King Kirby

Told in vivid graphic novel form by a groundbreaking Eisner-nominated comics creator, the long-overdue biography of the legend who co-created Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and many more superhero favorites. “A fast-paced celebration of an underheralded legend within the comic-book industry.”—Kirkus Reviews NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY LIBRARY JOURNAL This sweeping, full-color comic book biography tells the complete life story of Jack Kirby, co-creator of some of the most enduring superheroes and villains of the twentieth century for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and more. Critically acclaimed graphic novelist Tom Scioli breathes visual life into Kirby's life story--from his days growing up in New York during the Great Depression and discovering a love for science fiction and cartoons to his time on the frontlines in the European theatre of World War II where he experienced the type of action and adventure he'd later imbue his comic pages with, and on to his world-changing collaborations at Marvel with Stan Lee, where the pair redefined comics as a part of pop culture. Just as every great superhero needs a villain to overcome, Kirby's story also includes his struggles to receive the recognition and compensation that he believed his work deserved. Scioli captures his moves from Marvel to DC and back again, showing how Kirby himself and later his family fought to preserve his artistic legacy. Drawn from an unparalleled imagination and a life as exciting as his comic book tales, Kirby's super-creations have influenced subsequent generations of creatives in the comics field and beyond. Now, readers can experience the life and times of a comics titan through the medium that made him famous.

Jack Kirby created or co-created some of comic books most popular characters including, Captain America, The X-Men, The Hulk, and The Fantastic Four. More significantly, he created much of the visual language for fantasy and adventure comics. Official Kirby biographer Mark Evanier delivers this authorized celebration of the one and only King of Comics and his groundbreaking work.

"Crystal Skillman and Fred Van Lente, the husband-and-wife playwrights behind 'King Kirby, ' know the score. She wrote the smart Off Off Broadway shows "Cut" and the fangirl-friendly 'Geek'; he was a co-author of the graphic novel 'Cowboys & Aliens, ' later adapted for a Hollywood sci-fi western. With this supple, informative and poignant portrait, they offer penetrating insight into the tirelessly prolific Kirby (1917-94), whose brawny and dynamic yet nuanced style dominated comics for more than 40 years. Their play (Kirby was known as the king) documents a creator who attained immortality even as his life ended amid a morass of corporate exploitation." - Andy Webster, The New York Times KING KIRBY is a play by the husband-and-wife team of New York Times bestselling comics writer Fred Van Lente and NYIT award-winning playwright Crystal Skillman about the life and times of Jack Kirby, the great comic book artist who created or co-created some of your favorite heroes on the page and screen, Captain America, the Avengers, Thor, Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man, Young Romance, the New Gods, Darkseid, The Demon... the list goes on and on. From the Jewish ghetto of New York's Lower East Side to the battlefields of France to the Senate hearings of 1950s, this is a hysterical and heartbreaking story about a man who pours his quintessentially Twentieth Century life into his comics, only to make the fateful mistake that sends him into obscurity while his creations become known to every person on Earth. A real-life "Adventures of Kavalier & Klay," King Kirby asks what happens when an artist doesn't own his own legacy? Can he ever get it back?

Hail to the King! Celebrate Jack "King" Kirby's incredible contribution to Marvel's history in this decades-spanning, Adamantium-sized collection! Westerns, romance, war, horror, sci-fi, humor and super heroes, Jack Kirby was a master of it all! From Captain America socking Hitler to Devil Dinosaur and the Eternals' far-out adventures, savor Kirby's work on his legendary creations including the Hulk, Thor, Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four and Inhumans! COLLECTING: Red Raven Comics 1; Marvel Mystery Comics 13; Captain America Comics 1, 7; Yellow Claw 4; Rawhide Kid (1955) 17; Amazing Adventures (1961) 1; Strange Tales (1951) 89, 94, 114; Teen-Age Romance 84; Fantastic Four (1961) 1, 48-51, 57-60, Annual 5; Incredible Hulk (1962) 3; Two-Gun Kid 60; Love Romances 103; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 8; Sgt . Fury 6, 13; Avengers (1963) 4; Tales of Suspense 59; X-Men (1963) 9; Thor 134-136, 154-157; Not Brand Echh 1; Amazing Adventures (1970) 1-2; Marvel Treasury Special: Captain America's Bicentennial Battles; Captain America (1968) 200; Eternals (1976) 7; Devil Dinosaur 1; What If? (1977) 11

