3-D Man

Another rarely seen Kirby cover from the 1970s: 3-D Man. Ironically there is no actual 3-D artwork in the story.

Here is an example of actual 3-D work by Kirby from Captain 3-D (Dec 1953), page 10.

Obscure 70s Kirby Covers

Here are some 70s Kirby covers I had never seen before. Woodgod is an especially bizarre-looking creation. Although Hercules is the only character created by Kirby, it's still amazing to see how many characters Jack worked on over the years if only for a single cover.

Beautiful Dreamer

A rare Kirby pin-up from Forever People # 10 (1972). Looking closely at the original artwork, it looks like originally Beautiful Dreamer was wearing a bikini, but someone along the line (probably an editor in the DC NYC offices) decided a one piece might be more PC.

Arnim Zola

Marvelously bizarre double-splash by Jack from Captain America # 209 pgs. 2 - 3 (May 1977), artwork by Kirby/Royer. Below is a scan of the original artwork. I remember seeing this as a 9-year-old kid back in the 1970s and just being totally befuddled by it. The image had to have been the weirdest thing by far I'd ever seen in a comic book. Quite frankly, I thought Jack must be crazy or maybe partaking of some consciousness expanding drugs. My brother bought this comic book, and I hated it, but twenty years later I think this is a masterpiece.

It's fairly simple storytelling. Jack starts at the left and shows us the damsel in distress. The voluptuous Donna Maria.

Then we have Captain America, protecting her. Notice the creepy vine-like had in front of his face.

Arnim Zola: certainly one of Jack's more strange creations.

But if you thought Arnim Zola was wacky, check out Doughboy, a gigantic blobular sidekick.

Just flat out wild stuff from Jack in the late 1970s. Even though I didn't like it as a kid, it undoubtedly emblazoned itself upon my unconsciousness, and now I find a double splash like this spectacular.

What About Jack?

I assume this came out during the 1980s. Amazing that we can still ask the same question today. Hopefully Disney/Marvel will answer this question with some class, and instead of a long, fierce court battle between Jack's children and that multi-billion coroporation, we can put the past behind us and celebrate Jack's legacy.

Kirby Grab-Bag

Once in awhile I'm going to go through my files and just pull some random images that probably don't deserve a whole post. Here's a funny piece from fakestanlee.com where an unknown artist has put together a mock-up of what Jack's Spider-man design might have looked like.

Here's something that's kinda' creepy but sorta' cute as well. Kirby with a Captain America horse. From jodimoisan.com. You can also check out the Stan Lee doll at that website.


Green Arrow postage stamp with Kirby art.

Kid versions of some Marvel characters designed by Jack.

Read Comics in Public to Launch on Kirby’s Birthday

Thanks to Kenn Thomas for sending in this article.

Read Comics in Public to Launch on Kirby’s Birthday
Yesterday, August 11, 2010, 2:41:25 PM - The Beat

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Daily Cross Hatch’s Brian Heater and Sarah Morean have launched a new day for comics pride via their Read Comics in Public program, which is planned for this August 28th, aka Jack Kirby’s birthday :

The concept is fairly simple: we’re asking that everyone take an hour or two out of their day on August 28th (also the birthday of Jack “King” Kirby, incidentally) to read a comic book in a public setting—a park bench, a beach, a bus, the front steps of your local library (we do ask, however, that you be mindful of local loitering laws). Let strangers see you reading a piece of sequential art.

Take to the streets. Be proud. If someone asks what you’re reading, say, “a comic book” (the phrase “graphic novel is also acceptable, but let’s face it, it sort of defeats the whole purpose). Heck, lend them a book, if you’ve got an extra—what better way to make a new friend and convert a new reader?

Artwork by Al Hartley

Kirby Caricature

Here's a Kirby self-portrait from 1987. Jack fighting cruelty and stupidity. We could probably use a superhero like that today.

Surfer 1975

Jack's cover for the 1975 Comic Art Convention Program book. The image was reproduced directly from Jack's original pencils. Below that the Kirby/Sinnott cover to Fantastic Four # 50 (May 1966).

Unpublished Thor Art

An unpublished panel of Thor's alter-ego Dr. Don Blake. Stan Lee wrote a message on the side "Sol. Save for inking sample." Luckily this was not used as an inking "test." Jack's Margin notes say: "Blake describes exhilaration of becoming Thor -- The surge of great strength -- and his thought of moving boulder."
Apparently Jack wanted the panel to introduce this flashback sequence in Thor # 158 (Nov. 1968), but Lee decided against it. Pages 7 and 8 below were first published in Journey Into Mystery # 83 (Aug 1962).