Astro City: Through Open Doors #1

By Kurt Busiek

First, you meet the Broken Man, a purple floating fella with blonde-green hair, and now you work for him. He explains the Oubor is like Big Brother, listening to all media sources, and Broken Man wants you to act as a foot spy, Astro city currently dealing with the Iron Legion, a commando strike occuring at the Ellsworth museum. American Chibi, is currently tearing up the streets, she apparently stopping some bad guys as BM attempts to understand how she'd come into existence. BM can see she has control of her emotions, biffing off at the perfect mo for the cops to take over, but he didn't like her volume octave.

In any case, he doesn't think he can use her before she teams up, so he moves on to his main point. A double door entrance appears floating over a river, no one trying to go up to it, yet. American Chibi flies up and knocks, then as coast patrol attempts to dissuade her efforts, she goes for a body slam. This is why BM wishes to discover someone more calculating and more silent.

AC bounces backward into Samaritan, he suggesting they look around it, AC literally squeeing for fangirling so hard. As BM goes through dud possibilities to help him, he comes across a fella, Ben Pullam meeting his girls for lunch, Maggie and Faith; the former a int'l meeting planner and the latter in college for the study of things which shouldn't exist, in biology. As the trio idyllically lunch, back at the doors, massive shooting of special weapons and powers go off in attempt of successful opening. Samaritan stops coast guard's missiles, due to how many people were now flocking in to look, including Ben and his girls, the doors next opening a crack.

A huge fella with a face mask without a head, like on the cover above, walks through and addresses the people. He intro's himself as Telseth, a peaceful traveler wishing to trade info about each others planets. Sararitan asks why he hadn't revealed he was peaceful sooner, before the madness, Telseth responding it seemed easier to stay passive, then greet them. He then requests a normal citizen to help with his everyman education of the laws.

Ben volunteers after a moment between the officials to discuss it. In the end, they don't have much choice as Ben accompanies Telseth through the doors, with the promise of relaying everything he learned to the government. BM is happy with these results, since so far the Ouber knew nothing. Next, BM orders you to skip the last page, where you see he's deeply drugged in a psych hospital, BM saying how naughty you are, and you'll learn to show obedience. Ooh lala, entertaining start!