Captain America by Jack Kirby, Vol. 1: Madbomb

Captain America by Jack Kirby, Vol. 1: Madbomb by Jack Kirby

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wow! The Bicentennial run of Jack ‘King’ Kirby on Captain America (with Falcon): MADBOMB has some completely off-the wall bonkers patriotism and comic book fun!

Great extras from Marvel in this book. A/B Kirby’s pencils with fully produced art for most of the covers! John Romita inks the cover of ish #193.

Jim (my good pal lending me all of this bat-koo-koo Kirby stuff) left me a note, “Here is Vol. 1 of Kirby Cap from the 70s - it is insane”.

Hmmm..let me count the ways…

A powdered wig aristocrat plotting to bring back nobility to power (what?), small machines with mind control capability, a BIG-ASS version of those machines, Falcon using the word ‘dude’ every other panel…and a 200 year old ancestral grudge over a pistol duel!

To say I enjoyed this book after trying to make sense of the Fourth World stuff is an understatement. I can connect with Kirby’s Marvel work a bit easier, and this was one story arc with two main heroes.

The production of the coloring in this book and the two Kirby Black Panther books are really nice ‘remasters’ of the original plates and the Kirby crackle pops on the glossy pages.

Thanks, Cap! Make my Kirby Marvel!

Clay N. Ferno on Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW! Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan

Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan

Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan
Exit Wounds is a cerebral, somber, and delicate journey set in modern day Israel.
Superbly simple line work with sublime coloring denotes the everyday without ever being boring. Israel is an ancient place rife with violent bombings, but also a place for families to grow, travel, love, and of course grow apart. The characters are identifiable in the most common way, yet the story is set in another country. A taxi driver, a tall gangly giraffe of a lover, a missing father and doting aunts, uncles and mothers set the table of this unforgettable tale of love, loss, family, politics, and the spirit of life. This is one of the best comic stories I have ever read.

Order from TFAW.com.

BOOK REVIEW! Identity Crisis [Paperback] Brad Meltzer (Author), Rags Morales (Illustrator), Joss Whedon (Introduction), Michael Bair (Colorist)

Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer My rating: 5 of 5 stars Brad Meltzer along with Rags Morales and Michael Bair have created a brilliant Justice League mystery for the ages. Art is a solid 5 out of 5 stars. No question. Morales has the sensibility of another DC heavyweight, Brian Bolland, and the storytelling ability of a Neal Adams or John Byrne. Clean Bolland lines on the inks, solid blacks, great expressions and characterizations. Spoiler-free story review. Meltzer ties the Justice League and Justice Society into a long form mystery involving the murder of the Elongated Man’s wife. Third act climax and twist rivals Conan Doyle or Christie. This is frequently on the top ten lists of the last decade and I would concur. Knowledge of the DC universe is not required, some basic knowledge of the League is helpful. Tim Drake is Robin under Batman at this time, and Wally West is the current Flash. Recommended if you like: Watchmen, Jack & Bobby (TV), Blackest Night, V for Vendetta, Murder She Wrote, V for Vendetta, Sin City, Animal Man, Arkham Asylum. View all my reviews