Shawn Gilmore
@gipperfish.bsky.social
Teaching Assistant Professor at UIUC, Editor of the @vaultofculture.bsky.social (https://www.vaultofculture.com/), Executive Secretary of the Comics Studies Society, NTFC Local #6546 steward, comics scholar, and a ton of other stuff. Views own.
Finally, we examined Kirby's uneasy fit in 1970s Marvel world, which had radically changed from its 1960s incarnation, as dramatized in Fantastic Four #176 (1976). His return to Black Panther, after the successful McGregor run (Killmonger, vs. the Klan) stands in for this tension. #comicsteaching
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Finally, we examined Kirby's uneasy fit in 1970s Marvel world, which had radically changed from its 1960s incarnation, as dramatized in Fantastic Four #176 (1976). His return to Black Panther, after the successful McGregor run (Killmonger, vs. the Klan) stands in for this tension. #comicsteaching
Along the way, we noted the integration of various 1970s motifs--paranoia, conspiratorial cabals, Kissinger--and other thematic elements Kirby had addressed before: media stoking animosity, romantic interludes, and overt symbolic juxtapositions at the story's climax #comicsteaching
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Along the way, we noted the integration of various 1970s motifs--paranoia, conspiratorial cabals, Kissinger--and other thematic elements Kirby had addressed before: media stoking animosity, romantic interludes, and overt symbolic juxtapositions at the story's climax #comicsteaching
We spent most of our time with the "Madbomb" arc (Cap #193-200), looking at the narrative sequencing and symbolic tensions, including the fight over what counts as legitimate patriotic symbolism as the series approaches the Bicentennial, under the threat of the Elite's "Big Daddy." #comicsteaching
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
We spent most of our time with the "Madbomb" arc (Cap #193-200), looking at the narrative sequencing and symbolic tensions, including the fight over what counts as legitimate patriotic symbolism as the series approaches the Bicentennial, under the threat of the Elite's "Big Daddy." #comicsteaching
In the back half of the week, we compared Scioli's Kirby and Lee biographies, which portray very different experiences of the mid-1970s. With Kirby's return, Marvel put out a reprint of Lee/Kirby Cap stories and Kirby's time-hopping Bicentennial Battles in its Treasury line. #comicsteaching
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
In the back half of the week, we compared Scioli's Kirby and Lee biographies, which portray very different experiences of the mid-1970s. With Kirby's return, Marvel put out a reprint of Lee/Kirby Cap stories and Kirby's time-hopping Bicentennial Battles in its Treasury line. #comicsteaching
Kirby's Devil Dinosaur, participating in on the many waves of dinosaur popularity, is a lesser title, but also deals with a rewritten pre-history and sometimes spectacular imagery and cosmic elements. Both The Eternals and DD include Kirby essays laying out some initial premises. #comicsteaching
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Kirby's Devil Dinosaur, participating in on the many waves of dinosaur popularity, is a lesser title, but also deals with a rewritten pre-history and sometimes spectacular imagery and cosmic elements. Both The Eternals and DD include Kirby essays laying out some initial premises. #comicsteaching
We discussed the Celestial (gods), Eternals (superhumans), Humans (man), Deviants (monsters) schema, which Kirby has been playing with/rearraning for decades, now with new stakes. The story concerns --per Hatfield's Hand of Fire--"life under judgment" instead of a struggle for power. #comicsteaching
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
We discussed the Celestial (gods), Eternals (superhumans), Humans (man), Deviants (monsters) schema, which Kirby has been playing with/rearraning for decades, now with new stakes. The story concerns --per Hatfield's Hand of Fire--"life under judgment" instead of a struggle for power. #comicsteaching
I split up Kirby's late-1970s Marvel projects into categories, first on The Eternals, which repurposes elements of the Fourth World, merged the then-popular ancient alien speculation. Issue #2 declares that the series is "more fantastic than Chariots of the Gods!" #comicsteaching
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I split up Kirby's late-1970s Marvel projects into categories, first on The Eternals, which repurposes elements of the Fourth World, merged the then-popular ancient alien speculation. Issue #2 declares that the series is "more fantastic than Chariots of the Gods!" #comicsteaching
