Kirby's Conan

Jack Kirby didn't do a ton of fantasy work, but he did get one shot at Conan for the cover of Giant-Size Conan #5 (1975), with inks by Joe Sinnott, and some alterations by John Romita Sr.

Sadly, Kirby didn't do any Conan stories, with this issue reprinting Conan the Barbarian #12, #14 and #15.

Tour Superman's Fortress Of Solitude

Back in Superman's Silver Age, his Fortress of Solitude was a big thing....

...so big, it got coverage in the Limited Collectors' Edition #C-48 (October-November, 1976), with this special six page feature, by E. Nelson Bridwell, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano (with the cover of Superman #187 from June, 1966 by Curt Swan and George Klein for perspective).

Basically, a place where Superman kept his stuff, including an interplanetary zoo and the bottle city of Kandor.  Sadly, that 3rd level tour never happened, even though there was a whole treasury dedicated to the Fortress as well in the Summer of 1981.  Here is where to find out more about Superman's races with the Flash (the main feature of the Limited Collectors' Edition). 

Celebrating Jack Kirby

Celebrating the King, Jack Kirby, on what would have been his 105th birthday (August 28, 1917 to February 6, 1994), with two special covers of characters he had worked on for a long time, Thor and Captain America.

First up, Journey Into Mystery #105 (June, 1964), inked by Chic Stone, where Thor faced off with two of his deadlier foes, the Cobra and Mr. Hyde!

The second of these special issues is Captain America #105 (September, 1968), with inks by Dan Adkins (and alterations by John Romita Sr.), sees Batroc form his Brigade, with the Swordsman and Power Man as members.

Not enough Kirby for you...here is more!

Celebrating Artist Terry Austin

Celebrating the birthday of artist Terry Austin (August 23, 1952), with this special piece of art from Superman #400 (October, 1984), where Terry inked Jack Kirby!

Terry is usually known for his inking work....which is stellar...but he has done an occasional piece of art on his own.

Here is Terry's version of Black Canary, serving a stint on monitor duty in the Justice League of America satellite.

She-Hulk Firsts

Likely readers remember the first cover with She-Hulk (Savage She-Hulk #1 from February, 1980 by John Buscema) or John Byrne's Sensational She-Hulk #1 (May, 1989), but how about these other She-Hulk firsts from the 1980s?

Let's take a look!

Marvel Team-Up #107 and Marvel Two-In-One #88 from July 1981 and June 1982 

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Meeting Spider-Man and the Thing, with covers by Herb Trimpe and Frank Giacoia, and Alan Kupperberg and Frank Giacoia.

Avengers #221 and Fantastic Four #265 from July 1982 and April 1984

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She-Hulk joins the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, with covers by Ed Hannigan and Joe Rubinstein, and John Byrne.

Marvel Graphic Novel #18 from 1985

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She-Hulk gets a shot on her own, with this cover by John Byrne, eventually leading to her own series.

A hard book to find in nice shape, due to that all black cover, but oh what a book!

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She-Hulk In Ceremony from 1989

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Covers by June Brigman and Stan Drake, ending the 1980s, with even more She-Hulk to come!

Happy Birthday Paul Gulacy

Happiest of birthdays to artist Paul Gulacy (August 15, 1953).

Known for his action style of art, especially on a run of Master of Kung Fu in the 1970s....yet, he only did four covers of that run featuring Shang-Chi!

Master Of Kung Fu #51 and #55 (April and August, 1977)

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Master Of Kung Fu #64 and #67 (May and August, 1978)

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This was at least changed when he did all the covers for Shang-Chi's recent 6 issue mini-series from 2002/2003, collected in this one trade!

Kamandi Vs Flying Sharks

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the beach...

...the sharks coming flying out of the water at you!

Yes, just one of the many dangers of the world After Disaster...

...that was the home of Jack Kirby's Kamandi, the last boy on Earth!

Freak Show

But, Kamandi #25 (January, 1975, by Jack Kirby and D. Bruce Berry) didn't start with the sharks.

No, it was Kamandi and his new friend, speaking simian Flim-Flam (as well as his three trained humans: Jukie, Lukie and Dukie), who were surprised to see something rise out of the water of the island they crashed on....that of metallic mutants Ben Boxer, Steve and Renzi (former friends of Kamandi's).  

The lot set about to search the island for a vehicle which had survived the disaster that had befallen the world.  They did, after facing a few dangers, find a hovercraft, but even then, had to face an attack of flying sharks before they passed through the mists to their next adventure!

Check here to see a map of the world of Kamandi, and here to find out how the Earth ended up in disaster!