World Famous Comics: Devil Dinosaur By Jack Kirby Omnibus HC
Devil Dinosaur By Jack Kirby Omnibus HC
By: Jack Kirby Publisher: Marvel Comics Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Marvel Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 184 Publication Date: August 15, 2007
Product Description: No gods from outer space could beat this Devil! Jack Kirby crossed into a new cosmos with this crimson carnivore and his faithful sidekick Moonboy! Now, for the first time, Marvel collects the King's saga of Devil Dinosaur in his prehistoric prime! Collects Devil Dinosaur #1-9.
"...and thus endeth the Chronicle..." Jack Kirby is undoubtedly one of the most revered creators of all time in the realm of comic book history, and while his Devil Dinosaur series may not have been as impacting or influential as a majority of his other creations, it is a nevertheless wild and fun trip. Starring Moon-Boy and his red-skinned companion of which the comic gets it's name, Devil Dinosaur lasted only nine issues, but stands as one of Kirby's most enjoyable endeavors. Thrill to the adventures that Moon-Boy and Devil embark on as they trek across the dangerous prehistoric landscape getting into all sorts of adventures, culminating in a ride into the sunset. The storytelling may be deceptively simple, but Kirby's artwork remains a spectacular portrait of an artist and creator at his absolute finest. All in all, the Devil Dinosaur Omnibus may not feature the King's most influential and important work, but it is a fun and often thrilling ride while it lasts that readers old and new will enjoy.
A Kirby Project after his return to Marvel After writing and drawing several projects at DC in the early-mid 70's, Jack Kirby returned to Marvel. This period is controversial with fans as some feel Jack never got back his old magic and was showing his age, while others defend his work from this period. Here is one title written and drawn by Kirby, as were the DC projects he left behind, so fans can judge for themselves. Included are four essays from the original four issues by Jack explaining the concepts behind these stories. 2 letter pages from later issues are also reprinted, showing the fans of the time praising the work. See for your self and make up your own mind, at a nicely discounted price.
A superb collection Jack Kirby's return to Marvel Comics in the mid-Seventies is generally regarded as an embarrassment for "The King". His art was still superb, but his need for autonomy in his writing led to some absolutely abysmal storylines. This was especially true of his higher-profile series like Captain America and Black Panther; however, when it came to the lower-profile, more personal works, his creativity really shone through. Such was the case with Devil Dinosaur, which is collected in its 9-issue entirety in the DEVIL DINOSAUR OMNIBUS.
Let's face it: a "buddy story" centering on a proto-human and a tyrannosaur may not seem like the best concept (much less even be possible), but the affinity Kirby had for stories involving prehistory, mythology, sorcery, and ancient astronauts is used to great effect here. Where Kirby's other titles incorporating these elements were cosmic in scope (New Gods, Eternals), his Devil Dinosaur series used them as the backdrop for a simple tale of a struggle for survival. DD and Moon-Boy are two outsiders who have a limited understanding of the greater forces acting around them, just looking for a place to live happily ever after - how could they know that their adventures would lay the foundations for the myth of Hercules, the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, and the reports of cryptids in the 20th Century?
It's easy to see that Kirby was wholly into this comic, as evidenced by the "Dinosaur Dispatches" included in the book. These pages contain The King's musings on the topics he covered in this title, and they are a true joy to read. They provide insight into what drove Kirby's creative juices, and I am thankful that the publisher saw fit to include them.
All fun- no joke! I bought the full run of "Devil Dinosaur" on eBay as a gag gift for a friend's birthday. The joke was on me though, because I thoroughly enjoyed each and every issue and was bummed when it ended. I hope this collection has the original ads, and especially the little essays Jack Kirby wrote in each issue; those are half the fun! I also love his "Machine Man" series; I hope they reprint those someday!
Devil Dinosaur Collected? Wow! I bought this book. Now honestly their are other characters much more worthy of this hardcover treatment, but Devil Dinosaur has made a big impression on a lot of fans, so there you have it.
Reading them all together you come to a Jack Kirby story that is more straight forward, less melodramatic, than his New Gods saga, and yet he hits you with cosmic concept after cosmic concept.
Rumor was this was a try out for selling a cartoon series, that never came up, but the characters still endure with Devil Dinosaur most recently making an out of character appearance in Nextwave Agents of Hate.
My only regret is that they did not include Devil Dinosaur's cross over with Godzilla, though you could catch it in the Essential Godzilla.
While I loved the story (bought it off the rack as a kid) I'd say this volume is more for the hardcore Kirby fan; though I think if you are willing to gamble the price you will find it worth while.
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