Herocopia, the official website for all things relating to the award winning comic series, Astro City. Biographies of heroes and villains. Information on special places. Insights on supporting cast, ordinary citizens and events. Background details on weapons, headquarters, gadgets and gear. Along with histories, issue summaries, annotations, time-lines, and fan speculation galore. It's all here and we welcome you to join in the fun.
The man who is arguably the greatest hero of the modern era is in fact not from this era at all. Samaritan was a time-traveler from the 35th century sent back to 1986 to prevent the wasteland Earth he was born into from coming about. The transit suffused him with "empyrean fire," giving him enormous physical power as well as the ability to project an "empyrean web."
Samaritan has been a member of the elite superhero team Honor Guard since at least 1991. He is in a romantic relationship with Winged Victory and yes, it is complicated.
"HMPH! A third-rate generic outlaw hero, farting around with two-bit bank jobs."
--- Cammie(sushigirl3@acity.com)
Caplinville is a small rural town located in a totally different cultural landscape from Astro City. But they do have a super-hero of their very own. One which they are mighty proud to brag about to any and all who come for a visit.
Beware the Hanged Man's gaze. It is rare for him to acknowledge your presence, much less look upon you. A Gaze from him usually means a troubling future awaits. Think of it perhaps as a warning that you are approaching a fateful crossroads in your life. A time of more than just change, but also one of great revelation, enlightenment or perhaps a salvation. Maybe you are nearing a crisis moment, or something equally startling. The motives of the Hanged Man are steeped in mystery.
Jack-in-the-Box has been an active agent against crime for decades now. His colorful exploits and cavalier fighting style continue to captivate and delight the citizens of Astro City. Especially the youth from the poorer, economically challenged neighborhoods. Jack defends their turf on a regular basis, he seems to be "one-of-them" in many ways. Most of his battles are with street thugs and the lower tier costumed villains; those more interested in get rich schemes rather than world conquering aspirations. He has a long list of adversaries, a gallery of rogues villains, equally as colorful and original as himself. But on occasions, some of the strangest characters cross his path, and the encounters can be downright bizarre.
While only hinted at, with no specific team name provided, a pattern is emerging of an ongoing duo, with some kind of funding model, hints of a ruling charter, all dedicated to fighting crime through the decades. Though the members may change, the structure, mission, and definition of the team remains relatively stable. The theme is avian based, the gender is female, the balance is light and dark, with names based on "sun" and "night". There seems to be a generation gap of ten years or so between members, with one a mentor, the other basically an intern in training.
Nightingale is rarely seen alone, either partnered in her early years with Sunshrike, and then later, with her new teammate, Sunbird. Her dual partnerships are unique. She was the younger sidekick to Sunshrike, but later, seems to be the strong mentor and motherly companion to Sunbird.
She picked up a stray cat for awhile, or did the cat pick her?
He's a strange and a bit peculiar alien from another planet. Understand, being alien isn't all that strange. Not for Astro City. He docked his spacecraft, or whatever it is, on the Gaines River over eight years ago... and it's still there.
He has a cavalier, almost careless attitude towards crime-fighting. He doesn't strike one as being strongly passionate, or driven by some kind of mission. Yet he is somehow, almost surprisingly, one of the most effective, popular and enduring of Astro City's superheroes. So what motivates him? Why does he do what he does? Risking so much for what would seem to be just the fun of catching crooks. Is it the excitement, the attention, the sense of being center stage? Most intriguing of all, what has kept him doing it for so long?
Its history has been its namesake. It is indeed a nightmare, living an existence that is parasitic in nature, deriving its energy from the fear around it. Brief periods of time have been peaceful, emotionally controlled by a strong host able to calm its ravenous desire for raw, cold, primitive, horrific, and unbridled fright.
A protected sanctuary and laboratory. A place for intense, focused scientific development, and equally important, maximum privacy from interlopers, especially those suffering from narrow minded government greed.
The area abounds with technologies of all sorts, developed by Roy Vigil a visionary engineer, scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur way ahead of his times
Born to a famous family, Astra Furst, has been blessed and cursed with media attention focused on her activities from infancy, adolescence, and College graduation. Now she's a young women, balancing a very busy life. She is a member of her family's namesake group, The First Family, and also doing part time shifts with Reflex-6. Add to that her day job at the far away Gordian Knot and it is a wonder she has time for normal activities like sleep. Then too, she has always struggled with "normal"...
The many N-Forcers protecting Astro City over the years.
The Confessor
The Confessor
An iconic Super-hero, with a shadowy past. The Confessor, long suspected and now confirmed as a vampire, has patrolled the streets of Astro City for decades, nearly nonstop. Thought killed and destroyed at the climax of the eNelsian alien invasion, he has nonetheless(as most vampires will do) returned from the grave to continue his nightly patrols of Astro City's dark and seedy districts. His hunting remains focused on criminals. His methodologies now seem more sophisticated, relying on advanced technology and arcane mystical powers sourcing from remote and ancient tribal customs.
