Monthly Archives: May 2006

Our Fighting Forces #161 [1975] – The Major’s Dream

by
Posted in Genre, War.

Despite a generic Joe Kubert cover showing the Losers wandering into a German trap, this is another Kirby issue of OFF and set in Burma, where the Losers team with a British officer, Major Soames, to set up an observation post in an area where the Major previously lost his whole regiment.

OurFightingForces1611975.jpg

Ever since, the Major is plagued by vivid dreams involving demons, bottomless pits and multi-armed creatures. The Losers manage to fulfil their mission among the ruins of a temple, but the Major finds his dream coming to life.

Not the greatest main story, but there’s a lot to like about this issue, like the depiction of the dream, which Kirby always does well. I especially like this bit of narration:

Soon there is silence, the “Half-Sleep” of tired men… whose senses listen while their bodies regenerate for renewed action.

A nice description no doubt based on Kirby’s own experiences in WWII.

D. Bruce Berry inks the 18-page story.

Published 1975

Fantastic Four #73 [1968] – The Flames of Battle

by

I kind of wish I could be more enthusiastic about this issue, which features the FF in battle against Daredevil, Thor and Spider-Man, following up on a story that had just appeared in DAREDEVIL where Doctor Doom briefly switched bodies with Daredevil. DD is back in his own body and goes to warn the FF, but they think it’s still Doom. DD recruits Spider-Man and Thor to help hiim, but of course the FF think they’re imposters as well.

FantasticFour731968.jpg

It’s pretty much just a lot of fighting, very well drawn fighting, but pretty empty from then on until Sue shows up and clears everything up. This might have made a better middle of an epic story if it had some sort of set-up and resolutioin in the FF book itself, instead of batting clean-up to an issue of DD.

Joe Sinnott inks the cover and 20-page story, with some of the Spidey bits having John Romita’s hand in as well.

Published 1968

–Link– Eternals history by Greenberger

by
Posted in Links.

Robert Greenberger writes a decent brief overview of Kirby’s original ETERNALS series as part of the hype machine for a new series that is apparently coming soon.

http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68747

–Link– Free Stuff

by
Posted in Links.

Just a note that the Free Magazine Day at the TwoMorrows website has been extended to (appropriately enough) tomorrow thanks to enough demand that slowed down their servers. Go over and pick out one available issue of ALTER EGO, BACK ISSUE, DRAW or WRITE NOW that you need and they’ll send it to you free of charge (in the United States. $2 to cover shipping to Canada, $3 International). I highly recommend almost any issue of ALTER EGO, but a few notables:

#9 – John Romita
#15 – John Buscema
#17 – Lou Fine
#24 – Mort Meskin
#28 – Joe Maneely
#36 – Joe Simon

Kirby shows up frequently in ALTER EGO, especially any issue with a focus on the Golden Age or 1960s Marvel. BACK ISSUE has also had some Kirby in their “Rough Stuff” section of pencilled artwork, including in #1 and #3.

Might take a while to get through to the site (try during the night or early tomorrow), but it’s worth it.

Free Magazine Day

Marvel Double Feature #10 [1975] – The Secret

by

Edited reprint of the Cap story from TALES TO ASTONISH #86 [1967] in this issue. Pretty straight forward story, Cap has to enter a secret base of an unnamed foreign government to make contact with an undercover SHIELD agent, who is unfortunately cracking under the strain, although he manages to die a heroic death saving Cap.

MrvlDoubleFeature101975.jpg

Along the way, Cap has to fight a giant robot, a mechanical bloodhound, high-tech flame-throwers, experimental air-cars and crawl through some high-tech duct-work. All lovingly rendered by Kirby.

The cover is also from ToS #86, Frank Giacoia inks both that and the edited to 9-pages of the story.

Strange Tales #115 [1963] – Cover

by

Ditko inks over Kirby on the cover of this issue (which also features a rather important Doctor Strange story not mentioned on the cover at all). A bit heavy on the inks, but I guess that’s fair enough considering he’s lending one of his villains from Spider-Man to the cause as well (returning the favour from Spidey facing Doctor Doom a few months earlier). I like the way the Torch began to look around this time, with the more clearly defined face when he’s flaming.

StrangeTales1151963C.jpg