My First Visit to Astro City

I'd been meaning to do more posting and gathering my thoughts and favorites about Astro City, prior to the first issue of the new monthly coming out, but I never got around to it. And doing a little walking tonight during a free night off work, it got me to rethinking some of those ideas. I originally was just going to do some rereadings and do some favorites and least favorites lists and characters I'm most curious about. But  I figured the best place to start, was my first journey into Astro City.
I was 12 at the time and it was late 1996, in either late November or early December, and definitely what you could call a time of change. I was in my first yer of junior high school, had just recently became a Christian by belief and my grandfather had just recently passed away. My grandparents also used to own a newsstand/bookstore, that they closed up that summer due to my grandfathers declining health. Along with cousins on the other side of my family, that is where is picked up my interest in comics books(and reading in general), having a vast disposal during summers and weekly trips to pick up new magazines and comics.G.I. Joe was the comic that got me hooked and eventually after it ended helped me branch out into superheroes.
At the time though, I was mostly picking up random books that looked interesting or trying to fill in gaps of storylines I was missing. I was digging the one shots of Amalgam Comics, that Marvel and DC made during, DC vs Marvel, and Generation X from Marvel was the only book I was following, but my interest was starting to wain there.
On that chilly dreary looking day, we were out shopping on a Saturday in Jefferson City, mostly antique stores, we made our way to the Antiquarium, a comic book and book store. After doing some perusing and making notes of what stuff I wanted to get or was interested in, I eventually started getting my haul. I had a bad habit in those days of not picking up what I wanted right away and often forgetting what I wanted. I don't know if it was just if my parents weren't going to get anything, I didn't want to waste time of getting some or what. I remember that day Grant Morrison's first issue of the rebooted JLA was on the spinner racks and was one of the books I was going to get, but never did. I kicked myself for years for not getting that then. I was a sucker for starting on new books anyway...   
One book I did pick up was Kurt Busiek's Astro City issue number four(vol. two). I didn't have much of an impression about the book, other than I thought it was Kurt and Alex Ross trying to recreate comic characters in their own world. I actually thought Alex Ross did the interior artwork. Though that should have made me pick it up sooner; I had enjoyed the Marvels trade paperback collection. But the fact it had someone who looked like the Thing on the cover, only reinforced that belief, but hey, I liked trying a bunch of different stuff...
After getting back home, later that night in the cozy confines of the den, where I could enjoy my days haul of comics in solace, I stepped into the world of Astro City.
Kurt's said that Astro City and its heroes are just as unrealistic as any other comic universe and it's not a realistic view of heroes. But the realistic emotions of what it would be like traveling to a metropolis full of superheroes is. Riding along with Brian Kinney in those first few pages, it felt real and unique to any other comic I had read.
And then there were the Crossbreed, a group of evangelical Christian superheroes preaching the Gospel on a street corner, with realistic and derogatory responses from those passing by. That's when I was really blown away, especially after just recently becoming a Christian. Other than a few glancing elements of Catholicism, you wouldn't find this at DC or Marvel. It felt like I was experiencing everything with Brian, rather than being a passive observer.
Then came the history. There's a hero that's been active since 1862?! Who's the Air Ace and Leopardman?  Was I supposed to know who they are? How does the universe have so much built up after only eleven stories? Everything was intriguing and I wanted to find out more.
Thankfully, that day I also bought the year end issue of Wizard, which happened to have an article, A Visitor's Guide to Astro City. It gave me an insight to a few of the things, but gave me more questions too.
The other major drawing point? Brent Anderson's artwork. It wasn't Alex Ross, it was possibly better. Again there was just the realistic element in the details of everything, from faces to the backgrounds of the beautiful city, from city blocks to the secluded museum areas.

A brief aside, but Brent's pencils never looked better than those first twelve issues of volume two, when he was inked by Will Blyberg. Anderson's always had critiques of being somewhat inconsistent, with one great panel, then a so-so one, which I can see to a degree. But, when Blyberg was inking him, it let Anderson bring out the detail a lot more, which the first volume of the series and all the later incarnations feature Anderson doing his own inking. I don't know if it was that combination, plus being on that grittier, darker paper versus shiner, glossier paper later or what, but it was beautiful.

