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Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus

(Jack Kirby's Fourth World #Omnibus #1-4)

Jack Kirby

4.50 · Rating details · 131 ratings · 26 reviews

After co-creating comic book heroes such as THE FANTASTIC FOUR and THE HULK, legendary writer/artist Jack Kirby came to DC Comics in 1970 to write and illustrate four interlocking series known collectively as -The Fourth World.-Now, as part of the celebration of the 100th birthday of Jack Kirby, DC collects Kirby's entire runs on these four series--THE NEW GODS, THE FOREVE ...more

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Hardcover, 1536 pages

Published December 12th 2017 by DC Comics

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· 131 ratings · 26 reviews

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Aug 09, 2018 Alex Robinson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: comics

Once I realized Kirby was kind of making it up as he went and the plot is pretty much incomprehensible I was able to appreciate this amazing volume for the insane torrent of creativity it is. Bold cartooning, a cast of thousands and enough ideas to fuel fifty summer blockbusters!

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Feb 02, 2018 Shannon Appelcline rated it it was amazing

Shelves: comics, comics-dc

Jack Kirby's Fourth World was a wonder of creativity. Given free-reign on Jimmy Olsen and three new books, Kirby created a whole new world. Or rather several new worlds, including Apokolips, New Genesis, and the Cadmus (DNA) Project. What Kirby did is absolutely amazing and still very readable and very exciting in the modern day.

Today it feels like DC's Fourth World has gotten pretty calcified. We can expect to see the same relatively small group of major characters, the same several artefacts, ...more

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Mar 30, 2018 Rick rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jack-kirby, omnibus, fourth-world, superman, dc-multiverse, collected-issues

Ah, Kirby! When ever I'm down and need some lifting up, I know I can always revisit one of Jack Kirby's innovative creations and the long lost joy of youth and sense of unashamed wonderment will be restored. Kirby was one of a kind. His record for creating new characters, concepts and even genres in the comic book industry is unparalleled. This omnibus volume of the Fourth World introduces more new characters in the first half dozen issues than most comic book artists create in their entire care Ah, Kirby! When ever I'm down and need some lifting up, I know I can always revisit one of Jack Kirby's innovative creations and the long lost joy of youth and sense of unashamed wonderment will be restored. Kirby was one of a kind. His record for creating new characters, concepts and even genres in the comic book industry is unparalleled. This omnibus volume of the Fourth World introduces more new characters in the first half dozen issues than most comic book artists create in their entire careers, and the next half dozen introduce at least as many more again. Kirby did this while delivering 15 completed comic book pages a week that he wrote, drew and edited when most artists often struggle to get 15 pages done in a month! While Kirby's work isn't for everyone, his contributions to the industry are undeniable. He's characters are fueling the Marvel Studios films and I hope it's only a matter of time before some one makes a series of films based on these Fourth World characters (rumors are out there). I'm not holding my breath, but there's always hope. (And don't get me started on Kirby's prescience with the similarities between the villainous Glorious Godfrey and the worst President in American history - and I don't mean Richard Nixon or George W. Bush.)

Don't miss The Glory Boat, the arrival of Big Barda, the all-too-short appearance of Sonny Sumo, Superman vs. a 20th century twist on the vampire, the destructive music of the six man San Diego Five String Mob, the New Newsboy Legion on the trail of loch monster in Scotland, a parody of Stan Lee and Roy Thomas in the questionable characterizations of Funky Flashman and his toady Houseroy, the wildly bizarre menace of Mad Harriet, Stompa, Lashina & Burnadeth, the introduction of Angry Charlie, more mischief from Mokkari & Simyan and all this only scratches the surface. It's one thrilling chapter after another at a pace that is as relentless as it is explosive. Read it and see why Jack Kirby is called the King of Comics.

As Mark Evanier noted in an Afterword, this volume contains the two stories that Kirby would point to as his personal favorites: The Pact & The Death Wish of Terrible Turpin (he also noted that before these stories, Kirby's personal favorite had been Mother Delilah from the Boys' Ranch series from 20 years earlier). And while these are some of the most powerful stories, there are others worthy of note also in this collection as well. The Battle of the Id, Earth - the Doomed Dominion, The Bug & Himon are also excellent examples of Kirby at his peak and doing what he does best.

