Marvel-ous Monday: "Norton of New York 2040 A.D." by Kirby with Royer

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Here's another sci-fi shocker by Jack "King" Kirby (with inks and letters by Mike Royer, natch) from Marvel's continuation of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ish #4 (January 1977) is a special fave, 'cause the first chunk of "Norton of New York 2040 A.D." is a comicbook fan's dream world. A world where super-heroes are real, and anyone can be one--IF they get to visit...Comicsville! (Hey, with our comicbook cons and cosplay, we're getting there!) After that, we get another of Kirby's patented looks into the future--and, as usual, he gets awfully close to nailing things that would come between 1977 and now. The King truly was a visionary.

Marvel-ous Monday: "Wheels of Death!" by Kirby and Royer

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Jack Kirby (with the able aid of inker/letterer Mike Royer) is once more showing us how to do sci-fi comics with "Wheels of Death!" Still using The Monolith as a catalyst to explore the origins of mankind in the ancient past and the possibilities of mankind in the far (well, it was then) future, The King combines action, drama, and thought-provoking (yeah, at times admittedly head-scratching) concepts and blends them into comicbook bliss. Let's head back to December 1976 for 2001: A Space Odyssey #4 for the conclusion of Marak, the Warrior King's titanic tale...

Marvel-ous Monday: "Marak!" by Kirby and Royer

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! We have more of the History of Mankind as seen through the cosmic sensibilities of Jack "King" Kirby, ably abetted by inker/letterer Mike Royer. "Marak!" gives us an action packed history lesson on the development of weapons and warfare--and somehow these things lead to the greatest invention of all! What is it? Peel back the cover of 2001: A Space Odyssey #3 (November 1976) and see for yourself, pilgrim!