Publishers seem to be scaling back in the post-Christmas buying frenzy. Surprisingly, Dark Horse offers nothing I’m interested in. (I can’t remember the last time that happened.) IDW makes up for it, though, offering new volumes of both LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE (v9, 1940-41) and STEVE CANYON (v3,1951-52). I should also probably mention that IDW will be offering an “Artist’s Edition” dedicated to the work of Jack Davis (not that I’m able to afford it). Also in comic strips, Fantagraphics is up to volume 19 of PEANUTS, reprinting strips from 1987-88.
JACK KIRBY OMNIBUS VOL.2: I wasn’t really expecting a second volume, but this one reprints Black Magic #1-9, 1st Issue Special #1, 5-6, Kung Fu Fighter #1-3, The Sandman #1-6, DC Comics Presents #84, Kobra #1, Super Powers Vol. 1, #1-5, and Super Powers Vol. 2, #1-6.
Replies
Is there any rhyme or reason to which books they are selecting to print in the Jack Kirby Omnibus? I mean, it's not chronological is it? Is it by publisher? Are all of Volume 2 DC properties?
What were the contents of Volume 1 by comparison?
Volume 2 seems to be a compendium of stuff by Kirby that DC published in the 70s and 80s that hasn't already reprinted elsewhere, not counting Golden Age DC reprints. The contents list above includes all the published uncollected stuff Kirby did for the company in the period I can think of except Justice, Inc., an ad for the first Super Powers mini that ran in DC titles, Kirby's pages for DC's Who's Who series, and the cover for Super DC Giant #S-25 (which featured Challengers of the Unknown reprints).(1) Also a story presumably intended for an unpublished seventh issue of The Sandman which was printed in the digest The Best of DC #22, but I have a suspicion there are a couple of mistakes on the list as given above (see below), so perhaps that will be in the volume.
Black Magic was a series edited by Joe Simon that reprinted stories from Prize titles from the 1950s, including a number of Kirby ones. I don't think Kirby did any original work for the series. The GCD tells me the cover of one of the issues was an unused cover by Kirby from the same period as the stories.
The issue of DC Comics Presents in question is likely #84, a Challengers of the Unknown issue written by Bob Rozakis which incorporated an unused "Challengers" instalment originally intended for one of DC's digests drawn by Alex Toth.
The Super Powers minis were pitched at a younger age-level than most of DC's output of the time. Kirby was credited with the plot for the first Super Powers mini; he wrote and drew the last issue, but the others were scripted by Joey Cavalieri and pencilled by Adrian Gonzales. Kirby also pencilled the covers (and the DC house ad I mentioned.) The second mini was drawn by Kirby and credited as scripted by Paul Kupperberg, but I wouldn't be surprised if Kirby had a plotting hand in it. The opening picked up Darkseid's storyline from the end of the Hunger Dogs graphic novel. Kirby's art looked like an animated universe version of his style.
Kirby only did the covers for The Sandman ##2-3; I wouldn't be surprised if the stories from those issues (written by Michael Fleisher, drawn by Ernie Chua) aren't included.
Kirby's only contribution to Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter was the pencils for #3. I suppose it's possible DC will include the first two issues to provide context, but their inclusion in the list could be an error.
The GCD has a contents list for the first volume.
I wrote "that DC published" in my first paragraph because Kirby also did some stories for DC in the period that it didn't publish, including further "Dingbats of Danger Street" stories (the first one appeared in 1st Issue Special #6) and stories for proposed romance titles.
(1) In the 80s DC published a series on good paper reprinting The New Gods, with new covers and a new story leading into The Hunger Dogs in the final issue. My recollection is the final tier of the story from The New Gods #11 was altered to connect it to the new story. (A new panel with a close-up of Orion's eyes with the words [from memory] "The war will end... now!" replaced a panel advertising one of Kirby's new titles, and the dialogue in the final story panel was altered to lead into it.) Presumably the original version was used in the Fourth World omnibus that reprinted the story but I don't know that to be the case. Someone else will have to say if the omnibus reprinted the new covers Kirby did for the reprints. (The one on the final issue was a wraparound cover connected to the new story.)
