Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume One Review

Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Volume One

Writer and Artist:

Jack Kirby

Inker:

Vince Colletta

Publisher

DC Comics

Content:

The material in this omnibus is appropriate for all ages. There is some action violence.

Introduction:

Jack “The King” Kirby. With a name like that, one could imagine what his contribution to comic books might be. He is considered by many to be the greatest comic book artist of all time, having a hand in creating an enormous amount of characters such as the Fantastic Four, Thor, The X-Men, Silver Surfer, New Gods, Challengers of the Unknown, and many others. His time at Marvel and DC comics is legendary and groundbreaking stuff. He truly is the “King” of comic books.

Story:

Jack Kirby had become unhappy with Marvel comics, whom he had helped bring from a fledgling company into a comic book powerhouse. He yearned for more control over his creations and when rival DC comics offered him the chance to make his own series with complete editorial control, he jumped at the chance.

What he created was a series of comic books that were linked together with common stories, themes, and all with one man at the helm, Jack Kirby. It was called Jack Kirby’s Fourth World and although it met an untimely end, it has become known as a great accomplishment by Kirby with characters that have become a big part of the DC universe.

The Fourth World tells the tale of good and evil. On one side is the planet Apokolips, ruled by the tyrant Darkseid. He seeks one thing, the key to unlocking the Anti-Life Equation, which will give him the power control all life as we know it. On the other side is the planet New Genesis, ruled by kind and benevolent Highfather, a being who can contact The Source, a metaphysical force that seems to imbue some of the citizens of New Genesis with their powers. The two planets are in a continual battle that will only end with the destruction of one of them.

Review:

The first thing that I noticed about this omnibus is the size of it. It is a hefty book in the lines of the Marvel Essential series, a giant collection of comics that will provide countless hours of enjoyment. The sturdy hardcover and protective cover sleeve just add to the beefiness of this…gigantic thing. To say that it’s impressive doesn’t do it justice.

This collection has sixteen comic books with their covers and all are in full color. There are also two pinups, concept art by Kirby, an introduction from writer Grant Morrison, and an afterword by Mark Evanier. It totals at 385 pages of comics, and that isn’t including the extras.

I think it is rather apparent that I am impressed with this collection. The fifty dollar price tag is rather hefty, but to have most of the Fourth World (a second volume is on the way), collected in this manner, in full color, in one compact place is perfect. It is easy to see why Kirby is so applauded, even today. Although some of the language is rather dated, the stories are still solid, the concepts are great, and the art is just fantastic. Kirby had a real knack for devising and creating weird and unusual characters, vehicles, and places that are truly ingenious.

Conclusion:

This omnibus is a great addition to any comic book collection. If you are a fan of Kirby and don’t own these comics already, or just want to use it as a reader so you can keep those comics protected, this is an obvious choice. If you aren’t a fan, or are new to Kirby, this is a great way to see why so many call him the “King.”