Blavatsky, Theosophy & Jack Kirby, Part 2 (1960-1985)

1960s   

It is somewhat strange that the Morning of the Magicians came out 1960, with an English translation in 1963, and seems to echo the space age feel of the new Marvel comics supeheroes. Is it because of the common pulp fiction roots? Or is it just part of the general zeitgeist? The very first superhero Marvel introduced in the  1960s was Kirby's mystical hero, who goes on a mystical quest to Tibet, Dr. Droom (a kind of fore-runner to Doctor Strange). 

 

Some Theosophical elements that can be noticed with the Marvel Comics supeheroes. In the Fantastic Four, there is a character called the Watcher, which is a term used in Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine. With Thor, Norse mythology was a topic Blavatsky commented on. The Hulk has echoes of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, a story that Blavatsky appreciated. With the X-Men, the notion of mutants echo a kind of transhuman concept that was influenced by Theosophical notions of spiritual evolution.  For Magneto, one can point to a real-life model: Anton Mesmer; Theosophy closely correlates magnetism with magic.  Dr. Doom's origin story features elements of the occult and magic, as well as science.

 

1970s 

Kirby began the decade by launching his ambitious magnum opus at DC Comic, known as the Fourth Wold Saga comprised of three titles: The New Gods, The Forever People and Mister Miracle. 
theos: 4th world= 4th globe 4th World series -3 inter-connected titles, similarities to Star Wars

the amount of wondrous strange creations, with surprising depth, in the 1970s is mind-blasting, OMAC, Kamandi, Atlas -For The Demon, an Indian occultist, Randu Singh is part of Jason Blood's team of esoteric ghost busters Hard to top 60s success, but he just kept on creating intriguing stuff- caught on over time, most have general Theosophical world view-seems to have picked up on many influences in pop culture, both 1930s & 1970s Sandman, Manhunter, Spirit World,Kobra  

 

Back at Marvel- more grandiose, epic ancient aliens, mythical, magical sci-fi freakiness- 

Black Panther: similarities with Indiana Jones-Haggard, Mundy, Hilton roots-today we have successful BP,

Eternals films

Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur TV series

2001: A Space odyssey adaptation

 

1980s-90s

 

Captain Victory-more Star Trek, but he tied it in with New Gods at the end. Silver Star, based on 70s screenplay. 

Final project: Secret City Saga, appropriately ambitious, grandiose, epic transhuman secret history magical mythical project