Guest review by The 10,000 Comics Pyramid's DAVE WRIGHTEOUS . . . . .
Add 16 piles of crackling Kirby cosmic greatness!!
Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Vol. One (Jimmy Olsen #’s 133-139, Forever People #’s 1-3, New Gods #’s 1-3, Mister Miracle #’s 1-3, DC Comics 1970-71)
In 1970 the still nascent world of comic fandom was absolutely rocked when Jack Kirby, the architect (along with Steve Ditko and Stan Lee) of the juggernaut that was Marvel, left the company for rival DC Comics.
Jack had been growing increasingly frustrated at Marvel, due to concerns he wasn’t receiving his due share of credit, financially and otherwise, for his enormous creative output into characters and concepts that would one day be worth billions and would be recognized (and merchandised!) worldwide. His growing dissatisfaction was, in hindsight, evident in his work. He began to hold back and stockpile new ideas rather than give them away to a company he felt wasn’t compensating him fairly.
Kirby was a creative dynamo, the likes of which comics (or really any medium) has never seen, before or since. When he arrived at DC, his dam of pent up ideas burst forth, unleashing a torrent of new concepts, characters, themes and narrative the industry had never seen the likes of before, and, in retrospect, wasn’t prepared for. Jack was writing AND drawing a staggering FOUR BOOKS SIMULTANEOUSLY and every issue practically creaks under the sheer volume within each.
What came to be known as The Fourth World books were a breakneck, mile a minute rocket ride, with new, groundbreaking ideas and creations flying by as fast as you can turn the pages to the next ones coming. The metaphor of a sip of water from a fire hydrant is VERY apt here. Careful plotting, world building and character development? Maybe later...now jump in the Whiz Wagon and buckle up tight. Kirby is going places and the pedal’s flat on the floorboards!!!!
This first compendium of the Fourth World saga is an ABSOLUTE gas, a goodtime thrillride in which Darkseid has come to Earth seeking the human brain which contains the all powerful Anti Life Equation. Meanwhile Orion, the Forever People, Mister Miracle and other forces of good fight to save the universe in a sprawling epic every fan should check out. Ever the trendsetter, Kirby knew one book couldn’t begin to contain the event he had in mind, so he chronicled it in an astounding four title output, each with its own perspective of the war, with plot threads and characters woven throughout.
The art has a rawer, cruder quality than his Marvel work (Jack was in his early 50’s at this time), but hasn’t lost a step in storytelling, pacing or sheer power. Despite being saddled with the much maligned (albeit deservedly) Vince Colletta on inks, it still pops with power. Vince’s work is uneven, but overall a LOT better than some of his Marvel butchering.
Other than redrawing Kirby’s Superman and Jimmy Olsen faces, DC’s editorial influence is about nil ,much like Jack’s work when he returned to Marvel in the mid 70’s. This is Kirby unplugged and unleashed and the contribution of Stan Lee’s deliberate story shaping and editing on the early Marvel’s is made pretty clear when comparing the two eras. Despite that, these tales still deliver the high quality action you’d expect from a Kirby comic.
This is an absolute must for any fan of superhuman action/adventure and a shining example of the medium’s undisputed King, free to go wild, push the limits of comic books and entertain the hell out of fans worldwide.. Grade: A
Props to Colletta for artistic versatility. He could do illustrative inking as he demonstrated with romance art, Thor, Warlord, etc. and cold, hard graphic art like this when called upon to do so. Most inkers had only one style. Not so with Vinnie. Better than anyone when he wanted to be.
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