It’s early December and Biff Bam Pop! is hard at work publishing entries in our annual Gift Guide, all in an effort to help you when you head to the store (or log online) to pick up that perfect pop culture gift for the friend or loved one in your life.
Of course, there’s also important self-care at play this month.
In any case, this site will be listing new, cool items for your considered and cultured consideration each day this month, leading up to December 25.
Comic book collections will, of course, be part of that sharing. But why not start things off (even unofficially) with this Wednesday Run column and a new, big, hardcover omnibus that drops into comic book shops today (and bookstores next week)?
This submission will scratch the classic pulpy, violent, monster-ridden adventurous itch that anyone this holiday season. Without further ado, let’s take a look at Solomon Kane: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 1.
Solomon Kane: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 1
Written by: Various
Illustrated by: Various
Published by: Titan Comics
Today’s release is actually a new omnibus edition printing of the various Solomon Kane comic books that were first published in the 1970s and 1980s. Marvel Comics, the publisher of those comics released a wonderful hardcover omnibus a few years ago. But the rights to the pulp character, created by famed author, Robert E. Howard (creator of Conan the Barbarian) have moved to publisher Titan Comics, who have handsomely released a new 624-page edition of everyone’s favourite puritan monster-killer!
Solmon Kane first appeared in pulp magazine short stories in 1928 via the hand of previously mentioned Conan creator, Robert E. Howard. He is the 16th century, self-described living weapon of God, a black-clad puritan with one hand pointing a finger while the other grasps a bloodied rapier. He unceasingly travels the land, laying down God’s wrath, ridding the world of all evil: from pirates to devil worshippers to arcane vampires and werewolves. There is no grey in Kane’s world. Only black and white; right and wrong.
Pray that you live your life on the side of right.
Through the early 1970s and 1980s, Marvel Comics had the rights to Solomon Kane tales, with those rights more recently moving to Titan Comics. That publisher has produced a well-regarded miniseries, Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring, earlier this year, which you can find as a collection in comic book stores and better bookshops.
Piggybacking on that interest, they are now releasing their own hardcover omnibus of the original Marvel Comics releases, including issues of Marvel Premiere (1972), Monsters Unleased and Dracula Lives! (1972), Savage Sword of Conan (1974), Kull and the Barbarians (1975), Solomon Kane (1985) and Conan Saga (1987) among many others in a giant-sized tome.
Beyond the fascinating characters, the main draw with this publication is the plethora of comic book all-stars that contributed to the bronze-age comic book pulp oeuvre, including hall-of-fame luminaries such as Roy Thomas, Ralph Macchio, Doug Moench, Neal Admas, Mike Zeck and many others!
Solomon Kane: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 1 is a wonderful treat for any lover of high adventure, pulpy, monster sword and sorcery storytelling. It’s a collection of comic books that stand up to time, a rollicking high watermark of thrills and chills for a character now nearly a century old. And really, one just getting started. There are many wrongs to be righted in Kane’s life.
The omnibus would make perfect fireside reading over the holiday season for anyone – including yourself!
Make the run to your local comic book shop today and pick up the hefty Solomon Kane: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 1 and steep yourself in pulpy puritan mythology and wonderful art!
