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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 29, 2017 13:38:37 GMT -5
Kamandi #16  Kirby returns more heavily to the Planet of the Apes, in this one. Kamandi is searching tunnels below Washington DC, when he comes across this sight...  Kamandi is less than charitable about the fate of his fellow, if mute, humans, until he is captured by the apes. The apes are amazed that he can talk and he is brought to Prof. Hanuman, a researcher. However, kamandi remains silent. The professor is interrupted by a superior, as a battle rages above. Tuftan and his soldiers are searching for Kamandi and are fighting the apes. Hanuman is drawn to a diary from a researcher in the past. The story in the diary parallels the events of the present, as a battle raged then, when the scientist was on the cusp of a breakthrough, with a drug called cortexin. Kirby juxtaposes the action with narration from the diary, as the researcher of the past describes the Great Disaster occurring, as his breakthrough takes hold. The animal test subjects are released by an explosion (as is Kamandi) and they flee. The researcher witnesses amazing behavior, almost human. The animals flee and the complex is destroyed. Kamandi leads out the humans and we discover that the place they are escaping is Walter Reed Hospital. So, Kirby gives us the origin of the talking animals we meet in the series. Just prior to the Great Disaster, cortexin stimulated their brains and expanded their consciousness. The animals would go on to develop speech and walk upright, and gain greater dexterity. This is the source and the diary hides the ultimate truth, that man was dominant and he experimented on animals, leading to the tables being turned. Prof. Hunan was recreating cortexin, and was about to test when Tuftan attacks. Could the tables have turned again, had Tuftan not attacked? In leading the humans out, has Kamandi saved them or doomed them to slavery? Very philosophical stuff, even if it isn't unique. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 29, 2017 14:15:26 GMT -5
The Demon #16  Our cover shows Etrigan at a session with his dominatrix. You naughty demon!  Actually, Etrigan is crossing Gotham City (again, without meeting Batman; where is he?) and runs into Kafir, the horned one, a buffalo monster, conjured by a powerful sorcerer. Just a note, in Arabic, kafir means unbeliever or disbeliever. It is also unfortunately one letter off from a slur against Africans, which derived from the same source (as well as Portugese). I doubt Kirby was aware of this, but, it struck me immediately. Etrigan and the monster battle and Etrigan finds that he cannot win. The monster withstands all attacks, even the demonflame. He hits Etrigan with a mist that knocks him out and we see who is behind it, Morgaine Le Fay.  The monster drags Etrigan to Morgaine's chambers, where he is imprisoned in a way that would make several British MPs very excited. Etrigan is branded and falls under Morgaine's spell. Meanwhile, Glenda marks is playing around with the Philosopher's Stone (turning chairs into flowers), when old man Warly, from issue 1, appears in her apartment. he tells her that he brings an invitation from his master, who knows where Etrigan is. Glenda follows him, stupidly. Morgaine taunts Etrigan and forces him to fight an ancient gladiator, Smasher. The fight continues as Glenda arrives, who pleads for its end. Morgaine sends off the gladiator and Glenda asks for Jason's whereabouts. Morgaine shows her...  Jason appears, still branded. He sees the Stone and tells Glenda not to give it to Morgaine. He is tortured as a reprisal. Glenda tells off Morgaine and a catfight ensues. Warly snatches the Stone from Glenda's hands and turns it on Morgaine, turning her to stone...  Before the change, Morgaine had gestured at a door, behind Warly, threatening him. The threat now comes out and ensnares Warly in tentacles. He fights with demonflame, but can't control it. He and the creature are destroyed and Jason is able to subdue the flame. We see the brand is gone and he is free. He recovers the Philosopher's Stone and he and Glenda are left in peace, as Jason confirms to her that he is the Demon. Thus ends this intriguing series. Kirby brings it full circle, bringing back Morgaine Le Fay, in a final battle with Etrigan. She is pretty nasty and Kirby excels at depicting her casual sadism, as she lounges while Etrigan is tortured and branded. Kirby has done this sort of thing before, with characters like Karnilla and Hela, in Thor. He creates a pretty effective dominatrix. I can only imagine what someone like Grant Morrison would do with the same material today; I suspect the sexual undertones would be more blatant, as in JLA Earth-2, with Superwoman. So, The Demon is no more; at least, in Kirby's hands. It was a great little series that was starting to find its way. The monster fighting was my favorite element and Mike Mignola ably picked up that ball and ran with it. Etrigan would go on to appear periodically at DC, mostly in team-ups and as a back-up