You know, I hear how New Gods, and the Fourth World books were Kirby’s best work ever. As some fans say. And that it was Kirby at his greatest.

While art is a subjective subject and to each their own. That’s all well and good, if that’s what you think, and I’m cool with that.

For me, it was just an average Kirby series. It was good. But to me, it wasn’t his greatest work or concepts.

I think a core reason why Kirby fans say it’s his greatest work. Is cause the fans have tunnel vision and a Kirby obsession and don’t want to be honest with themselves, and to acknowledge Stan Lee. Cause some Kirby fans, seem to hate him.

Why is Fourth World and New Gods praised so much? I think a partial reason is because, Kirby’s Fourth World was made all by Kirby. Stan Lee and no one else can take credit for it. It was all Kirby.

And I think fans are loyal to this idea and want to think and defend it saying: Look without Lee, Kirby’s genius is unleashed and he is great. His work without Lee is superior, And Lee only hampered Kirby and his creative genius.

I think this secretly is a desire. And part of the reason why the Fourth World is still so praised.

While, let me say I’m a a big Kirby fan, as well as Lee. I have to be honest and say to Kirby fans who think Fourth World is the best ever.

Step back from the obsession and be fair. And judge the work on it’s own merits. Regardless of who created it. I think that’s the only fair way to judge a series. To not attach feelings to it, but to judge the creative work by it’s own merit.

I think: If the Fourth World books were done by a creator you feel no allegiance to or know. Would fans who cite it as Jacks’ greatest work, would they really put it high up there still? Or is it cause you are a fan, you have a favoritism view and your view is skewered?

I think that can be a case. (And to be fair, I also do this with creators also. I guess it’s natural.)

And to be fair, Kirby worked so many years with Lee, the writing style of Lee had to play an
influence with how Kirby told a story.

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I also hear the argument: Well, Fourth World was not complete. As if the series, was by right, a work that must be completed. And my answer is: No, it is not a right.

It is simple publishing, and while the numbers can be thrown either way, for or against. The bottom line was clear enough to see, that from the DC perspective, it wasn’t worth their time.

It also shows DC short term thinking. Cause if Fourth World was done at Marvel, the series would have kept going. If it was cancelled for low sales. Lee would have made sure to make it a backup feature in another book.

DC did not think this way. And now look at them? Had they thought better and let the series run to a complete whole. They would have tons of comic book issues to reprint and profit from.

But comic book series being allowed to run to completion is not a right. A publisher can do what they want. If a creator wants a series to run a set course, he has to own the work whole and hopefully have enough finances to get it all published.

Basically I’m saying, the publisher has a right to publish what they want, and when they want. It’s their cost in making the books, and they are the ones paying for them.

Besides, reading about Kirby, I don’t think he was the type who lulled around What If?! concepts. When the Fourth World books were done, he moved on to other series. He wasn’t the type to dwell on the past, imaging how he wanted to complete this series and make more stories. Only the fans hold onto it strongly.

Their was more of a pride in terms of sales numbers back then I think. A series was judged by how well it sold, and not about how creative it was.

Fourth World overall was enjoyable, but the main reason I don’t hold it close as a great series is because I could not relate or feel for the characters.

You had two alien species from different planets at war with each other.

Yet, I never felt the human emotion or involvement for these characters. I could not feel for the heroes situation much.

That was a Lee touch that he did well, in the Marvel books, you could feel for those characters and relate.

I guess when all is said and done, with Fourth World I could not relate.

Hearing about All-Star #10 being recalled for it’s foul language, I tracked down this series I have not been reading and just read #9 which has an appearance by Green Lantern Hal Jordan.

Frank Miller really writes Batman as jerk, a-hole and quite frankly abusive towards Robin. Check out when he throws, punches and calls him a snot to Robin.

This whole Batman thinks he’s the only one right, and is an arrogant jerk, was something I first got a vibe on at the end of Dark Knight Returns. But on Miller’s sequel a few years ago Batman really was an a-hole.

