Legendary comic book artist jack kirby 19171994 at the 1982 san diego comic con today called comic con international. 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. Superman by jack kirby with images jack kirby, jack kirby art. A beginners guide to the king of comics, jack kirby. One of the great masters of comic book art capt america, hulk, fantastic four, etc, etc. Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit photo by alan light if you can.
In the 1960s, it was stan lee who gave the nickname, the king to jack kirby, and the moniker stuck, even to this day. 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. On an expedition from the earths moon to the planet mars, an international team of astronauts led by american ben fisher discover a huge carving of a martian face thats as big as a mountain. 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. An early source of artinspiration, for example, was alex raymonds flash gordon. Kirby imagined modern mythologies that spanned the cosmos and remade gods. Kirby s thor is the most epic comic book saga ever told. Jack kirby creator spotlight marvel comic reading lists. Simonson says the marvel process takes full advantage of the artists visual. The man from transilvane from jack kirbys run on supermans pal, jimmy olsen. Jack kirby is the most important creator in the history of comics, and the fantastic four is one of his greatest achievements. I found it to be a very readable entertaining book that relates the highs and low points of the modern comic book, from its inception in the late 1930s through jack kirby s career. Fantastic four 1967 cartoon audio with art from the original comic book by jack.
Jack king kirby is the king of marvel comics and helped create iconic characters like fantastic four, the xmen, and the hulk. The silver surfer by jack kirby a character far more interesting than superman. 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. 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. I found it to be a very readable entertaining book that relates the highs. 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. Comic creators praise jack kirby on his 100th birthday comic book. Towards the end of the 1940s, sales and interest in superhero comic books began to decline. Jack kirby was born jacob kurtzberg in august of 1917 in new york city. There was an amazing artist named jack kirby, who signed relatively few compared to stan for example marvel comic books on the splash page, and if you examine these signatures. Vince collettadc entertainment few mediums are as prone to oddity as the american comic book, and few comics creators were as capable of. But when he touched down in metropolis with 2000s superman. With his partner joe simon, he created the allamerican hero captain. Apr 17, 2014 towards the end of the 1940s, sales and interest in superhero comic books began to decline.
I wasnt looking for the artist necessarily, but i also had favorite comic books. 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. The diversity of global comics, curated by librarian. Fantastic four 1967 cartoon audio with art from the original comic. Jack kirby has been referred to as the superhero of style, his artwork described by john carlin in masters of american comics as deliberately primitive and bombastic, and elsewhere has been compared to cubist, futurist, primitivist and outsider art. The site showcases artist work interpreting comic book covers and features some truly awesome pieces. Aug 12, 2007 in fact it comes from a comic book published in september 1958. Marvel, jack kirby, and the comicbook artists plight the atlantic. 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. 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. Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my. 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 was okay with dc redrawing his superman faces.
That time don rickles met superman in a jack kirby comic. The comic book artist finally gets the recognition he deserves. However three superheroes did make their debuts on the big screen in that decade. That time don rickles met superman in a jack kirby comic vulture. He drew various comic strips under different pseudonyms, ultimately settling on jack kirby. And now, this gigantic volume brings together the greatest thor tales jack king kirby ever drew. Jacob kirby kurtzberg was an american comic book artist, writer and editor, widely. In fact it comes from a comic book published in september 1958. 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. Jack passed the away in 1994, but his legacy as one of the gods. Batman 1943, captain america 1944, and superman 1949, were all featured in film serials. His work has and will continue to inspire readers with his characters, forceful action and storytelling. 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.
Apparently, a number of comic book discussion boards are. He wasnt a stickler for anatomy technical excellence was not the name of the game in kirbys book, but it never mattered. Growing up poor in new york city, kurtzberg entered the nascent comics industry in the 1930s. When ed mcguinness first came into comic book, no one realized how good a superman artist he could be not even the artist himself. 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. The man who would one day be dubbed the king for his contributions to the comic book industry grew up. 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. Comiccon celebrates the jack kirby centennial with an. Original comic art for sale by artist jack kirby at. Some of those features found their way into the fledgling comic book market. 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. In the 1960s, it was stan lee who gave the nickname, the king to jack kirby, and the moniker stuck, even to.
