A Message to the Stars

[arbre_rieur]

Some time ago, Dynamite Entertainment licensed from Jack Kirby's family the right to all his creator-owned works, and by all of them, I mean all of them. They can use everything Kirby ever came up with that's not owned by someone else, from entire published series to some sketch he did on the back of a letter or whatever. And if you know about Kirby, then you know that's a *lot* of characters and concepts.

Which brings us to KIRBY: GENESIS, a mini-series starring a number of said concepts and characters, the #0 teaser issue of which came out today. Writing by Kurt Busiek, art by Alex Ross and Jack Herbert.





In case you don't know, in the real world, Pioneer 10 really did bear a message for alien life. Also, Kirby really did draw that picture; he was one of a number creative types the Los Angeles times asked what they think the message should be, and this is what Kirby came up with. (Obviously, in the real world, Kirby's drawing wasn't actually used by NASA or even in consideration.)

Returning to the story, the probe traverses great distances, along the way passing by such Kirby creations as Galaxy Green and Captain Victory. Then, finally...



And so a response is sent back across the insterstellar gulf, to Earth.

Comments

[drexer]

So let me see if I got this straight; is the idea that when the probe with the 'idea' reaches that thin that all of those ideas that Kirby dreamed up came into existence or is this just one of those stories? I would normally say the first but it seemed ambiguous enough...

Seems nice though, will have to check it out properly.

Also, everyone knows that the probe carried an Horcrux within its plaque.

[speedingtortoise]

Harry was pissed when he realized he had to go the moon to get that last one

; )

[arbre_rieur]

What do you mean by "is this just one of those stories"?

[drexer]

Is this one of the stories that Kirby wrote, or is it a setup to present a series of stories that Kirby wrote.

Come to think of it I should have written like this before. I was tired and what I wrote before makes little sense.

[arbre_rieur]

It's a brand new story that uses a whole bunch of Kirby characters and concepts. I don't think it's going to be adapting any stories he wrote, except in the loose sense of using the character backstories and origins he thought up.

[shanejayell]

If I see this in a shop, I might buy it. (It's a good bet the 0 issue will sell out, though)

[drmcninja]

Still loving this art. All of it. Especially page 3. Just beautiful.

[amaniwolf]

Agreed, will always love Kirby designs, and add to that work by Ross and it's just gorgeous.

[chocochuy]

Excllent story.

This, mine dear comrades, is what some Comic Books nowadays require. A cool and healthy mix of Golden/Silver Age with Modernism without falling in any kind of excesses. I seem to remember one story done in the 90s called "Satan Six" or something (Methinks it was written by Tony Isabella) that had a neat storyline but had an ugly art. I am confident that this story won't dissapoint us.

Forgive me, dear friends, but I must say I had an orgasm after seeing that titanic splash page with all those characters of Jack Kirby.

[flash_fan]

Your are so right! The best comics (and comic book universes) have a balance of these things. I'm bothered by fans who yearn for silver age silliness or 90s excessive nit and grit. The key is a healthy balance of the best qualities of comic stories.

[arbre_rieur]

That's one of the Satan's Six guys over the left shoulder of the armored guy running at us out of the splash page explosion! (His left.)

[misterbug]

DAMMIT ROSS!

Silver Star was MINE! Darius Drumm also! I wanted to use those concepts, you meanie!

Rrrr

[schala_kid]

Just for Kirby and Ross, but especially for Kirby because I love his art and designs I am going to get this.

[proteus_lives]

This gives me the happy.