feature. Alan Moore and neil Gaiman put him to great use and Matt Wagner produced an excellent mini-series, in the 80s. Once again, Kirby created something that DC squashed relatively early and, yet, came back to time and time again. Compare to the bulk of the rest of DC's line, at the time, and you can see that Kirby was the most dominant creative force there. He churned out new ideas and discarded so many in a single issue that most would spend a career trying to achieve. Even when he faltered, he created something at least interesting. Kirby was still under contract and Kamandi continued. Kirby had a quota to meet, so more comics would follow, even as the capricious fan press crowed that Kirby had lost it. Lost it my Asgard! Next up, Simon & Kirby are re-united! |
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 29, 2017 14:49:16 GMT -5
Sandman #1  Okay, that cover is more than a little creepy! Inside, we see Dolphin Island, which is wracked by a storm. Old Ezra Paulsen and his grandson Jed are the only inhabitants. Jed, who is asthmatic (as was Kirby's daughter, Lisa), dreams of a shipwreck and maons about not being able to breathe. Ezra comes to his room. The scene pulls back to reveal this...  Jed awakes and frantically dresses and runs outside. he finds the man in his dream and he and Ezra find the man. he has died and he clutches a montrous doll in his arms, which was called the Wereblink, in Jed's dream. Jed keeps it, to his grandfather's disgust, but has nightmares about it attacking Ezra. Jed runs after and falls from a cliff. The yellow and orange figure rushes to his aid, even as the two nightmares, Brute and Glob wish for his death. The figure snatches Jed from his fall and brings him out of the chasm. Jed screams about someone catching him, which awakens Ezra. The masked man returns Jed to his bed as Ezra enters the room and Jed awakens. Ezra does not see the masked man. Ezra decides that the doll is to blame for the nightmares and smashes it, then buries the pieces. Meanwhile, in Japan, a former kamikaze pilot has been rebuilt with electronic devices and is christened General Electric. he is seen holding another doll, like the Wereblink. He reacts when the doctors try to take it from him, fighting them, then jumping through a plate glass window. Back on the island, a dog digs up the wereblink, which is ticking and then it goes off. An alarm is sounded in the masked man's chambers. Brute and Glob call to be released from their tubes. The Sandman refuses and leaps into an Ejector Tube. He lands at Cape Kennedy and ids in rescue efforts, and spreads sleep dust to help the injured. The gesture is misunderstood and he is attacked and flees. He runs and finds Jed, who has unearthed the wereblink. Jed and the Sandman are grabbed by men dressed as Nazis, though Sandman fights. he is overpowered and they are brought before Gen. Electric. he has both wereblinks and plans on detonating charges below Washington DC. Sandman fishes for his Hypno Whistle, which one of the goons finds. He takes it and blows it. Brute and Glob are released and come to the rescue of their master. They unleash nightmare terrors, which subdue the Nazis and the hypno whistle destroys Gen. Electric's head. Sandman and Jed are freed and Jed is told that the dream will fade, as the heroes return to their base. This one is totally out there. This is not the masked hero of the past, who started as a Green Hornet clone and was then turned into a swashbuckling mystery man, by Simon & Kirby. This is something totally different, as this Sandman seems to move in and out of dreams, protecting innocents. His aides aren't exactly benevolent and you wonder how much control he really has. The art is dynamic and nightmarish. This was something unique. The book was a special release; but, it was one of the early speculative buys of the growing collector market. It would be a year, before a second issue would come out. By that point, Simon had left and Kirby was doing other things. Michael Fleischer and Ernie Chua (Chan) take over. Issue 2 sees Jed kidnapped by thugs for Dr Spider, who hooks him up to a machine to harness his nightmares. The Sandman comes to the rescue, but is overwhelmed and Brute and Glob save the day. I sense a pattern forming. Issue 3 is also from Fleischer and Chan and has a girl meanaced by nightmares conjured by a brain in a jar, with gorillas (with robotic brains) helping him. Sandman rescues her, then needs Brute and Glob to rescue him, before banishing the brain with his hypno whistle. Kirby provides the covers and Mike Royer inks it to make it look more Kirby. the art in issue 3 is very rough and the little girl looks grotesque, in some panels. Kirby would return in issue 4. We'll look at that, next time. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 1, 2017 14:49:34 GMT -5
