Here's the cover of JACK "KING" KIRBY'S first issue of THE NEW GODS, as it appeared way back in the '70s. Part of what came to be known as THE FOURTH WORLD saga (along with THE FOREVER PEOPLE, MISTER MIRACLE and SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN), it lasted for 11 bi-monthly issues before being cancelled for allegedly disappointing sales. (Forever People was also cancelled after 11 issues, Jack relinquished Jimmy Olsen after 15 issues, and Mister Miracle was "discontinued" after issue #18.)
Did you know, however, that the premier New Gods story was originally intended to debut in an issue of SHOWCASE? Here's how it would have looked had Jack not successfully argued his case for the series being run in its own title. Kirby thought it would stand a better chance of being a hit in its own comic, rather than as a "try-out" strip in a "revolving-door" mag. He may have been wrong (in fact, if not in theory), but if anyone deserved to be given the best chance to succeed, it was Jack.
And, just in case you were wondering, when SHOWCASE #94 eventually DID appear (in 1977), it featured the first of a three-issue DOOM PATROL run.
Enjoy, history lovers.
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