Looks like Mike was trying to work out the arm by fudging the Destroyer's shoulder a bit--so Mike saw something--but trying to stay true to Jack at the same time. Funny how Vinnie was the only guy to make it look right. That is a beautiful inking job by Mike.
Mike's is DEFINITELY the best. He's reproduced Rosen's lettering so well it looks as good as or better than the original, and his inking totally destroys Colletta's and Theakston's. Little wonder that ROYAL Royer was KING Kirby's inker of choice!
Hey Tom, this should be the 699th page on the site, shouldn't it? I notice the page count didn't go up when you added it. So #700's comin' up. I hope you've got something spectacular planned. But who am I kiddin'? EVERY Kirby page is spectacular! Y'know, it's kind of funny how much enjoyment I continue to get out of Jack's amazing work through this website -- so much more than I get from any actual new comics being published nowadays. What a sorry state the modern comics industry is in -- just a disastrous mess, really, that's very quickly (and deservedly) spiralling into the abyss of non-existence. One of the many great things about Kirby's career was his habit of constantly generating exciting new concepts and stories to try to get things going when the industry was slumping (and even when it wasn't). We sure could use some of that boundless creative spirit today.
Hi John, the count number is based only on Gallery art and not Creations art. I could add them in but I want to keep that number purely art touched by the hand of the genius.
I have a page, well actually two, planned for 699 and 700, hope to add them this weekend. To me the most important number is 770. Why you ask? Because once we reach this number WiK will be the largest website on web to access high res images of Kirby's work...meaning we will surpass Heritage' s Kirby archives.
1,000 will definitely be something special and I think I know what that will be if I can get access to scan the page at that time.
I'm honored and glad that you enjoy this site and all the positive feedback posted – makes it worth the effort. Thank you.
I'm off in less than 2 weeks for San Diego with a heavy professional scanner in tow and hopes of adding many, many more pages to the Kirby archive and this site. Currently there are about 1,400 pages scanned since 2006, meaning the site is only displaying half the available scans. Just need help image processing and cataloging them all and perhaps I can get them posted faster.
The cover of F.F. #51. Probably the all-time classic Kirby/Sinnott F.F. image. But we'll have to wait and see what Tom has in mind. We've still got 300 pages of Kirby greatness to get through before we reach page 1000 -- and that's a whole lotta greatness!
That's a little over 5 months away from 1000. Merry Christmas or early January of 2012.
In the meantime time plenty of Kirby goodness to absorb and enjoy 'til we get there.
Is there any way to download these pencil images at a resolution that can be printed full size so we can ink these for our own enjoyment? I'd like to have some Kirby art on my walls, but inking my own is the only option to buying posters--I can't afford the real deal.
The only part of this that gives me pause is Thor's boot--I would have preferred it if Mike would have filled it in as a solid black. For whatever reason it looks unfinished to me as a tangle of lines.
As far as guessing what 1000 will be--I know there's an unpublished twice up Thor page in the hands of one lucky collector. I would hope that would finally see the light of day here. It's a panel page, yeah, but it's gorgeous.
Krackles, I'm not sure what the page is that Erik is referring to here, but when he says "twice up" he doesn't mean a double-page spread, he means a page of original art that was drawn at the Silver Age size of 12 X 18", which was twice the size of the printed art image (6 X 9). The page size was reduced to 10 X 15" sometime in 1968, I believe. I'm not sure of the exact cover dates the change took place in each book, but as you know, the 10 X 15" size (reduced to 60% instead of 50%) became the standard size that was used throughout the seventies and most of the eighties.
Clearly the 1000th page will be a Kirby Stone Thor page from the issue where Thor tells the group of kids of his untold Avengers battle with the Hulk. Unless Tom has some pages from S&K's single issue of Captain Marvel...
Those are some really good choices, J.G., especially that Hulk/Thor scrap from JiM #112. Everyone has their own personal favorites, and mine would probably be the double-page spread from ETERNALS #2. But when I made my earlier guess that it would be the cover of F.F. #51, Tom said I was "very close", so I think Frank and Krackles have probably got it right with their guess of the splash page from that same issue. Ultimately though, it's Tom's call, so I suppose we'll just have to wait and see which page he selects.
Hi John, There are no downloads for pencils on the site. I prefer to stay away from hi-res downloads for several reasons. You could scan and enlarge Jack's pencils from the Kirby Collector and lightbox them.
I'll have to see what comes up for archiving between San Diego Comic Con next week and 5 or so months from now when we reach 1,000. There is an historic Fantastic Four cover I may have access to from a private collector. Since I don't at this time its best not to commit to it. But if I do archive it, it would most likely be the 1,000 page.
Seems like when Tom said you're close Johnny S., that he means if he can get it scanned from this collector whom he knows owns it, that it will most likely be 1,000. Sounds like you may have nailed it.
I know when I said, when you think about it, on that cover may be the Thing, but it's not Ben Grimm--doesn't make it any less Kirby. FF 51 is a great historic cover.
Frank, I think Tom is being a bit cagey here (lol), undoubtedly because he doesn't want to blow the surprise when #1000 is still 300 pages away. We'd better go easy on him for a while!