Kamandi #17  Got gopher problems? Just dangle a young man down the hole! Kamandi is battling the apes, as the story begins, after the escape of the humans from Washington DC (much as the animals escaped, during the Great Disaster). The apes snare Kamandi, again, and haul him off in a wagon. Gee, that seems familiar...   Kamndi and the others are driven off for a pioneer camp, some distance away. The journey is perilous and the wagon is nearly buried in a rockslide. Kamandi uses the diversion to free himself and the others; but, the mindless humans attack him and he is dazed, making recapture easy for the apes. meanwhile, Tuftan and his soldiers pull back from the fight in Washington, giving up hope of finding Kamandi. Kamandi is brought to Ohio and the pioneer camp. it seems the camp has a gopher problem, as underground dwellers keep stealing their food. Another theft occurs and they fire weapons and flamethrowers down the hole. Karl, I mean the apes send down Kamandi, with a basket strapped to his back. He stumbles through the tunnels until he runs into dwarf-like humans. They free him and take the basket, which has bombs in it. kamandi warns them they are bad and the dwarves repeat the word. The understand "good" and "bad". They send the bombs back to the apes. The apes send down poison gas and the dwarves save Kamandi, dragging him through an earth wall, to a new chamber. there, Kamandi sees a large machine, as the story ends.  Well, Kirby goes from Planet of the Apes to Beneath the Planet of the Apes, in a couple of chapters, then mixes in Caddyshack. It's more than a little silly by quite entertaining. The machine closes things with a bit of intrigue, so we will have to come back to find out what its purpose is. It looks like there is liquid in the ring; so, my guess is that it is a super-blender and the dwarves are making milkshakes! Send your guesses now! |
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 1, 2017 15:18:44 GMT -5
Sandman #4  After two issues of Ernie Chan, Kirby is back, as we see Jed menaced by monsters. Seriously, this kid needs a nightlight, or something! Our story opens as we see aliens observing Earth, as they do, and see a sleeping Jed ('cause, comics!). They don't know what dreams are, so their scientist explains and shows Jed being chased by monsters. The boffin (as the Brits say) tells them that monsters enter the dream-stream and menace the sleepers, until they awake. With their own swan-craft, they can invade the dream-stream and kill humans in their sleep and invade Earth. AN ALIEN INVASION VIA DREAMS?  THAT'S DIABOLICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Meanwhile, the Sandman has sent Brute and Glob on a vacation (where do dream creatures go for vacation?), so he is on his own. I get my answer, as Brute and Glob are at a nightmare family picnic (like when your drunken uncle shows up and urinates on the potato salad, only worse). They witness the invasion craft, as we see swan-craft flying overhead. The aliens drop a dome over the nightmares, so they are out of things. The aliens next target a nightmare wizard and capture him. Jed is showing his latest yo-yo tricks to his grandpa, then whining about not having any friends. Well, maybe if you took a bath once in a while, kid! Seriously, he hasn't washed since issue 1! Jed goes to sleep and the Sandman checks his dreams. Okay, this is the creepiest superhero ever; a guy who looks in on little children while they sleep! He sees the swans and thinks they are birds, until they attack.  The Sandman yells for Jed to wake up and he does. The Sandman then jumps into an ejector tube to enter the dream-stream. He finds the nightmare wizard bound and gagged and removes the gag. he gets clonked on the noggin just as the wizard shouts a warning. Sandman ends up trussed up next to the wizard. The eventually maneuver so the wizard can remove Sandman's glove, so he can get at his hypnosonic whistle and contact Jed. Jed wakes up, gets dressed and grabs his yo-yo (as every good soldier would). he hops the vibrational waves to the dream-stream and runs across the fantasy land, until he finds the Sandman. he works at releasing him when the aliens attack. Before you can say Tommy Smothers, Jed beats back the aliens with his yo-yo and frees Sandman and the Nightmare Wizard. They then free the nightmares and Bute & Glob. They all team up and drive off the aliens. Jed is sent home, where he is sleeping peacefully, at the end. All in all, this is a nice fairytale adventure. All the heroes are incapacitated and the sleeping boy has to save the day. I suspect the older reading crowd turned their noses up at this, which is clearly aimed at younger children, as much as any Grimm's fairytale (and those are pretty scary, for kids). I really think DC missed the boat with this book, as they could have had a really cool series for kids; but, the direct market was coming to the fore and everyone's sights were on the older crowd. Granted, this stuff is a bit nightmarish, so a lot of kids would be too scared to read it. Richie Rich it ain't! Kids today might eat it up, though. |
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Post by brutalis on Apr 6, 2017 8:28:01 GMT -5
More Kirby greatness coming later this year: Listed on Amazon for Pre-ordering. It is a wonderful time to celebrate the glory of the King this year!!!
