I revisit it every couple of years. My preferred reading order is The New Gods Baxter reprints, Hunger Dogs GN, JB's New Gods, JK4W and then Walter Simonson's Orion. I pretty much ignore anything done with these characters after Orion ended. Would love to buy a nice collection of all of JB's work on these characters.

****

Very well said and I agree about the depth and unity of the Fourth World. Not sure I totally agree that it surpassed what he did depth-wise at Marvel, but his DC art around that time (Fourth World titles, Kamandi, Demon) is my favorite period of Kirby's art. The man was creatively on fire at an age where most creators are resting on their laurels and doing the same things they'd always done.

"In honor of this extraordinary talent’s centennial, DC Comics is proud to present an all-new edition of this towering achievement in graphic literature. THE FOURTH WORLD BY JACK KIRBY OMNIBUS collects, for the first time in a single hardcover volume, Kirby’s complete chronicles from the pages of SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN, THE NEW GODS, THE FOREVER PEOPLE and MISTER MIRACLE, as well as the climactic graphic novel THE HUNGER DOGS. This transformative tome also includes illuminating essays from acclaimed author (and former Kirby apprentice) Mark Evanier and celebrated comics talent Walter Simonson, as well as a special section of Kirby pencils, profiles, pinups and more!

 

Collects SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #133-139 and #141-148, THE FOREVER PEOPLE #1-11, THE NEW GODS #1-11, MISTER MIRACLE #1-18, NEW GODS (REPRINT SERIES) #1-6, DC GRAPHIC NOVEL #4: THE HUNGER DOGS and WHO’S WHO: THE DEFINITIVE DIRECTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE #2-3, #6, #8-18, #20, #22 and #25."

Looks lovely, but I was wondering about collections of JB's Fourth World series, not Kirby's work. 

(I am wondering what was in the NEW GODS reprint series that wasn't in the original run. And if removing the WHO'S WHO entries could've shaved a little off the price...)

I am struck by a couple of things:

1. The first few issues had very exciting covers, full of hyperbole.  After issue 7 or so, they got toned down somewhat--some were even "quiet" scenes.  I wonder if the sales reflected any change.  But it really seems that Kirby (who was also editor of the book and therefore, I assume, totally in charge of what went on the covers) was trying to outdo Stan Lee himself with all the cover blurbs on those earliest issues.

2.  Vince Colletta inked the first four issues--and they looked great!  I always liked his inks on Kirby's THOR a few years earlier, but I will admit some of that was "scratchy" (like he was trying to do pencil strokes with a pen).  Here though, there's a lot of detail and fine lines--it even reminds me of Terry Austin in a lot of places!  (Not backgrounds--if he had any help--but in figure work like hair and Granny Goodness' face.)  There's a realistic aspect to Colletta's inks on Kirby's shadows and clothes, etc.; by contrast, Mike Royer takes over with issue 5 and that's when people start to look a little weird and objects look a little plastic.  I understand people's gripes against Colletta, but if he's leaving stuff out here, there must have been a LOT to begin with!  I wonder--on THOR and especially here--did Colletta just TRY harder on KIrby?