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rhonig's review against another edition
3.0
While Fourth World was full of inventive science-fictional ideas, the writing was underwhelming, even annoying in places. The overabundance of 60s/70s slang, the character's penchant for stating their actions as they took place in the panels, and irritatingly one-note Newsboy Legion all detracted from the wild, universe-spanning epic that was taking place.
While I do appreciate the unbridled creativity that Kirby stuffed into this series, I don't think I can justify slogging through three more volumes of his writing. Maybe one day I will return to the Fourth World saga, but for now I am content with this peek at its origins.
While I do appreciate the unbridled creativity that Kirby stuffed into this series, I don't think I can justify slogging through three more volumes of his writing. Maybe one day I will return to the Fourth World saga, but for now I am content with this peek at its origins.
stegan's review against another edition
4.0
Gah. What to say about this. It is a gorgeous volume- DC did a fantastic job of reprinting the comics. They look like you wish 70s comics had actually looked. As a result, Kirby's art is even more wild and wonderful on the page, with one and two-page splashes that readers can get lost inside. And once in a while, you get a pop art collage of our heroes over black and white photographs that just stops you dead. It's all just so much fun to look at.
But the story. Oh, the story. I think Kirby's vision is clear at points- he wanted to show 1970 that its young people had a thing or two to teach them about some of the lessons yet to be learned from World War II, about the preciousness of freedom and equality and how they could usurped by greed and malice. But the man needed a writer to really get the point across. Because his old school style of ending every bubble with an exclamation point to convey urgency becomes downright torturous after a while. And his mixture of slang and five-cent words will make your head reel.
DC is not without blame here either. As Mark Evanier explains in the afterword to this volume, they were pushing Kirby to constantly add more characters and stick with conventional storylines. The universe Kirby was creating was not commercially viable, and I don't think he cared. But DC did, and so you end up with Don Rickles being introduced as a character in a multi-issue "Jimmy Olsen" arc. Just a classic Silver Age DC moment...
All in all, this is a fun read- to see how far Kirby was ahead of the curve, to see the origins of Darkseid and Mister Miracle, to reminisce about hand-lettering in mass produced comics... It's a three star book, overall- the fourth star I gave it here is a Kirby bonus.
But the story. Oh, the story. I think Kirby's vision is clear at points- he wanted to show 1970 that its young people had a thing or two to teach them about some of the lessons yet to be learned from World War II, about the preciousness of freedom and equality and how they could usurped by greed and malice. But the man needed a writer to really get the point across. Because his old school style of ending every bubble with an exclamation point to convey urgency becomes downright torturous after a while. And his mixture of slang and five-cent words will make your head reel.
DC is not without blame here either. As Mark Evanier explains in the afterword to this volume, they were pushing Kirby to constantly add more characters and stick with conventional storylines. The universe Kirby was creating was not commercially viable, and I don't think he cared. But DC did, and so you end up with Don Rickles being introduced as a character in a multi-issue "Jimmy Olsen" arc. Just a classic Silver Age DC moment...
All in all, this is a fun read- to see how far Kirby was ahead of the curve, to see the origins of Darkseid and Mister Miracle, to reminisce about hand-lettering in mass produced comics... It's a three star book, overall- the fourth star I gave it here is a Kirby bonus.
librarimans's review against another edition
5.0
I love Jack Kirby and everything about the Fourth World. Enough said.
shieldbearer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A must read for any comics fan, or any fan of The Lord of the Rings.Truly an epic in every sense of the word, and an underrated one at that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Torture, and Medical content
Minor: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Car accident
tin_squid's review against another edition
4.0
I know Kirby is a legend for many many reasons, but I mostly went thru this book for the bold art for inspiration. Kirby just drew whatever needed drawn, and let his inker (which seemed to be mostly Vince Colletta here)and his audience interpret it. Dark solid shadows, bold colors and not a lot of fussy crap. Much different than how I approach most projects and I love it! Stories and all were also good, but mostly I love Kirby's art