This is the last of the THOR covers that Kirby did during his 1970s stint at Marvel. A shame, then, that it’s one of those where someone at Marvel decided that Kirby’s Thor didn’t look right. Say what you will about DC, but at least there’s a reference point for saying Kirby’s Superman and Jimmy Olsen look wrong…
Despite that, it’s a pretty good Kirby/Sinnott cover, with the stone texture really coming across nicely.
Published 1977
Kirby and Chic Stone team-up for this memorable little early Iron Man cover. I especially like the detailed work on the dragon over on the back wall. The steps that lead directly to the pit of doom are a nice touch, too.
Published 1964
Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia provide this cover to a quick spin-off super-team from the then-new INVADERS series. A nice piece, always good to see the Skull done by Kirby, and the retro-designs of the new heroes fits in nicely with Kirby’s style.
This is one of the covers that will presumably be in the upcoming INVADERS CLASSIC VOL. 1 collection.
Published 1976
This issue introduces Klarion, the Witchboy, one of Etrigan’s most persistent foes over the years. The story opens with Etrigan encountering a “Judge” in puritan garb who is searching for Klarion, and attacks Etrigan with a monstrous Draaga, which makes for a great two page splash. Etrigan defeats the creature but is poisoned, and collapses as Klarion and his cat Teekl appear, showing some control over his transformations by changing him back to Jason Blood.
Various hijinks then ensue in Blood’s apartment, including an attack from a Horigal.
Klarion’s people eventually capture him to put on trial, so he summons Etrigan who is able to defeat them. Klarion tries to overstep himself by controlling Etrigan, which Merlin’s Demon wont stand for.
Fun little story with some weird plot logic, but great monster images, and obviously a lot of thought behind Klarion, only some of which made it onto the page in his few Kirby written appearances.
Mike Royer inks the 20-page story and cover.
Published 1973
Out this week, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS. In addition to every Ditko Spider-Man story there are a number of Kirby/Ditko collaborations (several covers, the back-up stories from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8 and FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1 and the Spidey/Torch story from STRANGE TALES ANNUAL #2), plus various extras bringing it up to 1088 pages total.
See your local comic shop or bookstore, or various on-line vendors, including amazon.com above or Tales of Wonder.
Via Mark Evanier, Wired has an article about the proposed LORD OF LIGHT movie, with concept art by Jack Kirby, and how it was used in freeing some hostages in Iran.
You can see some of Kirby designs and read more about it here.
This issue features a reprint of the 10-page Captain America story from TALES OF SUSPENSE #94 [1967], the Kirby/Sinnott story that introduced the world to the glory that is MODOK.
More importantly, someone had the good sense to enlist recently-returned-to-Marvel Jack Kirby to do a new cover for the issue. The original featured MODOK as almost an afterthought, stuffed in a corner of the background. This one, though…
MODOK in all his big-headed, floating-chair, brain-blasting glory. Can Cap possibly hope to survive?
Frank Giacoia inks this cover.
Published 1976
Eisner Awards nominations are out. Jack Kirby is nominated for the ETERNALS collection in “Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books”. Frequent (and favourite of many) Kirby inker (and damn fine penciller in his own right) Dick Ayers is up for the Hall of Fame, so I’ll campaign on his behalf as well.
Apparently the Joe Simon interview did air at least once on CNN this past week. I thought it had been preempted by the unfortunate breaking news (at least fast forwarding through the tape I had made started with flood coverage and then on to the ever escalating situation in Virginia). Anyway, can’t find it on the CNN site, but someone posted it to YouTube. The video runs under two minutes, has a lot of shots of Simon at his art board, and some old photos including one of him with Jack Kirby.
A pair of upcoming Marvel books with Kirby reprints that I missed on the first go-round. Early Avengers are great to see. The INVADERS book, assuming it has all the covers to the reprinted issues, nine of them are by Kirby.
AVENGERS CLASSIC #2
Written by DWAYNE MCDUFFIE
Penciled by MICHAEL OEMING
Cover by ART ADAMS
Stan and Jack bring you AVENGERS #2 in all its Hulk-out glory! Plus a bonus back-up story by Dwayne McDuffie and Mike Oeming featuring the INCREDIBLE HULK in a story of misunderstanding and mayhem! Don’t miss out, it’s only 3 bucks!
And check out that far-out Art Adams cover! It’s a gas!
32 PGS. $2.99
INVADERS CLASSIC VOL. 1 TPB
Written by ROY THOMAS
Penciled by FRANK ROBBINS, RICH BUCKLER, DICK AYERS & DON HECK
Cover by FRANK ROBBINS
The Big Three of Marvel’s Golden Age — Captain America, the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner — entered their first alliance when the U.S. entered World War II! But the Axis had more than bombs to throw at them, as they soon learned in a battle with the Star-Gods! The Red Skull wants the Invaders themselves as Hitler’s top hitmen, and only a second gathering of Golden Age greats can stop him! Featuring the first appearances of Spitfire, Union Jack and more! COLLECTING INVADERS #1-9, GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #1 and MARVEL PREMIERE #29-30.
240 PGS. $24.99
ISBN: 0-7851-2706-2