In 1984, DC moved their toy licensing from Mego and awarded it to Kenner. The result was The Super Powers Collection. A successful toy line, DC cross-pomoted it with a refreshed Super-Friends animated series from Hanna Barbera co-branded with the toy line, and comics mini-series published yearly from 1984 to 1986.

The cover below was from the second mini-series, Super Powers No. 2, October 1985, listed as illustrated by Jack Kirby and Greg Theakston. However, comparing the final cover to Kirby’s original pencils, it appears Theakston re-drew the entire cover to satisfy certain editorial needs, primary among them Kalibak’s rod not covering up the book’s logo.

There’s a lot of power and skill in Kirby’s original pencils, and I wondered what it would be like to ink the King and package the cover that never got to be.

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As published.

Scan of the original art from Heritage Auctions.

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Scan of Kirby’s pencils from Heritage Auctions.

Inks.

Colour.

Trade dress added.

Final cover.

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