The Marvel Comics Covers of Jack Kirby Volume 1

As a kid, I didn’t pay much attention to Jack Kirby’s artistry, as other artists seemed flashier and more exciting at the time. However, Kirby’s work is like fine wine—its brilliance becomes more apparent and appreciated as time goes by. Recently, Dark Horse Books and Marvel Comics announced an exciting new publishing collaboration that will delve deeply into the art of Marvel’s iconic series and characters. This collaboration will kick off in October 2024 with the release of “The Art of the Amazing Spider-Man,” a comprehensive art book. Building on this exploration of influential Marvel artists, Dark Horse has also revealed their next project: “The Marvel Comics Covers of Jack Kirby Volume 1,” which promises to showcase the legendary artist’s most impactful and memorable cover art.

Jack Kirby remains one of the most influential and revered comic book creators of all time, and his cover work for Marvel Comics is particularly celebrated.

“40 years into his career, Kirby once again redefined the comics medium and his iconic covers helped usher in the Marvel age of comics. Volume 1 teleports us back to the early days at Marvel Comics and explores his early work on these beloved characters,” said Vincent Iadevaia, co-designer, co-editor, and curator of @kirbycovers on Instagram.

Jack Kirby (1917-1994) is well known for his work for Marvel Comics. The multi-volume series, The Marvel Comics Covers of Jack Kirby, collects Kirby’s cover art in a beautifully designed hardcover format. The volumes will reproduce all of Kirby’s Marvel Comics covers alongside commentary providing insights into Kirby’s composition and artistic process.

Jack Kirby was born Jacob Kurtzberg in 1917 to Jewish-Austrian parents on New York’s Lower East Side, Jack Kirby came of age at the birth of the American comic book industry. Beginning his career during the rising tide of Nazism, Kirby and fellow artist Joe Simon created the patriotic hero Captain America. Cap’s exploits on the comic book page entertained millions of American readers at home and inspired U.S. troops fighting the enemy abroad.

When World War II ended, the public’s interest in superheroes waned; Kirby turned his artistic talents during the 1950s to other genres, such as monsters, Westerns and crime—as well as the first-of-its-kind Young Romance Comics. In 1961, Kirby returned to superheroes to illustrate what would become the defining issue in Marvel Comics history: Fantastic Four #1. Written by Stan Lee, the team’s debut revolutionized the industry overnight. Kirby’s illustrations seemed to leap off the page with eye-popping action and drama.

For the next decade, Kirby and Lee would introduce a mind-boggling array of new characters—including the Avengers, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the Silver Surfer and the X-Men. Taken together, Kirby’s groundbreaking work with Lee helped form the foundation of the Marvel Universe.

In the early 1970s, Kirby moved to DC Comics, where his boundless creativity continued. He returned to Marvel in 1975, writing and illustrating Captain America and introducing his final major concept, the Eternals. With the explosion of TV animation during the 1980s, Kirby’s talents turned to the small screen. Comic fans quickly recognized his work on such series as Thundarr the Barbarian and Turbo Teen.

Kirby died in 1994, but his influence on the comic book industry is as strong as ever. His work has inspired a generation of professional artists and modern writers who continue to explore his vast universe of concepts and characters.