PBS to go, PL gardens grow, cake for Picasso

Kirby, Jack.

Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, Vol 2.

DC Comics. 2007. 396p. illus.

ISBN 978-1-4012-1357-2. $49.99. GRAPHIC NOVEL

This second volume (of four) lovingly presents the next 14 stories in Kirby's cosmic opera, Fourth World, a stellar war among the New Gods. Unlike today's dark graphic novels whose clenched-jaw heroes appear to be eternally constipated, these tales from the early 1970s are—dare we say it—fun to read! The only criticism is that there are too many ideas introduced. Unbridled imagination explodes out of Kirby's #2 pencil faster than a speeding bullet. But ideas are what separate merely talented illustrators from visionaries. Comics' veteran Walt Simonson, who has worked with Kirby's New Gods in subsequent years, provides a thoughtful introduction. Former Kirby assistant Mark Evanier (author of the forthcoming Kirby: King of Comics)

provides insight into the creation of the original stories collected here and points out that this volume contains what "many have called the best single full-pager of Jack's career." As a bonus, 18 pages of raw Kirby penciled pages are included for the reader to compare to the final inked versions found in the volume. Highly Recommended.

—William Rogers, Norwalk, CT