Jack Kirby, intelligence insider & visionary?

[dan bailey]

Just came across the following passage in a blog report on a UFO-related convention while killing time after lunch on www.anomalist.com --

He also talked about legendary comic book impressario Jack Kirby and his connections to the undergound of the U.S. military-industrial power structure. Kirby seemingly predicted the face on Mars controversy with a 1960s-era comic on the subject, and seemed to know about technological developments years before they were made public.

Ummm ... say what? (The presenter in question, by the way, is Kenn Thomas, who's a fairly big name in the conspiracy cottage industry. I originally knew his name because he was involved in a St Louis fanzine I used to get as a kid in the mid-'70s, Whizzard.)

[Lone Ranger]

I originally knew his name because he was involved in a St Louis fanzine I used to get as a kid in the mid-'70s, Whizzard.)

I heard that the US government shut down that 'zine because of hidden messages attacking the Masons.

[dan bailey]

Well, Kenn says that the zine's editor, Marty Klug, grew up to become a lawyer, & we all know about them ...

(Speaking of that zine, I'm pretty sure it's where I first became acquainted with the work of a young fan-artist named Rick Burchett. Whether that was his first published stuff, I have no idea.)

[Rob Allen]

Kenn has been active on the kirby-l list for years. His appreciation for Kirby's work is genuine, but I think he's stretching in the statements you quoted. Although he doesn't really say that Kirby knew or predicted anything - he says that it seems like it. Which is at least defensible.

[dan bailey]

Hmmmm ...

From the blog by the author of Our Heroes Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes (which I haven't read, but whose blog entries seem rather out there even for me ... I mean, I stop far short of ascribing mystical signifcance to the bloody music-to-sleep-by Cocteau Twins*) --

http://secretsun.blogspot.com/search/label/Jack%20Kirby


*Whose name apparently was taken from a couple of characters in Tin Tin (which I've never read), or something like that ...

[dan bailey]

Maybe this is all a *ahem* conspiracy to get me to read Kirby's '70s stuff ...

... but I just don't think it's gonna happen, anyway.

[Rob Allen]

The "Face on Mars" story is from 1959.

Do we need a conspiracy to get you to read it?

[dan bailey]

Nah -- the '50s & '60s stuff I tend to love. I just think the King sort of started losing the plot (or, more apropos, needed an editor to help him shape the plot) after he left Marvel for DC, & one or more of the blog posts above concerns the New Gods & Eternals stuff as well as the Face on Mars strip.

[Simon Garth]

Hmmmm ...

From the blog by the author of Our Heroes Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes (which I haven't read, but whose blog entries seem rather out there even for me ... I mean, I stop far short of ascribing mystical signifcance to the bloody music-to-sleep-by Cocteau Twins*) --

http://secretsun.blogspot.com/search/label/Jack%20Kirby


*Whose name apparently was taken from a couple of characters in Tin Tin (which I've never read), or something like that ...

That's the Thompson Twins, you dingbat! The Cocteaus allegedly take their name from a Simple Minds song, which, admittedly, is nothing to be proud of.

[dan bailey]

Good catch, Simon. I'm a bit more familiar with the Thompson Twins (the band ... not that I'm any kin to Tom Bailey, as far as I know) & Simple Minds than I should be, but apparently not as much as I think.

[Kirk G]

Just came across the following passage in a blog report on a UFO-related convention while killing time after lunch on www.anomalist.com --



Ummm ... say what? (The presenter in question, by the way, is Kenn Thomas, who's a fairly big name in the conspiracy cottage industry. I originally knew his name because he was involved in a St Louis fanzine I used to get as a kid in the mid-'70s, Whizzard.)

How convenient that he cites a person who is now dead, and unable to verify or deny the story. Where was he ten years ago when the man was able to speak for himself? How about when Ros was alive? I smell an opportunistic publicity seeker....

[Kirk G]

The "Face on Mars" story is from 1959.

Do we need a conspiracy to get you to read it?

How about if somebody either reprints it, or if they post a scan of the significant page....:rolleyes:

[InfoBroker]

Well a mere bit of goggle investigative-digging nets the following:

Newsarama has a thread they started a month ago on this silly subject, complete with a scan of the splash page right here (http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/04/01/what-did-jack-kirby-know-and-when-did-he-know-it/)

A few other sites have the same image and talk about the theory as well.

And from NASA comes some very nice detailed orbital imagery of said (http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/mars_face_010525-1.html) two mile long massif.

I've seen other digital imaging as well. The closer you get to ground level and the object itself, the more the idea of it being a human face breaks down. It remains a combination of shadows and light, combined with our desire to attach recognizable shapes to chaotic patterns that holds here. And what can be more recognizable than the shapes of a human face? In our early youth years, we dedicate a great deal cranial space to facial recognition.

I have great love and admiration for my most favorite of comic book creators, his imagination and creativity were boundless and unrivaled. However, the conspiracy theorists need a heavy dose of pragmatic reasoning here.

-jb the "dang we almost had Dan ready for some samplings of Eternal greatness" ib -

[dan bailey]

Aha! I see that the Disinfobroker is part of the vast conspiracy ... if not indeed a Reptilian (or Skrull). *choke*

[dan bailey]

How convenient that he cites a person who is now dead, and unable to verify or deny the story. Where was he ten years ago when the man was able to speak for himself? How about when Ros was alive? I smell an opportunistic publicity seeker....