Even though, there were several good jumping on point first issues for Astro City, this one just seemed perfect, entering into the city the same time as Brian Kinney started his journey. I read later responses that it felt like a coming out story for someone who was gay, which I could see as a I got older. But more it felt like the country mouse comes to the big city to try and make a name for himself, but more to find his place. I related it, as someone who was coming out as being a fan of comic books.
I lived in a small rural community and in the country to top it off. I had no internet access at home for another two or three years. Heck, we still only had the Big Three networks, until we got satellite the next Fall.  There was no one around I knew, that liked or even read comic books, apart from my aforementioned cousins. But I really only saw them on a couple of holidays. So, I never really had anyone to talk to about comic books or even really want to mention that I read them, for fear of being an outcast. Wizard was really the only information source I had, when I picked up a copy.
I never really found a place until later high school years, with message boards and information at my disposal where I could discuss my comic book interests. I also found a group of friends, in the class below me, who enjoyed most of the geeky things I did as well, Star Trek, sci fi and one even was a pretty big comics fan, but I still never shed the loner mentality.
Within the next month or so, on the next comic book store run, to a different store though, I picked up the next issue, number five and the first issue of volume two. The continued story of Brian Kinney and another stellar introduction issue, fueled the fire for my interest in the series.
This was my Silver Age of comic book reading, I suppose, if G.I. Joe was my Golden Age. There have been solid and great stories told by Kurt and company since and even before, but there is still something magical in those first thirteen or fourteen issues of volume two for me.

A 2008 Collegiate Men's Olympic Basketball Team

And this is the final installment of playing make believe with the USA Men's Olympic Basketball team, if they always made of college players. I left off with a 2004 team, that would have seemed a little short on talent compared to the other Olympic years. But this 2008 team would have a little more fire and star power. The implement of the "one and done" rule for the NBA surely helps out, in making the most talented players go to college for a year.
I think the coach would have been Ben Howland for leading UCLA back from being a solid program, to an elite program fighting for Final Four berths. And I think a lot of the talent for this team would have been on display at the 2008 Final Four and I don't doubt Howland would have brought a good number of his Bruins.


Starters 

• C/PF Kevin Love (UCLA)
• PF Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina)
• SF/SG Brandon Rush (Kansas)
• G Derrick Rose (Memphis)
• PG Darren Collison (UCLA)

Bench

• C Roy Hibbert (Georgetown)
• PF D.J. White (Indiana)
• F Michael Beasley (Kansas State)
• SF Chase Budinger (Arizona) 
• SG/SF Shan Foster (Vanderbilt)
• SG Stephen Curry (Davidson)
• G Russell Westbrook (UCLA)

 This team and the talent pool to choose from would have made for a very strong team. This group here has a good combination of talent and versatility. And there is depth and strength at every position, height and size wise. There is also a good number of upperclassmen to go with young phenoms. I even left off a couple of the Freshman stars that year in O. J. Mayo and Blake Griffin and a couple of First Team All Americans, to fill in a few role spots.
Making up these rosters were fun, whenever I found the time and got around to it. Looking at various All-American and NBA Draft lists, as well as Olympic practice teams gave me an idea of who were the players around for each year.
The biggest fault I know is that its star player heavy like the Olympic teams since they allowed professionals to play. Looking at the actual collegiate Olympic rosters of the past, many times there were a handful of stars, a few skilled role players for certain spots and a lot more mid major talent. And even throughout the history of USA Men's Olympic Basketball, there was even chances stars wouldn't turn out, like Alcindor and Walton and the other UCLA players in 1968 and 1972. Or even like Pete Maravich and others who didn't make the cut for the 1968 team.
And there is no way to know who would have been announced as coach a year or two before and what type of team they would try to build up before the the Olympics even got close.
But it's been fun and I guess I can do it again in three years...

