Astonishing Times introduces a new superhero universe from comiXology Originals and the Youtube channel Variant Comics. As a comiXology Originals series, the comic is only available digitally through comiXology and Kindle. While superheroes may be yesterday's news in the world of Astonishing Times, this five-issue miniseries is seeking to redefine the superhero genre for the modern age while also serving as a love letter for past eras of superheroes.
The three co-creators for the book include the Variant Comics Youtube host Arris Quinones, award-winning comic book writer Frank J. Barbiere (Five Ghosts, Avengers World), and artist Ruairí Coleman (Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). This is the first professional comic book by Quinones, marks a return for Barbiere to the creator-owned comics scene, and is the first time Coleman has co-created a comic book. The rest of the creative team includes the talents of colorist Lauren Affe (Buzzkill, Spider-Gwen), letterer Taylor Esposito (Constantine, Elvira), as well as designer Dylan Todd (Rai).
The official Astonishing Times website allows viewers to pre-order the book, which releases its first issue today, July 27, 2021. Fifteen years earlier in the world of Astonishing Times, there was a mysterious superhero crisis called the Cataclysm. Now, superheroes have become mundane to people and are literally yesterday's news. But not if Noah Sans, a reporter for The Sentinel, can help it. He's trying to get people to remember why superheroes inspired them. But during his investigation into a murder, he's brought into contact with his most beloved heroes and uncovers a secret past that may have Earth-shattering consequences. A preview of pages four through eight of Astonishing Times #1 along with Coleman's lovely cover are available below.
The preview of Astonishing Times presents a world rather relatable to our own, albeit with actual superheroes walking around on the streets. But superhero books have been the norm in comics and having a superhero movie be a blockbuster hit is no longer a novelty. Remember how surprising it was that Iron Man was a hit? Now it's a surprise when a Marvel movie doesn't rake in a bajillion dollars. Noah's column that he narrates through in the preview, which also introduces the possible subplot of his father doing the same job as him but during a time when superheroes were revered, seems to be a way to write a love letter to the Golden Age of superheroes while also trying to create a new Golden Age in the modern era. This all comes after the abrupt death of a cosplayer, setting up the key mystery of the miniseries. It will be interesting to see how Astonishing Times continues to honor the previous age of superheroes while trying to set itself apart from the bloated genre it's immersing itself in.
Be sure to order your digital copy of Astonishing Times #1 and get it instantly on comiXology and Kindle. Users who are subscribed to comiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited, or Amazon Prime can get the normally $2.99 book for free. The five-issue miniseries will then be released on a monthly basis. This is a 21st-century take on superheroes that's trying to keep them relevant to the modern-day so they don't become yesterday's news.
Source: Astonishing Times