Jack Kirby's The Demon Paperback – October 17, 2017
by Jack Kirby (Author, Illustrator)
Paperback
$27.21
Collecting the entire, original 16-issue series from the early 1970s, part man, part elemental fury, Etrigan the Demon was bound to Jason Blood by Merlin to defend Camelot, only to become a demonologist in the modern-day DC Universe. This yellow-skinned creature became a mainstay in DC publications going forward in stories none more notable than Kirby's original run!
Finally collected in paperback for the first time ever, this new collection is a must-have for any Jack Kirby fan!
Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Hardcover – December 12, 2017
by Jack Kirby (Author)
Hardcover
$97.50
Collects SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #133-139 and 141-148, THE NEW GODS #1-11, THE FOREVER PEOPLE #1-11, MISTER MIRACLE #1-18, plus later stories from NEW GODS #4 and DC GRAPHIC NOVEL #4.
Jack Kirby's Mister Miracle (New Edition) Paperback – September 26, 2017
by Jack Kirby (Author, Illustrator)
Paperback
$29.99
Created by the legendary Jack Kirby, this graphic novel collection comes back after being out of print for years! Collects all 18 issues of MISTER MIRACLE!
Jack Kirby's Super Powers Paperback – January 23, 2018
by Jack Kirby (Author)
Paperback
$22.34
Collects SUPER POWERS Vol. 1 #1-5 and SUPER POWERS Vol. 2 #1-6, originally published from 1984-1986.
Jack Kirby's Kamandi Omnibus Hardcover – July 25, 2017
by Jack Kirby (Author)
Hardcover
$46.39
This hardcover omnibus collects Jack Kirby's run on KAMANDI, THE LAST BOY ON EARTH #1-40.
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 8, 2017 16:45:47 GMT -5
Kamandi #18  Kamandi is on the run from the apes, as he has been stealing provisions to aid the gopher people. He escapes more apes and returns with food. He watches the gophers attend their machine, until something breaks and the machine stops. The gophers go in a panic and a giant worm crashes onto the scene.  Before you can say "Maudib," Kamandi is shooting and running, urging the gophers to flee. Kamandi tries to stop it with bullets, but to no avail. It charges after him and he hits upon an idea. he leads it to the surface, to the searching apes and it crashes into their fuel and ammo, consuming them. It eventually creates a flame and sets of the mixture, exploding into nothing. The apes have had enough and break camp to head for home and Kamandi helps himself to a vehicle and heads off elsewhere. This is a pretty breackneck piece to end the storyline of Kamandi and these apes. There isn't much plot, other than giant worm attacks when the machine stops, bullets don't stop it and Kamandi leads it to the ammo and fuel to destroy it. That's pretty much it. It's all action and Kirby does his usual dynamic job, though I doubt that this would have me wanting to read more Kamandi, by itself. Kirby just seems to want to wrap up a story that kind of hit a dead end. Kamandi seems to run into that several times. Once Kirby has run out of steam on the idea, he brings it to a swift, energetic conclusion and moves on. At this point, I wonder if Kirby's interest in doing this series has waned and he would move on, if not for his contractual obligations? We'll have to see how things go with the next story. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 8, 2017 17:48:39 GMT -5
Sandman #5 and 6, and Best of DC Comics Digest #22    Issue #5 takes things in a new direction. Jed and his grandpa are out fishing when their boat comes across a sea serpent, which attacks them. The Sandman observes this and hits the ejector tube to save them. he rescues Jed but is too late for grandpa, who dies. Sandman gives Jed a whistle to call him, if he is in trouble. He then abandons the orphan boy to his fate on the island! That's pretty F'd up!!! Jed continues to live on the island, when his Aunt Clarice comes to visit and learns that Jed is alone. She and Uncle Barnaby bring him back to live with them on their farm. Before you can say Oliver Twist, Jed is introduced to cousins Bruce and Susan, who belittle him, and stuck in a dingy attic room. At meal time the others gorge on lamb chops, while Jed gets oatmeal. He is put to work and told he can't rest until he meets his quota, even though Bruce and Susan have done less work. Bruce sees Jed's whistle and tries to take it and Jed fights back, kicking the older bullies hinder.  