Happy Birthday to the King of Comics!

Today is the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Jacob Kurtzberg, better known to us all as Jack Kirby, the absolute King of Comics. I've been absorbing Jack's DC work through my very pores this year, thanks to these collections...

Yeah, I already had tons of the original comics, but re-reading them in tpb form is both handy and a new way to experience old favorites. All that's left are Kamandi (my omnibus, which I ordered for MY birthday, last Wednesday, the 26th)  should be here soon!) and Forever People (which I'll get for Christmas, if not sooner). 

Now I just need this to go back into print...

And for a miracle to happen so these can be collected in their own volumes...

Happy birthday, Jack Kirby! Your legacy still entertains, enthralls, and amazes me! Thank you so very, very much!

Sunday Funnies: Jack Kirby's Dingbats of Danger Street

Most folks have never heard of the Dingbats of Danger Street, Jack Kirby's attempt to resurrect the "kid gang" concept he and former partner Joe Simon had pioneered and perfected during the Golden Age. Those who have heard of the Dingbats, whose first (and only) Groovy Age appearance was in First Issue Special #6 (June 1975) fall into one of two camps: they either love 'em or passionately despise 'em. There is no gray area. Why is that you ask? Many reasons. As I already noted, this was Kirby's attempt at bringing back the kid gang comics he'd done so well with back in the Golden Age (Boy Commandos, Newsboy Legion, Boys Ranch, etc.). He updated the idea with a group of kids who vaguely resembled Welcome Back, Kotter's Sweat Hogs but filled it with Golden Age style stereotypes. It's Kirby-humor unleashed, something we'd only really experienced during the Groovy Age in Not Brand Echh (unless you count a certain pair of Jimmy Olsen issues...). It's the twilight of Kirby's tenure at DC. And then there's, uhmmmmm... Let Ol' Groove lay it on ya straight, Groove-ophiles: there really is no way to explain the polarizing affect of the Dingbats. The Dingbats have to be experienced, sooo...


So, which camp do you belong to? Love 'em or hate 'em? Let Ol' Groove know!