This is Jack Kirby. On August 28th, 2010, he would have been 93. Who is this old fellow, you ask? Why, he’s one of the most celebrated artists in all of comics. He had a hand in creating some of the medium’s most beloved and longest lasting heroes, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and the X-Men. In the 70s, he reinvented the genre once again with the epic, otherworldly, and borderline-psychedelic Fourth World.
Here’s a picture of Kirby from that era, reading comics in public with Paul and Linda McCartney. That image in Sir Paul’s hand is a pencil drawing that Kirby created of Magneto and Wings locked in epic battle. You can view that picture here.
Choosing a date for Read Comics in Public Day seemed like a no-brainer. When better to celebrate than on the birthday of a man who had one of the most profound impacts on the medium?
So this August 29th, read a comic in public and honor the king and the medium to which he devoted his life. Something, something, band on the run.
December 15th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
I like you idea of honoring Jack Kirby by reading comics (out loud to groups of kids for me, a teacher) in public on JK’s birthday. I will put it on my calendar for 2011.
Jack Kirby was my favorite comic artist as an 8 to 12 year old comic lover, in his work with Marvel and DC. I used to search the used book stores comic bins and buy all I could afford. I still have about 1,000 or so of mixed stuff, with lots by JK and Stand Lee from the late Silver and Bronze ages of comic greatness. Read on my friends!
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