In the Days of the Mob (1971)

[shaxper]

I came across an ad for this one shot magazine from 1971 and was immediately interested since it's written and pencilled by Jack Kirby and includes work by Sergio Aragones. However, when I tried to find it on ebay, I was amazed by the prices (anywhere from $15 to $150!). Has anyone read this magazine? Is it worth spending a little extra for?

[Red Oak Kid]

I ordered this mag from the ad in DC comics of the time and was very happy with it. I don't have a copy now, but my memory is that it was full of great Kirby art featuring a period of American history that he seemed to have a special fondness for.

If you are a Kirby fan you won't be dissappointed. I wouldn't spend $150 for it, but $25 or so seems reasonable.

I'm pretty sure it had Mike Royer on inks.

[shaxper]

my memory is that it was full of great Kirby art featuring a period of American history that he seemed to have a special fondness for.

Makes sense. I still remember his depiction of Chicago in Kamandi. Great stuff. This sounds like a very fun read.

[benday-dot]

Kirby didn't hold back from In Days of the Mob. Not that Kirby was ever one to take shortcuts (he didn't need to; he was naturally fast) but he invested a little something extra in his magazine efforts, believing them to represent an important part of the future of graphic storytelling. The artwork is truly excellent. Kirby had started work on a second issue, but it was never published. The magazine suffered from marketing confusion and lack of confidence, I think, by DC. I think I paid about 25.00 for my VG+ copy, with poster intact.

If you want me to post some scans Shax I would be happy to.

[shaxper]

If you want me to post some scans Shax I would be happy to.

Thanks, but no need. I'm already suitably convinced that I need to read this book :)

[rick]

I own a copy and it's really good.

It's all narrated by Hell's warden and is both extremley violent and oddly sympathetic to the badguys.

Some of the Kings very best work.

[zilch]

I saw both (Mob and Spirit World) of these in a Central Hardware (local chain at the time, think Home Depot) strangely enough. They had a magazine rack with how-to mags and these. They had the Skywald mags also.

What got me was the centerfold of Spirit World saying something along the lines of "Nostradamus predicts... the world will end in 1986!" and showing a devestated Paris with a wrecked Eifel Tower and all...

[rick]

I saw both (Mob and Spirit World) of these in a Central Hardware (local chain at the time, think Home Depot) strangely enough. They had a magazine rack with how-to mags and these. They had the Skywald mags also.

What got me was the centerfold of Spirit World saying something along the lines of "Nostradamus predicts... the world will end in 1986!" and showing a devestated Paris with a wrecked Eifel Tower and all...


I still need to get a copy of Spirit World.

I've actually only seen one copy in a store in all these yearsd, but it was a beauty of a book.

[Mark Evanier]

I'm pretty sure it had Mike Royer on inks.

ME: Nope. Vince Colletta. One of his better jobs, actually.

[shaxper]

So how does Spirit World stack up in comparison? Equally worth acquiring, or more for the Kirby completist?

[Kirk G]

Kirby didn't hold back from In Days of the Mob.

If you want me to post some scans Shax I would be happy to.

I'm never one to turn down some quality scans to illustrate what we're talking about. I know that some have shown up in the Jack Kirby Collector in the past, but I'd love to see more, or some key shots, illustrating what you're talking about.

Also, if it was Vinnie Colleta, I'd love to see what his best work looked like at this time.:D

[Aaron King]

There are some scans of In the Days of the Mob in my Comics Journal Library: Jack Kirby book. If we don't get any scans in the next day I'll pull the book out (I'm in the middle of moving) and scan in the pages.

I agree that it's some beautiful work and Mr. Colletta brought his best to the book.

[benday-dot]

So how does Spirit World stack up in comparison? Equally worth acquiring, or more for the Kirby completist?

Well I am a completed completist of the King (from 1970 on) so I do have a copy of each, and I have to say I preferred In Days of the Mob. But I have an especial fondness for Kirby gangster work. Since his Crestwood days Kirby has been turning out a wonderful mobster archetype. I just eat it up. Spirit World, like days of the Mob, also had an unpublished second issue, and some of these turned up in colour in DC's shortish lived Weird Mystery Tales, and repesent some really fine Kirby pencils of the early 70's.

