Wednesday, August 28, 2019

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACK!

As I've said before, if it wasn't for Jack Kirby—who was born on August 28, 1917—there might not even be a comic book business today.  Kirby's groundbreaking work with Joe Simon, Stan Lee and on his own continually defined, and redefined, what the medium could be.

Those of us working in this business today stand on the shoulders of giants—and Jack was the tallest of them all. 

Happy Birthday to the King!


6 comments:

  1. I appreciate it, but check your facts. My birthday is in March.

    I sadly never worked with Stan Lee or Joe Simon.

    And I was born in the late 80s, not 1917.

    Again, I appreciate it, but I could not think of anything more inaccurate.


    Jack

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  2. When I was a kid I got a copy of Incredible Hulk Annual #3 as a back issue. It contained a wonderful story reprinted from Tales to Astonish by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby about the Hulk fighting the Leader. My favorite part was when the Hulk battled this humongous humanoid created by the Leader. No one could draw huge, towering figures like Kirby.

    William

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    1. I couldn't agree more, William. And Kirby was also the master of giving figures, and objects, real weight and density—so that when two titans clashed, when cars were smashed, you could really feel it, almost hear it.
      He was truly the Master of the form.

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  3. J.M., I think the Hulk fighting the towering humanoid also worked on a symbolic level. The Hulk had to do battle with creatures that towered over him physically, while Bruce Banner had to do battle with people who towered over him emotionally, like Thunderbolt Ross.

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    1. A great insight insight, William! Thanks for sharing it.

      Who knew those old stories were so deep?

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