The 1950s jack kirby comic that inspired the creation of. Kamandi cover courtesy of dc entertainment why 2017 is the year of jack kirby, comics most influential creator this august will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of. Aug 28, 2019 beyond that, fantastic four was where jack kirby redefined modern comic book art, giving us the structure, pacing, and design elements that still define comic books to this day. The three books kirby originated dealt with aspects of mythology. The king of the comic book artists, jack kirby was there from the beginning, cocreating captain america in the golden age, whole genres such as romance comics in the 1940s, and the. The cocreator of legendary hits like the fantastic four, hulk, thor, and the xmen, kirbys decadeslong career has built a legacy that stands tall today. One of the mediums most prolific artistic legends, jack kirby, the king of comics, was an artist, writer, and editor whose work spanned the golden, silver, bronze and modern ages of comics. This year wouldve marked comics icon jack kirbys 100th birthday. Super monster by jack kirby via comic art gallery room comic book pages, comic page. Jack kirby was one of the most influential comic book artists and writers of the united states, and one of the innovators of the superhero genre. His work has and will continue to inspire readers with his characters, forceful action and storytelling.
The superman figures and jimmy olsen faces drawn by. That time don rickles met superman in a jack kirby comic. The comic book artist finally gets the recognition he deserves. He gave the distinctive look to such characters as the fantastic four, thor, the silver surfer, the avengers, and hundreds of other characters. Jun 08, 2010 but it was in the 60s, starting with his work on fantastic four with stan the man lee, that kirby did his best work. As one of the founding visionaries at marvel in the kirbys vital storytelling skills and phenomenal visual energy helped make the xmen, the hulk, and the fantastic f. Why is dc comics doing a better job of celebrating jack. Arguably, the romance of money is jack s first comic book.
August 28, 1917 february 6, 1994 was an american comic book artist, writer and editor, widely regarded as one of the mediums major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. Biography of jack king kirby, one of the most prolific and influential creators in. These comic books were illustrated by the awesome jack king kirby, and he turned. A comic book artist who began working during the golden age of comic books and continued into the 1990s, jack kirby 19171994 created or cocreated hundreds of characters, including many of todays best known superheroes.
Jack kirby creator spotlight marvel comic reading lists. Kirby responded by turning to newspaper comic strips, and his sky. Kirby is without doubt one of the best writers ever to have worked in mainstream comics, and by far the best writer ever to have worked in the super hero genre, which isnt a. One hundred years ago next monday, jack kirby, one of the most influential men in the history of american comics, was born.
We start off with one of the first artists to have worked in the american comic book industry. This case concerned the property rights in 262 works published by marvel between 19581963. Kirby 191793, perhaps the most influential of all comic book artists, is best known for his lengthy stint at marvel comics, where, with scripter stan lee, he defined the modern superhero with such creations as the fantastic four and the hulk. A comic book artist who began working during the golden age of comic books and continued into the 1990s, jack kirby 19171994 created or cocreated hundreds of. Jack found his way to the eisneriger studio, preparing stories in a similar fashion to the single pages appearing in sunday newspapers. Kirby is without doubt one of the best writers ever to have worked in mainstream comics, and by far the best writer ever to have worked in the super hero genre, which isnt a good way of expressing just how great a writer kirby was, because super hero comics are the bottom of the barrel in terms of comic book writing. However three superheroes did make their debuts on the big screen in that decade.
Jack kirby was born jacob kurtzberg in august of 1917 in new york city. Jack kirby was an american artist that created the new godsfourth world for dc. Comic book artists, comic artist, comic books art, silver age comics, jack kirby art, jack king, fathers day specials, comic book collection, the mighty thor kyle latino jack kirby fantasy robert e howard jack king joe kubert bristol board picture story sword and sorcery comic page comic books art book art. Jack kirby was one of the most influential comic book artists and writers of the. Marvel, jack kirby, and the comicbook artists plight a decadesold legal battle is a reminder of how hard many creators have to fight to get credit. Jack kirby, an artist who helped create the popular comicbook characters captain america and the incredible hulk superheroes with human characteristics, for a new. The king of the comic book artists, jack kirby was there from the beginning, cocreating captain america in the golden age, whole genres such as romance comics in the 1940s, and the marvel age of comics in the 1960s. Jack kirby the quintessential comic book artist and a man with boundless. Neal adams born on governors island, manhattan, new york is an american comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the dc. Simonson says the marvel process takes full advantage of the artists visual. Jack kirby was okay with dc redrawing his superman faces.