[benday-dot]

There are some scans of In the Days of the Mob in my Comics Journal Library: Jack Kirby book. If we don't get any scans in the next day I'll pull the book out (I'm in the middle of moving) and scan in the pages.

I agree that it's some beautiful work and Mr. Colletta brought his best to the book.

Unless Aaron beats me to it, I'll get some scans tomorrow. Getting late here now.

[MWGallaher]

I'm never one to turn down some quality scans to illustrate what we're talking about. I know that some have shown up in the Jack Kirby Collector in the past, but I'd love to see more, or some key shots, illustrating what you're talking about.

Also, if it was Vinnie Colleta, I'd love to see what his best work looked like at this time.:D

benday-dot posted this image in the Vince Colletta thread elsewhere in this forum:
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37428&d=1193712313

[DarthAstuart]

Does anyone else think these mags will eventually see reprint by DC as they move through their stockpile of unreprinted Kirby material?

OMAC's coming next year, Fourth World almost done, Kamandi on its way (in Archives)...it may take a couple years but I hope these see a nice reprint edition! I'm eager to read them but not to pay back issue prices. :)

[Babylon23]

In the Days of the Mob and Spirit World are 2 of the items left on my "to buy" Kirby checklist. I'd really appreciate some scans.

[MWGallaher]

Does anyone else think these mags will eventually see reprint by DC as they move through their stockpile of unreprinted Kirby material?

OMAC's coming next year, Fourth World almost done, Kamandi on its way (in Archives)...it may take a couple years but I hope these see a nice reprint edition! I'm eager to read them but not to pay back issue prices. :)

I think it's highly likely. My bet is on a hardcover collection of The Demon and a softcover collection of The Losers to be released next year. Maybe the B&W magazine stuff will follow in 2009, with high hopes that it will include whatever remains of the unpublished 2nd issues and maybe even some Soul Romance?

[benday-dot]

I would love to see Soul Romance see the light of day MWG. Maybe or maybe not DC was wise to shelve this project back in the day. It is perhaps one of Kirby's more dubious works though I don't doubt he embarked on the magazine with the best of intentions. Fans today though ought see it for themselves.

Okay the scans for Kirby believers and others of CBR Classics.

I don't know what the limits of scanning and posting copyrighted artwork is, but just so Uncle Sam or DC or Sir Tim doesn't reach across the border and grab me I posted most, but not all of "Ma's Boys", the story of Ma Barker from In Days of the Mob. Its fantastic stuff.

Spirit World scans will follow.

[benday-dot]

Here are the next 5 pages of Ma's Boys

[benday-dot]

One more, just because, of "Ma's Boys" followed by 4 pages from "The Sceaming Woman", out of the pages of Spirit World. More Kirby goodness.

[benday-dot]

And the next 2 pages from "Screaming Woman".

BTW while Mark Evanier correctly points out that Vince Colletta was the inker behind In Days of the Mob, GCD lists Jack himself as the possible inker for Spirit World. This is relatively rare for Kirby to ink his own pencils, but it looks very nice indeed. I really love the patented Kirby splashpage.

Maybe Mark could confirm if Kirby did ink his own material here? I would say it is definitely not Colletta, and nor does it look particularly Royerish to me. Combined with the wash effect it looks very slick.

[JKCarrier]

Those "Screaming Woman" pages look pretty Colletta-ish to me, especially the women's faces.

[benday-dot]

Those "Screaming Woman" pages look pretty Colletta-ish to me, especially the women's faces.

Yeah, sucking at inking identifying, and then comparing those faces and eyes to other known Colletta work, I do say you right JK. I'm always drawn more to a Kirby background than a face. Nice call.

[Rob Allen]

When I finally saw both magazines, I realized why they had not sold well on the stands in 1971 - the covers do not match the interiors. People who would have loved the stories and art would never have picked up the magazines because the covers were so uninspiring. And conversely, I think people who were attracted by the covers were probably confused by the contents. Kirby was ready to move to something bigger than the standard comic book but DC just didn't know how to sell these mags.