Cagey, really?
John & Frank, it's the contrary, we should all worry what might happen if we let Tom running loose.
The guy is wild and probably planning to celebrate the big 1000 with a SOUL LOVE page!
Hey, J.G., a DEVIL DINOSAUR page for #2000 would be fine with me! That's a great comic! And to tell you the truth, Krackles, there are some nice SOUL LOVE pages out there, too -- really! Did you see the pages Tony DeZuniga inked, that were printed in the KIRBY COLLECTOR a few years ago? They looked mighty good.
The splash to a five-page story titled "Diary of the Disappointed Doll" is reproduced in TJKC #17, while the remaining four pages were reproduced at a very small size in issue #32. They may have been printed larger somewhere else, but if they were, I can't for the life of me remember where! Doesn't matter though, 'cause even at the small size you can tell it's a much better ink job than Vinnie's. He sticks pretty close to Kirby's pencils, but the whole thing is done with a fine pen line, kind of reminiscent of the way Al Williamson inked Kirby in that one sci-fi story they did together.
Original art shrank from 12 X 18" to 10 X 15" in 1967. In Thor #146 was the first issue with the smaller art--with the FF it was #68 (the dead giveaway is the jump in the size of the lettering and the fatter gutters between panels).
The arm thing
Looks like Mike was trying to work out the arm by fudging the Destroyer's shoulder a bit--so Mike saw something--but trying to stay true to Jack at the same time. Funny how Vinnie was the only guy to make it look right. That is a beautiful inking job by Mike.
Royer the Destroyer -- of all competition
Mike's is DEFINITELY the best. He's reproduced Rosen's lettering so well it looks as good as or better than the original, and his inking totally destroys Colletta's and Theakston's. Little wonder that ROYAL Royer was KING Kirby's inker of choice!
By the way...
...kudos on the pencil recreation, Tom. You did an exceptionally fine job with it.
699?
Hey Tom, this should be the 699th page on the site, shouldn't it? I notice the page count didn't go up when you added it. So #700's comin' up. I hope you've got something spectacular planned. But who am I kiddin'? EVERY Kirby page is spectacular! Y'know, it's kind of funny how much enjoyment I continue to get out of Jack's amazing work through this website -- so much more than I get from any actual new comics being published nowadays. What a sorry state the modern comics industry is in -- just a disastrous mess, really, that's very quickly (and deservedly) spiralling into the abyss of non-existence. One of the many great things about Kirby's career was his habit of constantly generating exciting new concepts and stories to try to get things going when the industry was slumping (and even when it wasn't). We sure could use some of that boundless creative spirit today.
Not #699
Hi John, the count number is based only on Gallery art and not Creations art. I could add them in but I want to keep that number purely art touched by the hand of the genius.
I have a page, well actually two, planned for 699 and 700, hope to add them this weekend. To me the most important number is 770. Why you ask? Because once we reach this number WiK will be the largest website on web to access high res images of Kirby's work...meaning we will surpass Heritage' s Kirby archives.
1,000 will definitely be something special and I think I know what that will be if I can get access to scan the page at that time.
I'm honored and glad that you enjoy this site and all the positive feedback posted – makes it worth the effort. Thank you.
I'm off in less than 2 weeks for San Diego with a heavy professional scanner in tow and hopes of adding many, many more pages to the Kirby archive and this site. Currently there are about 1,400 pages scanned since 2006, meaning the site is only displaying half the available scans. Just need help image processing and cataloging them all and perhaps I can get them posted faster.
Then the best is yet to come...!
I'm looking forward to 699, 700, 770,1000, 2000, 2001 and beyond!
I can't help but ask
Tom, how can we help you cataloging faster?
Big numbers
I know which page will make it for the big 1000th release!
What's your guess, Krackles?
Kirby did so many awesome pages, it'd be pretty tough to have to decide!
A Fantastic page, of course!
One from an issue period 48 to 51.
Maybe...
The cover of F.F. #51. Probably the all-time classic Kirby/Sinnott F.F. image. But we'll have to wait and see what Tom has in mind. We've still got 300 pages of Kirby greatness to get through before we reach page 1000 -- and that's a whole lotta greatness!
The one thousand Thing
That would be a dream comes true for me.
If I could dream even further, I would prefer the splash page instead of the cover for issue 51!
Close
John you're very close but we're 301 away...and my average each month is 58 pages.
Be here before you know it
That's a little over 5 months away from 1000. Merry Christmas or early January of 2012.
In the meantime time plenty of Kirby goodness to absorb and enjoy 'til we get there.
Pencil downloads?
Is there any way to download these pencil images at a resolution that can be printed full size so we can ink these for our own enjoyment? I'd like to have some Kirby art on my walls, but inking my own is the only option to buying posters--I can't afford the real deal.
Cover 51 of FF
When you think about it the cover to FF 51 may be the Thing but it's not Ben Grimm. I too prefer the splash to this issue, Krackles.
