Kirby contributed a cover to this issue spotlighting one of the most fun supporting character from his classic THOR run. I like this one a lot, even with the Colletta inks, it captures a lot of the look of the mid-1960s work. I think Kirby could have had a lot of fun with a Hercules solo series.
Published 1975
I love the look of the inking on the ship on this cover, and the overall look of the pirates. This is probably my favourite of the non-war themed BC covers.
Published 1946
After introducing the new line-up, Kirby was back on just covers for AVENGERS with this issue (although there are some minor touch-ups on the interior art of this issue that some people think Kirby had a hand in). This cover is nicely inked by Frank Giacoia, and I love the look of the bad-guy on here, as well as one of those great Scarlet Witch poses.
Published 1965
Probably thanks to some deadline issues, a couple of 1977 issues of FANTASTIC FOUR wound up carrying Kirby reprints, like “The Torch That Was” from FF ANNUAL #4 (1966). This is the story that briefly returns the original Human Torch to life, thanks to the work of the Thinker, as Johnny and Wyatt briefly return from their quest for the Inhumans, thanks to Lockjaw. Love the Lockjaw.
![Fantastic Four #189 [1977]](http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/kirby/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2005/12/Fantastic-Four-189-1977.jpg)
The original Torch is a reluctant tool of the Thinker, trying to defeat the Johnny in the desert, until the rest of the FF find them and take the battle to the Thinker. Also of interest in this issue is the Thinker’s other ally, the intelligent machine known as Quasimodo, which is one of those great throwaway Kirby creations who I assume returned at some point after his two brief FF ANNUAL bits, since the new (non-Kirby) cover makes a point of mentioning this was his introduction.
Joe Sinnott inks the 19-page story.
Published 1977
Devil Dinosaur makes a brief trip to modern day Nevada in this final issue of the series, as he falls into a mysterious time-warp in the forbidden pits of the Valley.
![Devil Dinosaur #9 [1978]](http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/kirby/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2005/12/Devil-Dinosaur-9-1978.jpg)
Fortunately, with the help of the Hag and her son, Moon-Boy is able to bring Devil back where he belongs, and they depart for greener places. As did Kirby, with this issue marking the end of his 1970s tenure at Marvel, moving to animation full time for the next few years. “…and thus endeth the Chronicle…”
Seeing Devil rampaging through modern America is pretty cool, although I thought that less was done with this story than I’d have hoped for. Another victim of the tiny page counts of the era, I guess.
Mike Royer inks the 17-page story and John Byrne inks the cover.
Published 1978
This was the first issue of CHALLENGERS in two years when it came out, and reprints two stories from 1959, although changing the Challs jumpsuits from the original purple to a red/yellow combination.
First up, “The Isle of No Return”, a 12-page Kirby/Wood story from CotU #7. Investigating a thief using advanced scientific devices. They follow him to an island (with June along as a stowaway), and find out that the thief has even more devices, stolen from a now dead reclusive scientist, including a device which shrinks the Challs.
Fortunately June is able to find them, and with some help from a pet parrot and the late scientist’s own safeguards they manage to defeat him.
Next is “The Sorceress of Forbidden Valley”, also Kirby/Wood, a 10-pager from CotU #6. This time June is flying through a storm and is forced to make a crash-landing on a mysterious island. The Challs go looking for her, and find her with magical powers and under the control of a criminal who had found a hidden city. Fortunately they’re able to escape.
I don’t think the half-issue stories for the Challengers are as good as the full issue stories, they all seem to end kind of abruptly, but they do give Kirby a good chance to draw various scenes, like a hidden city and a lab packed with scientific wonders.
The cover is also reprinted from CotU #7, with a few minor modifications, and the splash page is a reprint of the Kirby/Stein introduction to the team that appeared in CotU #1 (1958).
Published 1973
Apparently out now, GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #2 is a $5 special with a short new story and several reprints, including the first ever reprint of the S&K Captain America story from ALL-WINNERS COMICS #2 (1941) (the second ever reprint, along with the S&K story from #1 will be in a few months in a Masterworks hardcover).
My own commentary on posts is going to be a bit briefer than normal for the next little while.
This issue of KAMANDI, titled “Killer Germ”, concludes the trip down to South America and the Tracking Site where Ben Boxer and his companions come from. Down there they find giant savage bats, mutant germs and a mental freak. Kamandi also gets to see a tape of Ben Boxer’s father, explaining some of their experiments and how it led to the powers Ben, Steve and Renzi share.
![Kamandi, The Last Boy On Earth #10 [1973]](http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/kirby/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2005/12/Kamandi-The-Last-Boy-On-Earth-10-1973.jpg)
This is one of my favourite issues of KAMANDI, with lots of crazy sci-fi and horror concepts, non-stop action and lots of great artwork.
Mike Royer inks the cover and 20-page story.
Published 1973
The US Post Office is releasing some stamps next year featuring DC super-heroes. Among the 20 stamp set is one featuring Green Arrow by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer (taken from the cover of GREEN ARROW BY JACK KIRBY, which was actually a Bulls-Eye image modified to look like GA in the inks).
Apparently 2007 will feature a similar set for Marvel, which should have significantly more Kirby.
Old Greenskin and a whole lot of non-Kirby characters getting the Kirby treatment on this, Kirby’s last of four DEFENDERS covers. Joe Sinnott inks, with some modifications by John Romita.
Published 1977