Jed is punished by his aunt and forced to chop wood. Sandman comes to him and says he is needed and whisks him off to help the Sandman free the queen of the winged-people, who has been kidnapped by the frog men. Jed is woken by his aunt, while lying next to the woodpile. All of the wood is chopped and Aunt Clarice is amazed. She takes Jed inside to reward him, as Brute and Glob look on, axe in hand, giggling. Very Dickensian turn of events as Fleischer and Kirby upset Jed's world and put him in a living nightmare of servitude to his lazy relatives. Like any good fairytale, though, Jed's virtue is rewarded with adventures and help from magical creatures. In issue 6, the Sandman is tricked into entering a dream and is captured by Doctor Spider, from issue #2. he puts a robot in his place, who tells Brute and Glob that they have a mission. Glob reminds him they can only be released by the Sandman's hypno-sonic whistle. He does so and brute makes excuses to remain behind. Sandman and Glob head to Doc Spider's lair and Brute is captured. The Sandman robot goes looking for Brute, who has gone after Jed, for help. Jed plays Cinderella some more, as the family leave him to attend to the farm, while they go to a carnival. Bruce tries to steal Jed's whistle, after they have come home, and meets Brute, who gives hima bit of payback, with some nightmares. brute and Jed attempt to free the Sandman and are captured; but, the Sandman manages to get loose and free Glob and they are able to release Jed and Brute and defeat Doctor Spider. Issue 5 still has that charming fairytale quality, though I doubt the series could be maintained with it. Issue 6 is more standard fare and less satisfying. A seventh issue was prepared; but the series was cancelled, unsurprisingly. The fairytale element probably would have gone over better in the 40s and one wishes that graphic novels had been prevalent in the mid-70s, as this material would have made for a good children's graphic novel. It took a while; but, the seventh issue story would turn up in Best of DC Comics Digest #22, Christmas with the Superheroes. It features the the fabled "War on Christmas," that Bill O'Reilly whines about, except that it isn't PC liberals attacking it, it is the Seal Men. Our story finds Jed sent out in a blizzard to seek a contribution from old skinflint Titus Gotrox, because Bruce is too precious to risk going out in a winter storm for a charity fund. Jed finds the old man and his nephew Rodney, who is a total Richard, if you get my drift. Jed asks for the contribution and the old man questions why. Jed speaks of spreading cheer, like Santa and Titus wagers a million dollar contribution, if Jed can bring proof of Santa back by the end of the night. Jed assures him he will, with the Sandman's help. Rodney is thrown by Jed's confidence and, seeing his inheritance flying away, follows.  He sees Jed use his whistle to summon the Sandman for help, dropping the whistle in the process. The Sandman takes Jed to the North Pole, with the aid of the Nightmare Wizard, from issue 4. Meanwhile, Rodney finds the whistle and blows it, summoning Brute. He claims he was late and was supposed to go with Jed and the Sandman and Brute helps him catch up, via an ejector tube.  He almost gets eaten by a plant, until the Wizard releases him and sends him in another sled, following Sandman and Jed's trail. Jed and Sanman are attacked by elves, who mistake them for Seal Men. Mrs Claus frees them and tells them Santa was kindapped. They go to rescue him and get suckered into a trap. They meet up with Santa and work to free him. They are caught and brought before the Seal King, who speaks of Santa's sloppy service, giving them galoshes and mittens. SM and Jed plead his case and Santa promises some quality control and is released.  They group returns to the workshop and find Mrs Claus bound and gagged. Rodney holds a gun on them and tells them he will stop them from winning the million. Sandman pulls a sand cartridge out of his gauntlet and throws it at Rodney, knocking him out. Later, at titus' house, Rodney is dropped, hogtied, down the chimney and Santa appears to claim the check. Titus apologizes for his stinginess and joyfully hands over the check. he asks Santa a favor and gets a ride in his sleigh.  This is a really fun story that I fell in love with when I purchased this Digest, back when it was released. It is utterly charming and filled with fantasy and whimsy and suggests that DC could have really done something if they had produced a Sandman book for kids, with these stories. Maybe they seem a little old fashioned; but, they are charming and exciting, something kind of rare in comics then and certainly now. It may seem a bit corny; but, this was produced for children and it has a timeless quality that all great children's fairytales and stories have. It was a sad market that looked down upon comics for kids, while older readers were crowing about comics for them. The medium began for children and