The Hanged Man from “Astro City:Confession” by Brent Anderson

A page I have long wanted to own — and now that I have it, wish it was under better circumstances.

For decades, this page hung on the walls of my local comics shop, Foundation’s Edge of Raleigh, NC. I was mad jealous that they had it. Not only is it a gorgeous image, but it’s a climatic moment from one of my favorite storylines in a book very important to me growing up.

Last month, the store lost its lease, following the owner’s enduring the trials of Job — Covid, diabetes, stroke, Al this on top of years of other health issues and the sheer struggle of keeping the store going.

I let him know I’d love to buy the piece, both because of the reasons mentioned above and because it was now a reminder of the store. He said he’d let me know on a price…and finally just gave it to me, refusing my protests that I should pay him SOMETHING. He said as a customer for decades and a friend, I’d paid him more than enough.

So I have the page now, and it’s a reminder of a place I used to go every week, and the people I knew there, and it’s still a remarkable symbol of how darkness can, eventually, come to an end.

But I wish that it was still hanging in that shop, and the shop was still there.