Astro City #35 – A Legacy of Heroes and the Burden of
Choice
Genre:
Superhero, Drama, Legacy, Urban Fantasy
Main Characters:
- Jack-in-the-Box
(Zachary Johnson): The original hero who began the legacy of
acrobatics and high-tech gadgets beneath the clown mask.
- Jack-in-the-Box
II (Jerome Johnson): Zachary’s son, who took up his father’s mantle
and continued the heroic tradition with determination and precision.
- Jack-in-the-Box
III (Josh Johnson): Jerome’s son, torn between honoring his family
legacy and forging his own destiny.
- The
Trouble Boys: A group of twisted, theatrical villains with a taste for
chaos.
- Mister
Drama: A flamboyant and melodramatic antagonist who thrives on turning
real life into grand performance.
- The
Weirdies: A surreal and eccentric set of characters that further
challenge Josh’s perception of reality and responsibility.
Writer:
Kurt Busiek
Artist:
Brent Anderson
Editor Details:
- Editor:
Kristy Quinn
- Letterer:
John G. Roshell (Comicraft)
Publisher and Brand:
Vertigo Comics (originally under WildStorm), published by DC Comics
Astro City is not part of a specific DC sub-brand like "Black
Label" or "The New 52," but it operates as a creator-owned
series under DC's publishing umbrella.
Release Year:
2016
Brief Plot Summary:
In Astro City #35, the spotlight falls on the lineage of one of the
city’s most unique vigilantes—Jack-in-the-Box. As the legacy stretches across
three generations, readers are introduced to Josh Johnson, the teenage son of
the current Jack-in-the-Box. Haunted by the weight of legacy, Josh is at a
crossroads: should he follow in the high-flying, crime-fighting footsteps of
his father and grandfather, or carve out a path of his own? His internal
conflict is made more difficult by encounters with bizarre and symbolic villains
like the Trouble Boys, Mister Drama, and the surreal Weirdies, each acting as a
metaphor for the burdens, temptations, and dangers of heroism.
Notable Arcs or Storylines:
This issue forms part of a larger, long-standing thematic exploration in Astro
City of legacy, identity, and the everyday lives behind superhero masks.
The Jack-in-the-Box lineage has been touched on in earlier issues, but Issue
#35 deeply delves into the generational perspective, making it a spiritual
successor to earlier stories involving Jerome Johnson’s crime-fighting journey.
Fan Theories or Interpretations:
- Symbolic
Villains: Many fans interpret the villains in this issue—especially
Mister Drama and the Weirdies—as allegorical figures, representing not
just threats to Astro City but to Josh’s psyche and personal agency.
- Josh
as a Metaphor for Modern Youth: Josh’s reluctance to immediately
accept his role reflects broader generational shifts—where younger heroes
(or people in general) want to define success and purpose on their own
terms.
- Legacy
as a Burden: The narrative subtly questions whether heroism is a noble
inheritance or an imposed obligation, sparking debate among readers about
the ethics of generational duty in superhero narratives.
Review Summary:
Astro City #35 is a poignant, character-driven tale that expertly blends
superhero action with emotional depth. Kurt Busiek’s writing is once again
thoughtful and layered, examining the psychological cost of heroism and the
generational tension that arises from legacy. Brent Anderson’s art brings life
to Astro City’s iconic, retro-futuristic aesthetic, with expressive panels that
balance surrealism and realism beautifully. The villains, though exaggerated,
serve more as thematic elements than traditional antagonists, elevating the
narrative beyond a simple superhero beatdown. A compelling meditation on
identity, choice, and family.
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
