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Jack KirbyAmerican comic book artist, writer, editor and author
Date of Birth: 28.08.1917
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Jack Kirby: Master of Comics and Fantasy
- Education and Early Career
- The Golden Age of Comics
- Captain America and Partnership with Joe Simon
- World War II and Military Service
- Post-War Career and Marvel Comics
- The Fourth World and Beyond
- Final Years and Legacy
Jack Kirby: Master of Comics and Fantasy
Early Life and InfluencesJack Kirby, born Jacob Kurtzberg on August 28, 1917, in New York City, grew up in a working-class Jewish family. He developed a passion for art and sought to expand his knowledge, becoming largely self-taught. Influenced by cartoonists such as Rollin Kirby and comic strip creators like Milton Caniff and Hal Foster, he honed his skills by contributing caricatures to the newspaper of the Boys Brotherhood Republic, a youth organization that aimed to prevent juvenile delinquency.
Education and Early Career
Kirby briefly attended the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn at age 14 but quickly left, as its teachings did not align with his artistic vision. In 1936, he joined the Lincoln Newspaper Syndicate, creating newspaper comics under the pseudonym Jack Curtiss. He later transitioned to the Fleischer Studios animation company as an in-betweener, working on Popeye cartoons.
The Golden Age of Comics
As comics boomed in the late 1930s, Kirby began writing and drawing for Eisner & Iger, creating a diverse range of stories for magazines such as "Wild Boy Magazine." He adopted the name Jack Kirby and experimented with various pseudonyms before settling on it.
Captain America and Partnership with Joe Simon
In 1941, Kirby collaborated with writer Joe Simon to create Captain America for Timely Comics, a groundbreaking superhero character that became an instant success. Together, Kirby and Simon created numerous other comics throughout the 1940s for various publishers.
World War II and Military Service
Kirby enlisted in the army in 1943 and served in the Normandy campaign of World War II. He survived severe frostbite that nearly led to the amputation of his feet and returned to the US in 1945.
Post-War Career and Marvel Comics
After the war, Kirby returned to creating comics and worked in multiple genres for several publishers. In the 1950s, he became a mainstay at Marvel Comics. Collaborating with writer Stan Lee, he co-created iconic characters such as the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and the Hulk.
The Fourth World and Beyond
In 1970, Kirby left Marvel for rival publisher DC Comics and created the ambitious "Fourth World" saga. While commercially unsuccessful, its characters have remained integral to the DC comics universe. After a brief return to Marvel, Kirby became an independent artist and worked in television animation.
Final Years and Legacy
In his later years, Kirby received widespread recognition for his contributions to comics. He passed away on February 6, 1994, at the age of 76, from heart failure. Today, Kirby is considered one of the most innovative and influential creators in the history of comic books.
