Posted in: Comics | Tagged:

IDW To Display 1,300 Pages Of Original Jack Kirby Artwork To San Diego Comic-Con

Published Thu, 29 Jun 2017 10:00:37 -0500

Jack Kirby would have been 100 years old this year. Creator or co-creator of the X-Men, Captain America, The Fantastic Four, The Silver Surfer, The New Gods, The Avengers, Kamandi, Mister Miracle, Fighting American and hundreds more

Plenty of publishers are putting out items of commemoration and celebration. Including IDW, who have been publishing archive collections of Kirby's original artwork. And at San Diego-Comic Con 2017, IDW will be hosting a panel in his name in a special 100th birthday celebration panel and art show, featuring an incredible 1,300 images of original Kirby art.

This birthday tribute, hosted by IDW President Greg Goldstein, will feature a multi-media display of more than 1,300 pages of Kirby's original artwork—the largest showing ever—selected from the eight Jack Kirby Artist's Edition books IDW has published, as well as additional not-yet-published pages that will be new to fans of the books. "There's never been a larger or more impressive collection of Kirby visuals in public," said Goldstein.

Comic legends Walter Simonson (Thor, Alien, Ragnarok) and Kevin Eastman (co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) will be on hand to discuss Kirby's continued influence. Also present will be IDW PDX Creative Director Dirk Wood and IDW Director of Special Projects Scott Dunbier, the editor of IDW's award-winning Artist's Editions series. "Jack Kirby was the most important comic artist of all time, and we could not be more pleased to help celebrate his enduring legacy," said Dunbier.

Panel attendees will see hundreds of eye-catching pieces from Kirby's tenure at both DC and Marvel, including selections from Fantastic Four, Mister Miracle, Thor, The Forever People, and more, printed so clearly that the whiteout, eraser marks, and blue-line notes are all visible, giving a behind-the-scenes look at some of Kirby's biggest hits.

"One of the things that IDW is most committed to as a company is the preservation and proper display of classic comics, and we could not be more excited and proud to show off these original pages in celebration of all that Kirby accomplished," Goldstein said. "We're grateful to our partners at Marvel and DC, and of course to the Kirby family, for the opportunity to publish these beautiful and important books."

The panel will take place on Saturday, July 22nd, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM in Room 25ABC. Seating is limited, and in addition to a special gift for everyone who attends, two lucky fans will be leaving with their own Kirby Artist's Edition.

To purchase any of the IDW Jack Kirby Artist's Edition books, which feature high-quality reproductions of Kirby's art printed the same size it was originally drawn at, on paper similar to the actual art boards, visit your local comic shop or get them direct from IDW.

You can also learn more about Jack Kirby and his amazing legacy by visiting the Kirby Museum at kirbymuseum.org.