Publisher:
Marvel Comics Group
Cover Date:
October, 1966
Art Type:
Cover
Story:
“When Strikes the Silver Surfer!”
Character(s):
Silver Surfer, The Thing
History:
Published
Size:
13.4 x 20.3 in. (34.1 x 51.5 cm)
Credits:
Penciler:
Jack Kirby
Inker:
Joe Sinnott
Letterer:
Sam Rosen
Does someone really own this piece?! WOW!! This one whould be hanged at a museum...
At this point, this pair of artists were at top of the game, and this cover is a sample of this!
Again, allow me to show my gratitude to Tom Kraft for allowing us to enjoy a piece with this quality and history through a scan so large and with so much quality.
This is truly a special piece and a highlight of this site and the Jack Kirby Museum's Digital Original Art Archive. We were recently allowed to scan it for the archives and presented here for all to enjoy.
It may have been but I'm not aware of any showing in a museum. A private collector graciously allowed it to be scanned so others can enjoy this incredible Kirby cover on WiK and the Kirby Museum Websites.
I second Ferran… It's almost unbelievable that someone could own this piece !
But somehow l always find this cover a bit weird because of the Silver Surfer's position on the board.
The interesting thing is the distortions on this cover. The Silver Surfer's position on the board as you mention but also the muscles in the Surfer's right arm. If they were true they the arm would be jelly because it couldn't function. But from a design point of view it works and is believable. To me its Kirby placing design and composition first over accurate anatomy to achieve a dramatic effect.
The Surfer's position on the board was probably based on the position of an actual surfer descending the front of a wave. In the early Silver Surfer appearances, it looked as though Jack was basing some of the poses on photos of real surfers riding on the water--a very cool idea which he seemed to abandon after a short time. And you're right, Tom, about the Surfer's arm. It doesn't matter that the anatomy is not 100% realistic; it's the overall effect which is important. I mean, if you wanted to, you could also criticize the way the Thing's head is bent so far back that it almost looks like it's broken off his body. But it just doesn't matter. As with so many Kirby drawings, you can nitpick the details all you want, but the overall effect of the picture will still be as powerful as ever.
Remember, Kirby didn't draw muscles, he drew what looked like muscles. It isn't intended to be anatomically correct, it's intended to convey an impression. Remember, Kirby was a storyteller, not a photographer.
Tom and a number of others make an excellent point on this one. If that Surfer figure were exactly as drawn only dressed in a Barman costume many fans would be gnashing their teeth and bemoaning how distorted the drawing is.
Kirby moved towards abstraction in his work, and that was a sign of artistic sophistication.
There is a nice video where Neal Adams talks about Kirby's stylizations.
There are a number of people who do a very good "Neal Adams." Adams himself was doing "Stan Drake." There is no one who does a decent Kirby.
Actually, Patrick, I always thought Adams was kind of doing a riff on both Stan Drake and Lou Fine -- with a few others thrown into the mix to create his own unique style. And I think there IS one guy who does a decent Kirby: Tom Scioli.
Incredible!
Does someone really own this piece?! WOW!! This one whould be hanged at a museum...
At this point, this pair of artists were at top of the game, and this cover is a sample of this!
Again, allow me to show my gratitude to Tom Kraft for allowing us to enjoy a piece with this quality and history through a scan so large and with so much quality.
Yes it's Incredible
This is truly a special piece and a highlight of this site and the Jack Kirby Museum's Digital Original Art Archive. We were recently allowed to scan it for the archives and presented here for all to enjoy.
Was it showed at a museum?
Do you know if it was showed at an exhibition? It rings some bells...
It May Have Been
It may have been but I'm not aware of any showing in a museum. A private collector graciously allowed it to be scanned so others can enjoy this incredible Kirby cover on WiK and the Kirby Museum Websites.
Incredible but weird
I second Ferran… It's almost unbelievable that someone could own this piece !
But somehow l always find this cover a bit weird because of the Silver Surfer's position on the board.
Weird too
The interesting thing is the distortions on this cover. The Silver Surfer's position on the board as you mention but also the muscles in the Surfer's right arm. If they were true they the arm would be jelly because it couldn't function. But from a design point of view it works and is believable. To me its Kirby placing design and composition first over accurate anatomy to achieve a dramatic effect.
Details
The Surfer's position on the board was probably based on the position of an actual surfer descending the front of a wave. In the early Silver Surfer appearances, it looked as though Jack was basing some of the poses on photos of real surfers riding on the water--a very cool idea which he seemed to abandon after a short time. And you're right, Tom, about the Surfer's arm. It doesn't matter that the anatomy is not 100% realistic; it's the overall effect which is important. I mean, if you wanted to, you could also criticize the way the Thing's head is bent so far back that it almost looks like it's broken off his body. But it just doesn't matter. As with so many Kirby drawings, you can nitpick the details all you want, but the overall effect of the picture will still be as powerful as ever.
Remember, Kirby didn't draw
Remember, Kirby didn't draw muscles, he drew what looked like muscles. It isn't intended to be anatomically correct, it's intended to convey an impression. Remember, Kirby was a storyteller, not a photographer.
BB
Good Points
Tom and a number of others make an excellent point on this one. If that Surfer figure were exactly as drawn only dressed in a Barman costume many fans would be gnashing their teeth and bemoaning how distorted the drawing is.
Kirby moved towards abstraction in his work, and that was a sign of artistic sophistication.
There is a nice video where Neal Adams talks about Kirby's stylizations.
There are a number of people who do a very good "Neal Adams." Adams himself was doing "Stan Drake." There is no one who does a decent Kirby.
Re: Good Points
Actually, Patrick, I always thought Adams was kind of doing a riff on both Stan Drake and Lou Fine -- with a few others thrown into the mix to create his own unique style. And I think there IS one guy who does a decent Kirby: Tom Scioli.
Don't forget...
...Steve Rude.
Check out his reinterpretation of the Demon #1 cover:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=273463&GSub=42204
http://cdn.comicartfans.com/Images/Category_600/subcat_30660/demon1cov.jpg
I can't think of someone else more skilled to be proclaimed Kirby heir.
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