Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby (August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was one of the most influential, recognizable and prolific artists in United States comic books. Born Jacob Kurtzberg to Jewish parents in New York City, he was also a comic book writer and editor.

Early Career

He worked for Fleischer Studios from 1935 where he did in-betweens for Popeye animated cartoons. He joined the Lincoln Newspaper Syndicate in 1936 and worked for them until they went out of business in 1938.

Related Topics:
Fleischer Studios - 1935 - Popeye - Animated cartoons - 1936 - 1938

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Kirby met Joe Simon while he was producing freelance work for a variety of publishers. The two young men teamed up and began producing packaged comic books for sale to publishers. The duo created the patriotic hero Captain America in 1941 for publisher Martin Goodman's Timely Comics (which would evolve by the early 1960s to Marvel Comics). Kirby's dynamic perspectives, ground-breaking use of center-spreads, cinematic techniques and exaggerated sense of action made the title an immediate hit and rewrote the rules for comic book art.

Related Topics:
Joe Simon - Publishers - Captain America - 1941 - Martin Goodman - Timely Comics - 1960s - Marvel Comics

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The Simon & Kirby name became synonymous with exciting superhero comic books. After ten issues of Captain America, they moved to DC Comics where they took over the Sandman in Adventure Comics; they also produced Boy Commandos, Newsboy Legion and Manhunter.

Related Topics:
DC Comics - Sandman - Boy Commandos - Newsboy Legion - Manhunter

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As superhero comics waned in popularity after the end of World War II Kirby and his partner began producing a variety of other genre stories. They are credited with the creation of the first romance title, Young Romance Comics. In addition Kirby and Simon produced crime, horror, western and humor comics.

Related Topics:
World War II - Western

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The Kirby & Simon partnership ended in 1954 with the comic book industry beset by self-imposed censorship and negative publicity. Kirby continued to create comics, reinventing Green Arrow in Adventure Comics and creating the well-received classic about a group of death defying adventurers, the Challengers of the Unknown.

Related Topics:
1954 - Green Arrow - Challengers of the Unknown

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