Today features the second part of Jack Kirby's IN THE DAYS OF THE MOB. Included is a rather bizarre article about the reasons behind burgeoning crime in the 1930's. Poverty, alcohol and vice were cited as the major culprits. The companion text story tells the ironic tale of a funeral for a florist. Like SPIRIT WORLD, also included is a pull-out poster of John Dillinger, Public Enemy No. 1.
Following is the incomplete, proposed second issue of IN THE DAYS OF THE MOB, including cover roughs. It was unpublished until 2013 when it was included in a hardcover edition along with the first issue.
The second issue of IN THE DAYS OF THE MOB:
Kirby had an absolute fascination with the old mobsters. He grew up with them of course, but he used that iconography long after it had ceased to make sense to newer readers. The last good use of it was in Inter-Gang in the early 70's. When it showed up later than that, it seemed anachronistic at best. My absolute favorite mobster tale is the four-part yarn in the Fantastic Four where The Thing goes to a Skrull planet that imitates the old Chicago mobs. Clearly insipired by the Star Trek episode "A Piece of the Action".
ReplyDelete