The Honky Tonk Hero; 6/9 Billy Joe Shaver Concert Review

I had been wanting to see the original Honky Tonk Hero, Mr. Billy Joe Shaver for years. He's played at Knuckleheads in Kansas City through the years and occasionally in St. Louis, but couldn't figure out why not in Columbia, with its huge contingent of rednecks and redneck posers. When the Blue Note posted that Mr. Shaver was coming, I was there in a heartbeat.
I wound up having to eat a ticket, as my old man was able to get in the fields and my brother had to work. But, oh well. I got there right when doors were to open, but they were already open. After taking a piss I wandered in to find a pretty desolate club. I stood for a while, then said screw it and sat at a table through the opening act.
Mercer and Johnson, a local duo played 13 songs over 50 minutes. They were interesting with a few catchy songs. They consisted of one member playing electric bass and the other alternating between acoustic guitar and mandolin, so they had a different sound and appearance. Steve Earle would be the artist they remind me of sound wise the most. A combination of country, blues, rock and bluegrass. And I guess I could have saw them in my neck of the woods in New London. They were enjoyable and a nice primer.
After they cleared the stage and another piss break, I decided to make my way toward the stage and there were more people(younger ones at that too) congregating up front as well. At first I counted about 20 to 30 people while the opening act was playing, but I'd say there was probably close to a hundred by the time Billy Joe took to the stage at about 8:20 or so. Still it should have a been a larger crowd to see this living legend, but it was a Sunday night and all the college kids are gone for the summer. But it does make me glad to know Columbia has some people with good musical taste and knowledge. And they're not all into bigger name or people who get on the radio, or just wanting to reason to get drunk in public.
The early part of his set was dominated by a lot by higher energy songs, which for being a man in his 70's, Shaver is spry and wiry. He was active and energetic with motions throughout the night. And the early part was dominated by some of his more well known songs.
A couple of the highlights for me were early. That's What She Said Last Night, a hilarious song filled with double entendres and dealing with technology and phones ("You just can't satisfy women these days, they want it bigger and bigger...some even like the black models.") Shaver told us it was the hardest and worst song he's ever wrote.
Then Wacko from Waco,which he wrote to tell the correct story on what happened on why he'd shot a man a few years back ("I shot him right between the mother and the fucker."), as compared to the song Dale Watson wrote, Where Do You Want It? "He wrote that before I'd even went to turn myself in the next day and was on the phone telling me about it. And the prosecutor was using it court as part of my motive against me!" Shaver told us.
I'm not sure on the exact order of the set list on a few songs, but these are the ones he played. I noticed it was very similar to his Live at Billy Bobs live album with his opening ten songs or so.

Set List 

Heart of Texas
Georgia On a Fast Train
Honky Tonk Heroes
That's What She Said Last Night
Black Rose
Wacko from Waco
I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)
When Fallen Angels Fly
Star in My Heart
Live Forever
Thunderbird
Hottest Thing in Town
Love Is So Sweet
Sweet Mama
Ride Me Down Easy
Freedom's Child
 I Couldn't Be Me Without You
The Git Go
Honey Bee
You Wouldn't Know Love If You Fell In It
Woman is the Wonder of the World
Bottom Dollar
Try and Try Again
You Just Can't Beat Jesus Christ 

 The song Thunderbird featured a brief break for Billy Joe and his guitarists, while his drummer played a five minute solo or so. Shaver picked up a Red Bull for us all to see. The three piece backing band was very tight. And the best part was they were overtly raucously loud. Standing right next to one of the speakers for almost two hours, I had very little hearing loss.

The next song The Hottest Thing in Town was just as smoking and another highpoint for me. After Freedoms Child, the lead guitarist picked up an acoustic and save for the last two songs, the rest of the songs were softer ballad types.
Throughout the night, Billy Joe gave us backgrounds on the songs, as well as important meanings and things to him. Towards the end when he was talking about God and how you can do anything with Him and He can make you better at what you do, he added, "If you're an asshole, He'll make you a better asshole." Hilarious. 
After Woman is the Wonder of the World, he added, "It's true they are the wonder of the world. We put them up on a pedestal and what do you get? Bottom Dollar," with a sly grin.
The only real surprise was that he didn't play You Ask Me Too or Old Five and Dimers Like Me, two of more well known songs. 
Before the last song, someone handed him a piece of paper with a request, he opened and looked at it and said he'd think about it, but he had to do one for his hero, in You Just Can't Beat Jesus Christ.
After he said his goodbye he mentioned he'd be out front signing whatever. I waited a few minutes to go up front, and waited a few more in line. A bigger guy waiting was mentioning that he might get a restraining order against him, as he'd seen Shaver in Kansas City the night before and was going to St. Louis the next night. Then mentioned he had to give a thong, I'm assuming Billy Joe Shaver on, to his 19 year old daughter, to which Billy Joe put his hand up to his ear jokingly. I was thinking about buying his book, but ended up just having him sign my ticket(benefits and drawbacks to using print at home vs an actual ticket) and shaking his hand.
This was a really great show, by great performer. It's probably muscled its way into one of the best I've been to consideration. It's amazing though how people can't fill up the Blue Note to see a legendary figure in Country music, but yet they'll fill up Mizzou Arena for whatever ass clown of the era comes to town...