DC RESTORES HUNGER DOGS ART FOR KIRBY OMNIBUS v4

[MattBrady]

Press Release

March, 2008, will see the release of JACK KIRBY’S FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS VOL. 4, the final hardcover collection in this highly acclaimed series. Highlighting this volume will be THE HUNGER DOGS, with 24 pages of art restored to the original inks by Mike Royer.

“We are excited to share with readers Kirby’s original vision for the epic’s end in Vol. 4 of the FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS series,” says Georg Brewer, VP — Design and DC Direct Creative. “This collection features 24 pages at the size that Kirby penciled them, the way they looked before being altered to fit the larger trim size of the HUNGER DOGS graphic novel. Faithfully inked by Mike Royer, these pages are incorporated within the HUNGER DOGS story, which is completely re-colored with a sensibility consistent with the previous OMNIBUS hard covers. Along with the Fourth World character entries he drew for WHO’S WHO: THE DEFINITIVE DIRECTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE, these exciting, rarely seen aspects of Kirby’s work and this important story make this a must-have for every serious comics collector.”

In addition to THE HUNGER DOGS and art from WHO’S WHO, the JACK KIRBY’S FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS VOL. 4 HC will collect MISTER MIRACLE #10-18, FOREVER PEOPLE #11, NEW GODS #11 and the 48-page story “Even Gods Must Die,” originally published in 1984’s NEW GODS #6.

The JACK KIRBY’S FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS VOL. 4 HC will be advance-solicited in the November Previews and is scheduled to arrive in stores in March.

[Brupaste]

This news makes an already incredible series of reprints better. Thanks to all for this!

[newfoundma]

I never really understood the New Gods until these collections. I am a big fan now. Excited for this!

[Sluggo]

This is fantastic news. I've always loved the New Gods since I discovered them in those reprints they did in the early eighties. I even enjoyed the Hunger Dogs, but I have since heard that it had been altered and that Kirby's original ending put a better cap on the whole saga, so I am eagerly awaiting this.

[chrishaley]

Yes!
It's just a shame that DC didn't restore all of Jack's Superman faces to how he originally drew them.

[Sean Walsh]

I think this was a foregone conclusion when the Omnibuses were first announced (may've even been informally announced at the time) but it's great to get official word. And to see Kirby's WHO's WHO art again.....sweet!

[Jeremy Holstein]

I'll be VERY interested to see how they do this.

If you take the 24 Royer inked pages and re-arrange them to their original order that leaves an additional 20 or so Bruce Berry inked pages as orphans. Will these additional pages be included in some way?

Mind you I consider the 24 Royer inked pages to be superior to what was actually published, but there is some good stuff in the Berry pages that it would be a shame to lose.

With something that has as convoluted a history as the Hunger Dogs it's almost impossible to include everything.

[Jeremy Holstein]

Originally Posted by Sluggo

This is fantastic news. I've always loved the New Gods since I discovered them in those reprints they did in the early eighties. I even enjoyed the Hunger Dogs, but I have since heard that it had been altered and that Kirby's original ending put a better cap on the whole saga, so I am eagerly awaiting this.

Well, no. Kirby's original ending didn't really resolve anything unless you count the death of Esak. This is why Kirby and DC got into a bit of a fight over the story, as it wasn't the conclusion everyone had been hoping for. Here's a brief plot outline. Orion invades Apokolips and takes down a bunch of Para-Demons. Esak, now allied with Darkseid and horribly scarred, tries to stop Orion with a device, but Orion kills Esak instead.

That's it. It was just another issue of New Gods. Not a bad thing by any means, but hardly a cap on the saga.

[Mewzard]

Great news, that all of Kirby's work will be collected. I was getting worried that 12-17 wouldn't since it became less fourth world focused during that time since the cancelling of the other two comics. But expected 18, needs Mister Miracle wedding. All and all, the first two were incredible, and the next two will be freaking awesome.

[Snowspinner]

Originally Posted by chrishaley

Yes!
It's just a shame that DC didn't restore all of Jack's Superman faces to how he originally drew them.

I would be shocked if the original art for those still existed.

[furioso2012]

Originally Posted by newfoundma

I never really understood the New Gods until these collections. I am a big fan now. Excited for this!

I read the 1980s reprint series and loved it, then caught up with the rest of the saga via back issues and the B&W (&grey) 1990s tpbs, but reading the 4th World books in order of publication has been a real revelation and rediscovery. They have such a different impact this way. Kudos to DC for treating HUNGER DOGS with the respect it is due, plus adding that 48 page story, thus making the omnibus series totally comprehensive.

[furioso2012]

Originally Posted by Snowspinner

I would be shocked if the original art for those still existed.

The JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR has offered a staggering array of pencil reproductions over its decade puls of publication. I do not recall off hand if I have seen original JIMMY OLSON pencils with the original Kirby Superman faces, but I'd wager many photocopies of the pencils DO exist.

Maybe one day we'll get a SPECIAL EDITION JK4W Omnibus, a la STAR WARS...

[furioso2012]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Holstein

Well, no. Kirby's original ending didn't really resolve anything unless you count the death of Esak. This is why Kirby and DC got into a bit of a fight over the story, as it wasn't the conclusion everyone had been hoping for. Here's a brief plot outline. Orion invades Apokolips and takes down a bunch of Para-Demons. Esak, now allied with Darkseid and horribly scarred, tries to stop Orion with a device, but Orion kills Esak instead.

That's it. It was just another issue of New Gods. Not a bad thing by any means, but hardly a cap on the saga.

Didn't the 1980s reprint series that ended with the new story "Even Gods Must Die" contain the pre-HD ending?

[math]

this is great news,i was wondering if the hunger dogs would be included,but now to see that the original pages will be returned so we can see how Jack intended the story to be seen is just a great tribute to Jack and the saga of the New Gods..its just too bad that the orginal Kirby art could not have been restored for the Jimmy OLsen segments of the omnibus

[mrhelm]

And, I do believe I might just get this one with the added 80's Kirby work alone, not to mention some of the later issues of Mister Miracle, neither of which I believe have been reprinted.

[victor lanza]

This is such great news from DC. Kirby fans have been waiting over 20 years for this restoration!!

Bravo DC!!

[Jeremy Holstein]

Originally Posted by furioso2012

Didn't the 1980s reprint series that ended with the new story "Even Gods Must Die" contain the pre-HD ending?

No, the "Even Gods Must Die" was drawn after the Royer inked Hunger Dogs and contains no art from that story.

"Even Gods Must Die" was drawn after the New Gods #12 tale AKA "The Road to Armagetto" was deemed unpublishable by DC. To give Kirby more time to rework the Armagetto story into the Hunger Dogs Graphic Novel the decision was made to commission Kirby to pen a new story to fill the last issue of the New Gods reprint series. Kirby was due for vacation, so the "Even Gods" story was penciled very quickly. By this time Royer was no longer available and Bruce Berry was brought in to ink the tale.

[Snowspinner]

Originally Posted by furioso2012

The JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR has offered a staggering array of pencil reproductions over its decade puls of publication. I do not recall off hand if I have seen original JIMMY OLSON pencils with the original Kirby Superman faces, but I'd wager many photocopies of the pencils DO exist.

Maybe one day we'll get a SPECIAL EDITION JK4W Omnibus, a la STAR WARS...

Whether those are high quality enough to use in a high-end book like the Omnibuses is another matter.

[eloso]

Doesn't this anger anyone else? The paper quality on these books is atrocious. Why go the cheap route at this point? If you pick up a comparable Marvel hardcover it weighs almost twice as much. Thoughts, please?

[Jeremy Holstein]

Originally Posted by eloso

Doesn't this anger anyone else? The paper quality on these books is atrocious. Why go the cheap route at this point? If you pick up a comparable Marvel hardcover it weighs almost twice as much. Thoughts, please?

I'd argue that using Newsprint (especially high grade Newsprint like this) is closer to the experience of reading the old comics than putting the same artwork/coloring on glossy paper. I actually think some of the older stories, especially those reprinted with faithful colors as these are, look terrible on glossy paper. Am I in the minority, here?

[Rob S.]

I love the paper. I didn't think I would, at first, but it's a really nice experience reading these non-glossy pages.

I also questioned the order, at first, preferring separate volumes for the different books -- but this is so much more like watching the whole saga unfold, that I love it now!

[rlmarts]

I love the paper. The high grade Newsprint looks crisp and I love the color patterns. It actually does come close to the old reading experience. I am happier with this than I would have been on slick, glossy paper.

As for the original faces of Superman, I would have loved to have seen the Kirby Superman. I recall reading years ago that Steve Rude was possibly going to go back in and re-ink the faces to bring them in line with the original Kirby pencils. Too bad DC didn't go all the way with this. However, can you imagine trying to contract Rude to do this. It would be tedious and time consuming. If I were Rude I would have demanded a huge paycheck. Nonetheless, I am super pleased to have these even with the homogenized faces.

Great news on the restoration of Hunger Dogs. All said this series is a dream come true for me. I will read and reread this format for the years to come.

R

Originally Posted by Jeremy Holstein

I'd argue that using Newsprint (especially high grade Newsprint like this) is closer to the experience of reading the old comics than putting the same artwork/coloring on glossy paper. I actually think some of the older stories, especially those reprinted with faithful colors as these are, look terrible on glossy paper. Am I in the minority, here?

[Kevin Street]

HUZZAH! This is great news.

[Mewzard]

Can't wait to get this and vol 3! Freaking sweet, Kirby's New God work is definitely my favorite comic work to date.

[Bud Fox]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Holstein

I'd argue that using Newsprint (especially high grade Newsprint like this) is closer to the experience of reading the old comics than putting the same artwork/coloring on glossy paper. I actually think some of the older stories, especially those reprinted with faithful colors as these are, look terrible on glossy paper. Am I in the minority, here?

I am with you, I always prefer the newsprint look, the glossy paper makes the colors look so flat and distracting. I owned many of the original Marvel Masterworks, and always preferred the look and feel of my old back issues in comparison.