Customer Reviews

Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby - Volume 1

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being of the generation that first got into comics in the mid-to-late 70's, I can only imagine how shocking it must have been for those who grew up in the 60's to see Jack Kirby's art on covers with the DC Comics bullet. The man renowned for co-creating the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Silver Surfer and Galactus and for giving Thor his trademark epic scale visuals was now working for the enemy?? Must've been a strange sensation. I know that one of the reasons I first picked up Kirby's "Jimmy Olsen" run was to see Superman drawn by JK while was still more-or-less in his prime. I wasn't disappointed. Nor was I disappointed by this collection, the first to offer the first 8 issues of JK's the "Jimmy Olsen" title.

These stories introduce us to a variety of fresh and innovative characters and places - some of whom are still very much in the forefront of DC storytelling today (read: Darkseid, Inter-Gang, the New Gods, Apokolips). Kirby brought with him a storytelling style that, considering the period, feels very un-DC with big bolded words in lengthy expository dialogue boxes at the beginning of every issue (with lots of exclamation points!!!!). He effortlessly moved from cosmic adventures to those of a more down-to-earth variety without missing a beat or making the reader wish he'd get back to the good stuff. The first time I read this stuff I remember being struck by the energy he brought to otherwise rather mundane characters.

Given that the good people at DC have only gifted the reading public with black and white reprints of Kirby's other Fourth World titles (boo hiss!), it's a special treat to have these collected in color. Who knows how long this'll be in print so, if you're a Kirby fan, do yourself a favor and pick this up!

Nice color collection of Jack "King" Kirby's run on "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" from the early 1970s. This first volume collects issues #133-139 and 141. Kirby introduces elements of his "Fourth World" in these stories. Fun stuff, well worth the price.

It seems like, after all those years of having Stan Lee hog the "Written By" byline on the Marvel books, Kirby was eager to implement these genuinely weird and original story ideas that had been festering away in his subconscious. Nano-cloning, bio-genetic engineering, the Zoomway, the Whiz Wagon, the Habitat, the Hairies, the Mountain of Judgement, psychedelic photographic montages; something clever and strange jumps up to assault the reader every few pages.

One thing I really like about this book over the other Fourth World collections -- like NEW GODS, MISTER MIRACLE, FOREVER PEOPLE -- (besides the color reprinting) is that the stories here don't carry the good-versus-evil, Apokolips/New Genesis allegory baggage. This one has faster pacing and a more light-hearted feel. A few minor flaws: the Newsboy Legion tends to be more annoying than amusing, and the "hippyspeak" used by the Habitat people was never uttered by any human beings outside the pages of JIMMY OLSEN (and maybe THE FOREVER PEOPLE).

After DC finishes the Jimmy Olsen stories with the next volume, I would really appreciate it if they could reprint the whole KAMMANDI LAST BOY ON EARTH series.

Although I'm one of those rare fans who do not like Jack Kirby's artwork, I purchased the book as a starting point to better familiarize myself with Darkseid and The New Gods. Although appearances by these characters were few, there was enough material provided which set the foundations for future Fourth World stories. Kirby's storytelling inside the book is entertaining and well-paced. Although obviously dated, they seldom had that "campiness" feel. I recommend this to those fans looking for a piece of wistful Superman/Jimmy Olsen nostalgia, or, like me, curious to explore the beginnings of Fourth World material.

This work is very innovative considering how Marvel treated him. It marks the start of his Forever People Saga and the New Gods characters that were introduced later. I am very happy that the series was reprinted in color. The current black and white reprints don't do the stories justice. Someone at the corporate level must be listening to the fans, such as myself, who demand that Kirby's work has to be reprinted in color. I hope to see a lot more of these Kirby reprints in the future. Fans young and old alike can see where it all started.

Everything is in this one but the kitchen sink. Opps there it is and by Kirby too!!!

Seriously Kirby just cut loose in the early 1970's in this series. He took Jimmy Olsen and ran him straight into the fourth world (Darkseid? The DCU main man of menace? Debuted in these pages. How is that for an exclusive Clark and Lois!!! Run and tell Perry about that!!!).

The bones of these stories have been feasted on for over 30 years by nearly everyone who has lifted a pen towards the New Gods. There is humor and wonder in these tales. When you read about the cloning and other inovations you will really believe these stories came from today's headlines.

A thought provoking trip!!!!

I'm a big fan of Jack Kirby's Fourth World concept and will give anything related to it a shot. DC has done a good thing in the past few years by reprinting Kirby's original New Gods, Mister Miracle, and Forever People. This collection, reprinting his stories and art from SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN, is an odd but welcome addition. This is where Kirby slowly introduced some of the concepts that would eventually lead into the NEW GODS series. You get brief appearances by Darkseid and Lightray, pre-"boom tubes", and loads of Kirbytech. Keep in mind, however, that the Fourth World is NOT the focus of this book. It's more on the freaky adventures of Jimmy Olsen and the Newsboy Legion, with Superman thrown in for broader appeal. "Freaky" is an understatement, actually, as many of the characters and situations in these stories make absolutely no sense at all; however, it's a great opportunity for Kirby to pack the pages with bizarre monsters, outrageous characters, and ham-fisted references to the '70s counterculture. Trust me, when you see Superman spouting hippie lingo, you'll reach for the Pepto Bismol. Krby's take on the Newsboy Legion is well-intended but quite painful, especially with the inclusion of the unfortunately named Flippa-Dippa, token black character and background prop. So, if you're a Kirby fan like I am, pick this up. Just be aware that the story is definitely not up to par with his later Fourth World stories. The cover is a Kirby pencil design inked by Steve Rude, and an informative introduction by Mark Evanier sheds some light on the stories.