War & Romance & Red Underwear & Werewolves! I Presenting the Best of S&K’s Golden Age, by R. J. Vitone
what to expect. (I “won” a Superman #2 by bid once, and spent long hours on the phone trying to explain to the mope I got it from that it was Superman ANNUAL #2!) As a result, I almost never saw any of that early Kirby work in Crash, Mystery Men, and Science Comics. By the time these books were referenced, I was really unwilling to shell out over $100 each for only a random cover or a 5-page story. Blue Bolt, from Novelty (a company that bought work from Bill Everett and Carl Burgos), was another case. It was fairly easy to pick up the first ten issues in a short time at low prices. When I got them all, I looked them over, then got rid of them! Looking at them now, they show a wide range of the style—the first collaboration, a melding of different art and storytelling. Crude, rough at first, then a sure, steady progression. By issue #7, you could have slapped little wings on Blue Bolt’s head and given him a shield, because the art looked just like the early Cap strip; but back then, I was disappointed by the short stories in each issue, and the Flash Gordon look. I never did warm up to the thing.
n 1972, my new wife asked me why I was wasting $20 of my/our hard-earned money on a copy of Captain America #6. I tried to explain that even though I had taken the mature step of matrimony, the kid in me still screamed out to collect Golden Age comics—especially Kirby comics. She just didn’t understand. Five years later, when she left me, she still didn’t get it; but I had built up a nice collection by then to keep me warm. (No real comfort, believe me.) Depressed, I quit my job, and went into partnership in a comic book store, one of the first in the city. I figured, what the hell, waste a couple of years, maybe pick up a few neat Kirby books, then move on to real life. Now, over 20 years later, it’s me that finally understands! I’ve spent half of my adult life collecting Kirby comics, and I’ve seen, held, traded, owned, and sold just about everything that Jack ever did. Was I surprised to find out that this is unusual! Many times, I’d mention a favorite story to other fans, and get blank “You’ve seen that?” stares in return. Slowly, I came to realize how lucky I was. Owning a comics store had landed me in just the right place at just the right time to feed my Kirby collecting impulses. At our stores in the late ’70s/early ’80s, people actually brought in old comics from the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s for us to buy. One of the best was over 100 DCs from 1935 to 1941, including all of the most legendary key issues you could name! Great, right? Except the art teacher we bought them from had years ago razored out every page that had any animal on it! (Of course I didn’t want any of ’em... no Kirby... ‘DUH’!) There was not much of an organized fandom in those days, so conventions were usually badlyorganized flea markets. Price guides were used more for reference than to price (“What!? $5 for an FF #1—Are you insane?!”). Once I decided I was stuck as a full-time comics retailer, I made up a list of Golden Age books I “needed” and started looking. By networking, bidding, advertising, trading, and Blue Bolt #3, the cover that started it all. sometimes begging, I did amass most of what I felt I wanted, even though I had to trade some of the books I had acquired in order to get others I’d never seen. We’re looking at over two decades of searching, and the accumulation of more than just books. A lot of knowledge came as well. So as a service to any of you collectors out there, here’s the benefit of my experience: An overview of each Golden Age title—with highlights, low points, and other info you may find interesting.
BEST EARLY COVER: Champion #10, (shown above) hands down. Nice example of what the Golden Age was. Try and find one, though. BEST BLUE BOLT COVER: #3. An easy choice, since Novelty’s editors featured their long-forgotten stars on most of the run. I’ll argue with anyone that this is a Kirby layout, or at least Kirby inks over Simon art! THE ONE BLUE BOLT TO OWN: #6. Nice blend of art and action, classic Jack touches, and a weird, positively creepy big-headed villain. Pops up in the Comic Buyer’s Guide sometimes. BEST “I KNOW SHE’S GREEN, BUT WHAT AN OUTFIT” COSTUME: The Green Sorceress! (shown below)
Blue Bolt and the Early Partnership Period Oddball early super-hero comics rarely turned up where I could see them, and I hated to buy a comic through the mail without knowing 21