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Kirby
2007-08-29 12:57:56

A short entry today, to note a date of significance.

Today, August 28th, is Jack Kirby's birthday. Were the King still alive, he would be 90 years old today.

There's nothing much I can add to the tremendous amount that's been written about the man. Kirby's work resonates as vibrantly and as purely today as it did when it was first being published. More than anybody else, he pioneered and codified the visual lexicon that defines what a super hero comic book is.

I met Jack two or three times in the early '90s, at a rare New York convention appearance and in San Diego. At the former, Jack was doing as he was wont to do, telling stories of his war experiences, and encouraging the younger generation to follow in his creative footsteps—their own way. "Do you own story." Jack said, "and then show it to people. They'll like it, and they'll tell you, and it'll make your day!"

One of Jack's great fears later in life was that he and his legacy would be forgotten, whitewashed from the pages of history, or replaced by latter-day retellings proclaiming Stan Lee the one and only visionary of that period. Fortunately, time has been good to Kirby's memory, and his name and legacy have continued to slowly permeate popular culture. He's probably better known today than when he died.

We'll be running a tribute gallery of Jack's covers elsewhere on the site. And hopefully, the fine folks of Marvel.com will be plugging in a link to the feature below.

[Here it is: 38 Jack Kirby Marvel covers, as chosen by Tom Brevoort. -- Ed.]

More later.

Tom B

It's a real shame he's not still around to see how highly regarded his work is. Just think in the last year or so Marvel have released hardbacks of the first 60 issues of FF, all of Devil Dinosaur and The Eternals. Plus trades of his Cap and Black Panther stuff. Oodles of good old Kracklin' Kirby goodness. :)

Posted by bomaya on 2007-08-29 08:46:11

The King!
Happy birthday, Jack. You are still missed.

Posted by Elder5 on 2007-08-29 17:58:53

I'm sure you saw it, Tom, but there was a nice opinion piece in the NYT recently about Kirby. Probably still available online.

Posted by motteditor on 2007-08-29 20:12:29

There is, and will always be only one King!

Jack, we all miss you!

Rest well!

Posted by JD12 on 2007-08-30 12:50:04

jack you are and will all ways be the king of comics we miss you always.

Posted by pauls39 on 2007-08-30 16:36:13

Kirby still rules!
God rest his soul.

Does anyone know if he ever drew a picture of Captain Mar-Vell anywhere?

I would love to have a copy or at least see it.

The king is gone but not forgotten. Kirby changed the way we look at comics.

Posted by MAR-VELL Rebirth on 2007-09-05 11:11:59

Happy Birthday Jack
All these years later no one can still draw the Black Panther better then you did.

Posted by terciera on 2007-11-07 20:27:01

Array

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About this blog:
Ramblings and musings from the mind of Tom Brevoort. "It won’t be clean. It won’t be fun. It mostly won’t be coherent."

About the author:
Tom Brevoort is Executive Editor for Marvel Comics, and oversees such titles as New Avengers, Civil War, and Fantastic Four.


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