Spotting blacks
The only part of this that gives me pause is Thor's boot--I would have preferred it if Mike would have filled it in as a solid black. For whatever reason it looks unfinished to me as a tangle of lines.
As far as guessing what 1000 will be--I know there's an unpublished twice up Thor page in the hands of one lucky collector. I would hope that would finally see the light of day here. It's a panel page, yeah, but it's gorgeous.
Paint it black
Yes, a bit more solid black on the boot and everything would have been perfectly rolling!
Erik, what do you mean with "unpublished"? Does somebody own a double page still in pencils form?
Twice-Up
Krackles, I'm not sure what the page is that Erik is referring to here, but when he says "twice up" he doesn't mean a double-page spread, he means a page of original art that was drawn at the Silver Age size of 12 X 18", which was twice the size of the printed art image (6 X 9). The page size was reduced to 10 X 15" sometime in 1968, I believe. I'm not sure of the exact cover dates the change took place in each book, but as you know, the 10 X 15" size (reduced to 60% instead of 50%) became the standard size that was used throughout the seventies and most of the eighties.
Thumb up
For correcting me John!
I shouldn't read or comment so late at night.
I know how you feel...
...this website is too darn addictive!
1000 no brainer
Clearly the 1000th page will be a Kirby Stone Thor page from the issue where Thor tells the group of kids of his untold Avengers battle with the Hulk. Unless Tom has some pages from S&K's single issue of Captain Marvel...
Good Choices
Those are some really good choices, J.G., especially that Hulk/Thor scrap from JiM #112. Everyone has their own personal favorites, and mine would probably be the double-page spread from ETERNALS #2. But when I made my earlier guess that it would be the cover of F.F. #51, Tom said I was "very close", so I think Frank and Krackles have probably got it right with their guess of the splash page from that same issue. Ultimately though, it's Tom's call, so I suppose we'll just have to wait and see which page he selects.
Pencil downloads
Hi John, There are no downloads for pencils on the site. I prefer to stay away from hi-res downloads for several reasons. You could scan and enlarge Jack's pencils from the Kirby Collector and lightbox them.
Thor unpublished page
Well that's not in the archive at this point so not #1,000 but it would be great to have it scanned and archived.
Number 1000
I'll have to see what comes up for archiving between San Diego Comic Con next week and 5 or so months from now when we reach 1,000. There is an historic Fantastic Four cover I may have access to from a private collector. Since I don't at this time its best not to commit to it. But if I do archive it, it would most likely be the 1,000 page.
Choice
Seems like when Tom said you're close Johnny S., that he means if he can get it scanned from this collector whom he knows owns it, that it will most likely be 1,000. Sounds like you may have nailed it.
I know when I said, when you think about it, on that cover may be the Thing, but it's not Ben Grimm--doesn't make it any less Kirby. FF 51 is a great historic cover.
Choice for 1000
Frank, I think Tom is being a bit cagey here (lol), undoubtedly because he doesn't want to blow the surprise when #1000 is still 300 pages away. We'd better go easy on him for a while!
I read you
Backing off.
Let's enjoy the next 300.
Okay, but...
...I think we can all agree 2000 will be a Devil Dino page!
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Cagey, really?
John & Frank, it's the contrary, we should all worry what might happen if we let Tom running loose.
The guy is wild and probably planning to celebrate the big 1000 with a SOUL LOVE page!
Family first
Read my lips : It's FF or nothing!
It's All Good
Hey, J.G., a DEVIL DINOSAUR page for #2000 would be fine with me! That's a great comic! And to tell you the truth, Krackles, there are some nice SOUL LOVE pages out there, too -- really! Did you see the pages Tony DeZuniga inked, that were printed in the KIRBY COLLECTOR a few years ago? They looked mighty good.
Really?
Which issue of the Kirby Collector would that be Johnny S.? DeZuniga inking Kirby?--interesting.
DeZuniga SOUL LOVE Inks
The splash to a five-page story titled "Diary of the Disappointed Doll" is reproduced in TJKC #17, while the remaining four pages were reproduced at a very small size in issue #32. They may have been printed larger somewhere else, but if they were, I can't for the life of me remember where! Doesn't matter though, 'cause even at the small size you can tell it's a much better ink job than Vinnie's. He sticks pretty close to Kirby's pencils, but the whole thing is done with a fine pen line, kind of reminiscent of the way Al Williamson inked Kirby in that one sci-fi story they did together.
It was 1967
Original art shrank from 12 X 18" to 10 X 15" in 1967. In Thor #146 was the first issue with the smaller art--with the FF it was #68 (the dead giveaway is the jump in the size of the lettering and the fatter gutters between panels).
Once upon a twice up.
Yep--sure enough Erik--you can see the differences.
Soul Love
And if you still like Colletta I scanned 3 more Soul Love pages at SDCCI. Could always add them ;)
re: Soul Love
Yo, Tom,
That's just about the whole story, isn't it?
Was missing 2 or 3 pages
But because of free usage copyright I can't post an entire story. I know Kracles will be bummed...
Re: Soul Love
Add 'em! (Sorry, Krackles.)
Foul Shove!
How sneaky of you John.
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