posted December 31, 2002 05:54 PM               

I am sure there are other people just like me that have either not bought the B+W editions, or would most certainly upgrade should a superior product be put out. Until then, I patiently wait, for any and all of Jack Kirby's work to be reprinted.

posted January 01, 2003 05:40 PM               

While I like Kirby's Fourth World material an awful lot, it's already been reprinted for the most part. Sure the JIMMY OLSEN stuff hasn't been, and the remainder has only been reprinted in b/w, but the lion's share of it is available.

This makes KAMANDI a great candidate for re-printing, IMO. It has very little connection with the rest of the DC Universe until quite late in the comics' run, and isn't so "spread out" as the Fourth World stuff.

I still have all of Kirby's KAMANDI comics, neatly stored away in their bagged-and-boarded glory, but I'd return to the stories more often if they were in four hardcover Archives volumes, or in TPBs on my shelves, where I can get at 'em with a minimum of effort...

THE KAMANDI ARCHIVES, Volume 1

posted January 05, 2003 11:33 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by ck:
How's the quality of Kamandi after Kirby's run of the first 40 issues?

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It didn't have quite the same Kirby style, but it was a fair read. It tied up a few plot lines and then took Kamandi to the what was supposed the "The Source" - the secret behind the Great Disaster. Then it was cnacelled - without resolving it!

I'm not sure if they were following a story line layed out by Kirby, or they were on their own. I remember it fondly, and wish fervently for a return to Earth A.D.

posted January 06, 2003 12:58 PM               

quote:

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It's safe to say that Kamandi had the broadest appeal of any of Kirby's DC books (if not necessarily the highest sales. I don't know about sales figures), simply because it reached an audience that included traditionally non-comics readers.

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That's news to me. While your hypothesis has merit, I doubt that the non-comics readers of the 70s are buying archives today.

And I never heard that Kamandi was a top seller. I guess it must have done okay to go on for as long as it did.

Would a Kamandi archive really be more popular than a 4th World archive? I find that hard to believe.

Being that Kamandi hasn't been published since the 70s, I'm still suspect as to how much of fanbase there would be for an entire Kamandi archive. How would DCD go about determining interest?

posted January 06, 2003 04:28 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by kcekada:
And I never heard that Kamandi was a top seller. I guess it must have done okay to go on for as long as it did.

Would a Kamandi archive really be more popular than a 4th World archive? I find that hard to believe.

Being that Kamandi hasn't been published since the 70s, I'm still suspect as to how much of fanbase there would be for an entire Kamandi archive. How would DCD go about determining interest?

KC

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I think a compelling source of evidence for Kamandi being a good seller during the '70's is the litter of other series of that age that came and went after a handful of issues. It was even monthly for the majority of it's 'life', going bimonthly only in it's last year or so (hell, Shazam! was a quarterly during early '76, IIRC).

When all of Kirby's other series got the axe (long attributed to a sales issue), Kamandi got the perks of other DC stars, like a B&B taemup, a Giant sized issue, and even use of the big red 'S' (well, his uniform, anyways...) to establish a firm link to the rest of the DC line.

I recall a Bob Rozakis column a few months ago over at Silver Bullets Comics about the sales out of the Comic-Mobile... I'm pretty sure he verified that the kids always went for titles like Plop and Kamandi just as much as the Superman series.

59 issues, plus a couple of B&B and DCCP appearances, plus the two Cancelled Comic Cavalcade issues... not a bad body of work for a single character. I think between all of the New Gods series (1970 to about 1984), would they just barely come up to that much material.

Maybe a DCD bust of the cover of the first issue (Kamandi paddling away from the Statue of Liberty) could generate some buzz...

Cass

posted January 06, 2003 08:54 PM               

I just can't reconcile the Kirby's absurdity (the costumes, names, language, Don Rickles) with his uber-serious themes. I could handle, and I think Kirby had a better balance of the bizarre & serious with the Madbomb Captain America story and Black Panther, Eternals, etc. From what I've seen of Kamandi it looks like it has the bizarre without being heavy handed and didactic.

posted January 06, 2003 10:32 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by James Friel:
... To me it reads, in fact, like the work of a very bright, street smart but almost totally uneducated guy who'd gotten in over his head in his choice of subject and approach...

