”The
Day the Music Died” continues from Astro
City #45, continuing the story of Glamorax’s re-generation. An androgynous
being, (s)he being the spirit of late 1970s glam rock music on the cusp of
evolving into the next musical avatar. But at the decisive moment, matters go
sideways, and the spirit is seemingly destroyed.
What
follows is a narration by what I presume to the next avatar. As it remains in a
form of limbo, those it previously influenced remain somehow oblivious to the
existence of the avatar in its various incarnations. This seems to effectively
neuter the spirit’s influence. It seeks out others in the hope of resurrection,
manifesting itself in various ways but with little success.
I
am uncertain what to make of the story. Is it the introduction of a character
to be followed up on later? A basic character study? I just don’t know. I may
be mistaken, not having read of Astro
City in the past, but the overall series seem to be an anthology of
super-hero stories, rather than the chronicles of any one hero or group of
heroes. I can appreciate it on that level, so it is not beholden to any
restrictive continuity.
Creating
the spirit of music as a person is novel, but not necessarily new. After all,
Barry Manilow was music, and he writes the songs. But as an ever-evolving
super-hero, it may or may not be an effective weapon against the forces of
evil. But the concept is interesting.
Rating:
8/10