In 1984, legendary writerartist jack kirby returned to dc to illustrate tales of the justice league of america in the pages of super powers. One of the more astonishing facets of jack kirbys career came when he first left marvel. With new gods announced as the next blockbuster superhero movie, its time the king was. But where steve ditkos other was strange pun intended, kirbys was overwhelming. Kirby was 21 years old at this point and a seasoned professional using different styles and different pen names on half a dozen different features. Supermans pal, jimmy olsen by jack kirby supermans pal, jimmy. After defendants served various marvel entities with termination notices purporting to exercise statutory termination rights. Towards the end of the 1940s, sales and interest in superhero comic books began to decline. Comic book fans and creators from all over the world are spending today sharing their favorite memories on social media about the comic book icon.
He wasnt a stickler for anatomy technical excellence was not the name of the game in kirbys book, but it never. Fantastic four 1967 cartoon audio with art from the original. Beyond that, fantastic four was where jack kirby redefined modern comic book art, giving us the structure, pacing, and design elements that still define comic books to this. Oct 28, 2016 if youre at all aware of comic books history, jack kirby needs no introduction. Jack kirby the cocreator of legendary hits like the fantastic four, hulk, thor, and the xmen, kirbys decadeslong career has built a legacy that stands tall today. Jack passed the away in 1994, but his legacy as one of the gods of the comic book art is speechless. Jack kirby, along with stan lee are the main responsible for giving birth and concepting many marvel charachters, such as the avengers. A beginners guide to the king of comics, jack kirby.
Mar 25, 2016 a visual examination of how comic book artist jack kirby masterfully used action to pull in readers and advance the story. The man who would one day be dubbed the king for his contributions to the comic book. For the first time ever, jack kirby s forever people reprints the amazing comic book writer and artists fantastical black and white tales of a group of young, otherworldly adventurers. The 8 x 12 format gives ample room for reproductions of his original art and beautiful, full color collage work. Jack kirby jacob kurtzberg was an american comic book artist, writer and editor. Sep 01, 2016 marvel, jack kirby, and the comicbook artists plight a decadesold legal battle is a reminder of how hard many creators have to fight to get credit and compensation for their own work. August 28, 1917 february 6, 1994 was an american comic book artist, writer and editor, widely regarded as one of. Illustration by jack kirby jack kirby art, jack kirby. Apparently, a number of comic book discussion boards are simultaneously.
Growing up poor in new york city, kurtzberg entered the nascent comics industry in the 1930s. Kirby 191793, perhaps the most influential of all comicbook artists, is best known for his lengthy stint at marvel comics, where, with scripter stan lee, he defined the modern superhero. Nov 01, 2016 this over size companion book to last years exhibition comic book apocalypse the graphic world of jack kirby at california state university, northridge is a musthave for any serious kirby fan. Aug 28, 2017 today would have been the 100th birthday of legendary comic book artist jack kirby. A visual examination of how comic book artist jack kirby masterfully used action to pull in readers and advance the story. Comiccon celebrates the jack kirby centennial with an. For the first time ever, jack kirby s forever people reprints the amazing comic book writer and artist s fantastical black and white tales of a group of young, otherworldly adventurers.