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posted January 07, 2003 02:16 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by James Friel:
I know what you mean, Joe. I was in my mid-20s when the Fourth World stuff came out, and the serious aspects of it resonated with me (hated the Don Ricles and other silly stuff). Now that I'm older, it doesn't read as well. To me it reads, in fact, like the work of a very bright, street smart but almost totally uneducated guy who'd gotten in over his head in his choice of subject and approach.
I still have a sentimental attachment to it, but I can't claim it's great comics. Good comics, sure--better than most of DC's and virtually all of Marvel's output for the past 30 years, unquestionably. But great--no.

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Great observation, James, although I have no sentimental attachment to it. In fact I probably have a sentimental aversion to the 4th world, if there is such a thing. As a 13-15 year old reading EPIC, American Flagg!, Ronin, Love & Rockets, Swamp Thing and Watchmen, etc. New Gods seemed like a case of the Emperor wearing no clothes. Other than a few cool layouts I couldn't and still don't understand the appeal.

That said, from the very little I know about Kamandi, it looks like a fun book that I'd love to see as an archive.

posted January 08, 2003 05:04 PM               

Regarding the 4th World characters, I didn't know much about them until DC's Who's Who in the 80s. I think the characters are fascinating, but the New Gods series have always been less than satisfying. They make great guest stars, but can't seem to find a suitble direction for an ongoing.

posted January 08, 2003 08:20 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by kcekada:
Well that's just it. The 4th World characters have never vanished for long, but Kamandi hasn't been seen since when? I don't think even was even used in Crisis. I seem to recall that due to Crisis he is now Tommy Tomorrow.

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I have to disagree both with this statement and rational behind it. Kamandi had quite a prominent cameo and even a line or too in the main Crisis series. There have 2 Elseworlds minis based on Kamandi and a 4 issue homage in Superboy in 2001. He has not "vanished" entirely since the end of his series. Even if he had, the reason for the archives is to collect quality comic material thats been unavailable.

I also don't think its a case of Kamandi or 4th World. Personally, I'm indifferent to the 4th World stories. Obviously folks enjoy them, and I respect their preferences. I do not I think lobbying for Kirby archives should be a case of "if your not with us, you're ag'in us." But those of us who enjoyed Kamandi and Earth A.D. are going to keep lobbying for our favorite.

You'll be happy to here that the remaining part of Kirby's 4th world books, Jimmy Olsen, will be collected in 2003.

posted January 09, 2003 05:14 PM               

quote:

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Even if he had, the reason for the archives is to collect quality comic material thats been unavailable.

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Well that's a good point. But you're forgetting that the other reason for archives is for DC to make money. I have nothing against a Kamandi archives if there is sufficient demand for it.

I'm sure if DC belives there is a market for it, it will be produced.

posted January 13, 2003 10:19 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by kcekada:
I'm sure if DC believes there is a market for it, it will be produced.
KC

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That's the rub. I don't think its a realistic expectation, but I'm all for it anyway!

Personally, I think a new Earth AD series would be more promising. If its good...

posted February 09, 2003 09:20 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Rand Al-Thor:
I've been thinking about tracking down the complete Kamandi series over Ebay. It sure would save me a lot of time and money if DC would just put out the Archive...

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I'm not sure about that. KAMANDI back issues are pretty reasonable usually. I'm the biggest booster of a Kamandi archive, but I'm not holding my breath.

posted February 14, 2003 01:49 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by CMCINTYRE3600:
I think you'd probably get more buyers with 4 or 5 longer volumes....I've never read much Kamandi but I'd certianly be willing to give it a try.
Chris

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Thanks, Chris. If your adventures are ever recounted in a comic book, I'll be sure to check them out. Here's to the future, whether it holds a Kamandi Archive or new stories of Earth AD.

posted February 14, 2003 02:26 PM               

Besides, I'd argue that much of the charm of Kamandi is in the floppy format: the newsprint, the four-color process, the house ads, etc. Moreso than many other comics of the time, it was intended as truly disposable entertainment. I suspect that high-end hardcover packaging would leech much of the fun out of the book. New readers might flip through a hardcover and aside from some admittedly impresive Kirby battle scenes, wonder what the fuss was about. IMO Kamandi is a perfect example of Jules Feiffer's celebration of comics as wonderful junk in his Great Comic Book Heroes book.

#29 would definitely make it into a "Greatest 1970s Stories Ever Told" volume, though.