Victory In The Pacific!

Well the autumn beckons and as the Dojo's year-long exploration of the works of Jack "King" Kirby continues, the attention turns to a real favorite -- Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers. Kirby had been out of comics for a few years, making good money in animation when he was lured back into the form he loved by Pacific Comics, a pioneer in the expanding direct-sales market. Kirby dusted off a project he'd first dreamed up for his own comic book company and later adapted for film and gave us what is to my mind his final blockbuster. I plan to take a look at through the month.

And while I'm dipping into the Pacific pool Silver Star, Kirby's other opus for that company will get a glimpse. It might well be the weirdest comic book series page for page that Kirby ever produced.  If the opportunity presents itself, I might also look at some of Pacific's other offerings from a small but rather significant little company.

Also up is Machine Man, one of Kirby's last creations for the "House of Ideas" in the Bronze Age. Machine Man was birthed in the pages of 2001: A Space Odyssey and quickly became a fascinating breakout star. Kirby hung in for nine issues before a cancellation and some guest-starring with the Hulk. Eventually the series was revived and rebooted with the other great master of the early Marvel era stepping in. Steve Ditko's Machine Man is really different from Kirby's version and the series as a whole really points up the differences between these two hallowed talents.

Back on the Kirby front, this month features covers from the King's return to Marvel from the years 1977- 1978 just before he retired from comics for a brief time. His last blast at Marvel produced some memorable images.

All this and whatever else catches my eye as September rolls along.

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