Astro City #4

It seems like a foregone conclusion in comics that someone born, or later gifted/cursed, with super-powers will one day take their place as either a super-hero or super-villain. According to the latest issue of Astro City, that's not necessarily the case.

Focusing on Martha Sullivan, a telekinetic who uses her powers not for personal gain or glory or to save the world, Astro City #4 gives us a look at an individual who uses her powers to get by but has no interest in using them as part of a grander design. Ben Parker may have called this selfish, but Martha and others known as Sideliners simply want to live their life in peace and relative anonymity.

Of course when villains such as the ridiculous Majordomo show up to forcibly recruit those like Martha who have no interest in their conquest, the Sidelineres do know how to defend themselves. Once again writer Kurt Busiek and artist Brent Anderson find another niche in super-hero comics to explore with entertaining results. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]