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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Friday, April 8, 2005
"Why were they fishing for human beings through 'The Hole In The Sky!'?" I wish I could tell you, but, sadly, like most of the Jack Kirby-covered comics featured in this series, I haven't read HOUSE OF SECRETS #12 [September, 1958].
This is a wacky cover, but darned if it doesn't fulfill what I think is the key requirement of a comic-book cover: it makes me want to buy the comic to find out what the heck is going on there. Even when he didn't have battling super-heroes, cosmic calamities, or rampaging monsters to fall back on, Kirby could still catch your eye and get you to fork over your dime.
Besides the Kirby-drawn "The Hole in the Sky," this issue of HOUSE OF SECRETS featured:
"3 Doors to Doom" (drawn by Bernard Baily);
"The Spirit Sculptor" (drawn by Bill Ely;" and
"The Man With the Magic Touch" (drawn by Lou Cameron).
As I mentioned yesterday, I've been running this Kirby covers from 1950s DC mystery comics in the hopes of encouraging the loyal legions of TOT readers to encourage DC to collect all Jack's non-Challengers of the Unknown and non-Green Arrow. We're talking 200 or so pages of stories plus covers...and that would make for a keen package of fun comics.
In yesterday's TOT, I mentioned that Kirby drew one story for ALL-STAR WESTERN during this period. "Ambush at Smoke Canyon", a "Foley of the Fighting 5th" story appeared in ALL-STAR WESTERN #99 [February-March, 1959]. Bob, the Kirby fan behind the spiffy KIRBY COMICS blog [jackkirbycomics.blogspot.com] posted the information on the tale to my message board:
It's rather odd because it's a [Julius] Schwartz edited book, and Kirby didn't do any other work for Schwartz. Given that it's Frank Giacoia inks, and Kirby's known to have ghosted some JOHNNY REB comic strips for Giacoia around the same time, I'm guessing this was a rush job assigned to Giacoia that Kirby helped out on. Howard Sherman was the regular artist of the "Foley of the Fighting 5th" feature from 1955 to 1960, but #96 had a Giacoia fill-in as well.
Thanks to Bob for the info and to all of you for spending part of your day with me. Tune in tomorrow for the last in this series of Kirby mystery covers.
Tony Isabella
<< 04/07/2005 | 04/08/2005 | 04/09/2005 >>
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
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