written by Joe Simon
illustrated by Jack Kirby

Titan Books’ collections honoring Simon & Kirby’s work continue to impress. Like The Best of Simon & Kirby, this new volume is a respectful work celebrating two of the biggest legends the industry has to offer.

Inside this behemoth book are such classic heroes as The Fly, Stuntman, The Black Owl, Fighting American, Private Strong, and more. Even better is the fact that multiple stories starring those characters are presented, so the reader can spend a good long time getting to know how and why these stories built the careers of their creators.
 
An introduction by comics legend Neil Gaiman sets the tone for the collection. Moreover, it does a good, albeit brief, job of introducing the history and perspective of these stories. It’s fascinating to hear him talk about these stories and the impact they had on him.
 
Even better is the essay from Joe Simon himself that’s also included. Simon recalls the 1940s, the time that he and Kirby spent creating all these heroes and their adventures. For any fan of comics history, this essay, like the book itself, is essential.
 
But nothing beats experiencing the stories for yourself. Yes, they hearken back to a simpler time (and sometimes a much less politically correct time). But still, the stories are timeless tales of good and evil and the courage it takes to rise up and inspire young readers to dream big.
 
 

-- John Hogan

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