Drama Queen

Kurt Busiek's Astro City has always had a gift for conjuring heroes who feel genuinely lived-in, and Drama Queen — debuting in 2016 — is a fine example of the Modern Age richness that series delivers. A DC character born into one of comics' most celebrated independent-flavored universes, she shares her pages with the likes of Jack-in-the-Box and a cast of Astro City regulars that signals she's woven into the fabric of that beloved city's street-level tapestry. Her catalog footprint is small but choice, the kind of intriguing figure that rewards the deep-diving collector hunting for hidden gems in Astro City's sprawling ensemble. If you're working through the Astro City Metrobook collections, keep an eye out — characters like Drama Queen are exactly the sort of discovery that reminds you why Busiek's world feels so endlessly worth exploring.