DC; December 1972-January 1973
Cover by Jack Kirby

Title: “Year of the Rat!”
Synopsis: Kamandi and new friend Ben Boxer escape from Tiger City – but soon find themselves captured by hijacker rats!

Writer: Jack Kirby
Penciler: Kirby
Inker: Mike Royer

Review: While the series’ debut seemed content to ape “Planet of the Apes,” this second issue of Kamandi is vintage Jack Kirby. Ben Boxer – a mutant human who can turn to metal thanks to a heart that’s actually a fission chamber (evolution at work, apparently) – joins Kamandi on a madcap adventure through the underwater ruins of New York. Of course, these ruins are infested by giant, scuba-diving rats! Kirby’s story and art have an almost storybook quality to them – a storybook on steroids, that is. Powerful. Crazy. Imaginative. Long live the King!

Grade: A-

Second opinion: Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide second edition (2003).

Cool factor: This series is Big Fun, pure and simple.

Notable: This issue includes “The Great Earth Cataclysm Syndrome!,” a one-page essay by Jack Kirby that considers possible causes for the Great Disaster. Also contains a one-page advertisement, which appears to be drawn by Bernie Wrightson, for DC’s forthcoming Shadow series.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.

Character quotable: “Look at the wraps on this husky. Isn’t he the pampered little dandy!” – A tiger guard, about to get his comeuppance from Ben Boxer

Copyright ©2025 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl offers up a Bronze Age Minute. For more reviews like this one, check out Wahl’s website, offthewahl.com.