What if Kirby

A better Kirby punch? Part II

tomkraft — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:58:07 +0000

After I wrote this article and posted the versions for Cap that Pete Von Sholly provided, I received some additional insight from WiK members about what Jack Kirby might have meant buy the strange pose in Tales of Suspense page laid out by Kirby and penciled by Dick Ayers.

First I'd like to mention that my account of Stan Lee wanting Jack to do layouts for other artists was corrected by Patrick Ford:

A better Kirby punch?

tomkraft — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:55:22 +0000

By the mid-60s Jack Kirby's output reached a feverous pitch. Stan Lee demanded more and more from Kirby in order to distill Kirby's powerful style as Marvel's house style. To get more out of Kirby and train Marvel's other artist, Stan Lee had Kirby do quick pencil layouts for artists such as Dick Ayers and John Romita, among others, to finish Kirby's designs with their pencils and thus, learn his style. In most cases, as Kirby laid out the page he plotted the stories leaving his notes in the margins.

Merry Kirby Christmas!

tomkraft — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 13:23:34 +0000

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas today and a happy holiday season. Hope your presents include some Jack Kirby treats!

Three Degrees of Separation

tomkraft — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 02:41:24 +0000

Some 25 years ago, Jack Kirby's art was finally returned to him from Marvel, well at least a fraction returned. In the late 80s, collectors could purchase art directly from the Roselyn and Jack Kirby and later, in the 90's and after, also through Mike Thibodeaux. New art was periodically being released to the market through the then new, Jack Kirby Collector magazine and comic cons, especially the San Diego Comic Con International well into the 2000s.

A lifetime of defining the comic book - Joe Simon passes away at 98

tomkraft — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:36:13 +0000

Last week we all received the news on Thursday of Joe Simon's passing on Wednesday, December 14th. There are many great articles written and about his life and incredible contributions to the comic book industry such as the LA Times and the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Joe was a native of my hometown, Rochester NY.

What if Kirby smashes the 900 Barrier!

tomkraft — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:59:20 +0000

Today, with Thor's mighty hammer, What if Kirby has smashed the 900th page barrier. WiK now has over 900 pages in the searchable, Gallery section of the website. To highlight this milestone, the panel page to Thor 137, page 5 was chosen. The ongoing mission of WiK and the Jack Kirby's Museum's Original Art Digital Archive is to scan as many pages of Kirby art as there are still in existence. Any and all Kirby art is important to archive and preserve for us and future generations.

A Different Kind of Creation

tomkraft — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:40:23 +0000

UPDATE: This Creation was completed by Mike Royer, click to see it!

Up next for Jack Kirby creations, Charlie Chan! Yes Charlie Chan. Out of the 15 or so creations and recreations I've done with Mike Royer over the past 12 years, this is the first one from the Golden Age.

Got Kirby Art? What if Kirby at next week's NYCC

tomkraft — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:17:38 +0000

WiK is on the road again to scan more Kirby original art for the Jack Kirby Original Art Digital Archive and the Gallery section of WiK. I'll be set up with scanner at Bechara Maalouf's Nostalgic Collectables, booth #1754 at the New York Comic Con from Friday afternoon, October 14 through Sunday, October 16, 2010 at the Jacob K. Javits Center, 655 West 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan. In addition, Rand Hoppe of The Jack Kirby Museum will be at booth #2744 to also scan original comic art for the archive and to promote the museum and its plans for a temporary physical museum.

What if Kirby Reaches the 800th page - Now the largest Jack Kirby Art Resource

tomkraft — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:50:26 +0000

Today What if Kirby announces having reached the 800th page of Jack Kirby comic art displayed in the Gallery section of the site. This is an important milestone since the Heritage Auction website has archives of past auctions art in high resolution that includes 790 pages of Kirby art. But now, What if Kirby, with its 800 pages has become the largest online resource of Jack Kirby art on the entire web!

The Kirby Museum Plans a Temporary Physical Kirby Museum

tomkraft — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:47:16 +0000

The Kirby Museum today announced an initive to bring the works of Jack Kirby to the public on a grander scale. This from the museum's website:

"Our intention is to set up a temporary, or “pop-up,” brick-and-mortar location for the Jack Kirby Museum during this November, December and January. The ideal size for this purpose is between 800-1,200-square-feet, and would feature original artwork, artifacts from Jack’s life, prominent guest speakers, educational programs and installation pieces inspired by and celebrating the unique work and life of Jack Kirby."