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readbyashleyd's review against another edition
5.0
This was an absolute treasure trove of vintage horror comics and I’m so glad I came across it at the library! It was such a treat to go back to the beginnings of horror comics and see where the genre I love so much came from and how much it has evolved. Some of the comics are a bit campy and cheesy but that’s part of what makes them so good, they can make you laugh AND scare you! The illustrations were incredibly awesome, it was nice to see some old school comic style after reading so many modern graphic novels lately.
birdmanseven's review against another edition
3.0
I think the standout here was the collection of early Blue Bolt stories. The rest were made up of stories that reminded of the Twilight Zone or pulpy sci-fi shorts from old magazines. It was fun to read.
Visually it was really impressive. Editorially, I could have used more content. While the index and decade overviews were helpful, I would have liked to see the covers and credits before each issue as well as a little background on what's being presented.
Regardless, if you like old comics, this was worth the time.
We discussed it further on Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LknauVOdG4
Visually it was really impressive. Editorially, I could have used more content. While the index and decade overviews were helpful, I would have liked to see the covers and credits before each issue as well as a little background on what's being presented.
Regardless, if you like old comics, this was worth the time.
We discussed it further on Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LknauVOdG4
theneverendingtbr's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
People who are old enough to remember 50s horror comics such Black Magic etc - this will be pure nostalgia for you. Or if you're into vintage horror, you'll dig it.
I liked it and it was different to what I usually read, I just wish it was more..gorey lol.
People who are old enough to remember 50s horror comics such Black Magic etc - this will be pure nostalgia for you. Or if you're into vintage horror, you'll dig it.
I liked it and it was different to what I usually read, I just wish it was more..gorey lol.
I found the stories Twilight Zone-ish, very short with the suggestion of the supernatural.
There’s little blood or violence like I said, instead they rely on creepiness and implication.
Must read for VINTAGE HORROR fans!
I liked it and it was different to what I usually read, I just wish it was more..gorey lol.
People who are old enough to remember 50s horror comics such Black Magic etc - this will be pure nostalgia for you. Or if you're into vintage horror, you'll dig it.
I liked it and it was different to what I usually read, I just wish it was more..gorey lol.
I found the stories Twilight Zone-ish, very short with the suggestion of the supernatural.
There’s little blood or violence like I said, instead they rely on creepiness and implication.
Must read for VINTAGE HORROR fans!
rickklaw's review
4.0
Before playing Lennon to Stan Lee’s McCartney, Jacky Kirby teamed with writer/artist Joe Simon to create a legacy that included Captain America, the romance comic, and numerous other creations. The latest volume of Titan’s handsome, full color collections of the duo’s collaborative works features horror tales from Black Magic and The Strange World of Your Dreams. The former enjoyed a 33 issue run from 1950-1954 (though it was later resurrected years later with #34, but sans Simon/Kirby) and the latter beginning in 1952 for a scant 4 issues, a rare business failure for the pair. Simon and Kirby did not work on every story in either title but rather employed a small group of artists which included the amazing Mort Meskin and Bruno Premiani. Though Kirby did draw the majority of the tales, he often just contributed the splash page with others providing the rest of the story. This volume reproduces and restores every story from the two series that contained any Kirby art.
The stories themselves rise above much of the muck, some just below the era’s horror gold standard EC. Perhaps the volume’s biggest flaw lies not with the largely excellent stories but rather with the scant historical data. Series editor Steve Saffel penned the introduction that offers some interesting background material, but acknowledging the credits to other artists when known (or even suspected) would certainly have enhanced the project. Even with that minor quibble, The Simon and Kirby Library: Horror successfully encapsulates this lesser known epoch of Kirby’s impressive output and should be part of every well stocked comics library.
The stories themselves rise above much of the muck, some just below the era’s horror gold standard EC. Perhaps the volume’s biggest flaw lies not with the largely excellent stories but rather with the scant historical data. Series editor Steve Saffel penned the introduction that offers some interesting background material, but acknowledging the credits to other artists when known (or even suspected) would certainly have enhanced the project. Even with that minor quibble, The Simon and Kirby Library: Horror successfully encapsulates this lesser known epoch of Kirby’s impressive output and should be part of every well stocked comics library.
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