The Living Nightmare

Lurking in the shadows of Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson's landmark Astro City since its very first issue in 1995, The Living Nightmare is one of those chilling presences that reminds you why that series became a Modern Age touchstone. Eighteen appearances across thirty years — including a key collector's issue — speak to a staying power that goes well beyond a throwaway menace, with appearances stretching from the flagship Astro City series into Dark Age territory and the handsome Metrobook collections. On those pages, this figure keeps remarkable company: Jack-in-the-Box, Cleopatra, Hummingbird, and others who populate Busiek's richly imagined world. If you're building out your Astro City knowledge, The Living Nightmare is exactly the kind of deep-cut character that rewards the devoted reader.