Comics of Kirby and Lee, Week 12: Marvel expands its fan outreach with FOOM, announcing Kirby's return in 1975. We looked at Marvel's merchandising and licensing efforts (posters, calendars, toys, and eventually more tv shows and movies) with Lee as dealmaker and promoter. #comicsteaching
![Tuesday, Nov 11
Cosmic Kirby, Lee as Publisher/Editor
FOOM
FOOM #1
Download FOOM #1 (1973) [cover, skim rest]
FOOM #11
Download FOOM #11 (1975) [read through "Origin of King Kirby" comic]
FOOM #16 (1976), Bullpen cover:
Foom v1 16 (1976), cover.jpg
Foom v1 16 (1976), guide.jpg
The Eternals #1-19 + Annual #1 (1976-78), selections
Simon & Kirby "The Great Stone Face" in Black Cat Mystic #59
Download Black Cat Mystic #59 (Harvey, 1957)
The Eternals #1
Download #1, #2 Download #2, #3 Download #3, #4 Download #4 (1976), #7
Download #7 (1977)
The Eternals #10
Download #10, #11 Download #11, #12 Download #12, Annual Download Annual, #13 Download #13, #15
Download #15 [vs Hulk] (1977) [optional]
The Eternals #18
Download #18 (1977), #19
Download #19 (1978)
Devil Dinosaur #1-9 (1978), selections
Devil Dinosaur #1
Download #1, #2
Download #2 (1978)
Devil Dinosaur #4
Download #4, #5 Download #5, #9
Download #9 (1978) [optional, but look through]
Hatfield, Hand of Fire (2012), ch. 7](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzzvnpqn5eerbob4puw6svn5/bafkreiez5cricymtiww4ipnjtdwacgf6ckwo3gbbeg3msdppjab4z7k7ja@jpeg)
![Thursday, Nov 13
Revisiting Cap and Black Panther
Captain America #193-214 (1976-77) selections:
Giant-Size Captain America #1
Download Giant-Size Captain America #1 (1975) [reprints of what we've seen]
Captain America #193
Download #193, #194 Download #194, #195 Download #195, #196 Download #196, #197 Download #197, #198 Download #198, #199 Download #199, #200
Download #200 (1976) [Madbomb, Kirby's last great Cap arc]
Captain America's Bicentennial Battles
Download Captain America's Bicentennial Battles (1976)
Captain America #205
Download #205, #209 Download #209, #211
Download #211 (1977) [optional]
Captain America Annual #4
Download Captain America Annual #4 (1977)
Black Panther #1-12 (1977-78), selections
Don McGregor & Billy Graham, conclusion of "Panther's Rage" in Jungle Action & Black Panther #17
Download Jungle Action & Black Panther #17 (1975) [optional]
Black Panther #1
Download #1, #2 Download #2, #3 Download #3, #4
Download #4 (1977)
Black Panther #11
Download #11, #12 Download #12 (1978) + #13
Download #13 (1979) [all optional, new creative team with #13]
Tom Scioli:
Jack Kirby (2020), pages 158-170
I am Stan (2023), pages 129-141
Optional Materials
image.png
▲ Roy Thomas & George Perez, Fantastic Four #176
Download Fantastic Four #176 (November 1976)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzzvnpqn5eerbob4puw6svn5/bafkreibessutd7k4x2rezagesjdef544xvvnwyqch7hx5gntoasln3yipa@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Comics of Kirby and Lee, Week 12: Marvel expands its fan outreach with FOOM, announcing Kirby's return in 1975. We looked at Marvel's merchandising and licensing efforts (posters, calendars, toys, and eventually more tv shows and movies) with Lee as dealmaker and promoter. #comicsteaching
Hey--Phrasing! "You've been pounding 'em on the wrong end! I'll show you how it's really done!" Jack Kirby, Captain America #195 (Marvel, March 1976)
November 13, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Hey--Phrasing! "You've been pounding 'em on the wrong end! I'll show you how it's really done!" Jack Kirby, Captain America #195 (Marvel, March 1976)
Panels that go hard: “Somehow, the Nazi ghost never seems to die within man. It marches with insane pride… respecting nothing… taking everything and ignoring the pain of others. Cap sighs in resignation. He will have to fight for his shield.” Jack Kirby, Captain America #196 (1976). Be like Cap.
November 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Panels that go hard: “Somehow, the Nazi ghost never seems to die within man. It marches with insane pride… respecting nothing… taking everything and ignoring the pain of others. Cap sighs in resignation. He will have to fight for his shield.” Jack Kirby, Captain America #196 (1976). Be like Cap.
Always a delight to have something in print—my piece on Mutual Academic Defense Compacts for AAUP’s @academemagazine.bsky.social, also available online. #MADC www.aaup.org/academe/issu...
November 12, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Always a delight to have something in print—my piece on Mutual Academic Defense Compacts for AAUP’s @academemagazine.bsky.social, also available online. #MADC www.aaup.org/academe/issu...