Collects Journey into Mystery (1952) #83 and 125, Thor (1966) #126, 131-133, 137-139, 160-162 and 167-170. Kirby imagined modern mythologies that spanned the cosmos and remade gods. Kirby created action sequences so powerful that galaxies shook. Kirby’s Thor is the most epic comic book saga ever told. Kirby is…Mighty! And now, this gigantic volume brings together the greatest Thor tales Jack “King” Kirby ever drew. Stories so exciting, so massive in scope, so utterly epic that even Marvel’s King-Size format struggles to contain them! Thrill to Thor’s first appearance! A bruising battle between Thor and Hercules! The mind-bending debut of Ego the Living Planet! The invasion of Asgard by Ulik and his horrifying troll army! And a multipart saga where Thor faces the immeasurable power of Galactus — and the world devourer’s origin is revealed!

The Earliest English Kings is a fascinating survey of Anglo-Saxon History from the sixth century to the eighth century and the death of King Alfred. It explains and explores the 'Heptarchy' or the seven kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England, as well as the various peoples within them, wars, religion, King Offa and the coming of the Vikings. With maps and family trees, this book reveals the complex, distant and tumultuous events of Anglo-Saxon politics.

For the first time ever, DC collects the "Fourth World" works of legendary writer/artist Jack Kirby in a premium Absolute hardcover edition. Legendary comics creator Jack Kirby's mind-boggling "Fourth World" saga is collected in an Absolute edition series starting with Absolute Fourth World by Jack Kirby Vol. 1. After co-creating comic book heroes such as The Fantastic Four and The Hulk, legendary writer/artist Jack Kirby came to DC Comics in 1970 to write and illustrate four interlocking series known collectively as "The Fourth World." Now, as part of the celebration of the 100th birthday of Jack Kirby, DC collects Kirby's entire runs on these four series--The New Gods, The Forever People, Mister Miracle and Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen--In a single volume. These comics spanned galaxies, from the streets of Metropolis to the far-flung twin worlds of New Genesis and Apokolips, as cosmic-powered heroes and villains struggle for supremacy, and the world-conquering Darkseid adventured across Earth for the deadly Anti-Life Equation. Collects Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #133-139 and #141-148, The New Gods #1-11, The Forever People #1-11, Mister Miracle #1-18, plus later stories from New Gods #4 and DC Graphic novel #4

Filled with stunning artwork, this biography of comics pioneer Jack Kirby by an artist who worked closely with him is “a treasure” (The Cleveland Plain Dealer). “As a teenager, future television and comics writer [Mark] Evanier became an assistant to Jack Kirby, one of the foremost artists in the history of American comics. Kirby played a major role in shaping the superhero genre, not only through his innovative, dynamic artwork but through collaborating with Stan Lee to create classic Marvel characters like the Fantastic Four, the Hulk and the X-Men. Evanier has now written this magnificently illustrated biography of his mentor. Rather than employing the academic prose that one might expect from an art book, Evanier, a talented raconteur, tells Kirby’s life story in an informal, entertaining manner . . . he brings Kirby’s personality vividly alive: a child of the Great Depression, a creative visionary who struggled most of his life to support his family. The book recounts how Kirby was insufficiently appreciated by clueless corporate executives and close-minded comics professionals. But the stunning artwork in this book, taken from private collections, makes the case for Kirby’s genius. A landmark work, this is essential reading for comics fans and those who want to better understand the history of the comics medium—or those who just want to enjoy Kirby’s incredible artwork.” —Publishers Weekly Includes an introduction by Neil Gaiman