Luke, you are da Man! Yes, the Fourth World Omnibus did reprint the (mostly) wraparound covers of the 1985 New Gods reprint series, as well as all of the New Gods-related pages Kirby did for Who’s Who. Regarding the rest of the stuff on the list, I have some of the Black Magic stories reprinted elsewhere, but probably not all; in any case, it’ll be good to have them all in one place. I knew Kirby had done some work on Kung Fu Fighter (not King Fu Fighter, as I typo-ed yesterday, corrected today), but I’ve never been able to find it. DC Comic Presents #8 was definitely a typo on my part, and I have corrected that, too. The listing for Sandman threw me, too, especially because #1 has already been reprinted at the end of the Simon & Kirby Sandman Omnibus. Regarding the exclusion of Justice, Inc., #1, that’s a legal rights issue, I would guess.
Justice League of America #1 Variant Covers: I have been a big fan of the League over the years but seriously, I am NOT paying $150 to get the same cover with 52 different flags on them. I know I probably missing out on the investment chance of a life time but a novelty item like this for this price for me at least is an easy pass
Doctor Who: Character Compendium: This seems to be another Encyclopedia deal but they do seem based on the description to be including ALL The Doctors not just the stuff from the new series. I am ordering it but Diamond do have a history of not delivering on U.K. solicitations so I won’t hold my breath on it actually showing up.
Doctor Who: Shada DVD: This, sadly, I won’t be picking up from my LCS. Not because of cost or anything of that sort but after almost having a 2 month delay on Ambassadors of Death & the official release date listed as the beginning of January, I will likely end up getting it at Best Buy or some other outlet. I just feel a bit bad because I would rather give business to the LCS.
Essential Captain Marvel Volume 2: I am looking forward to the Starlin stuff and Thanos but what I really want to see is, I have heard of people going grey or white haired but never a reverse of it so I want to see how they worked that in to the story. Trial of The Watcher sounds cool from what I have heard as well.
Finally, the cover to Uncanny X-Men. Am I the only one that saw Magneto's helmet and thought for a second or so, "What is Darkhawk doing in the X-Men?"
Do you know if that Shada DVD is part of the regular series? (Because they didn’t show the case art I couldn’t tell.) If it is I’ll get it, but if it’s not I already have it on VHS.
Thanks, Jeff.
1. I like that they are already pushing Free Comic Book Day.
2. That Alex Ross Star Wars cover is kind of blah.
3. I was going to pass on the Dollar Bill one-shot, but Steve Rude is on the art, so I am back in.
4. Alright, I am going to give Green Arrow another shot with Jeff Lemire at the helm.
5. The Phantom Stranger cover is creepy.
6. I am truly stoked to see Keith Giffen reunited with Paul Levitz on the Legion
7. It is also nice to see the return of Slam Bradley.
8. I'm mildly surprised to see DC doing a collection of Marshall Law.
9. Wow, my Image pull list is getting close to my DC, and already laps my Marvel.
10. So, um, are the Fearless Defenders *just* Valkyrie and Misty Knight?
11. A New Warriors omnibus seems like an odd choice.
12. I do wonder how Marvel (and DC) determines the prices of their trades.
13. Antarctic Press is putting out a book called Last Zombie, and a part of me thinks, "I wish."
14. Surprised to see a Gene Simmons written comic anthology.
15. Really surprised that Bongo is doing a comic book on a Coldplay album.
16. Boom's solicits is just way too busy.
17. I can't believe that subscription/pullbox variants have taken off...and I have even bought some. In my defense they are the same price.
18. Glad to see a Son of Satan t-shirt. I have no interest, but that it exists for people who like him is just great,
It’s a good thing the Dollar Bill comic is a one-shot. I’ll read anything Steve Rude draws, but speedy he is not. I hope DC already has it in the can.
I must not even read DC (or Marvel) all that closely anymore, because I didn’t even notice items #4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 on your list. (Or 14.)
I often wonder about #12 myself. Some of their tpbs are more expensive than their Premier Hardcovers (a line they have apparently abandoned).
I don't recall who is doing that Gene Simmons book, it is some independent publisher though. It didn't pay too close attention, since it is isn't something I am really interested in.
As to the trades. There were a couple of the Marvel one that I noticed weren't any kind of discount if you had ordered the individual issues. Technically, they would be a few cents more expensive. One of the reasons, for me, to wait for the trade was you got it at a discount over buying them as they came out. Not it just isn't always the case. DC does it too with their hardback trades.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next