Thursday, August 10, 2023

The Evil Factory!


Above is the "Four-Armed Terror" a DNAlien, one of many created in the hidden confines of the Evil Factory, the Apokoliptian counterpart to The Project which was a highly advanced genetics laboratory. This is just one of a horde which were sent by the proprietors of the Evil Factory to destroy The Project. (And for the record, I'm convinced the "Aruk" cry is intended to evoke the call of the bizarre underground dwellers from the movie of The Mole People.)


The Evil Factory was operated by two exceedingly peculiar scientists, sent to our planet Earth to steal secrets and use that knowledge to create genetically enhanced creatures to enhance the military power of Darkseid, the absolute and despotic ruler of that grim and dangerous land Apokolips. They create giant monstrous versions of actual people as well as tiny ones. Life is a thoroughly plastic affair in the grim and gruesome hands of these two villains. 


Their names are Simyan and Mokkari, and they answer only to the despot Darkseid. Their mission to pilfer critical information from The Project and turn it into viable weapons for their leader makes them single minded in their approach. With no regard for human life, they send a wave after wave of genetically altered invaders into The Project, but all are repulsed with the aid of Superman and the Golden Guardian. 


The diabolical duo meet their end in later issues of Jimmy Olsen, but like so many of Darkseid's agents, they are exceedingly difficult to keep down. "Evil Factories" are sadly all too common in this world. Who knows what one is brewing up right now which will devastate our world. 

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6 comments:

  1. This issue of Jimmy OLsen (135) was one of Kirbys best DC comics with a stunning Neal Adams cover. To my novice eyes it seemed to me that Jack was having more fun on this title than the others .

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    1. There was a playfulness with the Jimmy stuff that the other books with heavier themes couldn't necessarily match. The concepts landed quick and thick in the book, giving it a feel of an unlocked cabinet almost, its contents spilling onto the floor.

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  2. This is one of the reasons which shows (I think) that the Legion kids weren't intended to be clones of their 'fathers' - the fact that mini-clones were seen (especially the Scrapper Trooper) as being cloned from the kids, not that they were all clones together.

    Kirby later showed a 'robot' taking Superman's DNA into space so that he couldn't be cloned, but here we see tiny clones of Superman. Another 'Kirby Kock-Up' perhaps?

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    1. You make me wonder -- can you clone a clone? Hmm? I'd assume you could.

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  3. On the general subject of Kirby, I just saw what I think is the best emulation of his art-style in, of all things, a DEADPOOL story entitled "Wakandan Vacation." Like you I've never followed the title-- I see DP doesn't even get a listing in your subjects-- but occasionally I'll look at some library's TPB collection. "Vacation" is in one of these from the magazine circa 2015, but you'd have to look around for the collection somewhat because it's just called DEADPOOL with no subtitle. Or else look around on Read All Comics for a free look-see.

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    1. I did do a review of the first movie and its found under "Superhero Movies". Iooked up Wakandan Vacationa and it does have that Kirby vibe from the few panels I saw.

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