What do you guys think of Kamandi?

I think it is a book that JB was born to do.

Absolutely a favorite. Kamandi is a frisky "longhair" who doesn't take crap from gorillas. That short rifle he uses is awesome, and the kid finds himself teamed up with some of Kirby's very best supporting characters in Ben Boxer, a fella who can transform himself into a kind of steel (was Colossus before or after?), and Prince Tuftan, tiger royalty who is good with his fists. You also get the most fun Giant Cricket action ever.

Also, the story of Flower is probably the one time Kirby gets down to some real sad business in his comics, which were often emotional in all the wrong places (yet still fun).

Kamandi was the series that caused the switch in my brain to move to the Kirby setting.

I read the 4th World stuff, but wasn't entirely sold on Kirby.  I picked up Kamandi #1 out of sheer despiration (a road trip with my parents, and it was the only DC book on the rack that I didn't already have).  I thought that the use of the Stature of Liberty on the cover was a total POTA rip-off (which it was... DC told Kirby to do a POTA type book, and he delivered)...  so I wasn't going to pick up the series.

But man, that first issue blew me away.  The best thing for me was getting to see Kirby take on a new animal race each month.  At the end of the issue, they'd pimp that Kamandi would be meeting Leopards, or Killer Whales, or Praying Mantises... and you'd get all psyched about how Kirby was going to pull it off.

I've heard that it wasn't Kirby's favorite project, but I loved it.  It's still my favorite Kirby classic.

 have the entire run of KAMANDI, and I'm debating selling off the issues and buying the archives.  What do you all think?  Good idea, or hang onto the originals?

*****************

I have the entire run also. I'll keep them till I die and then my kids can sell them.

JB informed us:"Once upon a time, I asked for it. However DC was
already developing a kind of surfer-dude Kamandi."

Jesus!  Did this abomination ever see the light of day, JB?

Well, I have the first Archive and absolutely LOVE IT!!! The second one is in an order from Amazon that should be arriving in the beginning of next month (some pre-ordered stuff in it) and I'm definitely looking forward to that. Go ahead and buy them or at least buy the first one and see what you think, Michael! It's great storytelling and great fun!

JB wrote:
"Once upon a time, I asked for it. However DC was already developing a kind of surfer-dude Kamandi."

Sad thing. Mostly that you didn't get it. Have you ever considered asking again, JB? After all you've handled so many other Kirby characters and concepts so fantastically well in the past.
(and here's hoping that the upcoming HC volumes of Kirby's Fourth World stuff will prompt DC to at the very least release some TPBs with JB's Fourth World stuff.)