Ann Nocennti's Kid Eternity
 

I just read this series again, and relized it sucked! Full of phony mysticism, psychobabble, and pop politics, it can only be described as "pretendous": Pretentious with no elements of truth. It looks and sounds impressive, but closer reading reveals it's Nocennti's brain vomit. It only has the illusion of meaning.

Let the flames begin.

While I liked other books by Nocenti (most especially New Mutants) I did find her Kid Eternity to be very difficult to read and enjoy. I think she was trying to ape Gaiman to some extent, and it just didn't quite work.

Isn't she an Editor for HIGH TIMES now?

Thoughts on Kid Eternity
 

Here's what I had to say a few years back about the only issue of Kid Eternity I recall with any fondness:

"Kid Eternity #6. October, 1993. Vertigo/DC Comics. “Eating Pop Porn.” Writer: Ann Nocenti. Artist: Sean Phillips. Editor: Tom Peyer. Kid Eternity, the boy who died before his time and was granted from the Heavens half-life and the gift of plucking heroes out of history to help him battle evil during the 1940s (and who I remember fondly in the pages of Secret Origins #4 from 1973), received the Vertigo treatment in 1993. In this issue, what television wouldn’t dare tell you about our obsession with television is laid bare, while providing us some riveting drama along the way. Of course, only in a comic can TV provide us with an honest-to-Eternity “live resurrection.” If you were the Kid, who would you resurrect to help boost your crusade to raise the consciousness of man? Einstein? Jung? Twain? Paul Lynde? Well, we are a visual society...so naturally it would have to be someone appealing to the eye. Sadly, tragically, and predictably -- because, after all, it’s only television -- the resurrection lasts a matter of seconds. Kid Eternity was a thinking person’s comic that pushed a few envelopes but never quite obtained a wide audience."

I still like that particularly issue. The rest of the series has faded from memory, as has all memory of the Vertigo Black Orchid series that came out around the same time. I've always preferred Gaiman and McKean's Black Orchid series from the 1980s.

Jim Kingman

I'd take it further and call the Morrison three-issue prestige series which preceeded it a load of dingo's kidneys too - at the time I read it and didn't understand much of it, keeping it on the shelf for maybe ten years or so before reading it again, and....

....what a load of toss.

More on the Kid
 

Actually, the best Kid Eternity is the original Kid Eternity. Worth tracking down a copy of DC's Secret Origins #4 (1973) for, as it contains a reprint of the Kid's first appearance and origin. Great little tale, both tragic and poignant (the Kid's grandfather is killed and then the Kid is killed, too) and humorous (the Kid winds up in Heaven way too many years too early and Mr. Keeper doesn't know what to make of it).

Jim Kingman

Jim, you've clearly read far too many comics! What a memory you've got for these (not to mention a great filing system to get at the books)....you should go on Mastermind or something.

Yes, Nocentti is an editor for High Times. Tragically, more respectable than working in comics.

I generally like her work, especially Daredevil, but her characters tend to make long speeches and navel gaze.

I read the first two issues of the Morrison mini. Never could find the third. I liked it.

Other old Kid Eternity sotries can be found in the 100-page Super Spectaculars. I thought they were harmless fun.

Sadly, the Kid is dead; killed by Mordru in JSA #1. I'd like to see a new Kid Eternity, maybe part of the DC kids line. Hey, ghost kids summons history's greatest figures and has adventures. Could work.