children were lost in later years and the market suffered. The creators who really worked to reach children, like Jeff Smith and Bone, or Jill Thompson and Scary Godmother, did far more for the health of the medium than any angsty issue of X-Men or Frank Miller crime tale. There is room for both worlds, yet some didn't want the pesky kids around. Their loss. I'm sure the Big Two would love to have sales on par with Big Nate, Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Smile, and other cartoon books aimed at kids, in the YA literary world. Kirby knew. Okay, enough soapbox. next up, we look at Jack's next fantastical series; his last one for DC, with OMAC, The One Man Army Corp. Get ready for some truly weird ideas and one awesome mohawk! |
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Post by kirby101 on Apr 8, 2017 21:29:18 GMT -5
Are you familiar with the story "Toxl" Kirby did in Weird Mystery Tales #2 around this time. It is a good little tale with top Kirby art.  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Apr 8, 2017 21:57:59 GMT -5
More Kirby greatness coming later this year: Listed on Amazon for Pre-ordering. It is a wonderful time to celebrate the glory of the King this year!!! Jack Kirby's The Demon Paperback – October 17, 2017 by Jack Kirby (Author, Illustrator) Paperback $27.21 Collecting the entire, original 16-issue series from the early 1970s, part man, part elemental fury, Etrigan the Demon was bound to Jason Blood by Merlin to defend Camelot, only to become a demonologist in the modern-day DC Universe. This yellow-skinned creature became a mainstay in DC publications going forward in stories none more notable than Kirby's original run! Finally collected in paperback for the first time ever, this new collection is a must-have for any Jack Kirby fan! Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Hardcover – December 12, 2017 by Jack Kirby (Author) Hardcover $97.50 Collects SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #133-139 and 141-148, THE NEW GODS #1-11, THE FOREVER PEOPLE #1-11, MISTER MIRACLE #1-18, plus later stories from NEW GODS #4 and DC GRAPHIC NOVEL #4. Jack Kirby's Mister Miracle (New Edition) Paperback – September 26, 2017 by Jack Kirby (Author, Illustrator) Paperback $29.99 Created by the legendary Jack Kirby, this graphic novel collection comes back after being out of print for years! Collects all 18 issues of MISTER MIRACLE! Jack Kirby's Super Powers Paperback – January 23, 2018 by Jack Kirby (Author) Paperback $22.34 Collects SUPER POWERS Vol. 1 #1-5 and SUPER POWERS Vol. 2 #1-6, originally published from 1984-1986. Jack Kirby's Kamandi Omnibus Hardcover – July 25, 2017 by Jack Kirby (Author) Hardcover $46.39 This hardcover omnibus collects Jack Kirby's run on KAMANDI, THE LAST BOY ON EARTH #1-40. I have most of these runs but if the price comes down... |
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 12, 2017 21:27:16 GMT -5
Kamandi #19  Kamandi comes to Chicago; and, apparently, In the Days of the Mob has taken over the title.  Kamandi has been hijacked by the Mob!!! He's taken via a tunnel to Chicago, which is still intact, after the Great Disaster. He finds a world straight out of the Roaring 20s...  Kamandi is taken to a back room in a speakeasy and is told he is being bumped off. Suddenly, it turns into a Cagney picture and Kamandi fights his way out; first with pistol, then with tommygun. Meanwhile, a squad of apes has been tracking Kamandi, in an armored car. They spot the tunnel opening and head in. Kamandi escapes the hoods and ends up running smack into the apes!!! The Mob is still chasing Kamandi and lob a grenade at the apes. Kamandi gets free and hides in an alley. he meets a guy named Gentlemen George, who leads him to an underground (literally) poker game. Kamandi warns of the apes and the hoods joke that Chicago is filled with gorillas. Kamandi tries to explain and they think he is talking about a rival gang muscling in. Must be the Federation after their 50%. Kamandi leads the gangsters against the gorillas, whose armored car has given them an early advantage. They outflank the gorillas, via the sewer and, during tense fighting, it is revealed that the gangsters are robots! This thing went from Planet of the Apes rip-off, to "A Piece of the Action" (Star Trek), to Westworld, in about 30 pages!!! This is what I love of Kirby in this era; just having some goofy fun, despite his deal going sour. Kirby seems to be just riffing for himself now and these stories are a lot more fun than some of the more serious ones. Maybe he had been watching Star Trek, with the kids and got inspired. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 12, 2017 22:01:41 GMT -5
