Joe Simon’s grandson Jesse is at the helm…
Jesse Simon is the late, great Joe Simon’s grandson and he’s doing the comic-book lords’ work: keeping alive the legacy of one of the field’s foundational creators.
His latest project? A new Blue Bolt #1, which includes the first two 1940 Novelty Press stories of the Golden Age hero created by Joe Simon — the latter of which is broadly recognized as the first pairing of Simon and one Mr. Jack Kirby.
From Blue Bolt #1, by Joe Simon
Blue Bolt #2
The issue is in the final weekend of a crowdfunding drive, so now’s your chance to get your hands on it. It’s been funded but there are all sorts of cool bonuses and whatnot, including issues that feature the uncolored line art. (Or the original art when available.)
Click here to check it out — and dig the covers that are available:
Main cover by Mark Buckingham
Original art version
Garrie Gastonny variant
Original art version
Joe Simon original 1940 cover variant
Line art version
This is only the latest such project engineered by Jesse and his father Jim, mixing the classic and the new.
“I have a character called ShieldMaster, created by my father Jim Simon,” Jesse explained. “Joe did the prototype art. That’s an ongoing series with the fourth issue releasing soon, and new ones coming.”
Some of their comics include original Simon/Simon and Kirby stories or characters, such as the Fly, Private Strong and the Fighting American. Others are entirely new but inspired by the past. Top-notch creators connected to Simon Studios include Bob Layton, David Mack, Romeo Tanghal, Butch Guice, Steven Butler and Tom Morgan.
(Side note: This Monday just happens to be the 65th anniversary of the Fly. Come back to 13th Dimension for much more on that.)
“We’re doing it all in comic-book form,” Jesse said. “No thick books, no bright colors, no pure white, just remastered old comics.”
That’s something we can all get behind. Again, click here for more info.
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MORE
— SNEAK PEEK: Dig Simon and Kirby’s Never-Reprinted 1948 PHONEY CHECK RACKETEERS. Click here.
— 13 ARCHIE/MLJ SUPERHERO COMICS Facsimile Editions We’d Like to See. Click here.
