Toxl the World Killer

"Toxl the World Killer" from Weird Mystery Tales (DC, 1972) by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

How many such anthologies did DC have in the 70s? Answer: Too many. How many featured Jack Kirby work? Answer: Too few.

Transilvane, a Real World with Real People

"Transilvane, a Real World with Real People" from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #143 (DC, 1971) by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta

Jimmy Olsen is an important series to me. It's how I track when the Silver Age ended and the Bronze Age started. Corroborating evidence.

Earth!

"Earth!" from Super-Powers vol.2 #5 (DC, 1985) by Paul Kupperberg, Jack Kirby and Greg Theakston

I remember when the first mini-series came out. Marvel's Secret Wars had truly captured my imagination, and I was so sure Super-Powers was the DC equivalent. But I just couldn't bear the Kirby-lookalike artwork. By the time a second volume came 'round, this time actually by Jack Kirby, I was a fan of the toys Super-Powers was shilling for, but NOT a fan of the King. I've gone back on that since, BIG TIME, but I still admit his 80s work was a far cry from the 70s stuff I most love. There was a third mini, this time with art by Infantino, another comics legend I have little use for at the time (and even today). I don't think I even remember that one coming out.

Ahab's Dream

"Ahab's Dream" from The Sandman vol.1 #5 (DC, 1975) by Michael Fleisher, Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

The Bronze Age Sandman was the last collaborative creation of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby who had worked on the original (Golden Age) Sandman. Of course, by the 70s, these guys were doing much trippier stuff. Fleisher took over after #1, and Kirby wound up drawing half the series.

Big Max

"Big Max" from Our Fighting Forces #153 (DC, 1975) by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

At 181 issues, Our Fighting Forces was no slouch either, and is best known today as the home of the Losers. This JLA of war comics heroes assembled fighting men from a variety of solo strips - Gunner & Sarge, Johnny Cloud, Capt. Storm - but while their stint went from #123-181 (with an issue of G.I. Combat besides), the only stories that really interest me are Kirby's insane ones from #151 to #162. The Omnibus is awesome. For the rest, there's a Showcase Presents that covers up to issue 150.

Build-a-Friend Factory

"Build-a-Friend Factory" from OMAC vol.1 #1 (DC, 1974) by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

OMAC's was the first, but by no means the last, Kirby Omnibus I bought. Pure awesome. The action is monstrous, the future world creepy, the concepts clearly the insane "pure comics" stuff developed in the Fourth World books. I can't believe no one's really been able to do the One Man Army Corps justice after this, and shake my fist at the sky that 70s audiences didn't support the book past its 8th issue. Sure, it doesn't take place in the mainstream DC Universe, but neither did Kamandi, and that survived much longer. Ah well.

And when I say no one did it justice, I should clarify I did enjoy John Byrne's prestige black and white ziptone experiment, but in he's done so many time travel stories like it since then, it's lost its spark for me. The less said about the OMAC stuff of the 2000s, as absurd Batman-related creations, the better.

OPEN FIRE!

"OPEN FIRE!" from New Gods vol.1 #7 (DC, 1972) by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

By now, I don't have to tell you that this blog has a Kirby fixation. In the Fourth World cycle, the New Gods are the closest to Kirby working on Thor again, though without the limits imposed by one particular real-world mythology. His pantheon is inspired by science fiction (with the occasional skier thrown in for good measure) as much as it is by old-timey religion. While the series didn't originally do well, it somehow became highly important to the post-Crisis DCU, so much so the New Gods kinda had to be killed multiple times before it took! And then Darkseid was the New52's first villain, so they were never going to go out quietly. (Note: In 1984, DC reprinted the series as 6-issue mini-series with a new ending.)

City Under the Sea

"City Under the Sea" from My Greatest Adventure vol.1 #15 (DC, 1957) by Jack Kirby

Best known for debuting Doom Patrol with issue 81, the world's strangest heroes represent a very small fraction of what the book did, i.e. short tales usually narrated by the adventurers who lived them. Those early issues featured work by Wally Wood and Jack Kirby, and you know how much I'm a sucker for the latter's work. After all, he's one of only a few artists who have their own clickable label on this blog!