Tiny snowman, doing his best
November 11, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Tiny snowman, doing his best
One of my favorite variants—the novelization of the film adapting the novel:
November 11, 2025 at 3:45 AM
One of my favorite variants—the novelization of the film adapting the novel:
A lovely Fall tree in my neighborhood
November 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
A lovely Fall tree in my neighborhood
We then looked across Kirby's years at DC and some of his small project, like the attempt to adapt The Prisoner. Next week, Kirby will be back at Marvel for The Eternals, Devil Dinosaur, and more Cap and Black Panther. #comicsteaching
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
We then looked across Kirby's years at DC and some of his small project, like the attempt to adapt The Prisoner. Next week, Kirby will be back at Marvel for The Eternals, Devil Dinosaur, and more Cap and Black Panther. #comicsteaching
Finally, we took up OMAC, Kirby's foray into paranoia and action hero imprinting. This allowed us to tie together Kirby's previous transformation/substitution scenes with new concerns over agency and autonomy. #comicsteaching
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Finally, we took up OMAC, Kirby's foray into paranoia and action hero imprinting. This allowed us to tie together Kirby's previous transformation/substitution scenes with new concerns over agency and autonomy. #comicsteaching
Concurrent with these Kirby books at DC (including the odd Sandman), Marvel started offering a range of non-Code books, including Comix Book, Savage Sword of Conan, and various franchise adaptations like its own Planet of the Apes, building new kinds of magazines as well. #comicsteaching
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Concurrent with these Kirby books at DC (including the odd Sandman), Marvel started offering a range of non-Code books, including Comix Book, Savage Sword of Conan, and various franchise adaptations like its own Planet of the Apes, building new kinds of magazines as well. #comicsteaching
The Demon and Kamandi both contain dramatic splash pages and two-page spreads. We compared these to examples from Kirby's Fourth World comics, which bring over issues of scale and intricacy/detail that stand in contrast to many of the comics of the moment. #comicsteaching
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The Demon and Kamandi both contain dramatic splash pages and two-page spreads. We compared these to examples from Kirby's Fourth World comics, which bring over issues of scale and intricacy/detail that stand in contrast to many of the comics of the moment. #comicsteaching
Kamandi was also apparently raised on comics, including Kirby's parallel series, the occult The Demon, a comic that resurrects many of themes that were supposedly impermissible under the Comics Code (even in its 1971 version). We discussed this version of character duality at length. #comicsteaching
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Kamandi was also apparently raised on comics, including Kirby's parallel series, the occult The Demon, a comic that resurrects many of themes that were supposedly impermissible under the Comics Code (even in its 1971 version). We discussed this version of character duality at length. #comicsteaching
Interestingly, it is also a world in which Superman ("The Great One") is now a mythological figure, as the search for new myths/order intersects with the various generic types/factions, including traditional horror and romance. #comicsteaching
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Interestingly, it is also a world in which Superman ("The Great One") is now a mythological figure, as the search for new myths/order intersects with the various generic types/factions, including traditional horror and romance. #comicsteaching
A direct riff on Planet of the Apes (1968) and its sequels, with elements of Westworld (1973), Kamandi combines Tuk the Caveboy (and early Simon/Kirby) set in a full post-apocalypse. #comicsteaching
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
A direct riff on Planet of the Apes (1968) and its sequels, with elements of Westworld (1973), Kamandi combines Tuk the Caveboy (and early Simon/Kirby) set in a full post-apocalypse. #comicsteaching
Comics of Kirby and Lee, Week 11: Kirby's last 1970s works at DC and Marvel's moves outside the Comics Code (ASM #96-98, Curtis magazines, Comix Book, etc.) A lot of experimentation, including Kirby's "Ballad of Beardsley Bullfeather" for Someday Funnies. #comicsteaching
![Tuesday, Nov 4
Kirby's New Series [carrying over anything we didn't cover on 10/30]
"The Ballad of Beardsley Bullfeather
Download The Ballad of Beardsley Bullfeather" for Someday Funnies (c. early 1970s, not published until 2011)
