Jack Kirby's Galactic Bounty Hunters #1
Originally Presented at Comixtreme.com on July 27, 2006.
A lost concept by the King comes to light!
Original Concept by: Jack Kirby
Writers: Lisa Kirby, Michael Thibodeaux, Steve Robertson & Richard French
Pencils: Michael Thibodeaux with Jack Kirby
Finishes: Karl Kesel with Scott Hanna
Colors: Wil Quintana
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Executive Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Jack Kirby, Karl Kesel, Michael Thibodeaux & Wil Quintana
Publisher: Marvel Comics/Icon
Even years after his passing, there are still concepts by Jack Kirby that haven’t been fully developed yet. This new series, developed by his daughter Lisa and friend Michael Thibodeaux, was one that Kirby whipped up in his Pacific Comics days, but never got around to putting into print. There’s no way of ever knowing exactly how close to his original vision this new series is, but judged on its own merits, Jack Kirby’s Galactic Bounty Hunters is the sort of fun romp the King himself would have proudly put out in his New Gods/Eternals days.
The story starts off with the Bounty Hunters - a disparate group of aliens - chasing down a space-borne thug named Ma Slugg. As they chase her down, the story experiences the first of many shifts - to Earth, where comic book artist Jack Berkley reads that very story to his young daughter as his teenage son expresses disapproval.
To me, this is where the book really takes off. The first segment is fine, but pretty standard space battle stuff. Once the shift is made to Earth, we begin to really get into some interesting characters and ideas. This first issue is full of twists, and every time you think you know exactly what’s going on, there’s a left turn. Some of the twists are rather expected, but still entertaining. Just when you think one character is going to be the star of the book, you realize it’s someone else. That’s not exactly easy to do.
Lisa Kirby and the other writers also manage to bring a great sense of humor to the title, evidenced by a scene where Berkley deals with some over-zealous fans at a book signing. By the end of the issue, you’re left feeling like you’ve just read the first installment of a great outer space action epic.
Michael Thibodeaux does a fantastic job of mimicking Kirby’s signature style. According to a text piece at the back of the book, some of Kirby’s art was incorporated into the book, but I haven’t the foggiest idea which segments are his and which are Thibodeaux’s - the transition is absolutely seamless. We get the sort of energy and punch that you want out of a Kirby creation, along with a lot of really out-there and outrageous character and alien designs.
A lot of younger fans may not really appreciate where this series is coming from, but fans of Kirby or great sci-fi and cosmic comics, particularly those with an early Bronze Age flavor, will find a lot to like in this book.
Rating: 8/10
A lost concept by the King comes to light!
Original Concept by: Jack Kirby
Writers: Lisa Kirby, Michael Thibodeaux, Steve Robertson & Richard French
Pencils: Michael Thibodeaux with Jack Kirby
Finishes: Karl Kesel with Scott Hanna
Colors: Wil Quintana
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Executive Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Jack Kirby, Karl Kesel, Michael Thibodeaux & Wil Quintana
Publisher: Marvel Comics/Icon
Even years after his passing, there are still concepts by Jack Kirby that haven’t been fully developed yet. This new series, developed by his daughter Lisa and friend Michael Thibodeaux, was one that Kirby whipped up in his Pacific Comics days, but never got around to putting into print. There’s no way of ever knowing exactly how close to his original vision this new series is, but judged on its own merits, Jack Kirby’s Galactic Bounty Hunters is the sort of fun romp the King himself would have proudly put out in his New Gods/Eternals days.
The story starts off with the Bounty Hunters - a disparate group of aliens - chasing down a space-borne thug named Ma Slugg. As they chase her down, the story experiences the first of many shifts - to Earth, where comic book artist Jack Berkley reads that very story to his young daughter as his teenage son expresses disapproval.
To me, this is where the book really takes off. The first segment is fine, but pretty standard space battle stuff. Once the shift is made to Earth, we begin to really get into some interesting characters and ideas. This first issue is full of twists, and every time you think you know exactly what’s going on, there’s a left turn. Some of the twists are rather expected, but still entertaining. Just when you think one character is going to be the star of the book, you realize it’s someone else. That’s not exactly easy to do.
Lisa Kirby and the other writers also manage to bring a great sense of humor to the title, evidenced by a scene where Berkley deals with some over-zealous fans at a book signing. By the end of the issue, you’re left feeling like you’ve just read the first installment of a great outer space action epic.
Michael Thibodeaux does a fantastic job of mimicking Kirby’s signature style. According to a text piece at the back of the book, some of Kirby’s art was incorporated into the book, but I haven’t the foggiest idea which segments are his and which are Thibodeaux’s - the transition is absolutely seamless. We get the sort of energy and punch that you want out of a Kirby creation, along with a lot of really out-there and outrageous character and alien designs.
A lot of younger fans may not really appreciate where this series is coming from, but fans of Kirby or great sci-fi and cosmic comics, particularly those with an early Bronze Age flavor, will find a lot to like in this book.
Rating: 8/10