A new book, Jack of All Comics, offering insights into the life and work of Fantastic Four co-creator Jack Kirby is on the way from US publisher Becky Books.
In the new book, twenty-eight writers, including Michael Bailey, Cliff Biggers, Tom Brevoort, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Ed Catto, Joe Crowe, Thomas Deja, Robert Greenberger, Paul Kupperberg, Will Murray, Bobby Nash, Van Allen Plexico, Alan J. Porter and Dan Wickline and many, many more, tackle twenty-eight topics, all of them about the incredible, invincible, uncanny, and mighty works of the King of Comics!
“There have been many books on Kirby,” enthuses Jack of All Comics editor and lifelong King of Comics fan Jim Beard, “but never before like this one!”
Jack Kirby’s comic book output during the 1960s and 1970s was truly groundbreaking, forming universes and creating concepts that have stood the test of time to this very day. Jack of All Comics covers nearly every single title the King worked on throughout those two decades to celebrate, converse, and sometimes even kvetch over the highs and lows of each series with insightful and illuminating essays.
Keith R.A. DeCandido, for example, piece on Kirby’s return to Captain America in 1976, just in time for the comic’s 200th issue and the American Bicentennial celebration, a run that, among other things, introduced one of Cap’s most visually striking villains, Arnim Zola; while Tom Brevoort writes about “the black sheep of the Fourth World saga”, DC’s Forever People.
“Join a cool collection of wondrous writers as they bring the Kirby Krackle to jaw about Jack!” we’re encouraged by the publisher, whose other titles include Breaking Bold and Brave, Walking the Wider Web, and Jim Beard’s Sgt. Janus ghost hunter stories. “Dive into the deep end as they deliver the details on the Kirby Influence over both the Marvel Universe and the DC Universe! Read along with their riotous raconteuring of personal tales of their first experiences with Jack’s powerful pencils and crafty concepts and characters!
“Kirby’s here – don’t ask! Just buy it!”
“I’m thrilled to be included in Jack of All Comics, the latest from Jim Beard and Becky Books,” says Paul Kupperberg, “where I look into the story behind Jack’s sadly short lived 1970s DC Comics black and white magazines.
“Jack’s never been covered by a passel of powerful personalities like this! It’s a Boom Tube to Supertown by way of the Rainbow Bridge!”
• Jack of All Comics is due for release soon. Follow Becky Books on Facebook for announcements, or “Becky Books” on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Cover illustration and logo by Ron Hill | Interior design and formatting by Maggie Ryel
This book is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with the Jack Kirby Estate, Disney Publishing Worldwide, or DC Entertainment, and is an unofficial publication of literary criticism intended for recreational reading. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against Disney Publishing Worldwide, DC Entertainment, or any other related entities.
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Books, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, US Comics
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