[shaxper]

I'm surprised how rigid the page layouts are in these scans. Is there a reason for that? Kirby's art feels so forcibly contained, and I'm used to seeing it fly off the page.

[MDG]

I'm surprised how rigid the page layouts are in these scans. Is there a reason for that? Kirby's art feels so forcibly contained, and I'm used to seeing it fly off the page.
On the other hand, he uses borderless panels on many of the pages--something Eisner also did in his later work. It's possible that he felt that not having borders, the composition had to be a little more constrained for the page to be clear.

MDG

[benday-dot]

And this is a bit of a forshadowing of the direction to which Kirby was heading. The 4 panel grid (or less) would become an increasing signature of Jack's layouts as the 70's progressed. As his art became more mannered he eschewed the elaborate or eccentric layout in favour of his characteristic bold, discrete and blocky (as most term it) approach to storytelling.

Of course this stage of his work was also replete with those wild collages.

[Red Oak Kid]

I got my copy of Mob from DC.

Did anyone ever see these two mags on the newstand?

A portion of the Spirit World cover is by Neal Adams.

I've never seen Spirit World, but the scans provided here look like Colletta inking to me.

As another poster said, I do recall seeing a story meant for SW 2 in one of DC's mystery books.

[jam]

I bought these at the time but must've "lost" them pretty soon after.

I'm always going on about reprint collections (esp. newspaper comic strips) and I just find it very sad that a reprint of the King's b&w magazine work just won't be produced, I guess because it wouldn't turn a profit.

That's just sad.

[Babylon23]

Thanks for the scans benday-dot. These pages are fantastic.

[JKCarrier]

I just find it very sad that a reprint of the King's b&w magazine work just won't be produced, I guess because it wouldn't turn a profit.

That's just sad.

Considering some of the odd stuff that's getting collected lately (Essential Werewolf By Night???), I wouldn't rule out anything.

[benday-dot]

I got my copy of Mob from DC.

Did anyone ever see these two mags on the newstand?

A portion of the Spirit World cover is by Neal Adams.

I've never seen Spirit World, but the scans provided here look like Colletta inking to me.

As another poster said, I do recall seeing a story meant for SW 2 in one of DC's mystery books.

Question 1: bit too young
Question 2: agreed, GCD is wrong atributing the inks to Kirby
Question 3: Weird Mystery Tales

[T GUy]

From memory, the first three issues of Weird Mystery Tales contain overspill from Spirit World. <Goes away to check on GCD, comes back> Yes - Kirby in 1-3 but not 4.

[Cherokee Jack]

I got my copy of Mob from DC.

Did anyone ever see these two mags on the newstand?
.

I bought mine off the stands at the bus depot in the town where I grew up.

[Kirk G]

I bought mine off the stands at the bus depot in the town where I grew up.

What month and year would this be?
(I was out of comics and slaving away at college from 1972 through 1980...:D )

[DarthAstuart]

Considering some of the odd stuff that's getting collected lately (Essential Werewolf By Night???), I wouldn't rule out anything.

I also think Kirby reprints sell incredibly well--I mean, if Marvel can do a hardcover omnibus of Devil Dinosaur, I would think these mags would be a no-brainer, especially since they're more evolved and unique work.

[mortari]

From memory, the first three issues of Weird Mystery Tales contain overspill from Spirit World. <Goes away to check on GCD, comes back> Yes - Kirby in 1-3 but not 4.

thanks I just got Weird Mystery Tales 2 last week and I was wondering what was up with the Kirby story.
Good stuff though.

[InfoBroker]

some quick notes (things are running late due for Thanksgiving due to work crisises - which yesterday seemed infinite in nature)

#1) The magazines were on the racks the summer of 1971 (I thought we discussed this before). I remember talking about my purchasing them at Readmore Book World in Rock Island, Silly-noise (Illinois) a few months back.

#2) The GCD is wrong about Kirby inking Spirit World.