With the All-Star series Miller’s vision of Batman is clear. He makes Batman arrogant, and most of all a jerk. And not someone a reader would like to get to know. Plus hubris is usually followed by a downfall, but Miller would never do that. Bottom line is his portrayal of Batman as a smug S.O.B. is not one I’m feeling, or interpret Batman to be.

Far as I’m concerned Frank Miller was great in the Dark Knight Returns series and Year One, but ever since then he has not portrayed a good Batman.

The first hint of this was his Batman portrayal in the teamup of Batman/Spawn in the McFarlane book in the 90’s published by the Image side. Great art, but study Miler’s Batman characterization, what you see now started then.

I finally read the Watchmen trade paperback, and to be honest: It was a good book. But I would not call it the best comic book I ever read. Or even in my top 10 favorites of all time.

Spoilers here in my review, so be warned.

What I really hated was the last two pages. I thought it totally undermined the book. I’ll get into more detail in a bit.

I thought Dr. Manhattan, and Nite Owl were just filler characters who did not add much to the story.

The Comedian also embodied nothing more then the sterotype of a Vietnam soldier who is crazy, racist, and a patriot.

The only interesting main character who moved the plot and was like a detective was Rorschach.

I thought only he proved to be a main character focus and who moved the story and all that happened. The other two, the Doctor and Nite Owl did not add much.

Rorschach who I recall John Byrne saying he was disappointed when he learned he was crazy. I actually was not disappointed. I also wouldn’t even call the character crazy. He’s extreme to one degree on his principles and is clearly Moore’s attempt at defining Steve Ditko’s view on things. And the Rorschach character seems like Mr. A, and the Question. (And the Question was the original story character to use because Watchmen was supposed to star the Charlton heroes. When it was decided not to use them. Moore basically made the Watchmen characters carbon copies of what he planned for the Charlton heroes.)

Also the unmasked Rorschach, I think Marvel Comics Carnage, in the form of his human identity Cletus Kasady looks similar. I wonder if Erik Larsen used good old Rorsch as a template?

Back to Watchmen, I know the journal part as a plot point made sense to show up in the end.
BUT I thought it undermined the whole story, and made the whole series meaningless.

Basically at the end, the “Smartest Man in The World” who plotted everything to perfection. Has his plot undone by a factor of: Random Chance, and a stumbling idiot who fluke chances his way into the journalistic story of the century.

If the true story was not exposed, the bad guy might have won. But the cost would have been World Peace, and it would have made the sacrifice of millions in New York blown up mean something. Ozymandias should have won.

Instead the Ozymandias plot will be exposed, and the millions sacrificed mean nothing. And the world will still stay at war.

The bad guy loses again, and the good guys win. And in the end, there is no big change to the world. Other then the millions killed by the bad guy.

The story to me, would have had much more of an impact without those final two pages undoing the whole story of Watchmen and Ozymandias.

Overall to me: It’s a good story, but not one I’d call the greatest comic series of all time. Or even in my time 10. I also rank the original Dark Knight Returns as better. Probably because I know and like the Batman character more.

It’s also clear to see that the TV show HEROES series 1 plot of blowing up New York was heavily influenced by Watchmen.

As well as the current Heroes season of Costa Verde blowing up was influenced by Marvel Comics Civil War of Stamford blowing up.

Perhaps that’s a topic for another post in that the Heroes TV show is just ripping off comic characters and stories left and right. But the shows ratings are now down this season and I think the shows gimmick has worn off with the public.

DC Comics is currently stuck in one 52 style, Crisis idea after another, which has gone on for over two years now. It has totally alienated me and I’ve bought none of it. 52 and the whole work, absolutely none. As a reader, they have become so core reader focused they have all but excluded readers like me from picking up their books. And with the Titans Three World idea, it’s another Crisis spinoff that will keep me away.

It’s time to get past Crisis DC but I don’t think they understand that, or how off putting it is to readers who are not interested in this alternate world, time traveling, universes collide junk, and back to stories dealing with everyday people that are more down to earth.

I mentioned creators and creations, in a blog post. Now I’d like to talk Batman.

