Fourth World, Part 7

(Continued from Part 6)

With his most ambitious, personal project cancelled abruptly in mid-story (like so many network TV series), more due to falsified sales records and management panic than lack of actual buyer interest, Jack Kirby plowed on.  MISTER MIRACLE continued for another year, joined by 2 series created in answer to editorial mandate than his own interest.  But, as always, Kirby gave his best, and often, more than what was called for.  THE DEMON was an "answer" to the already-fading HORROR boom, while KAMANDI was specifically DC's "answer" to PLANET OF THE APES and the early-70's disturbing sci-fi bent toward post-apocalytic futures those sad films inspired.  Between the last gasps of the Viet Nam War and the downfall of Republican President Richard Nixon, the early-70's could be a very grim time indeed.

THE DEMON 5  /  art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (January 1973)

KAMANDI, THE LAST BOY ON EARTH 2  / 
art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (January 1973)

MISTER MIRACLE 12  /  art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (February 1973)

THE DEMON 6  /  art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (February 1973)

KAMANDI, THE LAST BOY ON EARTH 3  / 
art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (February 1973)

THE DEMON 7  /  art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (March 1973)

KAMANDI, THE LAST BOY ON EARTH 4  / 
art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (March 1973)

MISTER MIRACLE 13  /  art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (April 1973)

THE DEMON 8  /  art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (April 1973)

KAMANDI, THE LAST BOY ON EARTH 5  / 
art by Jack Kirby & Mike Royer   (April 1973)

(Continued in Part 8)

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Artwork (C) DC Comics Inc.
Raw scans of THE DEMON #5-8 and KAMANDI #2-4 from Heritage Auctions
Restorations by Henry R. Kujawa