The Greatest Show Off Earth

"The Greatest Show Off Earth" from Mister Miracle vol.1 #11 (DC, 1972) by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

I didn't become a big fan of Mister Miracle through the original Kirby comics which were before my time, but rather through his membership in Justice League International (more on that tomorrow), but going back to them in my old age, it's probably my favorite of the Fourth World books (Jimmy Olsen is right on its heels though). The whole idea behind a Messianic escape artist who preaches freedom through deeds is incredible, and I love that he's married to Big Barda, a reformed Fury and (essentially) freed slave who towers over him in both stature and power. This unlikely couple easily fits into a list of comics' greatest couples. Crazy visuals, a willingness to toy with the basic premise (bringing in an apprentice Mister Miracle, for example), and Oberon (OMG OBERON!)... All of which reminds me I never finished ready my Fourth World Omnibi. Maybe this summer!

Lincoln Among the Lions

"Lincoln Among the Lions" from Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth #8 (DC, 1973) by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

Anyone who's seen Kirby's insane 2001: A Space Odyssey adaptation will realize how he could just as well take Planet of the Apes up a few levels. That's Kamandi. For some reason, it was his most successful DC series, lasting 59 issues, 40 of them Kirby's own. Ironically, it's the one that's been least re-attempted by other creative teams. We've had plenty of attempts at the Fourth World and the Demon, and more than one version of OMAC, but aside from an unconvincing Elseworlds project and references during Countdown/Final Crisis, nothing. I'm not actually asking for a new Kamadi series. I'm asking for the Kamandi Omnibus. Maybe for my birthday?

Pulp Never Seemed so Sci-Fi

"Pulp Never Seemed so Sci-Fi" from Justice Inc. vol.1 #3 (DC, 1975) by Denny O'Neil, Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

The Avenger is a pulp hero like the Shadow, Doc Savage, etc., one that can change his features to look like anyone. Adapting bits from the original pulp novels by Kenneth Robeson, but not necessarily, the series lasted only four issues, three of which were drawn by Jack Kirby. A weird fit, and I imagine it's why the stories suddenly tended to monsters and aliens. There was also a two-issue Justice Inc. book by Helfer and Baker, trying to do what they had with The Shadow, and more recently, Justice Inc. was a back-up in one of the First Wave books.

Lightray Up Against the Wall

"Lightray Up Against the Wall" from Jack Kirby's Fourth World #4 (DC, 1997) by John Byrne

There are a couple of artists that are undeniably Kirby's artistic children and not surprisingly, they gravitate towards Kirby's creations more than their fair share. One is Keith Giffen, and the other is John Byrne. He wound up working with Jimmy Olsen, the Demon, OMAC, and all the Fourth World characters in this particular series. What, no Kamandi?

Anti-Life for Sale

"Anti-Life for Sale" from Forever People vol.1 #3 (DC, 1971) by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta

There's nothing Glorious Godfrey can't sell. The Forever People are my least favorite part of Kirby's Fourth World, probably because I have less of a connection to what they represent - I'm too young to be a hippy or to have any notions of New Age in my personal spiritual make-up. The New Gods are Greek and Norse mythology dressed in science fiction, Mister Miracle is straight up New Testament, and Jimmy Olsen is the comic book prophet, and I GET all of those. The Forever People feel, in comparison, much more dated, a product of the early 70s. Still, it's Kirby, and Your Daily Splash Page loves some Kirby.

Kirby's Camelot

"Kirby's Camelot" from The Demon vol.1 #1 (DC, 1972) by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

Oh yeah, I really should finish reading this Omnibus! The Demon probably isn't Kirby's best DC work - he famously didn't care for the "horror" assignment - but looking at his Camelot, it could have easily fit into his Fourth World. Arthurian legend was never so spacey. And Etrigan the Demon has become one of DC's most memorable characters. He's had many series over the years and guest-starred in many, many others. Living in Gotham City is probably a plus too. Definitely a favorite with me too, whether he rhymes or not. This first series lasted 16 issues, but there would be more to come. This is going to be the Week of the Demon at Your Daily Splash Page.

