parable that serves as the prologue for this special. It's about an eagle that visits a mountain annually in order to sharpen its beak on the peak. The mountain thinks it is eternal, but the eagle knows that eventually, it will erode the rocky mass away. What's really interesting about this story is deciding who is the eagle and who is the mountain, Samaritan or Infidel. We're shown a lot of super-hero action, but the core conflict in this book is conversational. It struck me as an original conflict for the genre.
On the surface, this isn't a Samaritan special at all. The focus is squarely on Infidel, telling his origin, exploring his methods and revealing what it is that motivates him. I find it interesting that Infidel doesn't really fit into the image of a Silver Age-type super-villain. While Samaritan is traditional in tone, Infidel is far more multi-cultural in concept and tone, and much more harsh and intense than Samaritan. While Samaritan is a Silver Age Superman, Infidel doesn't really strike me as having a counterpart that allows him to fit into that world. And therein lies his purpose. He's not meant to fit in. He's meant to serve as a mirror of sorts. His dark and intense nature reflects Samaritan's purer, more innocent tone. We're meant to perceive Samaritan in contrast to Infidel. It's a subtle and clever method of storytelling and characterization. This is a Samaritan special, just not obviously so. 9/10
