Few comedian e book readers would possibly find out about Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi: The Final Boy on Earth.” The “Kamandi” property was created by Kirby (the comedian e book legend behind “Eternals”) in 1972 and fell consistent with the then-rising development of post-apocalyptic tales like “Planet of the Apes,” “I Am Legend,” and the 1978 movie model of “The Time Machine.” The apocalypse was looming massive, and popular culture tapped eagerly into these impulses to think about distant sci-fi worlds the place something may occur.
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Kirby’s entrance into this style fast-forwarded to some extent within the far-flung future after Earth had been devastated by an unknown cataclysm. The planet has since been renamed Earth A.D. (After Catastrophe), and most of humanity had devolved into violent savagery. Some individuals have been maintaining civilization alive in underground bunkers, though they needed to cover from a number of new species of anthropomorphic animal monsters. Certainly, animals had quickly developed due to a mix of post-nuclear bomb radiation and an experimental brain-growing drug known as Cortexin.
Kamandi — a younger, blonde, long-haired muscle stud — was an escapee from one of many underground bunkers, particularly “Command D,” which is the place he obtained his identify. He needed to flee his bunker when a wolf broke in and ate his grandmother (sure, critically), forcing him to wander the savage post-apocalyptic Earth, trying to find a brand new bunker to name residence. He befriended some enhanced mutants and mild-mannered animal individuals throughout his adventures, together with the dog-like Dr. Canis and Caesar, the king of the tigers.
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The unique “Kamandi: The Final Boy on Earth” comedian e book collection debuted in October 1972 and lasted 59 points. It was slated to be tailored right into a low-budget animated collection within the Seventies, however that venture fell by means of. Then, a long time later, in 2018, comics author (and all-around comics genius) Evan Dorkin revealed that he had been engaged on an animated “Kamandi” collection for Grownup Swim seven years prior. The present had died a tragic demise, however Dorkin was nonetheless prepared to share the small print.
Evan Dorkin labored on a Kamandi animated collection for Grownup Swim
Dorkin is thought within the comics group because the creator of the underground titles “Milk & Cheese” and “The Eltingville Membership.” He and his spouse Sarah Dyer additionally contributed to “Area Ghost Coast to Coast,” whereas Dyer authored the “Motion Woman” comics collection. Collectively, they pitched a “Kamandi” TV present that was to take Kirby’s famously overblown melodramatics and switch them into one thing wild and comedic, all within the Grownup Swim mode. Dorkin ran down all the small print in his pitch on Twitter (now often known as X) and was completely satisfied to share, stating that the entire expertise had been optimistic regardless of the collection failing to be picked up.
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It appears Dorkin was very attentive and had integrated Kamandi’s well-known map (printed within the unique comics) into the present, writing tales whereby Kamandi visited every one of many post-apocalyptic animal tribes. Dorkin even integrated the occasions of “Kamandi: The Final Boy on Earth” problem #29, whereby the blonde hunk ran afoul of a tribe of clever gorillas that worshiped a long-dead Superman. He added that DC Comics additionally allowed him and Dyer to incorporate the OMACs, a species of cyborgs programmed to kill superheroes, in addition to Brother Eye, a Batman-created supercomputer that had gone rogue. Furthermore, the pair re-worked the animal tribe mythology and did their finest to differentiate it from the lore of the “Planet of the Apes” motion pictures.
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Finally, Dorkin and Dyer had what Dorkin described as “a protracted, lengthy recreation plan” for the “Kamandi” cartoon. Their pitch learn as follows:
“‘Kamandi: The Final Boy on Earth’ is a post-apocalyptic motion comedy which follows the adventures and misadventures of a teen-aged boy pressured to outlive in an odd world of human-like speaking animals, mutants and monsters … He and his touring companions (speaking animals and a psychotic robotic) endure a journey that is a mash-up of Kirby, Kerouac, and Cormac McCarthy. Alongside the way in which there’s thrilling motion, thrilling journey, black humor, a whiff of satire and … a lot of raging hormones.”
Sounds fairly good.
The world of Grownup Swim’s Kamandi collection was detailed and properly thought-out
This was no idle concept. Dorkin wrote about how a lot effort he and Dyer poured into the venture. They wished to replace what he known as “Kirby’s ’30s WB backlot film tropes” and make the animal kingdoms feel and appear extra fashionable to a twenty first century viewers. As an illustration: Dyer’s concept was to have the tiger tribes base their society after what they’d discovered at a disused Medieval Occasions dinner theater area.
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Most significantly, Dorkin wished so as to add in the truth that Kamandi is consistently sexy. He is a teenage boy, in any case, and certainly one of his main motivations is to get laid (which has echoes of “A Boy and His Canine”). Brother Eye was going to ship info to Kamandi, promising him hot-to-trot girls on the finish of his quest, however it might all be a lie. Furthermore, Kamandi’s sexual frustration was an overarching theme on the present. As Dorkin wrote:
“Kamandi by no means will get laid. By no means. THE LAST FULLY-HUMAN BOY ON EARTH is universally c***-blocked by destiny or design. His frustration results in poor-decision making. His power masturbation … Properly, you get the thought. He’s a depressing wreck all through the collection.”
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The one lady who reveals sexual curiosity in Kamandi is Flower, a girl from a tribe of cannibals who eat their mates after intercourse. Kamandi would often meet different people — like Kommando and Kommanda — and have a pet canine named Scruffy. Dorkin included comparable story concepts for the animated collection as properly, offering mini-outlines for every one. “Kamandi” was to be one thing particular.
Why was the collection rejected by Grownup Swim? Who can say. It was merely not picked up. Maybe it might have been too costly. Or possibly Grownup Swim thought it was too high-concept. Regardless, the “Kamandi” TV present by no means got here to move. Dorkin moved on to different tasks and the world saved rotating. It is a pity, although, because the collection sounds fairly wonderful. It may’ve been certainly one of Grownup Swim’s all-time finest reveals.
