Created and written by Kurt Busiek, the Astro City comic book series is an American superhero anthology comics (mostly) illustrated by Brent Anderson (of X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills’ fame), with character designs and painted covers by Alex Ross.
The series debuted under Image Comics’ Homage imprint in 1995 before changing publishers–it moved to WildStorm when Jim Lee’s imprint was sold to DC Comics and, in 2013, it was relaunched as part of DC’s Vertigo Comics before continuing under DC’s main publishing line. Now, it is back at Image Comics.
Composed of three volumes, some miniseries, and special issues, the Astro City comics are about the superheroes of the City, a mid-sized American metropolis, and the citizens who are affected by the many super-beings who live there since the end of World War I. It’s an exploration of the relationship between society and heroes, and how they shape each other.
It was seen as a modern reinvention of the genre, an exploration of the possibilities coming with a shared universe as Astro City is home to an entire original superhero universe, with its own history, legacy characters, and classic superhero archetypes.
While individual issues often tell complete stories, they contribute to a larger mythos. Kurt Busiek uses the comic book series to deconstruct and celebrate superhero storytelling, blending Silver and Bronze Age sensibilities with modern storytelling depth. Due to its anthological format, you can easily jump into the Astro City comics at any point.
Astro City Reading Order
The Astro City Metrobook Edition
For some time, the collected editions of Astro City comics had become hard to find, but they have become more accessible in recent years thanks to new publications and reprints. Image Comics has reissued the series in massive volumes known as “Metrobooks,” each compiling a substantial portion of the series.
- Astro City Metrobook, Volume 1
Collects Astro City vol. 1 #1-6 & vol. 2 #1-12, #1/2. - Astro City Metrobook, Volume 2
Collects Astro City vol. 2 #13-22, Astro City: Local Heroes #1-5, Astro City Special #1, portions of 9-11 – The World’s Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists tell stories to remember #2 and Astro City: A Visitor’s Guide. - Astro City Metrobook, Volume 3
Collects Astro City: The Dark Age Book One #1-4, Astro City: The Dark Age Book Two #1-4, Astro City: The Dark Age Book Three #1-4, Astro City: The Dark Age Book Four #1-4, Astro City: Silver Agent #1-2, And Portions Of Astro City/Arrowsmith: The Flip Book. - Astro City Metrobook, Volume 4
Collects Astro City: Samaritan #1, Astro City: Beautie #1, Astro City: Astra #1-2 and Astro City vol. 3 #1-10, 17 & 22-24 - Astro City Metrobook, Volume 5
Collects Astro City, vol. 3 #11-16, 18-21 & 25-34 - Astro City Metrobook, Volume 6
Collects Astro City, vol. 3 #35-52
The Astro City Comics: The Original Publication order
If the Astro City Metrobook is the most recent collected edition of Kurt Busiek’s comic book series, it was not the first. Through the years, the Astro City comics were made available in paperback editions you can still find in the second-hand market.
Use the following Astro City Reading Order to find your way through the different volumes.
Astro City Volume 1
- Astro City: Life in the Big City
Collects Astro City vol. 1 #1–6.
Astro City Volume 2
- Astro City: Confession
Collects Astro City vol. 2 #1/2, 4–9. - Astro City: Family Album
Collects Astro City vol. 2 #1–3, 10–13. - Astro City: Tarnished Angel
Collects Astro City vol. 2 #14–20. - Astro City: Local Heroes
Collects Astro City vol. 2 #21–22, Astro City: Local Heroes #1–5, Astro City Special: Supersonic, “Since the Fire”.
Astro City mini-series and special issues
- Astro City: The Dark Age Book One: Brothers and Other Strangers
Collects Astro City: The Dark Age vol. 1 #1–4, Vol. 2 #1–4. - Astro City: The Dark Age Book Two: Brothers in Arms
Collects Astro City: The Dark Age vol. 3 #1–4, vol. 4 #1–4. - Astro City: Shining Stars
Collects Astro City: Samaritan Special, Astro City: Astra #1–2, Astro City: Silver Agent #1–2 and Astro City: Beautie #1.
Astro City Volume 3
- Astro City: Through Open Doors
Collects Astro City vol. 3 #1–6. - Astro City: Victory
Collects Astro City vol. 3 #7–10, Astro City Visitor’s Guide #1. - Astro City: Private Lives
Collects Astro City vol. 3 #11–16. - Astro City: Lovers Quarrel
Collects Astro City vol. 3 #18–21, 23-24. - Astro City: Honor Guard
Collects Astro City vol. 3 #17, 22, 25, 27-28, 31. - Astro City: Reflections
Collects Astro City vol. 3 #26, 29-30, 32–34. - Astro City: Ordinary Heroes
Collects Astro City vol. 3 #35-36, 39-40, 42, 44. - Astro City: Broken Melody
Collects Astro City vol. 3 #37-38, 41, 43, 45-46. - Astro City: Aftermaths
Collects Astro City vol. 3 #47–52.