DC Comics Presents: The Jack Kirby Omnibus Sampler #1

DC Comics Presents - 100-page Spectacular

by Jack Kirby

Presenting a selection of Jack Kirby mystery stories from the 1950s, pulled from the pages of HOUSE OF SECRETS #3, 8 and 12, HOUSE OF MYSTERY #76, TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED #13, 16 and 24 and MY GREATEST ADVENTURE #15, 16, 17, 20 and 21, plus a Green Arrow tale from ADVENTURE COMICS #251!

97 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2011

About the author

Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg) was one of the most influential, recognizable, and prolific artists in American comic books, and the co-creator of such enduring characters and popular culture icons as the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Hulk, Captain America, and hundreds of others stretching back to the earliest days of the medium. He was also a comic book writer and editor. His most common nickname is "The King."

Reviews

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little anthology. Only one of these 1957-1958 stories is credited to another scriptwriter, so that one credit to Ed Herron is a bit of a stretch to extend here, Goodreads. We are here for the great sampling of Kirby art. The twist, formula stories are really fun, in the same vein as Kirby's collaborations on monster stories with Stan Lee, only in the drier National Publications (DC's earlier name) of that era, with sf twists a la this cover image and story... just great stuff.
This period - after the collapse of EC Comics and the onset of the industry Comics Code Authority - was perhaps the toughest for the comics business, yet Kirby's art shows the life and liveliness and energy we associate with him. I bought this - print edition, thanks - from my local comics shop, The Book Nook, in December 2011. So, like many comicbook titles, Goodreads only lists a Kindle version. Don't be fooled. Still, A Kirby fan will read Kirby stories in any medium.
He even receives credit for scripting the one Green Arrow backup short story here, "The Case of the Super-Arrows," reprinted from Adventure Comics #251, August, 1958.
Recommended.

[reveurdart · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Very enjoyable. The 1950s tales were well chosen. Jack Kirby's art was the best part of this sampler!