JEDI JACK KIRBY: STAR WARS ART

A lot of people have credited Jack Kirby's Fourth World series as being an inspiration for George Lucas's Star Wars. For example, the similarities between Darkseid's parentage to Orion, and Luke's familial relationship to Darth Vader; Kirby's mystical religion the Source and Lucas's The For...well you get the idea. I myself believe that Vader himself bears a strong resemblance to Dr. Doom, but I cannot confirm nor deny that the FF villain was an inspiration.

To my knowledge, Kirby never voiced his own concerns or praise for Star Wars paying homage to The Fourth World. However, he did once do some stellar art for a Star Wars trading card. Scroll down and behold two great things of beauty, Star Wars and Jack Kirby art in one. As Vader would say "The circle is now complete".

'Captain America: The First Avenger' Red Skull Revealed

"Whenever there was injustice, tyranny, ruthlessness, the Red Skull was there, leading the attack upon the weak and helpless" -Red Skull (Tales of Suspense 66)

Oh boy comic and movie fans, after many months of waiting, we get our first look at Captain America: First Avenger Red Skull, played by Hugo Weaving. What can we say about these first images, except... WUNDERBAR! The details on the make-up, the sinister nature of the uniform. After much anticipation, we at Space Dock are pleased with the final results and think that this just might be the biggest superhero movie of the summer.

Check back for more pictures (coming soon)

Wizard and Toyfare Magazine Cancelled!

March 2nd, 2011



A sad, sad day folks. Space Dock has just learned that Wizard Magazine and its sister publication Toyfare are ceasing operations after more than a decade of circulation. For over fifteen years Wizard has been reporting on upcoming comics; often times outselling the comic book merchandise they are promoting. Respectively, for the last fourteen years Toyfare has been agressively advertising new release and upcoming toys/merchandise from companies such as Toybiz, Hasbro, Lego, and others.

Why the end of an era? Internet sources report that the competition from Internet advertising has rendered both magazines obsolete. We at Space Dock think this is a shame because the quality of the merchandise photos and the satirical humour in both magazines is unparalleled by anything on the Net. Space Dock will especially miss Twisted Toy Theatre, a recurring sketch-comic featuring toys from Mego, Transformers, Star Wars, Masters of the Universe and others. Internet sources report that Wizard will still feature predominantly at comic conventions, and will soon be moving their comic book reporting onto the Web.

The tradition of going to Chapters to pick up the latest issue of Toyfare and Wizard is something that has been long standing at Space Dock. We are sad to see both magazines go.

-Jared Robinson

LEGO STAR WARS TWELFTH ANNIVERSARY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEGO! Oops sorry we mean...HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEGO STAR WARS!

This year Lego Star Wars celebrates its 12th anniversary, and to kick off this special event Space Dock is looking back at more than decade of fun from a brick galaxy “far, far away”. In this article we will be giving you our choices for the five best Lego Star Wars playsets based on fan requests from you. In a perfect world we’d like to give all the Lego Star Wars sets top billing, but had to cut it short and make our choices based on playability, creativity, and detail.

Drum roll please...

#5) Return of The Jedi- Jabba’s Sail Barge


Wouldn’t it be cool if you could recreate the scene from Return of the Jedi with Luke being fed to the Sarlac monster? Well dream no more Star Wars fans because Lego has you covered.

This handsome 2004 set features a very detailed replica of Jabba’s Sail Barge, complete with many hidden compartments for hours of fun. As a bonus Lego has thrown in a Tatooine skiff and a very menacing looking Lego Sarlac pit monster. The best part about the set is all the mini figures that come with it: Luke, Han, R2-D2, Jabba The Hutt, Princess Leia, Bobba Fett, Lando Calrissian, and Jabba Palace Guard.

Space Dock thinks that Lego went all out on this playset. The exquisite detail on the Sail Barge makes this set a great thing to play or display. The set is quite large but super sturdy when built correctly.

#4) The Empire Strikes Back-Hoth Rebel Base.



“Echo Base, we have Imperial Walkers approaching!”

Any Star Wars fan from the smallest child to the oldest adult remembers the epic snow battle from The Empire Strikes Back. Back when the movie came out many kids wished that they could recreate the scene with their own Hoth Rebel fortress. Well fans, now you can! Our #4 pick is Lego’s 2007 Hoth Base, and boy is it cool! Perhaps you’ll agree with us when we quote Darth Vader by saying, “impressive…most impressive”.

This snowy set features opening blast doors, a Rebel snow speeder vehicle, work crane for repairs, and a blast turret for those pesky Imperial troops. In addition, a very generous amount of mini figures in this set: Luke Skywalker, Rebel Pilot, two Rebel Snow Troopers, K3PO, and two Imperial Soldiers.

