An end, and a new beginning, for ‘Astro City’

With the final issue of the current volume due out in April, writer Kurt Busiek reveals the title’s future.

DC Comics’ solicitations for April 2018 reveal that the latest volume of Astro City, currently published as a part of their Vertigo imprint, will end with issue #52. But don’t panic: writer Kurt Busiek says Astro City will be back, as a graphic novel rather than a comic series.

Astro City first debuted in 1995 from Image Comics, by Busiek, artist Brent Anderson and cover artist Alex Ross. In 1996 it moved to Wildstorm’s Homage imprint, and with the purchase of Wildstorm by DC Comics it found a new home under the DC umbrella — most recently as a Vertigo series. It’s transitioned from ongoing series to a series of miniseries and back to an ongoing. So another format change isn’t too jarring, as the stories are pretty self-contained, even if they share characters and the same setting, and will likely work just as well as graphic novels.

Here’s the solicitation copy for issue #52:

ASTRO CITY #52

Written by KURT BUSIEK • Art by BRENT ANDERSON • Cover by ALEX ROSS
It’s the final issue of ASTRO CITY…for now. Michael Tenicek lost his world years ago. Now he may lose another, as ordinary life among the extraordinary takes a shattering turn. A character-focused finale to the ongoing Vertigo ASTRO CITY series, and a launch point for its new form. Guest-starring the Hanged Man, Honor Guard and more.
On sale APRIL 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE

No word yet on when to expect the new graphic novel.

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