Mike Royer

The Demon was created in the space of time between when Kirby ordered a burger at Howard Johnson's, and when the burger arrived. Despite some fantastic dynamic layouts, some memorable characters, and the chance to use his limited horror palette - it never quite stops feeling that way.
The creation story (from the forward) is meant to be endearing and to show how JK thought, and it is - but as you make your way into this collection (particularly when you arrive at the Phantom of the Opera and show more Frankenstein... I mean "Evilstein", yeah/no not making that up, issues) that endearing creation story starts to depress.

Kirby was shoehorned into this book - concepts were all his, but it was intended to be handed off to other writers and artists (w/ Kirby editing). Instead, DC killed Kirby's lifetime masterwork books (the Fourth World books) and left him to complete creative control of a concept book (and genre attempt) that his heart just wasn't into.

Some of the artwork is unforgettable, though. There are tons of spreads and panels that I was thinking "this would be perfect on my wall - maybe if The Demon wasn't in it, though". Other creators would run with The Demon later on, and do what they could, but for the most part - he'd always remain a character you can't really pin down or sympathize with.

The Klarion The Witch Boy issues were strangely fun (only two of them, but it feels like more), and there are some issues with ideas that clearly influenced many other creators. Hellboy may not have existed without The Demon, and Alan Moore's Swampthing probably would have had less scope (if he'd have still done it, w/o The Demon having existed in DC's back issues).

For a Kirby fan, it's unmissable - and this new centennial printing is a bargain and beautifully assembled. show less