I really enjoyed Kirby and Lee's 6 issue run of Incredible Hulk. Still some of my favorite Kirby artwork.
I really enjoyed Kirby and Lee's 6 issue run of Incredible Hulk. Still some of my favorite Kirby artwork.
"It is wrong to assume that art needs the spectator in order to be. The film runs on without any eyes. The spectator cannot exist without it. It ensures his existence." -- James Douglas Morrison
(How to answer?) There was no "ending" to Lee's & Kirby's Fantastic Four or Thor runs in any sense except that, one day, Kirby was gone, and a couple of years later, Lee was gone. On the other hand, there were lots of endings, because each storyline was for a limited number of issues.
Also, it would be a mistake to think that the Fourth World is any different. Those titles were canceled out from under Kirby. He still had many stories to tell with those characters. He got a couple of chances in the mid-1980s to extend the story and wrap things up if he wanted to (New Gods reprint #6, and Hunger Dogs graphic novel). In neither case did Kirby provide a wrap-it-all-up ending.
As far as his artwork, I always felt his cleanest and most inspired was mid-60's thru the early 70's. Here's the thing, by the time he went to DC I felt his artwork was past its prime BUT....his mind was still in its prime. He created his ass off at DC! When you compare Kirby's DC creations to his work at Marvel, think about god concepts (Thor/Asgard) and sc/fi concepts (FF), and you'll realize that not only did Jack Kirby do a lot more than draw, but in lieu of Stan Lee's success, he was severely ripped off! Getting back to his artwork, it's commonly known that DC routinely re/drew his Superman faces. IMO the Jack Kirby that drew the 1st FF books (and so much more) could've drawn acceptable Superman faces with his hands tied behind his back. But by the time be landed at DC, not so much.
I disagree that his art skills diminished when he went to DC. They had evolved and he was but they were still strong. If you read Hand of Fire, it is gone into in great detail.
I don't have time now, but I will try to write a longer post about this with illustrations later in the week.
I don't think it's that he couldn't draw Superman's face. It's just DC had strict rules about Superman's appearance they didn't want the full on Jack Kirby version. Which at the time would have been more abstract. I think Kirby had an early interview where he says DC hated his version of Batman and that's when he was teamed up with Joe Simon. It's part of the reason he was so ardent about drawing his own creations.
I like the more abstract style he developed at DC though it just showed his growth as an artist. His F.F is crazy too the height of his polished style.
Last edited by CliffHanger2; 05-05-2014 at 08:38 AM.
Am I wrong to think that Kirby's Devil Dinosaur looks pretty damn awesome?
Anyone who read it?
Thinking about picking up one of the collections. Love the idea of a man/monkey boy riding around a red dinosaur who stomps and kicks his enemies haha.
Last edited by borntohula; 05-10-2014 at 11:52 AM.
I love Devil Dinosaur! I got the originals when they came out and the hardcover a few years ago. It's not science, but it's FUN!
Me to Devil Dinosaur , Black Panther . Are my favorites. A friend just got a splash page of Devil Dinosaur and man its awesome . Won't say how much it cost but wow a Kirby page .
Anyone wish they would collect Destroyer Duck? A trade by About Comics was planned back in 2007, but for whatever reason, it never came out. The back issues are still easy to come by, but a new collection would give the series more visibility.