This is a massive epic and this omnibus also illustrates how The Forever People, New Gods & Mister Miracle were abruptly (and rudely) cancelled by the powers that be at DC Comics after he'd been given virtual carte blance to create his tapestry of 4 interlocking series. Mark Evanier has previously commented on how this was a devastating blow to Kirby at the time. Also included is the quick, and all too brief, graphic novel, The Hunger Dogs, in which Kirby attempted to wrap-up the story. It's a little disappointing as it does more to tease the reader about what isn't included, than it delivers on what is included. Still, it's Kirby and any fan of the King-of-Comics knows it worth gold. So, even if these stories didn't sell well when first published (the general audience wasn't ready for something as ground breaking as this experiment was at the time), we can look back on them with admiration today. Enjoy, I certainly do.

My one gripe is that this edition, at over 1500 pages, is rather difficult to actually read. But it is what it is. ...more

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Jul 22, 2019 blake rated it really liked it

Shelves: avoiding-ulysses-by-joyce, movetheneedle

I started reading this because I had picked up Tom King's Mr. Miracle series based on the recommendation of yaboi Zack (of the Comics MATTER YouTube channel) which, by the end of the run, Zack had turned on. Mr. King seems to have openly admitted at this point that he's using Mr. Miracle, Batman and all the superheroes to work through his depression, but at the time we were unaware of this and expecting a boffo breakout ending to his series.

So I stopped reading that and pick up this massive volu ...more

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Mar 17, 2020 Niko Miller rated it really liked it

Beautiful, creative, classic. Not much else to say. I loved it.

Would be 5 stars if the Jimmy Olsen issues didn't drag as much sometimes and if all the initial series didn't have such abrupt endings. ...more

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Mar 16, 2019 Nate added it

Mind-blowing. Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga is a torrent of creativity and imagination that has rarely, if ever, been equaled in mainstream American comics. Kirby penciled and wrote all 55 issues that constitute the saga, creating an entire mythology in the process. The caliber of ideas in every issue - on every page - is astounding. I audibly gasped many times while reading this. Kirby’s art leaps off the panels, and you can feel the creative energy at every turn. The Fourth World is littered Mind-blowing. Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga is a torrent of creativity and imagination that has rarely, if ever, been equaled in mainstream American comics. Kirby penciled and wrote all 55 issues that constitute the saga, creating an entire mythology in the process. The caliber of ideas in every issue - on every page - is astounding. I audibly gasped many times while reading this. Kirby’s art leaps off the panels, and you can feel the creative energy at every turn. The Fourth World is littered with insane concepts and characters, all wrapped in a classic story of good and evil. Mark Evanier notes in his introduction that Kirby was influenced by Lord of the Rings when conceiving the Fourth World. I can definitely see the similarities: the epic scope, dozens of characters, armies, several plotlines, and battle for the fate of the universe.

Kirby began the Fourth World in Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, before expanding to three new titles: The Forever People, The New Gods, and Mister Miracle. Many concepts he introduced became mainstays in the DC universe. There’s the New Gods, of course, plus Cadmus Project, Intergang, and more. I’ve loved the New Gods in other books, and was thrilled to finally read their beginnings. I love how Kirby introduces this stuff. Along with the good vs. evil aspect, he touches prominently on the idea of legacy: of fathers and sons, adults and youth, even legacies of comic characters. This gives way to many touching and introspective moments. That’s partly what makes this book so great: amidst the crazy cosmic war, most of which takes place on Earth, there’s always an underlying current of humanity.

Each of the four titles are relatively self-contained, and you could conceivably read them on their own (I’d previously read Mister Miracle). But reading them in publication order, in this omnibus or elsewhere, is the way to go. Kirby interweaves and teases plotlines throughout the run, so that as the story progresses you come to sense an overarching story. Still, the Fourth World isn’t perfect; the final Mister Miracle issues lose some steam (terrific issue 18 notwithstanding), and the narrative is clunky at times. But it’s pure comics through and through. It’s all the more amazing when you learn that Kirby was improvising much of the plot as he went along. The guy’s imagination was off the charts. Reading this book is literally like visiting another person’s mind. Sometimes it’s overwhelming because of the sheer amount of ideas flung at you, but mostly it’s incredible.

