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Post by berkley on Jun 17, 2016 10:07:24 GMT -5
I always say it's a toss-up between Fourth World as a whole and the Eternals but I went with the latter, probably because they were on my mind after reading a Back Issue FB thread about them last night. OMAC and 2001: A Space Odyssey would be very close as well. I like Kamandi but it never became a personal favourite, possibly in part for the trivial reason that I've never been attracted to stories with juvenile leads, so for me it would rank below The Demon, the Black Panther, or Captain America.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 17, 2016 10:07:35 GMT -5
Considering that this is such a tough decision (and for the sake of more interesting conversation) here are the Kirby works that I would absolutely NOT choose as my favorite (and I would LOVE some disagreement on this -- if I'm missing something great about these works, I want to be enlightened!).
Works I've read and would NOT choose:
2001
Black Panther
Silver Star
Works I did not enjoy at the time, but I read them when I had a lot less appreciation for Kirby than I do now:
Forever People
OMAC
The Demon
Eternals
Devil Dinosaur
Works I just plain haven't read:
Jimmy Olsen
Mister Miracle
Captain America
Machine Man
Captain Victory
The Hunger Dogs
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Post by berkley on Jun 17, 2016 10:13:54 GMT -5
I grew up reading science fiction short story anthologies, and 2001 felt like a comics equivalent of that, with the inimitable Kirby artwork and enthusiasm for ideas.
Musician Rick Wakeman once said that the worst thing that ever happened to a band he was in as a young man was that they had a hit single. I think the worst thing that happened to Kirby's 2001 was that it found a hit character, Machine Man, who then took over the book. Up to then it had been a great anthology series with a new and different story idea every issue or two.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 17, 2016 10:19:57 GMT -5
I went with "Other," because I feel his autobiographical Streetwise was the most heartfelt work from the tail end of his career, but I could just as easily have picked The Eternals, New Gods, The Demon, or Machine Man. Cei-U! I summon the King of the Lower East Side! I honestly didn't think about Streetwise. If I had I may have voted for it. It's probably his strongest single work, closely followed, for me, by the 2001 Tabloid. |
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Post by Bronze Age Brian on Jun 17, 2016 10:33:20 GMT -5
It wasn't easy but I've made my choice: The Eternals. This is the story that captured me the most and the one I've re-read several times. Kirby was at his prime and the artwork is just amazing. The quality of every panel is just a treat, and the Celestials are breathtaking to behold. The series doesn't necessarily have a solid ending and just kind of stops, but I couldn't knock that due to the exhilarant work contained within.  |
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Post by Bronze Age Brian on Jun 17, 2016 10:34:24 GMT -5
Considering that this is such a tough decision (and for the sake of more interesting conversation) here are the Kirby works that I would absolutely NOT choose as my favorite (and I would LOVE some disagreement on this -- if I'm missing something great about these works, I want to be enlightened!). Works I've read and would NOT choose:2001 Black Panther Silver Star Works I did not enjoy at the time, but I read them when I had a lot less appreciation for Kirby than I do now:Forever People OMAC The Demon Eternals Devil Dinosaur Works I just plain haven't read:Jimmy Olsen Mister Miracle Captain America Machine Man Captain Victory The Hunger Dogs What about New Gods? |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 17, 2016 10:38:13 GMT -5
I LOVE New Gods. That's why it isn't on any of those lists  |
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Post by The Captain on Jun 17, 2016 11:24:47 GMT -5
I voted for Captain America because the only works I am familiar with are that, Black Panther, Devil Dinosaur, and The Eternals, all of which were good but not great IMHO. The Cap stuff was certainly a serious departure from the Engleheart run, but it's hard to argue with Kirby returning to one of his signature creations.
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Jun 17, 2016 11:36:19 GMT -5
I was relieved to see I'm familiar with most of those (Machine Man and Hunter DOgs are the only ones I have read nothing of), which made it easier to choose : The Demon! Kirby owned the character in all its bluky beauty and the stories were interesting. Only McCrea managed to offer another version of Demon that was personnal and interesting IMHO.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 17, 2016 11:38:36 GMT -5
Only McCrea managed to offer another version of Demon that was personnal and interesting IMHO. Though I'm generally of the belief that no one can write Kirby's stuff better than Kirby, I think The Demon has carried over better under other creative teams than most, and I especially adored Grant Morrison's take on Klarion the Witch Boy (even though I'm generally not a fan of Morrison). |
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Jun 17, 2016 11:52:50 GMT -5
Only McCrea managed to offer another version of Demon that was personnal and interesting IMHO. Though I'm generally of the belief that no one can write Kirby's stuff better than Kirby, I think The Demon has carried over better under other creative teams than most, and I especially adored Grant Morrison's take on Klarion the Witch Boy (even though I'm generally not a fan of Morrison). Have you read Ennis/McCrea's run? By far the greatest run on the character IMHO. I Enjoyed most of Grant's and Wagner's, but Ennis did some very original and fun stuff, marvelously complemented with McCrea's epic visions of hell. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 17, 2016 12:00:01 GMT -5
Though I'm generally of the belief that no one can write Kirby's stuff better than Kirby, I think The Demon has carried over better under other creative teams than most, and I especially adored Grant Morrison's take on Klarion the Witch Boy (even though I'm generally not a fan of Morrison). Have you read Ennis/McCrea's run? By far the greatest run on the character IMHO. I Enjoyed most of Grant's and Wagner's, but Ennis did some very original and fun stuff, marvelously complemented with McCrea's epic visions of hell. I enjoyed Grant and Wagner's, but I was never passionate enough about the character to look further. |
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Post by hondobrode on Jun 17, 2016 12:04:41 GMT -5
I knew berkley was going to pick The Eternals.
OMAC barely edged them out and they just barely edged out The New Gods.
I haven't read some of these despite having them in my collection for years, like 2001 and the Kirby Black Panther run.
I'm sure I'd love Kamandi but I don't have the complete run and have only read an issue here or there as a kid.
OMAC, Devil Dinosaur, the Eternals - any of these would make a spectacular movie.
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Jun 17, 2016 12:18:47 GMT -5
Have you read Ennis/McCrea's run? By far the greatest run on the character IMHO. I Enjoyed most of Grant's and Wagner's, but Ennis did some very original and fun stuff, marvelously complemented with McCrea's epic visions of hell. I enjoyed Grant and Wagner's, but I was never passionate enough about the character to look further. Well, I guess you should make an exception with Ennis' run as it's batshit crazy, and probably still stands as my favorite work from him by far. ButI should read it again. Maybe a future review thread.... |
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Post by Bronze Age Brian on Jun 17, 2016 12:27:31 GMT -5
I LOVE New Gods. That's why it isn't on any of those lists Ahh gotcha. You really need to read The Hunger Dogs then, I consider it an integral part of the New Gods saga. |
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