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.

Stan Lee and Marvel Comics

Kirby returned to Marvel Comics where he drew a series of imaginative monster, horror and science fiction stories for its many anthology titles. Kirby's bizarre designs of powerful unearthly creatures were a hit with the reading audience. At the behest of publisher Martin Goodman and editor, art director and chief writer Stan Lee, Kirby began working on superhero comics again in 1961.

Related Topics:
Marvel Comics - Stan Lee - 1961

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Kirby had a hand in the creation of nearly every character for Marvel for the next several years. Some of the highlights include such characters and concepts as the Fantastic Four, Thor, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, the original X-Men, the Silver Surfer, the Avengers, Doctor Doom, Galactus, Magneto, the Inhumans and their hidden city of Attilan, and the Black Panther and his African nation of Wakanda.

Related Topics:
Fantastic Four - Thor - Incredible Hulk - Iron Man - X-Men - Silver Surfer - Avengers - Doctor Doom - Galactus - Magneto - Inhumans - Attilan - Black Panther - Africa

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Simon's and Kirby's Captain America was re-incorporated to Marvel continuity, after Lee noticed that the public could appreciate his return. In turn, Kirby approved of Lee's ideas to deepen the personality of the character.

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Kirby was often co-plotter of the stories he drew, in the style of the so-called Marvel Method, leading him to introduce elements not mentioned in Lee's scripts; in particular, Kirby is credited as having created the Silver Surfer, who was not mentioned in Lee's plot outline for the character's first appearance. Apparently, Lee asked Kirby for the design of Galactus to be used as a God-like villain in Fantastic Four. Kirby thought that such a powerful villain should have a herald and added a comparatively small figure surfing the air. Lee asked about it, and the Silver Surfer eventually became one of Lee's favourite Marvel characters.

Related Topics:
Marvel Method - Herald

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Kirby's speedy output as a storyteller and co-plotter moved Lee, in his role as Marvel's editor and art director, to have Kirby provide only the pencil art for his stories; Lee would refer to Kirby's pencil art to create the script and assign inkers, letterers and colorists to make the work reproducible.

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