I didn’t know that the Fourth World was unfinished at the end of the original run. Kirby wrote two codas a decade later, both collected here. “Even Gods Must Die” picks up right where New Gods 11 left off. It’s essentially one big fight, but offers a great look at Orion’s relationship with Darkseid. The ending is fantastic. “The Hunger Dogs”, on the other hand, is more philosophical and wandering. I do like the ideas about rebellion and change presented in this story, and how Kirby leaves doors open for future stories. It’s let down a bit by inconsistent lettering and shaky coloring. While these stories lose some of the freshness of the original run, they’re still worth reading.

It goes without saying that the Fourth World is dated by modern standards. If you have trouble reading comics from this time period, I wouldn’t push you to try it. It’s dense, complex, and contains the trademark style choices of the era. But I think it holds up very well. The writing and art burst with a timeless vitality. For anyone interested in the New Gods, or Jack Kirby, this is a must-read. Not only is the Fourth World a foundational DC story, but it’s overflowing with ideas and awe-inspiring from beginning to end.

As is probably clear by now, I absolutely loved this. I have no qualms calling the Fourth World a masterpiece. ...more

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Jan 20, 2018 Shane Perry rated it it was amazing

I’ve been wanting to dive into this for quite some time, and I’m glad this Omnibus finally gave me the chance to do so in one Volume. The Fourth World is unlike anything else in the history of comics. Jack Kirby left Marvel and some of his biggest creations to craft an entirely new universe at DC. We have comic artists today that can hardly crank out 4 issues a year. Meanwhile, Kirby was writing, drawing, and inking 4 comics at the same time. I love how each comic told their own stories, but wer ...more

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Oct 05, 2020 James Ryan rated it really liked it

There's a boundless imagination found in these pages, incredibly constructed worlds and colourful characters, Kirby was a truly talented cartoonist. Not the greatest writer though, and by he all accounts he didn't want to write this so I suppose one should be surprised that a lot of this can be quite meandering, a bit of a slog and never fully comes together in a satisfying way. It's a shame because the good stuff here can be pretty great, as he mixes space opera family drama with sci fi war act ...more

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Feb 10, 2020 John Pistelli rated it liked it

Shelves: comics, twentieth-century

Please read my complete review here. A sample:

Kirby's actual drawing style, though, blunted his composition's putative power, at least in my youthful experience. Among my dad's stacks of old comics from the 1960s and '70s, I much preferred the cinematic experiments of Steranko and John Buscema's magazine-ad elegance, Neal Adams's attempts at trompe l'oeil and the cross-hatched grotesqueries of Bernie Wrightson, not to mention Heavy Metal, with Moebius's grainy Euro-delirium and Richard Corben's

...more

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Apr 03, 2019 MH rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Any Jack Kirby fan or a general fan of comic books

Shelves: science-fiction, aliens, comic-book, graphic-novel, superhero

I am a Kirby fan and I enjoyed his work at Marvel and DC. I can give this my unequivocal highest recommendation.

In my estimation, except for his work on Fantastic Four, this is the greatest series of stories he told. The quality of the printing and the fact that the whole series of books is here make this better (for actually reading) than having all the originals (although I do).

The only downside to this Omnibus volume is that it is very physically heavy. It’s definitely a laptop read, no layin ...more

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May 24, 2018 Tyrone rated it it was amazing

Any comic book lover who doesn't read this at some point in their life is missing out on a wonderful story and some of the most incredible art the medium has ever seen. This HUGE tome collects all of Jack Kirby's Fourth World saga in the one place, and while it can be difficult to read (both physically and the Jimmy Olsen stuff is a bit rough), it is a rewarding experience. Characters that have since gone on to have significant impact on the DC multiverse are introduced here, and it is wonderful ...more

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May 30, 2019 David Smith rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 11, 2020 George rated it really liked it

Shelves: comics-1970s, dc-4th-world, writers-jack-kirby, artists-jack-kirby

New Gods is absolutely amazing (flawed, but amazing), Forever People starts incredibly strong but weakens a lot around 3/4ths of the way through, Mister Miracle is consistently solid, and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen is interesting but gets tiring once the other titles pick up steam, minus “Superman in Supertown” which is real good. Brilliant and genuinely epic stuff though. Orion is one of my favorite characters now, and his relationship with Lightray is the best (LET THEM KISS), and I’ll forever ...more

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Apr 28, 2020 Jeff Lewonczyk rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-m-perpetually-in-the-middle

I spent a year and a half working through this, and, well, it's completely insane. The amount of sheer invention is staggering, if occasionally incoherent, and the result is nothing resembling a cohesive story. Still, you can't fault Kirby for being unambitious - he created his own entire mythology, which is moving at times, maddening at others, always moving at full throttle. Having only seen dribs and drabs of this material before, it was fascinating to read it all together - I won't be forget ...more

