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.