Mon Sep 3, 2007 — by Mike Gold

Jack Kirby At The Supermarket

As Disney Adventures goes down a black hole...

A couple weeks ago I opined that the loss of the Weekly World News makes the supermarket a less enjoyable experience. While gathering grub for my big family Labor Day barbecue blowout this weekend, I found a small gem.

Disney Adventures, which is about to go out of business, publishes an occasional reprint digest called Comic Zone. Not bad; it’s worth checking out. Keep an eye out for their fall 2007 edition, because it reprints the first part of Jack Kirby’s Sunday newspaper strip adaptation of The Black Hole.

In case you hadn’t seen it – and, please, keep up the good work – The Black Hole was the Evil Empire’s attempt to cash in on the Star Wars/Trek fad of the time. The movie was done in Disney’s typically clueless fashion, lacking only in style, drama, script, and energy. Starring Maximilian Schell, Tony Perkins, Robert Forster, Ernest Borgnine, and Slim Pickens, Disney actually pulled off the impossible: making a movie with Ernest Borgnine and Slim Pickens that completely sucked. I thought so, the now-former editor of the Weekly World News who sat next to me thought so, and the nine year old sitting behind us thought so.

Jack Kirby’s adaptation was far better, even in the confining space of the newspaper strip. Art-wise, it’s one of Jack’s better post-70s efforts. Storywise, the art is one of Jack’s better post-70s efforts. Because it was in the papers, a lot of Kirby fans missed it. Ergo, check out Comic Zone. Jack did the art and is credited with the script. This reprint adds Paul Mount’s full color palate to the effort.

Kudos to Comic Zone comics editor Jesse Post. And I sure hope you still have a gig; we need comics for kids, sold at places where kids can get them.

Artwork copyright 1979 and 2007 Disney. All Rights Reserved. Never mess with the Mouse.

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