What sets the Hoth model apart from other sets is the level of detail and thought that went into it. The Rebel base looks very close to the one in the movie, as does the snow speeder. The mini figures and gun turret give you hours of play possibilities. Surely, the Lego Hoth Base deserves a proud place on our list.

#3) Return of the Jedi- Mon Calamari Cruiser.



“Rebels, it’s a trap!”... ha,ha just kidding, this 2008 Lego set is the furthest thing from. Rather, the replica of Admiral Ackbar’s Mon Calamari cruiser will have you salivating at the mouth.

The action packed Lego set features a Rebel control room, command center, and repair hangar with bonus A-Wing fighter included. Recreate the famous Battle of Endor with mini figures including Lando Calrissian, Mon Mothma, Rebel Pilot, Rebel General, and Mon Calamari warrior.

The set features so much detail it‘s hard to keep track. This includes a swivel chair, holograph projection room, and working crane. It looks very handsome on a shelf or in a child’s play room.


#2) Star Wars: A New Hope-Jawa Sand Crawler.



Remember when those pesky Jawas sold R2 and C-3PO to Luke Skywalker...Space Dock certainly does! The spirit of that famous scene comes alive in this 2007 Lego Star Wars playset. This model is so cool it almost makes us want to go into the robot selling business ourselves!

The Sand Crawler model features rolling treads, secret compartments for droids and a gang plank that really opens. Plus, the best part, the Sand Crawler opens up to showcase many levels for hours of fun. In this set you get Luke, Uncle Owen, three Jawas, R2 and 3PO, and three other cool looking droids. To add to the fun, a special pulley is included to raise and lower R2-D2. Now is that cool or what?

The Sand Crawler looks identical to the one from the movie and features a great amount of playability. We hope you don’t lose too much track of time playing with this gem.

#1) Star Wars: A New Hope-Death Star Playset.



“Now you will witness the power of this fully armed and operational battle station”

In all the galaxy, nothing is more feared than the Empire’s dreaded super weapon... The Death Star. We must admit we waited a long time for Lego to get around to making model of the original Death Star, and it is true good things come to those who wait.

This 2009 set is off the charts with features: trash compactor, movable laser turret, prison cell, tractor-beam station, conference room, gun stations, and many more areas. The Death Star has bonus Imperial TIE Fighter and includes TWENTY-FIVE MINI FIGURES! We at Space Dock cannot stress enough that this is an enormous set and not cheap with price tag that can go up to six hundred dollars. Well certainly not the most affordable set in the world, if you want quality, this Lego gem cannot be beat.

The level of effort put into this set by the folks at Lego sets it light-years ahead of anything in previous years. An entire film waiting to be recreated right in your home. We hope you enjoy it and "may the Force be with you".

Where Have All The Classics Gone? A Review Of The History of Classics Illustrated.

-“Now that you have read the Classics Edition, don’t miss the added enjoyment of reading the original, obtainable at your local school or public library”

These are the words that concluded every single Classics Illustrated issue, a comic series “featuring stories by the world‘s greatest authors”. The series ran from 1941 to 1962 ending its run with a total of 167 issues (Faust being the final installment). The demise of Classics Illustrated came about because of the rising influence of television and competition from other abbreviated texts such as Coles Cliff Notes. However, ask any baby boomer about their childhood comic book memories and undoubtedly Classics Illustrated will be mentioned. But what makes the series so memorable today and sought after by comic collectors around the world?



The popularity of the series can be largely attributed to the artwork. Starting in 1951 each issue featured beautiful painted covers of some of the most popular characters in literature. Cover illustrations for The War of Worlds, and Classics Illustrated Special To The Stars have gone on to seep into the collective memories of adults and parents today. The quality of the cover artwork predates the dynamic art of Marvel during the 1960s, and is almost unparalleled by any other comic publishing company of the 1950s. The inside art differs in quality from issue-to-issue but nonetheless many of the installments feature beautiful illustrations from some of the biggest names in the industry. Artists such as Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnot, Jack Able and George Woodbridge are among some the names in Classics’s illustrative roster. Indeed, it is the artwork which is the biggest reason that collectors clamor to find mint issues of Classics Illustrated in used book stores and trade shows around the globe.





It is a shame that Classics Illustrated are no longer as widely published as they once were. The writing is greatly accessible for young readers and English as a second language students. As an educator myself, I will often reprint segments of Classics Illustrated and distribute them to students while reading full versions of Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and the works of Edgar Allen Poe. The writing in Classics Illustrated is clear and to the point but can often skim over key themes, particularly in the Shakespeare editions. As a bonus many issues feature supplementary segments about authors, and historical background for students.