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Jan 10, 2019 Angelo rated it really liked it

Shelves: dc, omnibus, graphic-novel

This was an absolute roller coaster ride of insanity. Nearly every page is full of this raw uncut creativity, be it through the art or Jack Kirby's batshit crazy story ideas. Because Kirby was just pulling ideas out of his ass it tended to be inconsistent and hard to follow at times, some of it is dumb as hell, but for every dumb idea, there's a dozen examples of absolute brilliance. It's at it's best when it's a big space opera, going all out with the mythology. Sure it's dated nowadays, but it ...more

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Aug 20, 2020 Victor rated it it was amazing

Shelves: comics, 1st

This, to me, despite its quirks--the pomposity of so much of the language, the dated ties to a barely-understood hippiedom, the fact that there are probably ten times more two page spreads than pages with more than six panels on them, the depressing lack of creativity regarding the names of the characters--is a master craftsman's true masterpiece. Everybody with any interest in comics should read this. Carefully, because it's a book that could easily kill small creatures. ...more

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Jan 18, 2021 Cameron (camzcollection) Skip added it

This collection spans a story too big to give an all encompassing rating to, in my humble opinion, so I'll just say that holy crap I've finally finished reading all of Jack Kirby's The Fourth World.
It was really good. I liked some parts more than others. The ending wasn't super satisfying, but I knew it wasn't going to be going into it.
Maybe Final Crisis will make a little more sense now. ...more

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Sep 02, 2020 Andrew Seaton rated it liked it

So I’m probably being a little too harsh in my rating. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly enjoyed the book. But part of me wonders of I would have been better off picking up individual trades of the four books, rather than trading them chronologically as presented in this book.

Still, I did enjoy it. And Kirby is definitely as good as advertised here.

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Aug 28, 2019 Josh rated it it was amazing

I love how bold, creative, and sometimes just wild this omnibus was. Fascinating to view in the larger context of Kirby's time at DC and his attempt at creating this vast, connecting universe of "The Fourth World." ...more

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Mar 28, 2020 Carlos rated it it was amazing

Jack "The King" Kirby, after he left Marvel he moved onto DC and wrote one of the greatest mythological stories I have ever read it's an epic battle between Gods and a must read for DC and Jack Kirby fans ...more

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Mar 16, 2018 Laura Wattie rated it it was amazing

Jack Kirby's Magnum Ops in its full entirety is a brilliant, weird, odd and fully exploration of the comic medium as whole, the classic story of gods doing battles and good vs evil. ...more

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Jun 03, 2018 Timothy Shea rated it it was amazing

Just...wow.

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Sep 08, 2020 Eevana rated it liked it

Shelves: own, t-graphicnovel, t-omnibus, t-hardcover, t-new

3.5

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Jan 15, 2018 James Zanghi rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Every solid DC Comics fan

Shelves: 2018-reading-list

Jack Kirby is widely regarded to be one of the greatest writers of the comic book medium, mainly from his contributions to Marvel and DC Comics, and the Fourth World of DC Comics is widely considered to be his Magnum Opus. Guess what? I totally agree.

I got a first edition of the Omnibus for Christmas and pretty-much finished it in a month. The book itself is rather big in size. It's about two inches smaller in height than my copy of Absolute Final Crisis and weighs a lot from its 1535 pages. The ...more

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Jan 22, 2019 Logan Muha rated it it was amazing

Kirby’s Fourth World is a sprawling, epic, emotionally resonant saga about finding beauty in the darkest of times. Packed with heart, humour, grandeur, melodrama, and charm as only Jack 'the king' Kirby can deliver it, The Fourth World stands as a testament to what the imagination of one individual can achieve. Kirby's artwork leaps of the page as he introduces character after unforgettable character, and stories that will live forever in the annals of comic book, and entertainment, history. ...more

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Jan 01, 2019 Chr1skol1 rated it it was amazing

Excellent story and art. Kirbyish.

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About Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby

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Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg) was one of the most influential, recognizable, and prolific artists in American comic books, and the co-creator of such enduring characters and popular culture icons as the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Hulk, Captain America, and hundreds of others stretching back to the earliest days of the medium. He was also a comic book writer and editor. His most common nick ...more