SPIRIT
WORLD (DC, 2012; Hardcover)
Collects
Spirit
World No.
1 and
the Jack Kirby drawn stories from Forbidden
Tales of Dark Mansion No.
6 and Weird
Mystery Tales
Nos.
1-3 (cover
dates Fall 1971- December, 1972).
Writer
and Artist: Jack Kirby
Additional
art on one selection by Sergio Aragones
I
can recall fans in comic shops bashing Kirby in the '80s. Now that he
is dead everyone speaks of him in hushed, awed tones, his every
brushstroke a testament to his unparalleled genius or whatever
gobbledygook comic hipsters use these days. As for me, I am of the
mindset that there are no sacred cows, no artists beyond criticism or
critiquing. Kirby most certainly belongs on the Mount Rushmore of
greatest comic artists, seeing as how created or co-created some of
the most enduring characters in comics.
One
can't mention “The King” without someone bringing up how Marvel
has raped his heirs. I have said it before and I will say it again:
Kirby was a lousy businessman, the worst. He took companies on their
word and was shocked when they repeatedly stabbed him in the back. It
doesn't make it right, and I am not defending Marvel or DC, but Jack
was desperate to put food on the table for his family and that made
him vulnerable to the vultures. It doesn't change his horrible
dealings, however. Just because Marvel and DC morally owe his estate
doesn't mean they legally do, sadly enough.
That
brings us to this book. Comics historian and Kirby's close friend
Mark Evanier writes an interlude which provides invaluable context
and insight. In it, he tells how Kirby envisioned many things that
are commonplace for the medium here in the second decade of the 21st
century. How he wanted to make comics for adults, more sophisticated,
and to have the books have better production values (i.e. better
paper), even envisioning deluxe editions which are now the norm. DC
told him what he wanted to hear and he was off to the races. DC got
cold feet and cut him off at the knees, leaving him with his vision
mostly unrealized.
When
Kirby was inspired and motivated he could move mountains. Spirit
World is pretty inspired Kirby stuff, with him attempting
something a little different. My favorite story in the book is the
one about Nostradamus. There are inklings of something more but by
and large this is just Kirby doing ghost stories. That is good enough
in my book.
 |
| Kirby is power. |
This
series is a footnote in Kirby's career, albeit a fascinating one that
deserves a closer look. I am glad that DC released this book, as I
was completely unaware of the existence of this prior to it.
Junk
Food For Thought rating: 4.25 out of 5.
The
OCD zone- This book is presented in the same dimensions as the
original magazine. This is a high quality offering which makes the
sometimes low quality of DC's current collected editions offerings
even more frustrating.
DVD-style
Extras included in this book: Article by
Mark Evanier. (2 pages)
Creator
biographies. (1 page)
Linework
and Color restoration rating: 5 out of 5. Everything is perfect.
This makes DC's frequent shortcomings even more frustrating. They
know how to make good books, they simply choose not to.
Sad.
Paper
rating: 5 out of 5. Beautiful thick uncoated stock.
Binding
rating: 5 out of 5. Smyth sewn binding, seven stitches per
signature. Lays perfectly flat. This has one of the nicest bindings
that I have ever seen on a DC book.
Hardback
cover coating rating: 5 out of 5. The image is printed on the
casewrap and has a nice thick waxlike lamination.
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