So have Classics Illustrated really disappeared from circulation? The answer is yes, and no. They are not widely available in comic stores but reprints can be ordered from specialty companies such as Jake Lake productions in Toronto. In the 1990s, the now defunct Acclaim books published reprints of Classics Illustrated , and these can found online or in discount bins in comic stores. Perhaps one day Classics will return to wide circulation and make the great contribution to learning they did for generations past.

-Jared Robinson

Rubicon's Timeline Series...Timeless!

In the 21st century many comics book publishers still tend to focus on the superhero genre. However, I recently found a comic book company that is breaking new ground on bringing history and learning into graphic novels. The company is Rubicon Publishing and the series is Timeline graphic novels. To further add to the progressiveness of the situation, Rubicon is Canadian with their headquarters in Oakville, Ontario. The Timeline books are historical retellings of world history told through the eyes of both fictional and real-life historical figures.

I found the Timeline books in a local public library and was very impressed by the quality of them. I saw children of different ages rushing to the shelves and plucking them off one-by-one. Whether it was a narrative about D-Day or a tale of Henry Ford, I could see children were hooked. I investigated why children were interested in these books and I was immediately struck by how accessible they are to young readers.

The simple-to-read English text brings elementary students right into history and I quickly found myself engaged in an installment called Timeline:Trapped in Gallipoli. In one profound instance I saw an African gentlemen reading a Timeline book in the corner and casually asked him about it. He told me he was new to Canada and learning English for the first time with his daughter. This was a very eye opening experience and I recognized the benefit of these graphic novels on children and English second language readers.



In addition to simple English writing, the artwork is quite good. I asked a young boy why he enjoyed the series so much and he responded “I like the art”. After reading a couple of issues, I noticed the trend with Timeline is that the artwork is clean and filled with eye-catching colors.

The Timeline series has a very personal quality to them. These graphic novels appeal to students because they feature characters not much older than some of the readers themselves and strip away a lot of historical minutia leaving bigger historical themes intact. As a child I would have yearned for these Timeline books, rather than having to soak in facts from non-fiction encyclopedias (as was most times the case). The Timeline series is designed for young readers to relate to the characters and in this quality the books succeed very well.

Another thing that I find really progressive about these books is the emphasis on multiculturalism. For example, I was really touched by Timeline: Crying For A Vision, in which the main character of Jesse realizes his own courage through an adventure into his Lakota family history.



I think the Timeline graphic novels are great for entertainment and learning. The books are divided into color coded subsections (red set, blue set, green set) for each of the different reading skill levels. In the same tradition of the Classics Illustrated books generations ago, these graphic novels are making a difference in promoting reading to young children.

*Timeline is also available in French. You can check out the entire series at http://www.timelineseries.com/canada.

-Jared Robinson.

The New Frontier In Teaching History.

The Cold War can be a very daunting subject for high school history students. The dates, the historical figures and the minutia in between can be challenging and overwhelming to kids, especially those who have difficulty reading and writing. Many teachers rely on the age old methods of worksheets and lecturing which leaves many students unengaged and bored.

However, at a high school in Toronto, Ontario, one American history teacher has taken new steps to try to bring the subject of the Cold War to life through the medium of graphic novels. The teacher wished to remain anonymous, but let Space Dock observe her own teaching methods which we found very cool (to say the least). The history teacher, and parent of two comic book fans, altered her usual unit planning by juxtaposing superheroes with historical analysis; bringing Darwyn Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier into the class.

For those who might not be familiar with this series, The New Frontier recaps the history of the Justice League of America. The members of this superhero group are numerous, but the core characters are: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash to name a few. The narrative is set between the end of World War II and the beginning of the Kennedy administration and the title itself is borrowed from John F. Kennedy’s 1960 Democratic acceptance speech. Some of the themes covered in the book are the Space Race, McCarthyism, communism, and the civil rights movement.

What started out as a brief introduction of the text quickly turned into something far more engaging. Students began to check out the graphic novel in record numbers, culminating in the teacher having to create a sign-out sheet. The experience inspired the teacher to add a creative comic book activity to the final assignment. This involved students creating their own comic book histories of post-war America. Some students even analyzed the cartoon film version, and compared it to their own writings.



The experience demonstrates that graphic novels are a powerful source of education in the 21st century. Space Dock asked the teacher what is it about graphic novels that are so appealing to students? She answered, “Many students have difficulty reading, and graphic novels and comic books provide an easy and quick way for students to become engaged”. She went on to add that "historical fiction such as Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier cannot replace solid academic books but it does provide a nice entry way for that material to be studied later”. The recent interest in movies such as The Dark Knight, Watchmen, and 300 encourage students to seek out more comic book related media, even ones based in history.

In 1960, Kennedy said that the new frontier was upon us. Space Dock hopes to see more educational barriers broken down through the medium of comics and graphic novels.


-Jared Robinson