The Birdman of Djiizari

"The Birdman of Djiizari" from Challengers of the Unknown vol.1 #5 (DC, 1958) by Jack Kirby and Wally Wood

I always think of Jack Kirby when I think of the Challengers of the Unknown, despite the fact he only drew the first dozen issues of its 75 ish run, but that's the power of the King! Only a couple years later, he would go on to co-create the Fantastic Four with Stan Lee, which certainly look like they're BASED on the Challs. Rocky the strongman (come on!), Red the hotshot, Prof the scientist, June the girl... Only Ace doesn't really get an FF analog, folded as he is into Ben Grimm. The FF are the Challs if the accident that brought them together working on "borrowed time" had given them powers.

The Knights Wore Khaki

"The Knights Wore Khaki" from Boy Commandos #2 (World's Best, 1943) by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon

Simon and Kirby had had some success following the sidekick trend with "kid gangs" comics, including the Sentinels of Liberty (AKA the Young Allies) for Timely, and then the Newsboy Legion at what would resolve into DC Comics, but the Boy Commandos would prove their most enduring hit in the genre. They started out in Detective, then moved to World's Finest, and soon got their own series in 1942. Believe it or not, they were part of DC's top three bestsellers, right behind Superman and Batman. The Boy Commandos took the fight to the Ratzies four years past the actual end of the war, and benefited, as you can see above, from Kirby's considerable imagination for mashing up all manner of material.

The most famous of the Boy Commandos? Brooklyn. Post-Crisis (and animated series) Superman fans know him better as "Terrible" Dan Turpin (who was drawn AS Kirby on the cartoon). The rest did appear as adults as well, in a short Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) arc. Not the same. The Superman books back then were really good at keeping Kirby's legacy alive (the Newsboys and Project Cadmus too).

The Praying Angel of Death

"The Praying Angel of Death" from Black Magic #3 (DC, 1974), originally published in Black Magic # 9 (Prize, 1952) by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
When I was a kid who only really read French, my mom used to get me these Jumbo superhero books, which reprinted in black and white (and in French) a number of DC and Marvel comics, more or less randomly. The same book might have an issue of the Flash right next to Thor or Hands of Shang-Chi Master of Kung Fu. In between the superhero "chapters" were short horror tales from a number of sources like House of Mystery/Secrets and I BELIEVE Black Magic. At least, I seem to remember the look of these Simon & Kirby stories. I never appreciated these dark, twisted tales at age 10. At age 41, I'm pretty happy they can be found in a 70s reprint book!

The Cave of the Talking Heads

"The Cave of the Talking Heads" from 1st Issue Special #5 (DC, 1975) by Jack Kirby and D. Bruce Berry

I had an idea that I could fiddle with Daily Splash Page's format and give it more focus, so let's call the next couple weeks an experiment... My challenge is to showcase one splash for every DC Comics series in alphabetical order (if I can find them, and if they exist, of course). To keep it under control (and so I don't spend a year on Batman alone), I'll likely skip mini-series and one-shots that start with a character's name followed by a colon, you know like "Batman: Haunted Gotham", but historical importance may trump that. Either way, it's a good opportunity to talk about the series themselves.

So that's how we get to 1st Issue Special. A series devoted to series try-outs, only Mike Grell's Warlord and the Return of the New Gods actually went to series. The rejects were Atlas, Green Team, Metamorpho, Lady Cop (a favorite), Manhunter (above), Dingbats of Danger Street, Creeper, Doctor Fate, Outsiders (not the ones that teamed up with Batman eventually), Codename: Assassin, and Starman (the alien), despite the considerable talents of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Walt Simonson, Joe Simon, Haney, Kanigher, and others.

Today? Who else but Captain America?

"Today? Who else but Captain America?" from Captain America vol.3 #213 (Marvel, 1977) by Jack Kirby and Dan Green

Happy 4th, Yanks!

Planes vs. Ships

"Planes vs. Ships" from Our Fighting Forces #156 (DC, 1975) by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer