The Star Section: Lifestyle Ad Value: RM 37,694 8-Jun-2021 Size : 749cm2 PR Value: RM 113,082

Reprints fit for the gods

WORLDS OF WONDER Reprints fit for the gods By ANDREW A. SMITH IT has been a while since I've men­ tioned that we are in the Golden We take a look at some noteworthy reprints of titles by Neil Age of Reprints. But we still are, and it's worthwhile to check in Gaiman, , and ... Comics. Anhie comics 超 presents... now and again on the latest, great­ est collections. HA! EVEN HAMMER LOKif 时LT,

NEIL GAIMAN • P. CRAIG RUSSELL

VOLUME 1 WE ASE SrtATEFULTO HIM戸VEN科眞孰 WE HATE HIM TMPMCfT：

皿 TWtltL

and Teen-Age Romance. The war stories are all from Battle and Most fans are feiniliar with Josie Battleground, with Kirby's work on and the Pussycats, but very few 1960s Sgt. Fury and His Howling know that Josie McCoy didn't start Commandos as a bonus. out as a bandleader — or even as a Sadly very few romance stories McCoy. She first appeared as HUI MIGNOIA，ItHtW OtBWAV • MVIB tUMN from the comics hold up well, given Midvale High School student Josie the gender roles and social mores in Jones in 14rc/iie^s Pals 'n' Gals #23 play at the time they were pub­ (1962) before graduating to her own lished. The war stories are limited Norse Mythology, Volume 1 title, She's Josie in 1963. She was a Ever wondered in their own way as well, with good-natured redhead, more or less how got his Americans generally being coura­ Writers: , P. Craig Russell a temale version of Archie hammer? Neil geous heroes who win the battle Artists: Lovern Kindzierski, Piotr Andrews, and had her own pals 'n' Gaiman's Norse even if they fall valorously at the Kowalski, , , gals. end. David Rubin, R Craig Russell, Galen Mythology tells very few of Josie's gang made the But Lee's stories usually had Showman, Dave Stewart, JHI Thomp­ teh story behind transition when the book was more wit and sparkle than the com­ son that. - Dark revamped as Josie and the Pussycats petition. And then there's Kirby, a Publisher： Dark Horse Comics Horse Comics in 1969 - namely the irresistible one-of-a-kind artist who virtually Melody Valentme and series antago­ created the visual language of Raise your hand if you love Neil nists (and Veronica-level wealthy) The Norse comic books. So, yeah, this one gets Gaiman. If you didn't raise your Alexander and Alexandra Cabot. Mythology hand, what are you doing in this a prominent place in my library 一 Josie Jones became Josie McCoy at column? reprint features a next to all my other Kirby collec­ some point, probably to avoid con­ tions. Gaiman is, of course, the belov­ bevy of star art­ fusion with Jughead Jones' family in Two quick things of note. First, ed grandmaster of fantasy. He has ists, including nearby Riverdale. the title is obviously a misnomer. won nearly every major award, Mike Mignola. So the only way you'll ever see This book isn't The Complete Kirby for works such as American Gads, the adventures of Josie's beatnik War & Romance, it's only "Most , , The Dark Horse. Accompanied by P. boyfriend Albert, Josie's tart- Kirby War & Romance Published by and . His work Craig Russell, one of the finest The Complete Kirby: War & tongued best friend Pepper (think What Is Now Known as Marvel has premiered in, or been adapted fine-arts artists in comics, and a Romance Jughead) and dull-witted jock Sock Comics". So you're not going to find, to, almost every medium, includ­ gaggle of other talented pros, the (think Moose) is in reprints. To the you know, Kirby's Boy Commandos ing comics, movies, novels, radio collected Norse Mythology Vol. 1 Writer: Stan Lee rescue comes She's Josie, a trade from his years at DC Comics. And I and television. virtually sings. (And yes, there will Artist: Jack Kirby paperback collecting She's Josie don't think the book is really com­ So when Gaiman adapted my be a Vol. 2; Dark Horse will launch Publisher: #1-9, prehensive, even for Kirb/s Marvel favourite works of mythology, a second miniseries this month Is it good? Well, it's solid, old-style work. Snorri Sturluson's Elder Edda and that will surely be collected at We've all seen Jack Kirby's famous , which I always find The second is that the book Poetic Edda, in novel form in 2017, some point) 1960s work on Marvel's nascent charming (and funny). Further, it's comes with two covers, both Kirby I couldn't wait to read it. For the record, Norse Mythology superhero line-Wve蹤 always a treat to see a lot of Dan reprints. One is the cover to My And I was cruelly disappointed. Vol. I includes the Norse creation Rmtostic Four, Incredible Hulk, DeCarlo artwork — the guy who Own Romance #73, and the other is Gaiman's breezy engaging prose myth (the sky is a frost giant's X-Men, etc. — reprinted a jilUon created Josie and named her for his from Battle #69. You get to pick was as smooth as ever in Norse skull!); epic stories involving Thor, times. (And if you haven't, you wife. DeCarlo was such a master which genre you like best. Mythology, but it also read some­ Odin, Loki and more; plus the end should.) But I never expected to see that his work became the house thing like a primer. Was this of all things (and the beginning of the Kings work with the equally style at Archie for decades, and is book aimed at children? It seemed the next cycle of life), Ra^nardk. legendary Stan Lee on Marvel's Sheb Josie s而 aped by some Archie artists so, although none of the trade It is an unadulterated joy. romance and war stories of the today dress or marketing material said Unless, of course, you think other 1950s, when the publisher was Writer: Oh, one more thing: Archie him­ so. myths and legends are better. known as . Artists: Dan DeCarlo, Rudy Lapick, self makes a wordless cameo in Whatever was going in the You're wrong, of course, but even And now we can. The love stories Vincent DeCarlo, Bill Yoshida and issue #9. There's some extra value novel, though, was absent in the so you'll probably still enjoy Norse are lifted from such alluring titles as for your money! - Tribune News six-issue comics adaptation for Mythology. Love Romances, My Own Romance Publisher： Archie Comics Service