#3) It is good Colletta inking, probably because it wasn't going to be colored, so the ink and the washes had to stand on their own. (Yes the Spirit world used blue ink instead of black - but it doesn't change the context of my comment).

These were produced just prior to Mike Royer coming on board.

Gotta run.

-jb the missing ib -

Post script: The size/quality of the pages scanned here doesn't even come close to doing justice to the originals, and the number of them collected together like this is a copyright infringement issue in my protective eyesight. Not to put a damper on BD's enthusiasms for the material, something I always appreciate when reading his posts.

[benday-dot]

some quick notes (things are running late due for Thanksgiving due to work crisises - which yesterday seemed infinite in nature)

#1) The magazines were on the racks the summer of 1971 (I thought we discussed this before). I remember talking about my purchasing them at Readmore Book World in Rock Island, Silly-noise (Illinois) a few months back.

#2) The GCD is wrong about Kirby inking Spirit World.

#3) It is good Colletta inking, probably because it wasn't going to be colored, so the ink and the washes had to stand on their own. (Yes the Spirit world used blue ink instead of black - but it doesn't change the context of my comment).

These were produced just prior to Mike Royer coming on board.

Gotta run.

-jb the missing ib -

Post script: The size/quality of the pages scanned here doesn't even come close to doing justice to the originals, and the number of them collected together like this is a copyright infringement issue in my protective eyesight. Not to put a damper on BD's enthusiasms for the material, something I always appreciate when reading his posts.


I was worrying about this JB. I did stop short of presenting a story complete. But I fear my zeal to spread the Kirby joy may have trespassed on some legal toes. Although this stuff is long out of print and can't at this point hurt the copyright owners financially I regret any infringements on my part.

Should I delete some/all of these scans Sir Tim?

And on the Colletta inks... the blue wash really does seem to add in my sense of things, a heightened tone to the work, that as you suggest was often missed in the full colour renderings.

[Paradox]

Red Oak Kid wonders where they came from:

I got my copy of Mob from DC.

Did anyone ever see these two mags on the newstand?

**raises hand, at least for Mob**

I got my copy (long since lost) off the stand at the little party store at the end of my street. Same place I could have easily picked up a Silver Surfer #1 years earlier, but goggled at the double-price (cut me a break, I was a kid! A quarter was a lot of money!). :)

I actually didn't even know it was a comic when I first saw it. But I'd already bought everything there I wanted, so I opened it up and BAM! I have to agree that this was some of Jack's best work, or at least as well as I can determine from memory.

And to be honest, I don't recall even hearing of Spirit World before this thread.

[MartinRedmond]

The mob story looks terrific. Thanks for these.

[Dan Mc Fan]

benday-dot posted this image in the Vince Colletta thread elsewhere in this forum:
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37428&d=1193712313

Beautiful scan-doen't look like Vinnie erased much on this one (LOL), thanks for this great example of Colletta's inking.

[Georgie Roussell]

Absolutely no one on this talklist should ever say another negative word about Vinnie Colletta's work. This is as good as it gets.

[Paul McEnery]

That thing about Vinnie Colleta's ghost coming back to haunt us?

I think it happened.

[Paradox]

Absolutely no one on this talklist should ever say another negative word about Vinnie Colletta's work. This is as good as it gets.

Sorry. Gonna.

[Georgie Roussell]

My personal theory about the decline of Colletta's reputation, apart from the annoyingly futile habit of afficionados to take sides in arguments between parties long deceased, is that none of the reprints of the work have ever been adequate (Though to be fair I haven't looked at the more recent versons, the Marvel Masterworks or Essentials or whatever). In the years when I attempted to 'reconstitute' my collection of the Lee-Kirby-Colletta THOR, I noticed how poor the later reprintings of the stories always were. Sinnott and Giacoia and all the others never suffered in the same way; perhaps they knew how to make their lines indestructable. All Colletta's charming qualities, the softening lines and subtle textures tended to go blank. The finest lines disappear, unless they're close to other fine lines in which case they congeal into one thick line. Second generation versions of those great favourite books of mine never satisfied my longing to re-obtain the experience of my first readings. A fair assessment of Colletta can only be made on those first printings