I was trying to figure out why I thought I had read all of Jack Kirby's OMAC; and unless I borrowed the collection from somewhere, I think it's because part of it was recapped in the back-up features in Warlord. Or maybe I'm just senile, a problem that probably couldn't be fixed by slapping an old brain into a young body, "the most horrible menace in human history," as posited by today's book! From 1975, OMAC #5, "New Bodies for Old!" Story and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks and letters by D.Bruce Berry.
A Peace Agent of the Global Peace Agency (who concealed his face and racial features with a cosmetic spray, leaving him looking not unlike the Question) brings OMAC evidence of a mob's newest, and possibly most dangerous racket: computerized brain transplant surgery, where old criminals can buy new, young bodies. The mob nearly rubs out the agent after his briefing, but Brother Eye had shielded them, and leaves fake bodies to throw off the trail. OMAC then has to work the case to find the "transplant terminal" before the first batch of young people is surgically harvested! But his only lead is a punk who might be convinced to let the mob harvest his girl, if the price is right...
A surprisingly dark book! Although, I think the next issue continues this story but veers off into fighting monsters in the subways. Really should check my bookshelves, maybe I do have the trade...
I've got quite a few of these too, and they're pure, unadulterated 70's Kirby in all his creative glory.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, pretty damn dark story, matched only by the build-a-friend from even earlier.
I'm sure in about oh, say maybe 30-40 years this might actually happen.
No joke: I've always found the Body Banks from Micronauts terrifying, full stop. Once they can harvest poor people for parts, game over.
ReplyDeleteHuh. Does sounds like a place I wouldn't want to be if I was one the poor bastards getting harvested.
ReplyDeleteI know you made an indirect reference to this in the 'Pool/Kurt skits, when they were at the gambling planet and Titus mentioned what happened to the guys who lost.