He grew up in new york city, and learned to draw cartoon figures by tracing. A visual examination of how comic book artist jack kirby masterfully used action to pull in readers and advance the story. Sadly, the period of his career from the 1970s onwards seemed to be littered with failed attempts by kirby to expand on his mythology. Jack kirby jacob kurtzberg was an american comic book artist, writer and editor. Aug 28, 2017 today would have been the 100th birthday of legendary comic book artist jack kirby. Comic book pages comic book artists comic artist comic books art marvel comics hq marvel comic superheroes tales to astonish jack kirby art fight club. 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. 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. The face on mars, penciled by jack kirby and inked by al williamson. Mar 25, 2016 a visual examination of how comic book artist jack kirby masterfully used action to pull in readers and advance the story. Few mediums are as prone to oddity as the american comic book, and few. Kirby s first work was on jimmy olsen, where superman would frequently appear.
Some of those features found their way into the fledgling. Jack kirby legendary comic book artist jack kirby 191719. 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. It wasnt until i finally saw the work of supermans original artist and. These strips were published in an oversize comic called jumbo after kirby was.
Legendary comic book artist jack kirby 19171994 at the 1982 san diego comic con today called comiccon international. Jack kirby comic book collectibles, original comic art. What was the last comic book jack kirby drew for marvel. 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. Jack kirby legendary comic book artist jack kirby 1917. At the right is the original kirby cover from 1964. Poor health forced jack kirby to retire for good in 1987, and he passed away on february 6th, 1994.
Why 2017 is the year of jack kirby, comics most influential. Jack kirby, an artist who helped create the popular comicbook characters captain america and the incredible hulk superheroes with human characteristics, for a new generation of. Jack kirbys superman news from me mark evaniers blog. Whenever a comic book afficionado says the king, everyone knows that it is in reference to jack kirby. Nicknamed the king of comics, he has been a driving force. The 8 x 12 format gives ample room for reproductions of his original art and beautiful, full color collage work. Kirby created action sequences so powerful that galaxies shook.
Illustration by jack kirby jack kirby art, jack kirby. 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. 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. See more ideas about jack kirby, jack kirby art and comic books art.
But ive got those jack kirby books in my studio, and those are the only. 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. Jack passed the away in 1994, but his legacy as one of the gods of the comic book art is speechless. Comic book artist and writer walter simonson has been an admirer of marvel style and kirby since the 1960s. The comicbook artist jack kirby in 1992susan skaar kirby museum. 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. The man who would one day be dubbed the king for his contributions to the comic book industry grew up poor. One of the more astonishing facets of jack kirbys career came when he first left marvel to go to work. While working at fox comics, kirby met joe simon, a freelance writer and artist. Thousand oaks, california, american comic book artist who helped create. When he drew superman dc redrew his unique chest emblem and distinctive faces. Like most artist, he learned how to draw early on by tracing the cartoon characters in the daily newspapers. Fantastic, the human torch, the invisible girl and the everloving thing introduced a bold new era in comics.
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. Comic book artistscomic artistcomic books artdc comics heroesdc. Jack kirby was one of the greatest creators of american comic book superhero mythology. Kirby responded by turning to newspaper comic strips, and his sky.
Jack kirby is the most important creator in the history of comics, and the fantastic four is. With some hesitation, i ordered a copy of the book tales to astonish because of both praise and concern in the comic fan world. Jack kirby, along with stan lee are the main responsible for giving birth and concepting many marvel charachters, such as the avengers. Superman s pal jimmy olsen is an american comic book series published by dc comics from septemberoctober 1954 until march 1974, spanning a total of 163 issues. Kirbys thor is the most epic comic book saga ever told. 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. Jack kirby has been called the king of comics, and rightfully so. 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.
Comment below and tell us which comic artist youd like to see featured next. Featuring the adventures of superman supporting character jimmy olsen, it contains stories often of a humorous nature. Biography of jack king kirby, one of the most prolific and influential creators in. Aug 28, 2011 the site showcases artist work interpreting comic book covers and features some truly awesome pieces. 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. With new gods announced as the next blockbuster superhero movie, its time the king was. In 1970 when dc announced jack kirby is here the comic book world rumbled with the aftershock. 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. For more than 40 years he was the most vital and groundbreaking artist in the medium. Jack kirby comic art community gallery of comic art.