Good biography on great comic book artist and innovator. ( )

Great book. Kirby was a great gift to the world! ( )

I used to think of Jack Kirby as the comic book illustrator that started the coming-off-the-page-at-you type of drawing. His covers usually depicted a hero running at you or throwing a punch at you. I never realized what a skilled artist he was. I enjoyed the uninked drawings in this book better that the inked and colored ones. He put a lot of detail into his drawings. It seems like the ink and color just diluted the intensity.

I admire him for his work ethic. Kirby was brought up to go to work and bring home a paycheck. He worried about making enough money to take care of his family, so he worked on two or three different titles at a time and at record speed. He was always out there looking for the next paying job.

Like a lot of creative people, Kirby never made the money he should’ve. The writers were credited with the creation of the character and he was left out in the cold. It was nice to read that his fans came together, understanding how he had revolutionized the way comics are drawn, and helped him reap some of the rewards and accolades at the end of his life. ( )

Great book for any comic book fan.

The text is a well written story of a artist trying to balance his artistic vision with his need to provide for his family. The afterword offers a very touching anecdote involving Mark Evanier and Kirby. But you can read that when you are done looking at the art.

The art is unbelievable. Highlights include the double page spread from "Street Code", the un-penciled pin up of Black Bolt, and the penciled, inked, and painted versions of a piece featuring Orion and Lightray from New Gods. There is a lot more, of course, showing not only the well known Kirby style from the 60's on, but also other lesser known works that display Kirby's talent and range as an artist. ( )