Kamandi #1-40 (1972-75) [read at least first run, #1-6:
Kamandi #1
Download #1 (1972), #2 Download #2, #3 Download #3, #4 Download #4, #5 Download #5, #6
Download #6 (1973)
Kamandi #8
Download #8, #9 Download #9 (1973), #14 Download #14, #16 Download #16, #20 Download #20, #24
Download #24 (1974) [optional]
Kamandi #29
Download #29, #35 Download #35 (1975), #40
Download #40 (1976)
The Demon #1-16 (1972-74), selections
The Demon #1 Download #1, #2 Download #2, #4
Download #4 (1972)
The Demon #6
Download #6, #8 Download #8, #10
Download #10 (1973) [optional]
The Demon #14
Download #14 (1973), #16
Download #16 (1973)
The Sandman #1-6 (1974-75), selections
The Sandman #1
Download The Sandman #1 (1974)
The Sandman #6
Download The Sandman #6 (1975-76) [optional]
Marvel magazines (Curtis)
Comix Book #1
Download Comix Book #1 (1974)
Planet of the Apes #1
Download Planet of the Apes #1 (1974)
Savage Sword of Conan #1
Download Savage Sword of Conan #1 (1974)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzzvnpqn5eerbob4puw6svn5/bafkreigee724addf62y4ixmocnotmtibcul5r7kzafuv5hq3akgjqinr6a@jpeg)
![Thursday, Nov 6
Last DC Experiments
OMAC #1-8 (1974-75), selections
OMAC #1
Download #1, #2 Download #2 (1974), #6 Download #6, #8
Download #8 (1975)
Our Fighting Forces #151
Download #151, #152
Download #152 (1974) {the Losers]
"Murder, Inc!" in Amazing World of DC Comics #1
Download Amazing World of DC Comics #1 (1974)
1st Issue Special #1
Download #1, #5 Download #5, #6
Download #6 (1975) [optional]
"The Skywalker" in Justice, Inc. #2
Download Justice, Inc. #2 (1976)
Kobra #1
Download Kobra #1 (1976)
Charles Hatfield, "Once Upon a Time: Kirby's Prisoner
Download Once Upon a Time: Kirby's Prisoner" (1996) (Kirby art 1976-77)
Due: Critical Project proposal + bibliography (Nov 7)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzzvnpqn5eerbob4puw6svn5/bafkreieas7sxfhwhzctoqzw3mpeicvkym5m7tdbnhbjwkrfffmaaiwr24i@jpeg)
![Comics Code Revision of 1971
Links to an external site.:
General Standards - Part B
No comics magazine shall use the word horror or terror in its title. The words may be used judiciously in the body of the magazine. [Footnote: The word horror or terror in a story title in the body of the magazine has been ruled to be an injudicious use, and therefore is not permitted.]
All scenes of horror, excessive bloodshed, gory or gruesome crimes, depravity, lust, sadism, masochism shall not be permitted.
All lurid, unsavory, gruesome illustrations shall be eliminated.
Inclusion of stories dealing with evil shall be used or shall be published only where the intent is to illustrate a moral issue and in no case shall evil be presented alluringly nor so as to injure the sensibilities of the reader.
Scenes dealing with, or instruments associated with walking dead, or torture, shall not be used. Vampires, ghouls and werewolves shall be permitted to be used when handled in the classic tradition such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and other high calibre literary works written by Edgar Allen Poe, Saki, Conan Doyle and other respected authors whose works are read in schools around the world.
Narcotics or Drug addiction shall not be presented except as a vicious habit. Narcotics or Drug addiction or the illicit traffic in addiction-producing narcotics or drugs shall not be shown or described if the presentation:
(a) Tends in any manner to encourage, stimulate or justify the use of such narcotics or drugs; or
(b) Stresses, visually, by text or dialogue, their temporary attractive effects; or
(c) Suggests that the narcotics or drug habit can be quickly or easily broken; or
(d) Shows or describes details of narcotics or drug procurement, or the implements or devices used in taking narcotics or drugs, or the taking of narcotics or drugs in any manner [...]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzzvnpqn5eerbob4puw6svn5/bafkreiaawpggymc3tfutmcojoxwo2dfq6djzw6lxaa7n5jfoafji7cc4ce@jpeg)
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Comics of Kirby and Lee, Week 11: Kirby's last 1970s works at DC and Marvel's moves outside the Comics Code (ASM #96-98, Curtis magazines, Comix Book, etc.) A lot of experimentation, including Kirby's "Ballad of Beardsley Bullfeather" for Someday Funnies. #comicsteaching
I get emails. The piece in question for @academemagazine.bsky.social : www.aaup.org/academe/issu...
November 6, 2025 at 1:38 AM
I get emails. The piece in question for @academemagazine.bsky.social : www.aaup.org/academe/issu...
Jack Kirby, OMAC #8 (1975)
November 5, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Jack Kirby, OMAC #8 (1975)
Some my neighborhood’s best trees are at my bus stop corner 🌳🍃🍂🍁
November 3, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Some my neighborhood’s best trees are at my bus stop corner 🌳🍃🍂🍁