Jack Kirby

JACK KIRBY (b. Jacob Kurtzberg)

28 August 1917 – 6 February 1994

Avengers Pencils #1-8, 14-16

Avengers Covers: #1-25, 27-30, 151-158

Jack Kirby is arguably the most prolific, recognizable, influential and celebrated creator in the history of American comic books. Kirby developed an action packed, cinematic style that was perfect for the larger-than-life comic medium of super-hero comics. Kirby collaborated with Joe Simon for two decades which included the 1941 creation of Captain America. Kirby worked on many DC, Fox, and Fawcett publications during the 40s and 50s as well as working in the animation field.

At Marvel in the early 1960s Kirby became the artistic spearhead of the comic revolution. Even today the team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby remain as recognizable in their field as Rodgers and Hammerstein, David and Bacharach, or Martin and Lewis. Together they created many commercial and critical successes; The Fantastic Four, Thor, Hulk, X-Men, Sgt Fury, Dr Doom, Black Panther, Silver Surfer, The Inhumans and also revived Kirby’s wartime co-creation; Captain America.

In the 1970s Kirby moved to DC where he was afforded even greater editorial control often writing, pencilling and editing his own stories. Again he produced a string of successes including Kamandi, OMAC, the New Gods, and the Forever People. Kirby returned to Marvel with a similar editorial arrangement taking over Captain America, launching a new Black Panther series and introducing both The Eternals and The Celestials.

Kirby enjoyed some lengthy runs on many of his titles such as an unbroken run of over 100 consecutive issues of The Fantastic Four so his involvement with The Avengers title pales by comparison with some of his career highlights however it includes the pencils of the first 8 issues. 

To the right: Joe Simon & Jack Kirby’s Golden Age Captain America enters The Marvel Age - Avengers #4 Mar 1964