If you need a crash course as to who Jack Kirby is and his contributions to the comic book medium, it is too long to list. Suffice to say that after revolutionizing this art form with Marvel Comics, Kirby signed on with DC to write, pencil and edit three interlocking titles which became known as "The Fourth World". Tales of God like beings who wielded both the forces of darkness and light in the perpetual battle of Good versus Evil. The characters of Mark Moonrider, Big Bear, Vykin The Black, Serifan and Beautiful Dreamer are cast members based on a youth generation which concerned Kirby in 1970.The Forever People are a young generation of New Gods who with optimistic naiveté fight Darkseid and thwarts his goal for the Anti-Life Equation. Battling the minions of Apokolips in the form of the deprived DeSaad besides the propaganda mind controller, Glorious Godfrey, the Forever People are able to join in unison with their Mother Box and call upon The Infinity Man from another dimension to help out. A concept which appears to be at the base for Jim Starlin's idea of the Captain Mar-Vell/Rick Jones ability to switch forms from one dimension to another during the 1970s. Not to mention how another Starlin creation, Thanos, closely resembles Darkseid in posture and deeds.
We also get more proof that Kirby's imagination knew no limits. In an attempt to bring some novelty to Deadman whose series bit the dust, DC managed to get the character a guest-star appearance in the series. Perhaps the idea of a spirit inhabiting a robot body was not a sellable one at the time but it did have the merit of being an interesting concept if it would have been fully and properly explored. Unfortunately, any references to this moment in the character's history has been totally ignored since then in DC continuity.
In the introduction piece, Mark Evanier states that Jack Kirby's renditions of Superman in the first issue were redrawn by Al Plastino. This is quite evident and it is a decision that will always be rightfully questioned. Why tamper with an artist's drawing? If DC was so concerned about Superman resembling the established "Swanderson" version, why allow Kirby to use the character in the first place? Then again, this is one of the many injustices that Mr. Kirby endured throughout his career and lifetime.
Kirby was a master story teller but his dialogue and narration left much to be desired. This is quite evident with the mock hippie dialogue and narration throughout the book. However, Kirby was able to convey solid characterization as well as present some of the wildest ideas ever to be published in comic book form. I concur wholeheartedly that even before the "widescreen" presentation became the next wave of artistic rendition, Kirby managed to convey the sensibilities of a blockbuster sci-fi action film with his innovative angles and cinematic vision. Kirby broke the barriers and elevated the standards as to visual interpretations of a comic book story. Perhaps some of you may pass over this landmark edition because it is reprinted in black, white and greytone but you will do so with regret. Kirby's art is still as striking and dynamic as in its original colored version. That is how powerful and bold this creative genius' work still remains to this day.
Like any artistic endeavor created in any given era, Jack Kirby's Forever People is a representation of its era but there is a timeless quality to this intricate saga that deserves to be enjoyed and savoured by all self-proclaimed comic book fans.
Review by Brian Grindrod
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