OMAC #1  That cover creeped me out when I was a kid and it still does! OMAC began life as an idea Kirby had for a Captain America of the future. Instead of Cap being frozen again, a new Cap is created. As with the New Gods, he held onto the idea and dusted it off at DC. As we will see there are many parallels to Cap. Our story begins with the creepy image of Lila, the "Build-a-Friend" that is sticking out of a packing case, talking to someone. Brrrrrr........ OMAC arrives, with mohawk in tow and runs off the folks at the plant where ths shipment resides. He declares its activities illegal, in the name of the Global Peace Agency. He then rigs an explosion and walks off. We cut back to the past to see how all of this came about. Prof Myron Forest is meeting with two GPA agents. They present a file of an ordinary, if slight schlubbish, man, named Buddy Blank. The tell the prof. to proceed to link Buddy to the orbiting satellite, Brother Eye. We learn that the GPA agents wear adhesive masks to hide their faces...  Prof Frost wakes up Brother Eye and informs him of their mission and of Buddy, an employee of Pseudo People Inc, which has suspicious activities. Project: OMAC is about to be launched. We meet Buddy, who is bullied by all, including his boss. he complains of the attacks and is told he has a persecution complex. he is sent to get rid of his negative emotions. We see "crying rooms" and "Destruction rooms", where agression and anger are worked out. Buddy ignores these and moves on. A woman named Lila offers him comfort. We see men look on; Lila is a robot and this was a test. Lila is taken to be packed away and Buddy comes looking for her and runs into the men. It turns out that the pseudo people are being prepared as bombs. Buddy is held at gunpoint, but his chest starts glowing and an eye appears there. he is enveloped in energy and changes.  OMAC has arrived; the One-Man Army Corps! he fights his way through the crooks, smashing doors, dodging bullets, vaulting over fire. he is unstoppable and drives off the hoods. he sees Lila and rigs the bomb, destroying the plot.  Brother Eye compliments him as he achieves his mission goal. They await the next mission. By far, this is Kirby's most unique and amazing project. OMAC shows a strange future and dazzles is with a dystopian state of affairs, with "destruction rooms" and robotic friend kits, as well as murder plots and Global peace Agencies. Like Steve Rogers, Buddy Blank is a bullied toothpick of a man, who is turned into a super-soldier. In this case, it is a burst of energy from Brother Eye. We are left to wonder how benevolent this Global peace Agency is, since all of this is undertaken without Buddy's knowledge or consent. Who are the good guys in this world? Poor Buddy's only friend was a robot who masqueraded as a co-worker and he is forced to destroy her. This is a nightmare world. Kirby really shines in a sci-fi setting and this shows it. His ideas are off the charts and decades ahead of their time, as we now have RealDoll sex dolls, which we can almost assume is an extension of Lila's purpose. Corporations seem a law unto themselves. This is cyberpunk before cyberpunk. OMAC looks like a warrior, with the mohawk and sideburns giving the shape of a centurian or Greek warrior's helmet. He is a pure fighting machine and one of Kirby's most gonzo creations. Also, one of my favorites. i first saw the character in house ads, back in the day. The name was cool as hell and that vision of a woman's head and limbs sticking out of the crate was deeply disturbing. Hitchcock and Serling had nothing on Kirby. |
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Post by brutalis on Apr 13, 2017 7:48:18 GMT -5
Omac was soooo far out there. Ideas and concepts to literally blow your mind. And as you stated so very prophetic in many of its issues. Visually Omac makes for a wild ride as the King is allowed to go bonkers within this futuristic setting. What was Kirby smoking in his cigars to conceive some of the things within the world of Omac and Kamandi? Sadly since it was so creatively insane that is likely what also limited itself to readers. Some would "get it" while others would scratch their heads going WTF?!? And don't even go there with those who want to censor and protect our misbegotten youth reading this.
But boy was it a grand time being a youth finding Kirby's DC work. It was fun, experimental and truly not of the typical DC output as Kirby dared to venture forth thoughts and exposition upon so many current subjects and values which DC avoided. The head honcho's must have been drinking up Pepto Bismal by the cases each month when Kirby delivered each new issue.