As you might know, it says Bob Kane created him. Yet, researching the history. It really was a co-creation and a guy named Bill Finger, who wrote the stories and gave ideas, co-created him. And how much influence did Bill Finger have? Well, without him. There would be No Batman as we know him.

And in my opinion Batman, a version only by Bob Kane, would have been a failed concept of a character, long forgotten decades ago as nothing special.

Here is what Bill Finger suggested and helped make in terms of Batman’s creation.

-He suggested the colors for his costume. Such as a gray suit. Kane, had a red suit.
-He suggested the cowl. Kane had a Zorro type mask covering the eyes only.
-Suggested the Scalloped cape. Kane had awkward wings instead.
-Named the Bruce Wayne character
-Made Batman a detective
-Co-created the origin story
-Named the city as, Gotham City
-Helped co-create Robin, Joker, and a bunch of villains

Reading that list: It sure sounds like a co-creation. In fact, most of the creative ideas that you know of as Batman were Bill Finger ideas.

Yet, here is the sad part. He died all but penniless. While his co-creation Batman made millions for Bob Kane.

But while I read, Bob Kane was arrogant and shrewed. I hear remarks from comic professionals, that he was stupid and had no ideas. And he fluked his way into a fortune.

I think it’s wrong to say that. Whatever he lacked, Bob Kane knew his financial situation. And you can’t fluke your way into that many good financial contracts. And as shrewd as he was, it was a good think in a way, cause he was going up against sharks. But he made sure, he got his financial just do in contract. And lived well financially, cause of it. (It’s a shame the Silver Age Marvel creators, did not think in terms of Business Finance. If anything, this case proves creators could have had a financial contract.)

And while some may say: Look, Kane didn’t contribute much to Batman. He didn’t deserve his millions. I disagree, to all of them I say this one important question: Without Bob Kane, would there have been the Batman? Think the situation over and answer honestly. For me, the answer is a resounding No.

His presence, and being there is what helped make Batman. Without him there, there would be no Batman as we know him.

While Kane didn’t create much. He did create. And without him reaching out to Bill Finger, and working together, there would be no Batman.

So he deserves his money. And better him, a co-creator get a financial benefit. Then a corporation to get it all.

But the sad part is, like the companies screwing over the talent and not giving them their financial just due. Bob Kane, never gave his co-creator his just due. He acted like a corporation, and gave his partner nothing financially, in terms of a royalty.

In fact Kane was so business smart, or shrewd, by contract all Batman work has his creators name on it. That of Bob Kane only, and not Bill Finger. So even now, the legacy of Bill Finger is not given its respect and due.

I can only guess why he never gave Bill Finger credit. Maybe it’s cause in him mind, he truly feels he was the sole creator of Batman? And at the least, the initial idea was his. And he approached Bill later. Maybe it was a case of pure Ego, and wanting all the credit? Why have only a co-credit. I’m sure a financial incentive was also there. If he was listed only as a co-creator. Half his income would have to go to Bill Finger, and why share?

I’m not saying it’s right. I can see from the above arguments, especially the financial one, why Bob Kane would resist sharing Batman as a co-creative work.

I can see that. But in terms of living with yourself, I can’t agree.

To do the right thing, cause it’s right, is Important and it matters.

If it were a just world, Bill Finger would have received his financial share and credit of the Batman’s Legacy.

That’s the right think to do, and if your a person of honor, it is what you would do.

But that’s what happened. One of Batman’s creators, got compensated and another of his creators died penniless.

If you are in creative media: If you are creating something, get Legal Advice, read Contracts carefully, and understand your rights before you sign over anything. Also don’t be too forthcoming with creative ideas, without first signing a contract. Or at least, knowing your Legal Rights.

It’s important to think long term and about your rights when creating, especially now, I don’t think there is an excuse. Times back then were different, and most people were not informed about finances and creative media rights. But now it’s different, and you should know. Cause your lack of financial knowledge can end up costing you a possible fortune. And as the saying goes, Always get a contract in writing.