Actually, my impression -- buttressed by Rob's observations about Thomas' involvement with the Kirby list -- is that he's simply, umm, reaching a bit (OK: a lot) to dovetail e a couple of his major fields of interest ... sort of the way I've been known to do with, say, comics & vintage punk. (Not that I'm to the point of suggesting that Jack Kirby inspired The Damned to record "New Rose" or anything ...)

Let's see: Kenn Thomas is from Missouri. Roy Thomas (who wrote me back when I sent in an anguished letter expressing my apoplexy over the King's revamp of Black Panther) is from Missouri. I think it's pretty darned clear what's going on ...

[Cei-U!]

Let's see: Kenn Thomas is from Missouri. Roy Thomas (who wrote me back when I sent in an anguished letter expressing my apoplexy over the King's revamp of Black Panther) is from Missouri. I think it's pretty darned clear what's going on ...

...and someone on the Classics Board works for Roy Thomas. Hmmm...

Cei-U!
I've said too much!

[dan bailey]

...and someone on the Classics Board works for Roy Thomas. Hmmm...


Which someone also changes his icon & the message underneath weekly, no doubt for the purpose of -- in the words of HP Lovecraft, who knew about these sorts of things -- "wink(ing) messages to alien god and devil."

Hmmm, indeed.

[Scott Shaw!]

Jack Kirby also foretold Father Guido Sarducci's conspiracy-shrouded "Find The Pope In The Pizza" contest from SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. (See Jack's classic "Sky-Pie Over The Vatican!" in Harvey's ALARMING STORIES No. 11.)

Aloha,

Scott!

[dan bailey]

Well, well, well. That would be a post by Scott! Shaw, who I do believe named his son ...

... Kirby.

(And if memory serves was drawn into a comic by the King as one of the San Diego Five-String Mob.)

The thot plickens.

[Kirk G]

Jack Kirby also foretold Father Guido Sarducci's conspiracy-shrouded "Find The Pope In The Pizza" contest from SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. (See Jack's classic "Sky-Pie Over The Vatican!" in Harvey's ALARMING STORIES No. 11.)

Aloha,

Scott!

Alright now, we need to see a scan of this to prove that it's not a scam...
It's no longer April 1st, guys, but May 1st. Come clean and show your evidence!

[InfoBroker]

Well actually it's May 2nd, but quibbling aside...

I can validate Scott!'s claim as I just dug out my copy of Harvey's Alarming Stories #11. It was under my pile of Brother Power the Geek #3 comical books. For reasons that I have forgotten I have bunches of both of those comics.

-jb the tormenting ib -

[dan bailey]

Believe it or not, I actually realized this morning that Brother Power the Geek #3 fit into this somehow. Which as you know was created by Joe Simon. Who, most famously, had been partners for years & years with ...

Scott Sh- ... I mean, Jack Kirby.

[Sir Tim Drake]

Well actually it's May 2nd, but quibbling aside...

I can validate Scott!'s claim as I just dug out my copy of Harvey's Alarming Stories #11. It was under my pile of Brother Power the Geek #3 comical books. For reasons that I have forgotten I have bunches of both of those comics.

-jb the tormenting ib -

I once had an opportunity to buy both of those, but I went for Miracleman #25 and Big Numbers #3 instead.

[InfoBroker]

I once had an opportunity to buy both of those, but I went for Miracleman #25 and Big Numbers #3 instead.

Ah sucks Sir TIm, you should'a consulted with me first. The circulation figures on MM #25 and BN #3 were so huge, you can find copies of them in quarter bins at almost any comical book convention.

The distribution of Brother Power #3 was extremely spotty in 1968, and so few copies exist, and now that word has gotten out that I have several, the phone calls and emails are pouring in from all over.

In fact. an Arab potentate in Kuwait has offered me substantial ownerships shares in massive oil reserves spread throughout the middle east in trade for them. The dollar value is enough to eliminate America's world debt. Several Treasury agents are on the phone now hassling me about it. I told them to hold their horses as I am also in negotiation with a Hollywood film producer to help fund a film based on Roger Zelazney's sci-fi classic Lord of the Light. He's sending me the concepts sketches tomorrow. From the preliminary scans I can notice a familiar artists style in them. Very familiar indeed.

-jb the "thank you Canada" ib -

[Kirk G]

Can I have one?
I remember them coming out, and couldn't believe my eyes...
Oh wait... I thought you were talking about Jim Steranko's "SpySmasher" with his detatchable fingers and glass hand (Sorry, Harlan...)

[InfoBroker]

Aha! I see that the Disinfobroker is part of the vast conspiracy ... if not indeed a Reptilian (or Skrull). *choke*

According to my latest Mayo Clinic Medical report, my alien DNA content is a mere 15%, and none of it traces to Skrull sequencing patterns.

Also of good news, my schizophrenia levels have dropped considerably, it has been months since the bad infobroker has made an appearance, and to date, there has been no reliable sightings of third persona in the form of a dis-infobroker.

Although, I hear rumors of Kirk G. collecting evidence now, including an outrageous claim that Brother Power the Geek comical books can trigger that third face of jb-the-ib to materialize in a flash. (Move over Wally West).

-jb the "rationale and perfectly normal" ib -