Kirby s first work was on jimmy olsen, where superman would frequently appear. With the success of superman in 1938, there was a tremendous demand for new, original comic book content. He grew up in new york city, and learned to draw cartoon figures by tracing. To celebrate a man who contributed so much to the world of comics, publishers are out in force to celebrate kirbys. Iron man sketch by jack kirby comic book artists, comic. Like so many american art forms that have grown and spread throughout the global audiences, comic books have been one of the most successful ones to become. The man who would one day be dubbed the king for his contributions to the comic book industry grew up poor.
Jack kirby, forever people with images jack kirby art, kirby art. Ladies art by jack kirby comic book artists, comic artist, comic books art. Comic book artist and writer walter simonson has been an admirer of marvel style and kirby since the 1960s. Comment below and tell us which comic artist youd like to see featured next. Jack kirbys superman news from me mark evaniers blog. Defendants, the children of the late jack kirby, one of the most influential comic book artists of all time, appealed the district courts grant of summary judgment to marvel. For the first time ever, jack kirbys forever people reprints the amazing comic book writer and artists fantastical black and white tales of a group of young, otherworldly adventurers. Batman 1943, captain america 1944, and superman 1949, were all featured in film serials. Captain america by jack kirby comic book artists, comic book characters. Oct 01, 2015 the omnipresent influence of comic books is undeniable, and here we take a look at the famous artists from the medium who have shaped the surface of popular culture. Jack kirby 101 as surely as elvis presley is the king of rock n roll and michael jackson is the king of pop, jack kirby is the king of comics. This over size companion book to last years exhibition comic book apocalypse the graphic world of jack kirby at california state university.
Fantastic four 1967 cartoon audio with art from the original comic book by jack. Adding gray tonal values to enhance the groundbreaking artwork, this book introduces big bear, mark moonrider, serafin, beautiful dreamer, and vykin, five young heroes who, with the help of the mother box, have. By contrast, kirbys galactus is overwhelming, almost a burden on the page. The same year also saw the birth of another giant in. One of the more astonishing facets of jack kirby s career came when he first left marvel to go to work for dc comics in the early 70s. He drew various comic strips under different pseudonyms, ultimately settling on jack kirby.
Feb 08, 1994 jack kirby, an artist who helped create the popular comic book characters captain america and the incredible hulk superheroes with human characteristics, for a new generation of readers died. While working at fox comics, kirby met joe simon, a freelance writer and artist. The silver surfer by jack kirby a character far more interesting than superman. Jack kirby comic book collectibles, original comic art. Apr 17, 2014 towards the end of the 1940s, sales and interest in superhero comic books began to decline. The first superman comic book cover drawn by joe shuster in 1934 for humor publishing inc. May 28, 2017 kamandi cover courtesy of dc entertainment why 2017 is the year of jack kirby, comics most influential creator this august will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of comic book artist. One of the mediums most prolific artistic legends, jack kirby, the king of comics, was an artist, writer, and editor whose work spanned the golden, silver, bronze. Ditkos eternity was ethereal, literally a doorway in humanoid form. Lisa kirby announced in early 2006 that she and cowriter steve robertson, with artist mike thibodeaux, planned to publish via the marvel comics icon imprint a sixissue limited series, jack kirbys galactic bounty hunters, featuring characters and concepts created by her father for captain victory. Its not a title thats been bestowed upon the creator who passed away in 1994 lightly.
With his partner joe simon, he created the allamerican hero captain. Foremost among his peers, kirby who was so prolific that he had spent the 50s working on and inventing various genres such as westerns, romance, and crime broke all the conventions of what was then the superhero genre and spearheaded the superhero as we know it today. When he drew superman dc redrew his unique chest emblem and distinctive faces. Kirby is in the spotlight on the cover of this years book, illustrated by fanfavorite artist and producer, bruce timm, who is a guest at comiccon 2017.
Superman art, superman family, superman stuff, arte dc comics. Some of those features found their way into the fledgling comic book market. Nicknamed the king of comics, he has been a driving force behind the industry during both the golden age of comic books in the 1940s and the silver age in the 1960s. Neal adams born on governors island, manhattan, new york is an american comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the dc comics characters superman, batman, and green arrow.
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