The Best of Simon & Kirby's Mainline Comics

by Jack Kirby (Artist)

In 1954, industry legends Joe Simon and Jack Kirby founded Mainline Publications to publish their own comics during that turbulent era in comics history. The four titles―Bullseye, Foxhole, Police Trap, and In Love―looked to build off their reputation as hit makers in the Western, War, Crime, and Romance genres, but the 1950s backlash against comics killed any chance at success, and Mainline closed its doors just two years later. For the first time, TwoMorrows Publishing is compiling the best of Simon & Kirby’s Mainline comics work, including all of the stories with S&K art, as well as key tales with contributions by Mort Meskin and others. After the company’s dissolution, their partnership ended with Simon leaving comics for advertising, and Kirby taking unused Mainline concepts to both DC and Marvel. This collection bridges the gap between Simon & Kirby’s peak with their 1950s romance comics, and the lows that led to Kirby’s resurgence with Challengers of the Unknown and the early Marvel Universe. With loving art restoration by Chris Fama, and an historical overview by John Morrow to put it all into perspective, the Best of Simon & Kirby’s Mainline Comics presents some of the final, and finest, work Joe and Jack ever produced!

Genres: Comics

262 pages, Hardcover

Published August 23, 2023

About the author

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 nickname is "The King."

Reviews

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early Comics Code era genre work by Kirby and Simon (mostly). I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, as I've zero interest in any code-era westerns, romances, war stories, or police stories, but I was pleasantly surprised. Kirby's work is at a solid plateau here, right before the early Challengers of the Unknown, and it's a joy to read.

[Ángel Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente, como todo lo del Rey... excepto las historias que se incluyen en el tomo y que no son obra del Rey, que son un tanto «meh». Sin embargo, aplaudo la iniciativa de publicar todo lo del personaje señero de Simon y Kirby de la época, Bullseye, por aquello del completismo y tal, aunque se eche de menos la participación de alguno de los autores en varias de sus historias; por idéntico motivo, no entiendo la decisión de editar tan solo cuatro páginas dibujadas por Kirby de una de las historias de In Romance incluidas en el tomo. ¿Tan horribles eran las otras? Vamos, que poquita coherencia han tenido en este aspecto los editores.

Aun así, la restauración de las historietas es extraordinaria, y su calidad intrínseca (tanto a nivel de guion como de dibujo) es más que buena. Merece la pena, sin duda.

[Brad Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Collection of Simon & Kirby mid-Fifties work with a sprinkling of Mort Meskin, one of my favorite Kirby inkers/finishers. Artwork very much in the style of their later Fighting American work, also recommended.