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 15, 2017 13:46:06 GMT -5
Kamandi #20  Well, Kirby is past his previous DC records for longevity (actually hit that milestone with the last issue). He mostly seems to be focused on just telling entertaining stories, rather than breaking new ground (with this book) and he is telling some pretty entertaining ones, though some of the pacing is erratic. Now, let's carry on with Kamandi's trip to Chicago... The cops have finally shown up to see what all the noise is about (gunshots are regular background noise, in Chicago) and are arresting Kamandi, as Maskatron runs away   Ugash resists arrest by repeatedly bashing his head into the multiple police truncheons. At least, that's the cops' story and they are sticking to it. They haul his unconscious form and Kamandi off in a paddy-wagon. He awakes in a cell, with Kamandi and Killer Kraus, another human. Kraus threatens Ugash and gets mooshed for his trouble. Turns out he is a robot. Ugash has had enough and decides to breakout, literally...  Kamandi expects the guards to come; but, they find everyone frozen in place. Kamandi starts to twig about the nature of this place. They find immobile people everywhere, until they reach a courtroom. it comes alive and the pair is put on trial. Ugash goes all Hulk and starts smashing the place. Kamandi starts to flee and calls Ugash to follow; but, he is more interested in creating destruction. Kamandi takes off and runs smack into a room with an electric chair. he turns around and sees Ugash being dragged into the room, by the crowd. he is strapped into the chair. kamandi tries to stop it; but, is over-powered. He grabs a gun and fires out a window to alert Ugash's soldiers, who are nearby (conveniently) Ugash isn't happy...  The cops are about to throw the switch when the gorillas come charging in, firing at everything. Kamandi uses the distraction to escape and finds himself going lower into the bowels of the building. he follows a tram loaded with robot parts and discovers the truth...  The entire place is an interactive museum, run by computers that have gone on, since the Great Disaster. He walks away, dejected, finding a hole in the complex that leads out to a lake, as the issue ends. Really cool stuff here, sort of Twilight Zone-meets-Star Trek. Nothing earthshattering, just a neat little adventure. It feels rather like an episode of the typical 70s sci-fi tv series. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 15, 2017 14:14:01 GMT -5
OMAC #2  I first saw this cover in a house ad and it made me want to read OMAC. I had to wait another decade to do it. How do you top Build-A-Friend murder conspiracies? How about renting a city for an assassination plot? Why do I get the feeling that Trump has explored this possibility? Or will? OMAC has been guided by Brother Eye to a city; but, finds his way blocked by private security...  OMAC isn't impressed and enters anyway...  He gets a lift from some partygoers, who tell him that the citizens went along with renting the city in exchange for a year tax-free. OMAC leaves his ride behind, though they are going to follow him, as he will lead them to their target. Just what kind of party is this? OMAC finds Prof Forest, creator of Brother Eye and the OMAC process. He tells him how Brother Eye turned him into OMAC and that he exists to contain conflicts before they can escalate. Large armeis lead to large wars; a one-man army can achieve things on a smaller scale. OMAC asks for info on Mister Big, the host of the party. His killers use that moment to attack...  OMAC avoids theur bullets but Prof. Forest does not. OMAC grabs the killers but their suits are electrified. he survives thousands of volts as they jump out a window, to a hovering vehicle awaiting them. Prof Forest dies and brother Eye briefs OMAC, telling him that his belt studs are the contact with Brother Eye. he ehads off to find Mr Big, while Brother Eye vaporizes the Prof. and his lab. We switch to the party and meet Mister Big. The party was just a ruse to get the killers close to Prof. Frost and to kill him and OMAC, as they represent a threat to his power. he meets the killers, who admit that OMAC escaped. he wants him dead by dawn or the killers will die in his place. OMAC moves through the city and comes across the weirdest Macy's Parade ever...  He is attacked by more men but defeats them easily. he then comes face to face with the killers. he launches an assault and is attacked by the whole crowd, whose nyumbers weigh him down. He is then shot, point blank, in the chest...  They take his body off and present it to Mister Big. As they crow about ending Project: OMAC, the mayor and the Global Peace Agents show up to arrest Mister Big. They have recorded evidence of all that occurred and are taking him in for murder. The killers try to fight and are vaporized. The masked agents show how OMAC survived, vaporizing the bullets, then creating fake wounds and masking life signs (via Brother Eye). The crooks are hauled off and the GPA agents and OMAC share pleasantries. OMAC heads off to his next assignment. This issue really illustrates what OMAC can do and presents the idea of the power of wealth in this society: rented cities, private security, a law unto themselves. Sounds familiar. However, the GPA is a global authority and stands against them, with OMAC and Brother Eye as their agents. No wonder the 1% distrust the United Nations. Very cool, very prophetic stuff, with plenty of action. |
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